Two days later, Sora's Satger reached the top of a snowy mountain and looked down the summit. Northon was a vast region of ice and rocks. Tall sierra peaks towered beneath the white sky as flakes of snow sprinkled down. Every mountain top glazed in whiteness while the bottom was gray. The sun descended, meaning nightfall will soon come. When darkness comes, a snowstorm will freeze everything in its path.

Players spread rumors about Northon being a hardcore area where hidden gems could be found. The weather was brutal, the monsters were strong, and many players barely returned with rare items. Players who were level fifty or over were said to have a better chance at survival in Northon. Weak players never succeed, unless they have skills and good gear to keep them alive.

There were towns and small camps in Northon, but not many since they settled in isolated areas. They survived by trading food and hiring warriors to protect their homes from monsters. Nobody built any kingdom in Northon without dying in the hazardous landscape.

Sora was still at level two, but she couldn’t wait while her body might be dying in the real world. If she doesn’t stop the Lick King soon, many other players will keep dying in the game.

Sora stared at the distance and dropped her mouth. She pointed her finger at the distance. "Look!"

About five miles or move over the snowy mountain region stood a tall black structure on the highest peak. It almost looked like a rock with sharp spears on top. Sora would need to get closer to see clearly. But she was pretty sure that was it. "I think that is the Lich King's castle."

Maxor held his hand over his narrowing eyes. "Are you sure?"

"It has to be. It is the only black structure standing out among the mountains here."

Garan glanced at the mysterious object. "She could be right. When I was here, I never seen sought contruct before."

Maxor hummed. “It doesn’t make sense why the Lich King would show off his castle in the open.”

“Maybe he wants the others to find him to place them into a trap,” Sora suggested. “We better head there before it is too late the players- I mean heroes.”

Nancy cheered while waving her club over her head. “Yahoooooooo! Let’s go and pound pound pound those demons!”

Toward the far right distance, Sora spotted a white wave of clouds rising over the mountains. "We better move before that storm reaches us."

"What if we can't escape it?" Maxor asked.

"Then we will find shelter before we freeze."

Nancy shrugged. "Works for me."

*****

In a valley, the storm arrived sooner than Sora expected. The icy wind blew across her hair while she shielded her face. Without a coat, it won't take long for the weather to freeze her. And the Satgers already dropped when they reached half way through the valley. Not all mounts could last through a cold weather, even if they were made from data. It gave players a challenge to survive in harazdious environments.

Warning!

Freezing level 50%

Nancy fell into the snow, alerting Sora. “Nancy!?”

Garan rushed toward her and helped her up.

“I am fine,” said the fennec fox.

“I can carry you if you like.”

Nancy shook her head. “No….. I can-”

She fell again, but the mammoth caught her. “Let me carry you. I can survive this condition, and my wool is very warm.”

Nancy shrugged and climbed into Garan’s arms. She still shivered while the mammoth carried her in his comfort.

Sora continued walking, pushing her feet through the thick snow. If she has Garan’s wool, she wouldn’t be rubbing her arms like crazy. “There should be a shelter…. Close by.”

Maxor approached her right side. “I can carry you too.”

Sora giggled. “No thank you.”

“I’m warm too.”

Sora narrowed her eyes at him. “Then how come I can see your cold breath?”

Maxor chuckled as his icy breath blew out. “If we embrace, we wouldn’t freeze.”

“I can still walk….. I can-”

Sora collapsed into the snow, face first.

Warning!

Freezing level 90%

“Sora!” Maxor lifted her up. “Come on! Let me carry you!”

Sora couldn't believe she was freezing faster than a speeding train. She probably won’t make it, but she has to keep trying.

She held up her arm so Maxor could pick her up. She wrapped her arm around his shoulders and rested her head against his chest. His body did felt warm and comfy. An odd feeling, but at least Maxor was keeping Sora warm.

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Freezing level 88%

Maxor was right. They should hold each other to stay warm. Too bad it won't be enough.

Sora gazed ahead and saw something. A wall of ice, covered in snow. And then, a cavern opening appeared through the steep obstacle.

Although she could barely see it, Sora assumed that was a mountainside with a cave. She pointed her finger while shivering. "S-s-s-s-s-shelter!"

Maxor beamed his eyes. "I see it."

"We will be there in no time!" Garan shouted.

The males, carrying the females, sprinted as fast as they could through the sea of snow. The winds grew thicker and louder, screaming all over the place. But it didn't take long for the NPCs to reach the mountain wall.

When they entered the cave, Sora’s weather hazard system lowered.

Freezing level 50%

The small cave has icy walls with a smooth stone floor. The temperature was still cold, but not extreme as the outside.

Garan placed Nancy down toward the wall. “I can build a campfire here.”

Maxor approached him and placed Sora next to Nancy. “We should huddle together if we are going to survive this night.”

Nancy wrapped her arms around Sora, shivering. “Not…..w-w-w-with you!”

“Don’t be a little fool. You will freeze faster than us.”

Sora hugged the stubborn fennec fox girl. “He is right.”

“I w-w-will take my chances with her.” Nancy rubbed her head against Sora’s chest. “Mmmmmmmmmh….. You are so soft and warm.”

