Within the Black Valley,
Groups of mercenaries came and went, clad in uniforms bearing their respective guild emblems, eyeing each other warily. Most of these mercenaries possessed at least fifth-tier strength—a considerable level for ordinary fighters in such organizations. Warriors beyond the fifth tier rarely took up mercenary work.
Yet, the oppressive aura of this place left Kael and Amelia unsettled. They pressed forward cautiously.
"It's snowing," Kael frowned, surprised by the sudden turn in weather.
Indeed, though it wasn't winter, the Black Valley lay in the northern reaches of the Keya Kingdom, where snow lingered year-round. Thick flakes now swirled down, blanketing the landscape, and the temperature plummeted.
Since Kael and Amelia were heading north—a region perpetually locked in ice—they had no choice but to traverse this frozen expanse to reach the ancient ruins.
"No matter. Ordinary snow won't hinder us. Let's keep moving," Amelia said, catching a delicate snowflake in her palm. She even seemed to appreciate the wintry scenery as she made the suggestion.
Kael nodded, gripping Amelia's hand as they trekked through the snow toward the valley's northwest.
Towering peaks loomed in the distance, while snow-laden trees adorned the surroundings. In mere moments, the world had transformed into a pristine white expanse.
Along the way, they encountered numerous magical beasts—mostly below the seventh tier. Though higher-tier creatures lurked deeper in the valley, they typically remained hidden in caves, rarely emerging.
Thus, Kael and Amelia faced only lower-tier beasts, dispatching them with ease. Despite the snow slowing their movements slightly, their combat prowess remained largely unaffected—still formidable as ever.
After slaying a seventh-tier Frostbear, Kael smirked, deftly skinning the beast and extracting its magic core before storing it in his spatial ring.
But suddenly, he noticed Amelia's expression shift.
"Amelia, what's wrong?" Kael asked in surprise.
"Avalanche!" Amelia grabbed Kael's hand and immediately pulled him into a sprint.
"Avalanche?!" Kael whipped his head around. From Amelia's angle, she could clearly see the snow on the nearby peaks trembling as if the mountains themselves were shaking. A bone-chilling surge of cold air erupted like a tidal wave.
An avalanche—it was really happening!
Kael knew that the snow-capped mountains deep in the Black Valley were perpetually covered in snow, making avalanches far from uncommon. But for one to strike now—it seemed their luck was truly terrible.
The white snow roared as it tumbled down the slopes, its momentum so vast that it seemed to blot out the sky. Like a tsunami of ice, it thundered with earth-shattering force, sweeping toward the valley below.
The silver-white tide surged like ten thousand stampeding horses, its deafening rumble shaking the ground beneath them. Kael's heart pounded as he tightened his grip on Amelia and broke into a desperate sprint.
Cold sweat beaded on Kael's forehead. An avalanche of this magnitude was one of nature's most terrifying forces—its destructive power rivaling that of a tenth-tier ice spell. In the face of such overwhelming might, fleeing was their only option.
"This is bad—really bad!" Kael clutched Amelia tightly, ensuring they wouldn't be separated in the chaos. He dragged her along as they raced for safety.
The shadow of death loomed over them. Kael swiftly conjured a magic barrier in front of them, shielding Amelia and himself from obstacles as they ran at full speed.
Yet the avalanche pursued them relentlessly, its thunderous momentum unleashing wave after wave of freezing wind.
Gritting his teeth, Kael wove through the forest with Amelia in tow. His face flushed with exertion—despite his formidable strength, he was still a mage at heart. While his physique was above average, it paled in comparison to Amelia's warrior endurance.
Kael's face flushed red, but in this critical moment, he summoned strength beyond his limits, pulling Amelia forward with desperate speed.
Five minutes, ten minutes, fifteen minutes... The prolonged sprint left even Kael panting heavily, yet he gritted his teeth and pushed on.
"There's a passage ahead! If we follow it, we should reach safety!" Amelia's chest rose and fell rapidly, though her complexion remained steadier than Kael's—unsurprising, given her warrior's endurance.
Kael had already noticed the passage, but it was still a considerable distance away. Reaching it wouldn't be easy.
The avalanche was now less than fifty meters behind them! The bone-deep chill sent a jolt of terror through both of them. The tumbling snow had compacted into a crushing, mountain-like force.
"Go, now!"
Kael tightened his grip on Amelia and bolted toward the passage. Behind them, the avalanche roared like a collapsing sky, its momentum unstoppable.
They sprinted at full speed, but the avalanche surged forward, slamming into Kael's magic barrier. Fortunately, his shield held firm against the impact.
"Levitation!" At the last possible second—just before the snow could swallow them—Kael remembered his Levitation Spell. He scooped Amelia into his arms and soared into the air.
Both exhaled in unison, their tension easing slightly. Kael held Amelia close and smacked his forehead. "In the panic, I almost forgot I could fly." He shrugged wryly—all that running for nothing.
Below them, the avalanche continued its rampage. Forests were swallowed whole by the white tide, trees—no matter how massive—snapped like twigs or torn from their roots. The devastation resembled a beast tide, only far more merciless.
Nearly half an hour passed before the avalanche finally subsided. Kael and Amelia descended cautiously.
"Look—that passage!" Kael pointed to the narrow path they had tried to reach earlier. Despite the thick snow, it remained partially exposed, its depths unfathomable.
"Kael... I think we've found the Life Gate!" Amelia smiled faintly. This disaster had turned into an unexpected boon.
Kael nodded. The passage was peculiar and inconspicuous—exactly the kind of hidden entrance an ancient ruin's Life Gate would have.
"Let's go take a look."
Kael and Amelia descended slowly, their feet sinking into the snow as they walked side by side, leaving deep footprints behind them.
The passage ahead was narrow—just wide enough for the two of them to move forward together. The tunnel was pitch-black, so Kael conjured a fire spell to light their way.
"No wonder no one has discovered this place. The area is buried under snow, and this passage is extremely well-hidden. If not for sheer luck, we might never have found it," Kael remarked.
Amelia nodded in agreement. "It's definitely concealed."
They continued down the long tunnel, advancing cautiously for nearly half an hour before finally reaching a particular spot ahead.
"Here." Kael narrowed his eyes slightly. At the deepest part of the tunnel, what appeared to be the end was actually veiled by a magic formation.
Stepping inside, they confirmed it—it was indeed a teleportation array.
The scenery around them shifted abruptly, and in an instant, Kael and Amelia found themselves in an entirely different world.
A breathtaking landscape unfolded before them—endless trees, fragrant grass, insects hidden among the foliage, and a gentle breeze carrying warmth and familiarity.
There was no mistaking it.
They had returned.
To the Ancient Ruins.
Relief and exhilaration washed over them, especially Kael, who already felt the stirrings of a plan taking shape in his mind.