Jimmy trudged through the snow, his boots sinking deeper with every step. <mark>Frostveil’s</mark> End didn’t look any better on his map than it did in person—warped borders, weird flickers, and a heavy vibe that just screamed “don’t trust this place.” He pulled up the map again, mostly to distract himself from the fact that his toes were dangerously close to staging a mutiny.
There it was: The Gate. A glowing, golden marker blinking on the far edge of the map. No description, no flashy “Congrats, hero!” message. Just two words that felt more like a challenge than a destination.
Jimmy sighed and swiped the map closed. He needed a goal, and this was it, even if it felt like he was being funneled into a boss arena.
The Gate came into view after what felt like forever. Massive stone pillars loomed in the distance, black as coal and taller than some skyscrapers. Runes etched across the surface pulsed faintly, throwing just enough light to make the thing even creepier. The closer Jimmy got, the louder the hum in the air. It wasn’t like wind or the distant howl of animals—it was sharper, almost mechanical, like a wire pulled tight and vibrating just out of sight.
It made his Bound Core shift inside him, the fire warming and curling in its usual way, but not in a way he didn’t expect. He pushed it down—not the time to lose focus.
Stopping a few paces away, Jimmy craned his neck to take it all in. “Yeah,” he muttered. “That’s not ominous or anything.”
Then came the chime. The System always had great timing.
<blockquote>System Notification:</blockquote>
<blockquote>Participant detected. Assessing eligibility for Major Land access…</blockquote>
Text scrolled across his vision like some end-of-dungeon results screen:
<blockquote>Assessment:</blockquote>
<ul>
<li>Advanced Path: 47 days completed.</li>
<li>Mini Lands Cleared: 9 of 9.</li>
<li>Earth Core Tier: 9.</li>
<li><mark>Dao</mark> Mastery: None Detected.</li>
</ul>
His brow furrowed at the last line. “<mark>Dao</mark> Mastery?” he said under his breath. That sounded like a mechanic he should’ve unlocked by now. Whatever it was, the System clearly didn’t feel like explaining. Figures.
<blockquote>System Notification:</blockquote>
<blockquote>Assessment complete. Entry approved. </blockquote>
The Gate began to shift. Stone panels the size of houses slid apart with a sound so deep it felt more like pressure than noise. Light spilled out—golden, hazy, and warm in a way that didn’t belong anywhere near <mark>Frostveil’s</mark> End.
Jimmy stared at the opening. Something about the glow made his stomach twist. Not fear, exactly. More like… anticipation. Like whatever was on the other side would be the start of something huge.
“Alright, <mark>Vinterra</mark>,” he thought, adjusting the strap of his bag. No point stalling. He took one step forward, then another, until the Gate’s light swallowed him whole.
Jimmy stepped into a suffocating black void. Shapes flickered at the edges of his vision—shadowy, almost human—but vanished when he turned.
The air vibrated with a low hum that pressed into his chest. A glow appeared ahead, steady and distant, pulling him forward. Shadows shifted behind him, but he didn’t look back.
The glow consumed him, and when the blackness fell away, he was standing on a frozen <mark>cliffside</mark>, icy winds biting at his face. His boots crunched against ice-coated rock, and the expanse of <mark>Vinterra</mark> unfolded before him.
A sheer cliff dropped off at his feet, and below, the frozen land stretched endlessly in every direction. Towering mountains rose to the west, their jagged peaks swallowed by spiraling tempests of ice and lightning. Far below, massive creatures moved across the tundra, their heavy breaths misting in the frozen air. The crystalline forests scattered across the landscape shimmered faintly, reflecting the eerie glow of streaking red auroras in the sky.
The wind roared in his ears as a distant, guttural howl rolled across the plains. It wasn’t a wolf. Whatever it was, it was massive, and it wasn’t far.
A sharp chime rang out, mechanical and cold against the natural chaos around him.
<blockquote>System Notification:</blockquote>
<blockquote>Welcome to <mark>Vinterra</mark>.</blockquote>
<ul>
<li>Objective: Find the nearest settlement.</li>
<li>Objective: Clear five dungeons (unmarked).</li>
<li>Collaboration with others is permitted.</li>
</ul>
The word “collaboration” lingered as the notification faded. The System hadn’t cared about teamwork before now, but the scale of <mark>Vinterra</mark> made it clear why it might be necessary. The land below was vast and brutal, the kind of place that didn’t care how prepared or clever someone thought they were.
The map appeared with a gesture, but it showed nothing—no markers, no guidance, no hints. Just the empty, frozen expanse. Dungeons would have to be discovered the hard way, if they could be found at all.
Jimmy closed the map and stood still, the wind cutting through his coat as his gaze swept across the horizon. A trail barely visible under the fresh snow snaked down the <mark>cliffside</mark> toward the tundra below.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
The shadow streaked across the snow, fast and silent. Jimmy caught the movement too late—a piercing screech ripped through the air, and talons slammed into his left shoulder. The force spun him, his boots skidding on the icy trail. Pain tore through his arm as the crunch of bone hit him like a cold slap, and blood poured into his coat. He staggered but stayed on his feet, gripping his katana with his good hand.
His eyes locked onto the creature circling above. A Level 34 <mark>Frostwing</mark> Harrier. That explained the ridiculous strength—it was twelve levels above him. The thing was massive, with a wingspan that had to be close to twenty feet. Ice clung to its feathers, refracting the pale light like shattered glass, and frost energy radiated from its talons, leaving faint, hissing trails wherever they touched the ground.
The Harrier let out another screech, diving toward him, but it wasn’t reckless. Jimmy noted the way it angled itself with the wind, banking sharply to minimize any openings. Smart, fast, and territorial. It wasn’t attacking for food—it wanted him out of its airspace. Too bad.
