Taking a step back, he missed his footing and fell to the ground. It was a nasty fall, but his enhanced endurance kept him from getting grazed. Lying on his back, he realized he had landed in a much larger gap in the ground, created by the force of his punch. "Was that punch really that powerful?!" he wondered, gasping at the enormity of the crater.

Thud! The sound of a stick hitting the ground caught his attention.

"Young man," a high-pitched, antiquated voice of a woman called out. Leo blinked, the sight before him almost unreal. A woman stood above him, her presence both serene and imposing. The air around her seemed to shimmer with cold, each breath she took leaving a faint mist in the air.

Her staff, taller than she was, was tipped with an intricate crystal that caught the light, refracting it into a hundred shimmering points. There was a quiet power in the way she moved, as though the very ground yielded to her will.

Leo couldn’t help but feel a chill run down his spine—not from the cold, but from the aura of power that seemed to radiate from her. He had heard tales of wizards with abilities that could rival the gods, but standing before one now, he realized those tales might not have done justice.

"Dost thou be well, young man?" she asked, her voice carrying the tone of someone much older and wiser. "Pray tell, what transpired here?"

Leo, still stunned by the sight before him, was speechless. He barely understood what she said; she sounded deep and old, and his mind still reeling from the encounter. The woman looked slightly disappointed.

"Alas, the young of this generation ought to study more diligently," she muttered to herself, shaking her head slightly. She shifted to a more relaxed posture, but her tone still carried a hint of antiquity. "So, young man, what hath brought thee to such a state?"

As she spoke, a message appeared before Leo's eyes,

You have encountered Winter Warlock.

System User details acquired.

Open details?

Without thinking, he tapped the "Okay" button. The window expanded, displaying detailed information:

Name: Kurea

Level: 70

Job: Wizard

System: Winter Warlock

It then detailed her status, skills, abilities, and the benefits she received from her system. Leo remembered what Ranna had told him about system users being able to see each other's systems. Kurea noticed him staring intently at her, though she interpreted it differently.

Kurea tilted her head slightly, her lips quirking in a small, knowing smile. "Tis most unseemly to gaze upon a lady’s form so openly, young man," she said, her tone light yet laced with amusement. There was something in her eyes—something ancient and cold, like the heart of a glacier—that made Leo shiver. She seemed to see through him, as though she understood far more about him than he did himself.

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She placed a hand over her chest, causing her elegant blue dress to shimmer with intricate ice-like patterns. As she moved, her white pointed hat tilted slightly, casting a shadow over her long, white hair that cascaded over her shoulders. Her blue eyes sparkled with both reprimand and humor.

Startled, Leo stammered an apology, his face flushing with embarrassment. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—"

Kurea sighed, waving a hand dismissively. "Forget it, young man. This place is not safe for one of thy low level. Be gone with thee, lest thou meet thy end."

Leo immediately stood up, bowing slightly. "Thank you." He turned and walked away quickly, his heart pounding. He thought to himself, "Dodged another bullet this time."

As he made his way out, he suddenly noticed a chilly breeze against his skin. He looked down and realized, to his horror, that his shirt was completely blown off. He had been so caught up in the moment that he hadn't noticed earlier. His cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he tried to cover himself with his arms.

"Damn it, why am I just noticing this now?" he muttered, feeling the cold bite of the air. The shirt was a gift from Amanda, and the thought of losing it pained him more than the cold. "It must have been blown off when I was struck by the Orc Lord," he realized, sighing deeply.

As he hurried along, trying to avoid being seen, he couldn't help but take a moment to admire his body. This was the first time he saw himself after syncing with Amanda, and the transformation was striking. Gone was the slightly pudgy tummy and the average build he had back on Earth.

Instead, his body was now well-defined and muscular, with toned abs and broad shoulders. "Wow, look at me," he thought, a mix of surprise and admiration. He flexed his arms slightly, marveling at the newfound strength and definition. "Not bad, Leo, not bad at all," he whispered to himself with a smirk, feeling a bit more confident despite the situation.

But the cold quickly reminded him of his predicament. "Okay, focus. I need to get home without Amanda seeing me like this," he thought, resuming his hurried walk with his arms crossed over his chest for warmth.

Leo rushed past a group of soldiers, trying to cover himself as best he could with his arms. His cheeks flushed red, not from battle, but from embarrassment. 'Why didn’t I notice this earlier?' he muttered under his breath, mentally cursing himself. As he ducked into the treeline, he couldn’t help but glance down at his now-toned body and, despite everything, allowed himself a small grin. "At least I look good," he thought, shaking his head as he hurried towards home.

He overheard snippets of their conversation: no signs of any other powerful adventurers in the vicinity, and confirmation that the Goblin Dominion had been subdued by the defeat of the Orc Lord.

She glanced at Leo, let go of her staff, and crossed her arms. The staff lit up and transformed into a magical owl, its feathers shimmering with an icy blue hue. The owl's eyes glowed with an ethereal light, and its presence radiated an air of ancient wisdom. "Coco, hast thou sensed anything on him?" she asked.

Coco tilted its head, its glowing eyes narrowing as it scrutinized Leo. For a brief moment, the owl seemed to hesitate, as if sensing something… unusual. But then it fluffed its feathers dismissively and turned away. "He seems like a normal non-adventurer citizen," it replied, its voice tinged with irritation.

"And do not call the legendary owl 'Coco'!" the owl squawked indignantly, but Kurea seemed to ignore it as she continued to watch Leo until he disappeared into the woods.