No matter how much I study or how long I live, it's impossible to understand everything in this world.
Considering that most of my actions are based on knowledge gained from the game, this uncertainty itself makes the situation extremely unstable.
That's just how it is. Even the smallest details, if overlooked, can have profound effects on the world.
And that is exactly what is happening now.
Boom!
The echo of the explosion reverberated through the mountains, and I ran desperately, the sound of the blast still ringing in my ears.
Buzz!
I struggled to maintain my balance, each step accompanied by the pain of the previous impact, but the urgency of the situation propelled me forward. The wounds were healing rapidly, the only thing holding me back was the persistent pain.
'I can't waste even a second right now.'
Boom!
Another explosion shook the mountainside, and I instinctively protected myself, dodging the falling debris.
The slope loomed above me, and I focused on reaching a safe location before an avalanche occurred.
'Damn.'
Panic permeated every inch of my body, the life-or-death urgency sharpening my senses.
Between runs, the mountains constantly presented me with life-or-death trials. Cracking ice, hidden rocks, and snowdrifts that could collapse at any moment made every step dangerous.
My [Perceptive Insight] and my experience exploring the labyrinths made it easier to notice details that could threaten my life.
"Ha… ha…"
The air was getting thinner, and the cold seeped into my clothes, exacerbating the difficulty of breathing.
My body's low constitution weighed me down, but at the moment, I had no time to worry about it.
Rumble!
The earth shook from the collision of monsters and the impending avalanche.
As I raced against time, I also needed to check the map from time to time to make sure I was on the right path.
Not to mention wasting any seconds to slow down, if I made even one wrong step, the consequences would be unimaginable.
'I'm almost there.'
The map revealed a glimmer of hope. Although I wasn't sure if the destination was correct, I couldn't have any doubts now.
Rumble! Rumble!
The approaching avalanche and the smoke stirred up by the rubble had enveloped me, blurring my vision.
[Eyes of Time]
'I have a maximum of five seconds.'
I quickly estimated the distance and pushed myself to the limit.
'Four.'
Whoosh!
My foot landed in the snow, and my boots stabilized my steps.
'Three.'
The rubble and smoke grew thicker, making breathing almost impossible.
'Two.'
Holding my breath, I gripped my legs tightly, resisting the pressure of the avalanche, and struggled forward.
'One.'
The Eyes of Time slowed down time, and huge chunks of snow were almost right in front of me, but at the same time, I saw a small crack in front of me.
A crack that not even a snowflake had penetrated, as if something was preventing it from entering.
'That's it.'
The oxygen deprivation from holding my breath and the exhaustion of my body had begun to take their toll, pushing my consciousness to the brink of collapse.
'Can't stop.'
With one last push, I reached for the crack as the avalanche engulfed me.
I grabbed the crack with all my might, pulled myself in, and immediately felt the familiar sensation of being sucked into a portal.
Bang!
I fell to the ground, and even without the actual shaking, I felt the world around me still swaying.
From the chaos of the avalanche to the sudden change to unfamiliar ground, I was a little disoriented.
"Ha… ha…"
As I struggled to regain my breath and stand firm, the swaying world slowly began to return to its original state.
As my vision gradually cleared, I found myself in a completely different scene.
The feeling of the air was strange, filled with an ominous premonition. With every breath, I could feel the change in the atmosphere.
'This is it.'
The crack, the crack that saved my life, was actually my initial destination.
As I stood up, the effects of the adrenaline slowly calmed down.
The world around me had taken shape, revealing a place I had never encountered before.
The sky overhead was dark and oppressive, not because of the night, but because it was filled with smoke. The heavy atmosphere was in stark contrast to the icy mountains I had just escaped.
'It's hot here.'
The heat in the air was obvious, a stark contrast to the cold of the mountains. The feeling of the ground beneath my feet was completely different, both smooth and worn. Although it was scorching, it was still as smooth as silk in the dark landscape.
Huff! Huff!
The ground around me pulsed and vibrated, and suddenly, lava erupted like a geyser.
It poured down in rhythmic bursts, creating an eerie environment against the backdrop of the smoke-filled sky.
The surrounding ground seemed to be twisting, and a river of lava flowed like liquid, winding through the rugged terrain.
The heat waves emanating from the lava further intensified the oppressive atmosphere, making every step dangerous.
This was very different from the scenery at the entrance, forming a stark contrast.
