Arthur pulled his tattered cloak tighter around himself, though it did little against the biting wind. The last embers of twilight had long since died, leaving only the merciless night sky above him. A deep, endless black, broken only by the occasional shimmering auroras that danced across the heavens. Beautiful, yet haunting.
"Damn it's cold," he muttered, his breath visible in the frigid air. He could feel his limbs stiffening, his body desperately trying to conserve warmth. "If I don't find some shelter, I'm dead."
His eyes scanned the icy wasteland, searching for anything that could shield him from the wind. The jagged ice formations that littered the landscape were his only hope. He trudged forward, his legs heavy, his wounds aching despite the relief granted by Blood Feast. He had survived the battles, but now came the greater challenge, the night itself.
"This place really wants me dead. Monsters, the cold, the hunger" He let out a bitter chuckle. "I'm going to die from something stupid, aren't I? Frozen stiff before I even see another damn Elf."
Arthur shook his head. No. That wasn't going to happen. He refused to let this place break him. With renewed determination, he moved forward until he spotted a formation of ice spikes that jutted out like massive frozen spears. Between them, there was a small alcove, barely large enough for him to squeeze inside.
"Not perfect, but better than nothing."
He wedged himself into the space, curling up as best he could. The wind still reached him, but at least it wasn't directly tearing through him like before. He exhaled slowly, trying to steady his mind. He had survived the day. Now, he needed to plan for tomorrow.
"I can't keep fighting like an idiot," he admitted to himself. "I almost died twice already. I need a strategy, something that gives me an actual advantage."
He closed his eyes, replaying the fights in his head. The Ice Elves were fast, but they had patterns. They liked to attack from a distance before closing in. They relied on their agility and numbers.
"I need to even the playing field."
Then it hit him.
"Traps," he whispered. "I can use the ice spikes. Lure them into an area where they can't move freely, force them into close quarters, and then strike where they're vulnerable."
His fingers twitched, his mind racing.
"I need to make them come to me. Act weak, act slow, make them think I'm easy prey… then strike the moment they commit to an attack."
Arthur let out a sharp breath. This could work. No, it would work. He wasn't strong enough to overpower them, but he could outthink them.
For the first time since arriving in this frozen hell, he felt something close to confidence.
Hours passed. Arthur couldn't sleep, the cold making it impossible, but his exhaustion kept him in a half-dazed state. He was startled awake by the sound of crunching ice.
His breath caught in his throat.
"Shit" he whispered.
Slowly, he peered out from his alcove. In the darkness, a faint blue glow flickered in the distance. Another Ice Elf, prowling the wasteland.
"Perfect timing," Arthur thought grimly. "Let's test this plan of mine."
He forced himself up, wincing as his stiff limbs protested. The Elf hadn't noticed him yet. It was moving cautiously, scanning the landscape. Searching.
"It's hunting. And I'm the prey."
Arthur clenched his teeth. "No. Not this time."
He moved carefully, stepping lightly to avoid making noise. He positioned himself near a formation of jagged ice, placing himself between two towering spikes. Then, he waited.
He took slow, deliberate breaths, lowering his posture. His body shivered naturally, making his weakness seem real. He let himself look exhausted, defenseless.
And it worked.
The Elf's three eyes locked onto him. Its head tilted slightly, then, in a blur, it shot forward.
Arthur stayed still, forcing himself to wait until the last possible second.
"Come on, just a little closer"
The Elf raised its claws, preparing to strike.
"Now!"
Arthur dove to the side, rolling into a crouch. The Elf's momentum carried it forward, straight into the ice spike he had positioned behind him. A sickening crunch filled the air as the sharpened ice pierced through the creature's side.
The Elf shrieked, writhing in agony. Arthur didn't hesitate. He grabbed another ice shard and plunged it into the creature's neck, twisting it as he did. Blue blood gushed from the wound, staining the ice below.
The Elf's thrashing slowed then stopped.
Arthur stepped back, panting. He had done it. The plan had worked.
Then, in the silence, a whisper echoed through his mind:
[You have killed a Common Feral, Frost Elf.]
[You have received A Dream.]
Arthur froze. His eyes opening slightly further, "A Dream, something new the Curse gifts me again?"
He went back into his small hiding place and called upon the runes that told him his class specifics a few hours before.
There was a new Line he was able to read, and it made Arthur smirk.
Name: Arthur Moonlight
Rank: Cursed
Personal Class: "Bloodborn"
Class Skills: "Blood Feast"
Dreams: "Ice Light"
Ice Light Description: "Well… It shines too bright..."
"What? What the hell does that description mean"
Ice Light Enchantments: "Locked"
"And the Enchantments are locked? This Dream-thing is the worst."
As soon as he thought about the Ice Light, a small blue orb made out of ice spawned in his hand.
And as soon as it appeared, Arthur lost his Eyesight for a moment.
It was so luminous that he couldn't look directly into the light.
He quickly dismissed it, and sighed.
"Never mind, this could be pretty useful actually, In some dire situations."
As the night pressed on, Arthur knew he couldn't stay in the cramped alcove forever. The cold gnawed at his bones, and he needed better shelter—somewhere with actual cover. Steeling himself, he pushed forward, each step crunching against the ice beneath his boots.
The landscape remained unchanged, a never-ending expanse of frozen death. He moved cautiously, knowing that more of the Ice Elves could be lurking in the darkness.
Hours passed, the slow crawl of time marked only by the occasional gust of wind. Then, as the first light of dawn broke across the horizon, something caught Arthur's eye.
A small cluster of structures, barely visible through the icy mist.
An Ice Elf camp.
Arthur's breath hitched. Shelter, supplies and enemies.
This could be an opportunity or a death sentence.
Either way, he had no choice but to move forward...