Vast Tundra

What the hell? Weren't we supposed to be walking through a desert?

Well, this place is a wasteland, a frozen wasteland!

We were marching through the snow as we were approaching the top of a hill. The skies were somehow cloudy. This was probably the use of some illusion magic. Yes, illusion magic exists in this world.

As Shin had finished scanning the area, we decided to head for shelter, that is, if we could find one. Right now, our strategy was to survive till tomorrow. Then we all get silver rank, easy, right?

Well, turns out it's going to be harder than that. We were all cold, our spit was freezing, our only protection in this freezing environment was fire magic.

"Heatwave."

Whoosh...

"Brrrrrrrr, thanks Lucian-san."

"You can drop the honorifics, for now, you need to save your breath."

Hmm, that's strange, heatwave is a spell that comprises tiny but boiling fire particles that is able to melt ice quickly. But when I look at the surrounding ice, it didn't melt at all. I even went and touched the ground, I'll tell you, this ice wasn't fake.

"Who do you think could've done this, Shin?"

"I don't know, but this has to be the work of a highly advanced ice user."

We've already assumed that, but can someone really make ice that can't melt? No, this could be an aberrant skill. An aberrant skill that allows the caster to summon unmeltable ice.

But even if they could do that, how did they manage to freeze this entire desert?

"Maybe we should head back to the forest?"

Vlad suggested as he turned back, but then he stopped in his tracks.

Boom!

An explosion erupted from the forest's direction.

"Yeah, they're already fighting back there. It's best we stay here."

So we moved forward. Hoping that we could find some shelter so we could last through the night. I couldn't tell if the sun was down or not but it was getting darker so sunset had probably passed.

After a few minutes, it started snowing.

Shin looked up with a worried face.

"Oh no, I know what's going to happen next. After a few minutes, we're going to be trapped in a blizzard!"

"Calm down, this is just regular snowfall. We need to hurry and find a cave before we get trapped. Do you see anything yet?"

"No, but I do see some thick arches. Do you think we could hide under them?"

"Hmm, that sounds alright. We might find a cave in the process."

We were heading towards this giant white arch. Me and Shin were scouting our surroundings, searching for any enemies.

"Nothing over here."

"Neither here."

"Guess most of them went into the forest. Looks like we might guarantee us a spot for silver rank."

"Yep."

Silver rank is all I need, I could go for gold rank if I wanted right now. I thought as I looked at Shin, Vlad, and Brock.

But I'm not cruel, and I won't fight anything that can't fight back. I glanced at Shin and Vlad.

"Hey, guys! We found a cave."

Vlad called out to us while standing in front of an entrance to a cave.

I thoroughly inspected the cave, and it had enough space for us to stay the night.

"Ok, this should be alright."

***

Fwoosh...

It's been a few hours. Remember the snowfall? Well now, it's a blizzard. This is definitely the work of an enhanced ice user. But who could it be?

Images of that girl, what was her name? Yuki Mitsuko. Yeah, it could be her. She looks like someone that could have an ice-related skill.

"M-M-Mr. Lucian."

Brock was stuttering as he called for me.

"Yeah what?"

"How are you not cold?"

"Hmm?"

I glanced at my attire. I was wearing a short sleeve tunic, black trousers, and some boots.

"Huh, maybe it's cause using fire magic heats your body up as well? Meh, I do feel a little cold, are you not warm with that large fur coat of yours?"

"Yeah, but this is beyond cold."

"I see. Are you all cold?"

I asked Shin and Vlad. They nodded, I could see mucus dripping from their nose. So I opened up my spatial and pulled out some thick blankets and 3 coats. I gave two of them a coat and wore one myself.

I then pulled out some sticks that I collected from the forest and placed them on the floor. Then I used fire magic and lit them up.

"Maybe I should've gotten more, but as long as you guys keep this going, you might last the night. Maybe I should go back to the forest and get some more."

"Are you sure about that? Just look at how much snow is falling!"

I peeked my head outside. This blizzard was stronger than the blizzards I had experienced in Vritra. They were never this loud and windy and cold. This ice user. They won't stop until tomorrow morning.

Then an idea appeared in my head. If I go and beat whoever is doing this, then all this snowfall will eventually stop. But where could this person be?

"I might have a solution."

Shin looked at me curiously.

"What solution?"

I looked back at him and smirked.

"I'm going to beat whoever is doing this."

The 3 gasped. Was there something wrong with what I said?

"You're going to go out into that storm?"

"You're going to freeze!"

"I may be crazy, but I'm not that crazy."

I titled my head. Is it that serious? I mean, as long as I use fire magic, then I could stay in the middle of this storm for as long as I want, at the cost of rapidly using my MP.

"It's alright, it's not like I'm going to die."

"You won't die, but you'll freeze! I can see it!"

Vlad spat out. At soon as he ended his sentence, my attention immediately turned to Vlad.

"What did you just say?"

Vlad realized what he said and covered his mouth.

"N-nothing."

He just said that he could see me freeze, even though I haven't even taken a step out of this place yet.

"Vlad, you-"

"No!"

"I didn't even finish yet. Don't tell me you could..."

Vlad's eyes were looking all over the place. I got suspicious, so did Shin.

"Vlad, are you able to peer into the future?"

Shin asked him politely. Vlad was blinking rapidly. Then the pressure hit him and he eventually gave up.

"Yes, my aberrant is precognition, it allows me to peak into the future. But I am only allowed to look 10 seconds into the future, though."

"How were you able to see that I can freeze though."

"I didn't, but I just know you won't make it back."

Precognition allows him to look 10 seconds into the future, huh?

"Can you look into the future right now?"

"Umm, yes."

Vlad's red eyes began glowing. This is the perfect chance. So my left eye glowed, activating my Replication. Shin and Brock had their attention at Vlad, so no one noticed what was happening to me.

[Analyzing...]

[...]

[Skill Analyzed: Precognition]

[Skill Replicated]

"So what do you see Vlad?"

"Nothing really, just snow. Wait, I think I saw something!"

Shit! Did he see my eye glow in his vision?

"Wait, nevermind."

I'd sigh in relief. If someone were to find out about my replication skill, that would be a hassle, according to what Ddraig and Divinus said.

"Anyway, I think I'll just go ahead and go out. The sooner I take out whoever's doing this, the sooner this snow can go away. Then we're guaranteed to become silver rank heroes."

"Are you sure you can beat this guy by yourself?"

I crossed my arms as I took a step outside.

Whoosh!!!

The wind blew hard against my face. I don't think I'm gonna have any luck flying in this weather, so looks like I'm going to have to walk through this snow.

The snow was about a foot tall. Glad that I have boots.

"Of course. It's not like I'll be beaten that easily."

"Good luck. Brrrrrr, this campfire really helps."

"Yeah~ I agree."

"Well, then good luck Lucian-san."

I nodded.

"Right."

***

And now, I was walking through the snow, it's only been a few minutes but the snow has gotten higher than before. How has this person not run out of mana yet?

I've tried flying through this, but ice would just grow from my wings. I don't anyone could fly through this kind of weather.

Pat.

I took a deep breath. My fire magic is getting efficient every minute that passes by. Eventually, I'm really going to freeze.

I glanced around, inspecting my surroundings.

!

What the hell? Aren't I the only one that's supposed to be walking through this blizzard? If so-

Why is there another trail of footsteps?

There were tracks in the snow. These footsteps don't belong to me since they were walking in the opposite direction as me.

As I inspected it closely, I realized that these footsteps were created recently.

Shit, I didn't know there were others. I suspected it, but I didn't know there would actually be others. Looks like I'm going to have to act cautiously from now on.

.

.

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