The fierce wind whipped up snow particles like sharp gavels, pelting Matthias’ face. He gripped the nearby soldier’s arm so tightly that his knuckles went white.
His black battle robe was already soaked through with melted snow. The frozen fabric clung to his skin, and the cold penetrated through his pores deep into his bones.
He looked up, seeing only vaguely discernible outlines of the men around him amidst the blizzard.
The soldier who had been swept away by the wind earlier hadn’t even managed to scream for help. He disappeared completely into the blizzard, leaving only traces that were quickly covered by snow.
“Over here!” Leopold shouted, though his voice was nearly drowned by the howling wind.
He pulled out the animal hide package Barto had given him from his coat and clutched it tightly against his chest. With his free hand, he groped for a protruding rock.
“There’s an ice cave here. We can wait out the storm,” he said. A surge of relief washed over Matthias. He quickly signaled for the remaining soldiers to follow.
The men supported each other through the deep snow, each step a struggle as they trudged toward Leopold. The snow reached their thighs, and anyone who lost their footing would sink into the soft layers beneath. It often took the combined effort of their companions to pull them out.
Neville was supported by a soldier gripping his lone arm as they trudged forward. Blood seeping from the wound on his back had stained his cloak red, freezing into dark red ice shards in the blizzard.
Each step brought waves of pain, causing cold sweat to bead on his forehead, but he gritted his teeth and pressed on. Despite that, he would occasionally warn those around him to watch their footing.
After a grueling effort to reach the ice cave, they discovered that the space was so small it could barely fit ten people.
Matthias entered first, then turned to pull his soldiers inside one after another. Just as the last man squeezed through, a massive sheet of snow crashed down at the entrance. The avalanche sealed most of the opening instantly, leaving only a narrow slit for air.
The temperature inside the cave was noticeably warmer. The men collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily.
Leopold carefully unwrapped the animal hide package. Inside were strips of dried meat, some medicinal herbs to fight the cold, and a map drawn on a scrap of hide.
A route was marked in red pigment, starting at Frostfang Valley and ending at a place labeled “New Frontier”. Several strange symbols were drawn along the path, seemingly markers of some kind.
“This must be the way out of Everfrost,” Leopold said, pointing to the area marked ” New Frontier” on the map.
He added excitedly, “Barto really didn’t lie to us.”
Matthias leaned in to study the map carefully. The route was marked with several dangerous zones-“Crevasse Zone “, “Snow Fox Dens”, and one area with a large beast drawn in black ink, labeled ” Frost Serpent’s Lair”.
He frowned slightly, knowing the journey ahead looked even more treacherous. The group rested in the ice cave for four hours until the blizzard gradually subsided.
Leopold distributed the dried meat and brewed tonic to fight the cold. After drinking the tonic, warmth spread through their bodies, and much of their fatigue eased.
“It’s time to set off. While the blizzard has stopped, we should cross the Crevasse Zone ahead as quickly as possible,” Matthias said. He rose, brushing snow from his clothes with determined resolve.
Everyone stood up and followed Leopold out of the ice cave. The blizzard outside had weakened considerably. Though the sky remained overcast, at least they could see the path ahead. Guided by the map, they headed toward the Crevasse Zone.
After walking for about an hour, a massive field of ice crevasses appeared before them. The cracks crisscrossed in all directions, with bottomless black mouths that disappeared into darkness. Cold wind howled up from the depths, creating an eerie sound that chilled them to the bone.
Only narrow ice bridges connected the gaps between crevasses. The slick surfaces allowed no room for error. One wrong step meant a fatal fall.
“Everyone, be careful,” Leopold said. ”
Cross one at a time and hold the rope.’
He pulled out the rope he had prepared earlier from his bag. After securing one end to a nearby ice pillar, he handed the other end to Matthias.
Matthias took the rope and stepped onto the ice bridge. The bridge was narrow, barely wide enough for one person.
He advanced carefully, though sharp cracking sounds came from the ice underfoot from time to time, as if it might collapse at any moment. Holding his breath, he fixed his eyes on the far side and slowly moved forward.
The soldiers behind him followed in a tense line, gripping the rope tightly. They didn’t dare to let their guard down. Just then, one of the soldiers in the middle lost his footing. His body tilted instantly toward the crevasse.
“Help!” he cried. Matthias’ stomach dropped. He spun around and reached for the man, but it was too late. Fortunately, a nearby soldier reacted quickly and grabbed the falling man’s arm. Together, he and Matthias hauled the man up.
Trembling, the soldier sat on the ice bridge, his face pale with shock. It took several minutes before he could stand again.
At last, the entire group made it across the Crevasse Zone. A collective sigh of relief swept through them.
The rest of the journey was relatively smooth. They avoided the Snow Fox Dens and Frost Serpent’s Lair by following the map’s instructions.
For three days and nights, they trekked through the frozen wasteland, surviving on dried meat from Barto and melted snow for water.
They braved through bitter winds by day and set up makeshift tents in whatever sheltered places they could find each night.
The soldiers grew haggard, their faces chapped and their armor crusted with ice. Yet no one complained. They all understood that persistence would eventually lead them out of Everfrost. On the third evening, Leopold suddenly stopped and pointed ahead.
“Look!” he exclaimed excitedly. “Up ahead is the mysterious passage marked on the map.”