Sora giggled as she blushed. “You too.”

“Hey! Don’t get any weird ideas! I know know you are a man!”

Sora shrugged. Her freezing level went down a bit while Nancy relaxed on her like a baby.

Close by, Garan placed a small pile of sticks on the ground. He rubbed two sticks together until a fire blazed on the pile. His trunk blew a little air on the fire, helping the flames grow.

With a grin, he turned toward his friends. “The fire is ready.”

Everyone sat around the fireplace and held out their hands toward the flames. Sora grew relief as her warmness completely returned to her body.

Freezing level 0%

Garan rubbed his hands together near the fire. “The storm feels unnatural.”

Maxor blew his warm breath on his palms. “How can you tell?”

“This storm was different when I left. It used to be calmer with whispering noises. Now it is a monster, dominating the night.”

“Do you think the Lich King is doing this?”

Sora doubted that unless her body snatcher earned a new skill to alternate the weather. However, Sora never heard a magic skill that could do that. If it did existed in the game, it would make the player powerful. Maybe the Lich King found a hidden dungeon and grabbed a special item to gain that power. But nobody can be sure until they face the Lich King. “It is hard to tell, but he is strong.”

Nancy shrugged against Sora’s chest. “I believe the storm is an omen, warning danger danger to us.”

“We will always be in danger, silly,” said Maxor. “But confidence is our greatist strength.”

Nancy glared at him for a moment and cuddled on Sora’s lap like a cat. “How far is that castle?”

Sora rubbed Nancy’s head. “Maybe two miles. We should be close.”

The fennec fox girl shivered. “What if we don’t make it? It is cold cold cold up here.”

“Don’t worry, since we know where it is, we will make it. Hiking through the day is better to avoid the coldness.”

Nancy smiled. “You’re so nice, Sora. I like you better as a girl.”

Sora giggled. “I….. Think the coldness is getting through your head. You should rest.”

“Um-hum. Fair enough.” Nancy closed her eyes and snorted.

Maxor rose and brushed the snow off his dark fur. “I will watch outside while you rest.”

“Don’t freeze,” said Garan.

Sora watched Maxor leave until she dozed off.

*****

Sora opened her eyes, no longer hearing the rushing winds outside. The campfire was out and Nancy was laying against Garan. Both of them stumbling in peace.

Sora guessed the mammoth’s body was warmer than her body. At least she could now move around while Nancy laid on someone else.

She got up and noticed Maxor wasn’t inside the cave with Garan and Nancy. He must be still guarding the entrance to the cave. But how long? He could be freezing outside right now.

I better check on him.

Sora strolled toward the cavern entrance where she spotted a figure sitting on the ground facing the outside. It was only Maxor, still guarding the perimeter.

Sora approached him. “Need some company?”

Maxor turned to her and smiled. “Sure. Trouble sleeping?”

Sora rubbed her shoulders. “In this place? Kind of. I am surprised you aren’t sleeping.”

“I still have enough warm energy that is keeping me awake. But I will rest soon. Nothing has found us yet.”

“That is good.” Sora sat down next to the wolf with her legs crossed.

The sky was clear and bright with aurora lights, mixed in blue and green colors. The sparkling stars with the lights did make the night sky look beautiful. Something a harazdious environment needed.

"Do you like the sky?" Maxor asked.

"I do," Sora whispered, "it is gorgeous."

"I agree." Maxor twirled his thumbs. "About what we did at the thieves' guild village….. That night-"

"Please don't mention it." Sora finished her sentence with a sigh.

"I just want to let you know I have no feelings for you. It was only a drunken mistake."

Sora gave him a suspicious glare. "Why are you telling me now?"

Maxor blushed. "I….. I just thought I needed to get out of my stomach. I couldn't stop thinking about you after we did it."

Sora took a deep breath. She might as well get it out of her system too. "It's okay, Maxor. I get it. I am a very attractive girl. Even you are attracted to me."

Maxor smiled with a shrug. "Well, beautiful women are my weakness. But how do you feel about me?"

Sora turned to him. "You?"

Maxor flexed his right arm. "My manliness isn't your taste?"

Sora giggled. "No, but the thing is….. I like someone else."

Maxor lowered his arm. "A girl?"

Sora nodded.

“What is her name?”

“Amy. She is a barbarian fox thief.” Sora grew a seductive grin across her face. “Strong, beautiful, and very spunky.”

Maxor chuckled. “She sounds like Nancy. Heeheehee! Why do you desire her?”

Sora bit her lip.

It sounded hard to tell Maxor why Sora fancy Amy with real-world details. The truth was, Sora liked Amy because she was a gamer too. Plus, she introduced her to Sword and Claw where they could play together, building up a friendly relationship. But Sora never revealed her true feelings to Amy due to being shy and a dork of course.

She rose her knees up and wrapped her arms around her legs. "I guess we share common desires. We both like to go on adventures, discover new things, and laugh together."

Sora blew out her cold breath. "I hope I will see her again after we slay the Lich King."

Maxor smiled and placed his hand on Sora’s shoulder. "You will if you still have faith. No matter what happens, we will get through this."

Sora nodded with a grin.