The box opened silently and inside was another ring. James inspected it. The ring was enchanted with fire resistance. The result was expected because of the boss of the dungeon but still disappointing. James pocked the ring.

‘Maybe we can make use of the ring against the drake but in most scenarios, Ian should have us covered against fire monsters.’

Ian shot up and Derek grabbed his shoulder. His eyes went wide as he took in where he was before he calmed back down. He held his head as he looked over his broken leg.

“See I told you I could do it. But thanks for getting me over to the safe zone once it was all over. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

James spun around to face Ian.

“Do you see this?” James asked. He pointed behind himself. “This is the portal. Not portals. There is only a single one and that is a problem. We are running low on resources and can’t waste more. We are lucky to have a safe zone, but it doesn’t appear on every floor, and you can’t act like there is one on every floor. We have to work together. You understand?”

“Yes I do,” Ian responded halfheartedly.

“Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

James sighed and sat down. He held his right arm awkwardly by his side. He felt the healing occurring slowly. It felt like his insides were wriggling around as it fixed itself. James rolled the new ring in his left hand as he sat, waited, and planned.

‘This can’t happen again. We need to be cautious. At the same time, I can’t be holding these back from the others. They can take advantage of them more than I do right now. If they can keep them alive for a bit longer than normal then it could give me more time and room to explore deeper floors and figure out why time within the dungeon has reset.’

James moved on from his immediate thought and into his routine. He focused on the mana inside him and the mana in the air. He started shaping it in his uninjured hand. He started with simple shapes and then slowly went to more complex ones. The different exercises would help him shape the simple spells he used on arrows to cause deadly effects. Despite not having much mana to work with as long as he did not release the mana and cast a spell the expenditure for the exercises was minimal and reduced further by the safe zone’s effects.

James looked over at Ian. He should be working on the same, but he was instead eating some of their food stocks. The others were focused on adjusting their clothing and armor so that it was clean of dirt and grime.

James and the others felt the mana in the floor shift. James knew that meant the safe zone’s time was almost up. They would have to leave soon after. James rolled up his sleeve to look over his injury.

He held himself back from making a sound as he looked. On top of his healing skin and the fading scars was a black mark on his skin. It looked like a blotch of ink at first but was too intentional in its shape. He tried rubbing it off, but nothing happened.

“Shouldn’t we get going?” Naomi asked interrupting James before he could investigate further.

“Indeed, we should,” said James.

He rolled up his sleeve and looked over his hand one more time. He flexed his hand as a whole first and then each individual finger. It felt a little weak and James shook out his hand. Ian got to his feet and his walk was back to normal. With everyone up and ready to go James jumped into a quick speech.

“As I have mentioned briefly to some of you and others have learned on their own the next floor is an endurance challenge. It will be an extremely cold environment devoid of enemies to fight normally. You won’t be able to brute force these endurance challenges but approach them with caution instead. This one will test our balance, speed, and focus. The main danger will be the cold and in turn the environmental challenges that come from it.”

James looked at Ian and Derek. They were grabbing coats out of a shared bag and putting on the winter gear.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

“What is this?” said Naomi.

“It will be cold and uncomfortable. We will need coats, so we came prepared,” Ian replied casually.

“Where is mine?”

“Not in my bag. Should have come prepared. It will be below freezing up on the mountain. We are ready to get to the drake and defeat it. Why weren’t you?”

James scoffed at the idea that they were ready to fight the drake. He decided to step in before another fight broke out even if a verbal one had already started.

“He came prepared and maybe you could have come better informed as well. Regardless, we will need to adapt to the situation before us. Ian will stay at the center of our group this time throughout the floor. Your job is to keep those who don’t have nice warm clothes nice and cozy while we deal with the challenges of the floor. Luckily, I have an inner layer for my coat that can keep me warm as well. Even then you and I will be susceptible to the cold. I will explain the path through the floor in more detail as we encounter the major stopping points.”