Jimmy sidestepped at the last second, swinging his katana in a controlled arc. The blade glanced off the creature’s wing, shaving off a few icy feathers but doing no real damage. The Harrier tilted hard, swooping back into the air, and Jimmy used the moment to reassess.
The thing had every advantage. Speed, range, and raw power. He had none of those. What he did have was experience—nine cleared mini-lands had taught him to recognize patterns. The Harrier was toying with him, probing for an opening while keeping out of reach.
“Alright,” Jimmy thought, shifting his stance. “Let’s play.”
The bird banked again, tilting into a sharp dive. Jimmy stood his ground, watching its trajectory. He saw it, just before impact: a slight hesitation as it prepared to rake him with its talons. He rolled to the side, slashing upward. The katana caught its chest, slicing through feathers and flesh in a burst of icy mist.
Then came the feathers. The bird shook its wings violently, sending a storm of razor-sharp shards raining down. Jimmy raised his katana, deflecting what he could, but the ice tore into his legs and ribs, leaving shallow gashes. His breath hissed through clenched teeth.
The Harrier circled again, frost energy crackling along its talons. It wasn’t slowing down. If anything, the blood dripping from its wounds made it angrier. Jimmy tightened his grip on the katana. The cold seeped into every muscle, and his shoulder was on fire, but retreat wasn’t an option.
The bird shook its wings, scattering a second storm of icy feathers. Jimmy deflected the worst of it, darting behind a jagged boulder to shield himself. The shards bit into his legs, but nothing deep enough to stop him. His mind raced.
This wasn’t working. The thing had all the range, and every time he closed in, it just flew out of reach. He needed to change the game.
Jimmy’s eyes darted to the narrow cliff trail. The icy path snaked downward, but the walls rose sharply around him. A plan clicked into place. Risky, but it might work.
The Harrier let out a screech and dove again, closing the gap in seconds. Instead of bracing, Jimmy dropped low and ran, sprinting toward a jagged overhang of rock further down the trail. The wind howled around him, and his boots skidded dangerously on the ice, but he didn’t slow down. The Harrier followed, its wings carving through the air like blades.
Jimmy reached the overhang and stopped dead, spinning to face the bird. His katana gleamed faintly, reflecting the light off the ice. The Harrier dove straight for him, talons glowing.
At the last second, Jimmy leapt to the side and slashed upward, but it wasn’t to hit the bird. The strike connected with the ice above him, sending a cascade of jagged shards raining down. The Harrier’s momentum carried it straight into the falling debris.
The bird screamed as the sharp edges tore into its wings and back, throwing it off balance. It crashed to the ground, sliding across the icy trail with a bone-rattling thud.
Jimmy didn’t hesitate. He lunged forward, closing the distance before it could recover. The Harrier lashed out with a desperate swipe of its talons, but Jimmy dodged, driving his katana into the exposed joint of its wing. The blade sunk deep, severing the tendons with a crack.
The Harrier flailed, its strength fading as blood stained the snow. Jimmy pulled the blade free, circling to its front, and ended it with a clean strike to the neck. The massive creature slumped, its icy feathers dimming as it went still.
System Notification:
<ul>
<li>Essence Earned: 100.</li>
</ul>
Loot Acquired:
<ul>
<li><mark>Shardwing</mark> Feather: A razor-sharp feather imbued with frost energy, ideal for crafting cold-resistant gear.</li>
<li>Frost-Etched Talon: Claw marked with natural frost runes, useful for upgrades and <mark>alchemical</mark> recipes.</li>
</ul>
Jimmy wiped his blade clean and sheathed it, exhaling slowly. His shoulder still burned, but his focus shifted to the notification.
Essence? That didn’t make sense. Normal monsters like the wolves he’d cut down in the mini-lands never gave Essence. Back then, the System only rewarded him through treasure chests or trial objectives. Why was this different? The Harrier wasn’t in a dungeon—or was there something about <mark>Vinterra</mark> that changed the rules?
The thought stuck in his mind as he fumbled for a Vital <mark>Draught</mark> from his belt pouch. The amber liquid slid down bitter and cold, but the warmth it spread through his body was immediate. The bleeding slowed, and the edges of the pain dulled. He downed another vial, feeling his strength steady. <mark>Thats</mark> it. Lets go.
The wind howled as Jimmy trudged through the frozen wilderness. The pale light of <mark>Vinterra’s</mark> endless dusk gave everything an otherworldly glow, but it did little to cut the biting cold. Snow crunched underfoot as he kept his katana ready, scanning the barren horizon.
He exhaled sharply, his breath fogging in the icy air. The cold had been bearable at first—his Earth Core Tier 9 had made sure of that—but now it was cutting deeper. The winds here felt stronger, hungrier, and the steady bite of frost creeping through his clothes wasn’t something he could just shrug off anymore.
He glanced down at his gear. His hoodie was holding up well, the fabric reinforced and scarred from battles in the mini-lands. The problem was the cloak. Once a reliable outer layer for travel and combat, it had taken too many hits—rips from claws, burns from stray attacks, and now the edges were frayed beyond repair.
Jimmy tugged it off, the fabric stiff with frost, and let it fall into the snow. It wasn’t worth keeping. He gave the ruined cloak one last glance before pulling his hoodie’s hood tighter around his head. “Good riddance,” he muttered, the wind snatching the words away.
The cold gnawed at him again, sending shivers through his body. It was time to fix this. Stopping in the middle of the path, Jimmy swiped the air, pulling up the Essence Shop interface. The familiar glow of the shop’s menu appeared, illuminating the surrounding snow with faint, pulsing light.