'I need to rest first.'
Taking off my coat, I felt the fatigue from the long climb and the final intense run gradually surface.
Gulp!
Drinking a bottle of endurance potion and a bottle of mana potion to replenish my reserves, I sat on the ground, trying to hide my presence as much as possible.
[Aurora Crow]
The first step is reconnaissance, as I am now in a weakened state.
Flutter! Flutter!
As the crow flapped its wings, I began to explore the interior of the dungeon, looking for any signs of monsters.
'Visual Sharing.'
After a period of contracting, I no longer felt uncomfortable. When the perspective shifted to the crow, I was able to see the surrounding scenery and grasp the details more clearly.
'Hmm… just like in the game, Lava Snakes.'
The first type of monster was the Lava Snake. They swam in the rivers of lava, their scales shimmering in the glow of the lava.
'Tier 4 low-level monsters.'
Although they didn't look very powerful, they actually weren't. These monsters were about as strong as the Lava Lizards we encountered in the simulation dungeon, and there were far more than just one or two of them.
To subdue these monsters, at least a seasoned high-level hunter would be needed.
As I watched, one snake glided through the lava, bathing in the intense magma, while another coiled near the rock wall, its eyes fixed on potential prey.
The second type of monster also appeared, the elusive Geyser Stalkers. They dwelled on the ground, blending seamlessly with their surroundings, using the erupting geysers as cover.
'Should be tier 4 mid-level monsters, their strength lies in camouflage and ambush.'
These monsters patiently stalked through the terrain, waiting for the best moment to strike. In a sense, they were ones I could deal with one-on-one, but considering the complexity of the terrain, going it alone might make me prey for the Lava Snakes.
And my real goal here was never to fight monsters.
This place was not my goal to conquer right now. The Rihua Mountains were supposed to be a place for players to explore after reaching a higher level.
And right now I haven't reached that level, so I only have one choice and goal.
'Avoid conflict and reach the final destination.'
And the only way I can reach my destination silently is with the [Shadow Cloak Armor]. High-level monsters have an intuition and instinct that cannot be compared to the monsters I have encountered before.
"Huff… that should be enough."
Taking a deep breath, I prepared to move forward, my eyes locked on the path ahead. The challenge would be difficult, but it was still within my capabilities.
Activating my trait, I silently blended into the shadows.
...
In a room filled with luxurious decorations, a girl with fiery red hair sat on the floor.
The room was as spacious as a small house, surrounded by countless precious and rare materials, any one of which would be enough to support an ordinary family for 20 years.
"Huff…"
The girl exhaled a breath of fire, sitting in a meditative posture.
"I'm so bored."
She opened her amber eyes and murmured to herself. Maintaining this meditative state to improve her magic control was itself a tedious and boring task.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
At this moment, the door to the room was knocked on.
"Come in."
The door creaked open, and a maid in a neat uniform walked into the room. "Miss Irina, Madam requests your presence," she said with a gentle bow.
Irina sighed, her red hair shimmering with her movements. "Can't she see I'm busy? What does she want now?"
Her relationship with her mother was a bit… complicated.
The maid knew this and hesitated before answering, "It's about the upcoming ball, she insists that you attend and discuss the arrangements."
Irina sighed, clearly uninterested in the upcoming event. Even knowing this, her mother had never let her enjoy herself, always telling her that she would inherit the family business in the future.
But she also knew that this was just her mother making excuses to have the maid call her, and based on her mother's personality, Irina already knew why she was calling her.
"Alright, alright." She stood up from her meditative posture, her crimson robe flowing around her like flames.
"She is waiting for you in her office." The maid lowered her head, signaling Irina to follow.
Irina followed the maid through the mansion's ornate corridors, each step echoing with an air of luxury.
'How annoying.'
She was indifferent to the magnificent scenery around her, which was at odds with her impatient attitude.
As they arrived at her mother's office, the maid was about to gently knock on the door when she heard an elegant voice come from inside the room: "You may enter."
With a creak, the door was pushed open.
Inside, a woman with the same red hair and amber eyes sat behind an intricately carved desk. The room's decorations were similar to Irina's room, surrounded by countless luxurious ornaments and rare magical items.
The woman had a serious expression, showing the responsibility of being the head of the family, but at the same time, the pressure emanating from her made it difficult to look her in the eyes.
"You've come."