With that James took out his underlayer from his bag and slid it on below his jacket before entering the 21st floor. The others followed soon after.

Just like on the last floor, the temperature change was sudden and uncomfortable for a minute. He shivered and stepped forward. His feet sunk into the snow. Activating one of his movement skills his steps became lighter, and he was able to tread easier.

The others weren’t as great in the snow. Ian kept himself warm and walked through the snow easily with the help of fire. Naomi also treaded lightly using her own skills but shivered in the cold.

The floor entrance portal let them out onto a mountain cliffside covered in snow. Most of the surrounding area looked untraversable except for a small path leading downwards at an angle.

“Follow me. There is really only one path unless you want to get lost and freeze to death or you have the ability to fly in which case the exit portal is all ready for you to arrive if you can get to it on the other peak over there through the high-altitude winds.”

James pointed to the mountain’s second peak which was partially obscured by fog and snow.

They started their trek with James and Naomi leading in the front and Ian situated in the middle. With their slow speed, James pointed out the traps that could be set off. He launched charged arrows or had Ian hit targets on the mountain that caused the snow to collapse prematurely and the path to clear before they arrived. Underneath the packed snow was a mix of dirt and solid ice causing their feet to sleep. If they fell one of the others would help them up.

As they descended the fog thickened around them and the winds whipped at their clothes. Their pace slowed as the cold got to them, but it was especially the case for Wes and Naomi.

“We need more heat,” Naomi said. Her teeth chattered and she rubbed her hands together repeatedly.

Wes was doing a bit better because his shield had shielded him from some of the wind and its weight caused him to exert himself more and warm up in turn.

Ian raised his hands, and they lit on fire. The size of the fire grew slightly and so did the warm. With some focus, the fire condensed and changed colors. The heat that radiated to the others grew as well.

“That feels good,” said Wes.

“It does feel nice,” said James, “The first big obstacle is up here. The bridge should be taken carefully and with both feet planted firmly with a hand on the ropes if possible. Wes, I’ll need you up here with me once we get started.”

The path up ahead widened a bit until they saw the bridge. It was only wide enough to fit one person at a time and swayed slightly thanks to the breeze. Frost covered the wooden planks and the slightly frayed ropes. They could see the bridge stretch forward for a time before disappearing into the fog.

Wes took the first steps on the bridge. James followed him onto the bridge. He strapped his bow to his back and held Wes’s spear for him. They spaced out slightly as each new person was added to the bridge. The old-looking bridge bowed down as more weight was added to it but held them up.

The entrance onto the bridge faded from view as they trod the path on the bridge. Soon there was no sight of an end on either side of the bridge. Wes walked slowly at first on the bridge. An occasional plank broke under his weight and James had to help him out and get his foot unstuck. With each step, the bridge shifted, and the cold air sunk into their bones.

James’s hands grew numb as he held tightly to the ropes. Ian hadn’t used his fire for some time because of the danger that the bridge might ignite in flames. James was focused on his steps when he heard the sounds of growls. He looked up.

“We are almost to the end.”

“What was that sound?” Naomi asked.

“Frost Giants. We won’t have to truly face them quite yet. For now, they will just serve as a nuisance.”

A yell resounded through the mountains and echoed off the packed snow. James spun around almost falling as well. Ian’s foot had slipped and shattered again. He grabbed hold of the wood his hands slipping. James got on his knees and steadied himself before grabbing Ian’s hand.

Ian’s other hand slipped such that only James was holding him up.

“Help me,” Ian whimpered.

James grunted and pulled upward. James dropped the spear in his other hand, and it slid off the bridge and into the depths below. He leaned back now that he had Ian’s arm in both hands.

James knew something was wrong before it happened, but it didn’t stop his hands from failing him. The combined numbing cold and his weakened healing hand relaxed despite all his intentions.

Ian let out a cry as he followed in the spear’s path moments later.