Extra's Path: The Eternal Frost Monarch

Noah burst out of the dense forest, his breathing ragged.

The oppressive silence behind him gradually faded as he crossed back into the peaceful woodland he had explored earlier.

A few more hurried steps later. The crystal-clear river came into view once again.

He slowed to a stop and looked toward the frozen path stretching across its surface. Something like a bridge of ice remained intact.

Despite the river’s steady current, the mana-infused ice had yet to melt away.

Noah let out a quiet sigh of relief.

"What luck I have."

His voice carried equal parts amusement and exhaustion.

After everything he had experienced since arriving in this mysterious place. Simply finding a safe route back felt like a blessing.

He glanced once toward the dark forest across the river. The towering trees stood silently beneath the dim sky.

Nothing moved. Nothing made a sound.

Yet Noah had no intention of returning there. "There’s no reason to throw myself into danger."

He stepped onto the frozen bridge. The ice remained firm beneath his feet as he calmly crossed back to the opposite bank.

The moment he entered the familiar forest, the atmosphere changed completely. A cool breeze rustled the leaves overhead.

Birds chirped somewhere among the branches. Small animals cautiously peeked out from the bushes before disappearing once they noticed him.

Compared to the sinister forest across the river. This place felt almost comforting.

"I’ll find somewhere to rest for tonight."

Although one thing continued bothering him.

Noah looked up toward the sky. It remained brilliantly bright.

Yet there was no sun. Not even a faint outline of one. The light seemed to come from everywhere at once, bathing the entire forest in a soft, constant glow.

"Strange. I’ve been walking for hours. But the sky has changed.. but can’t see where sun is.."

His brows furrowed. "Maybe I’m still inside the labyrinth after all."

It was the only explanation that made any sense. Labyrinths often ignored the natural laws of the outside world.

Artificial skies. Distorted landscapes. Even warped time.

None of those were unheard of. Still this place felt far too alive to resemble any dungeon Noah had ever heard of. Unable to reach a conclusion, he continued walking.

Eventually the familiar lake came into view. Its crystal-clear waters remained as peaceful as before, reflecting the endless blue sky above.

This was where he had awakened after passing through the mysterious portal.

For now it was the safest place he knew.

Noah walked toward a large tree near the water’s edge and slowly lowered himself against its sturdy trunk.

The rough bark pressed comfortably against his back. He simply stared across the tranquil lake.

"...How am I supposed to contact Damien?"

He sighed softly. "Did he end up here too or am I the only one who was pulled through that portal?"

The uncertainty weighed heavily on his mind.

If Damien had remained outside. He was probably searching for him. If this truly was another section of the labyrinth. Then there had to be an exit somewhere.

"I should look for it."

His gaze lowered to the bandages wrapped around his body.

"But not like this."

Every movement still sent pain through his battered muscles. His injuries had improved slightly, but they were far from healed.

Searching an unknown area in this condition would only increase his chances of getting killed. "...First things first."

He reached toward his storage ring. After searching through its contents, he found exactly what he had hoped was still there.

A single vial. A low-grade healing potion.

He had deliberately saved it during the labyrinth expedition in case of an emergency. "...Looks like this is that emergency."

Without hesitation, he uncorked the bottle. The crimson liquid shimmered faintly.

Noah drank it in one gulp. Warmth immediately spread through his body. The dull ache in his muscles gradually eased.

The cuts across his arms stopped throbbing. Even the pain around his ribs became noticeably lighter.

It wasn’t enough to restore him completely. But it was far better than before.

"That’s all I’ve got."

He glanced toward the lake one last time. "I’ll recover as much as I can before moving again."

Noah adjusted his position beneath the tree, allowing himself to relax for the first time since arriving in this strange land.

The gentle breeze drifted across the water. The soothing sound of flowing waves echoed softly in the distance.

For the first time in days. There were no battles. There were no monsters. No desperate struggle for survival.

There was only peace. His eyelids gradually grew heavier. "...Just a short rest..."

He murmured quietly, within minutes exhaustion finally claimed him.

Leaning against the ancient tree. Noah drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep as the tranquil forest continued its silent vigil around the crystal-clear lake.

---

THUNDER!!

A deafening clap of thunder echoed across the sky.

THUNDER!!

Noah’s eyelids twitched. A cold breeze brushed against his face.

Because of his Ice Affinity, he couldn’t truly feel the cold. His body naturally resisted low temperatures.

Even so he could sense the sudden change in the atmosphere.

The air had become heavier. It was sharper.

His eyes snapped open. "..."

The peaceful blue sky that had greeted him before was gone. It wasn’t night. Instead, an endless blanket of dark gray clouds had swallowed the heavens.

Blue streaks of lightning crawled across the clouds like giant serpents, briefly illuminating the world below.

Their brilliant flashes reflected in Noah’s sapphire-blue eyes.

A heartbeat later.

BOOOOOOOM!!

Thunder rolled across the entire forest.

Noah immediately pushed himself to his feet. A powerful gust of wind swept through the trees.

WHOOSH!

Towering branches bent violently. Countless leaves rustled together, creating a loud, almost eerie chorus that echoed throughout the forest.

The wind struck Noah head-on. He instinctively raised an arm to shield his face as his white hair whipped wildly behind him.

"...Looks like a heavy storm is coming."

His eyes scanned the surrounding area. There wasn’t a single cave.

No rocky overhang. Nothing that could serve as shelter.

"...Should I make one?"

The thought surfaced almost immediately.

"An ice house."

He had never attempted anything like that before.

Still in theory, it was possible. His mana had recovered to nearly half its capacity after resting. Constructing a temporary shelter shouldn’t be impossible.

"...First, I need somewhere with enough open space."

Without wasting another second, Noah turned and began moving through the forest. His pace gradually increased.

Stomp.

Stomp.

Stomp.

The farther he ran the stronger the wind became. The once peaceful trees now swayed violently as if struggling to remain rooted.

He couldn’t see any animal now. ’It seems they already fled to their shelters.’

Branches creaked. Leaves flew through the air.

"...Damn it."

Noah pushed forward despite the growing resistance. After several minutes the forest suddenly opened.

A familiar sight appeared before him. The river unlike the narrow section he had crossed earlier, this part of the riverbank was much wider.

"Perfect. There should be enough room here."

KRAAAAKK!!

Another bolt of lightning tore across the heavens. For an instant the entire world turned white.

Noah instinctively looked up. "What in the world...?"

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