Chapter 225: Frostfall Sanctum Xin and his companions had finally arrived at the ominous third level — the Frostfall Sanctum within the Bizarre Tower, infamous for its insurmountable challenges and high difficulty.
This icy abyss was filled with perilous traps and daunting trials, testing their skills and resolve at every turn.
The Frostfall Sanctum: a frozen labyrinth of chilling corridors, icy chambers, and treacherous pitfalls. Its crystalline walls echoed with the whispers of ancient enchantments while freezing winds howled through its maze-like passages.
Deadly traps lay hidden amidst the icy splendor, challenging even the bravest adventurers. Each step within its confines was a battle against biting cold and unseen foes, making it a formidable and unforgiving challenge for anyone daring to venture inside.
After stepping through the enchanted portal, Xin, Yuzuro, and Midnight Duchess found themselves in a compact room enclosed by an iron gate.
A warning sign hung ominously, cautioning against turning a knob lest it trigger a cascade of melting ice and a self-destructive explosion.
"Is this some kind of a warning?" Yuzuro pondered aloud, her eyes fixed on the sign.
"Let’s just remember not to touch any knobs and avoid having icy spikes falling on our heads," Xin muttered, his gaze darting between the warning and his companions.
"Fortunately, there aren’t any knobs in here. Just a gate," Midnight Duchess observed.
With caution in their steps, they opened the gate, Xin summoning his golems to lead the way, prepared to take any hits.
He kept an Elemental Golem in reserve, just in case. The two Abyssal Golems were still in fighting shape, so he opted not to create more.
"By the way, Lord Schrödinger," Midnight Duchess began, her eyes narrowing in curiosity, "Did you happen to tame a Cockatrice within the maze?"
It was only then that Yuzuro noticed the Cockatrice trailing behind them.
"I thought it was someone else’s pet, but . . . is it Lord Schrödinger’s?" she asked, her surprise evident.
Lord Schrödinger nodded. "It’s my pet, Pudding. It acquired the ability after assimilating a Cockatrice in the maze. It’s one of its skills."
"Egh . . . Pudding?" Yuzuro peered at Pudding closely, her lips curling into a smile. "So that little cute black water jelly can turn into a monster?"
Xin affirmed, "It can, but only once a day. The only trait it got was the Language skill, which helped me navigate the labyrinth as it communicated with other Cockatrices."
Yuzuro’s eyes lit up, and she clapped her hands together. "That’s fantastic, isn’t it? Now that Grey Smoke isn’t here, and there’s no Shadow to check for traps . . ."
"Don’t get your hopes up too much," Xin cautioned. "Some monsters are still hostile, and others might try to trick us. Stay vigilant."
"Still, having a navigator is better than nothing," Midnight Duchess chimed in.
"Hey, can it petrify enemies?" Yuzuro inquired, poking Pudding’s cheeks.
. "I don’t think so," Xin replied. "It’s still in Growth One, so it can only copy one trait from a monster. In this case, it copied the Language skill, allowing it to converse with some of the monsters here."
"I see," Yuzuro giggled, satisfied with the explanation.
Midnight Duchess teased, "I wouldn’t poke it too much, though. You never know what monsters are thinking. It might bite you."
"Eh? Really?" Yuzuro quickly pulled her hand back, alarmed.
"It won’t," Xin reassured her.
"Mo~, stop teasing me," Yuzuro complained, pouting at Midnight Duchess, who only chuckled in response.
Upon entering the second room, the group’s chatter fell silent.
Within this peculiar chamber, the air hung heavy with a bone-chilling cold that seemed to seep into one’s very soul.
The room was encased by walls of ice, softly shimmering with a pale blue glow. Sinister hissing sounds pervaded the atmosphere, an ominous reminder of the concealed menace lurking within.
The room was swarming with Snowworms. It was a place of venomous Slowworms nests. These creatures slithered and coiled with deadly precision, their scales glinting like invisible ice.
Even if the players managed to eliminate them, the worms would continue to emerge from their icy lairs, relentlessly testing the group’s determination and resilience.
"E-enemies right away?!" Yuzuro stuttered, her eyes widening. "And there are so many of them."
"Lord Schrödinger, keep your Elemental Golems prepared. They’re weak to fire, so support me from the back," Midnight Duchess instructed and added, "Hikari, find us a way out of here."
"Understood."
"C-copy," Yuzuro stammered nervously.
Two Golems materialized behind Xin, while five Basic Golems formed a protective circle around him and Yuzuro.
Midnight Duchess and the two Abyssal Golems charged forward, engaging the Snowworms head-on.
Midnight Duchess moved so fast, her silhouette flickering and duplicating into numerous shadows, each one wielding her deadly blades.
With each swift strike, she cut through the air, her movements so fluid and rapid that she seemed to blur into a storm of darkness and steel.
Her unique skill, [Death Burst], was a spectacle to behold.
As the Snowworms fell before her, they erupted in bursts of sticky snow upon their demise.
The explosion coated the surrounding area, creating a treacherous terrain of frost and snow. Within the radius of this explosive, the unlucky creatures found themselves trapped, ensnared by the adhesive snow.
Their attempts to escape, hindered by the restraint, only prolonged their inevitable fate.
However, with a timely [Fire] from the Elemental Golems, they melted this sticky snow and allowed Midnight Duchess and the Abyssal Golems to move unhindered.
The Snowworms, normally hidden beneath their deceptive, false appearance of ordinary snow mounds, met their end in a flurry of Midnight Duchess’s strikes.
With a [Bite] that could crush bone, they attempted to retaliate, but her evasive maneuvers allowed her to dance on the edges of danger, always a step ahead of their snapping jaws.
Amidst this chaos, Xin’s Elemental Golems played their part, firing relentless torrents of fire upon the enemies.
The flames roared to life, engulfing the Snowworms in searing heat. Their icy forms melted and sizzled under the onslaught, the combination of fire and shadows creating a symphony of destruction.
Meanwhile, Yuzuro stood vigilant, her eyes scanning for a way out. It might seem like they were winning, but there was no ending to the Snowworms, and Midnight Duchess didn’t exactly have unlimited HP and MP.
At the same time, Yuzuro monitored their ally’s health, ready to offer support at a moment’s notice.