“Do monsters get more active at night?” Stelle muttered, swinging her bat and sending a lunging Hilichurl flying.
No wonder Dragonspine was considered dangerous.
The number of monsters here was on an entirely different level compared to other places—wave after wave kept coming.
Following the marked location of the Frostarm Lawachurl on her map, she advanced steadily upward.
The higher she climbed, the more she could feel the number of monsters increasing.
Most of them were ordinary Hilichurls and Samachurls, with the occasional Mitachurl appearing.
Even the Mitachurls here were different.
Instead of wooden shields, they carried massive ice shields.
Although those shields still couldn’t withstand a single strike from Stelle, the feedback from her hits made it clear—they were far sturdier than the wooden-shield Mitachurls she had encountered before.
“Haa—” Stelle let out a slow breath and looked into the distance.
“This is…” Her lips parted slightly in surprise.
In front of her stood what appeared to be a tree stump.
But it was far larger than any stump she had ever seen.
The interior seemed hollowed out, filled with deep blue ice.
Even at a glance, the ice was clearly different from ordinary ice.
Especially at its center, several shards of ice had gathered together, forming something that floated quietly within.
Stelle quickly pulled out her map.
After checking carefully, she confirmed that she had reached the last recorded location of the Frostarm Lawachurl.
There was no way she had gotten lost this time.
There was only one path here—following it, she couldn’t possibly have gone the wrong way.
The map also marked this place clearly.
The thing in front of her, according to those scholars, was called…
“The Frostbearing Tree.” Stelle looked up again at the massive stump.
It was said that the seal on this tree had yet to be broken by anyone.
Because Dragonspine was so dangerous and filled with mysteries, researching this place required enormous manpower and resources.
“What a sight.” Stelle stepped closer to the Frostbearing Tree.
The stump was completely sealed in ice.
However, the pillar of fragmented ice in front of it stood out conspicuously, even giving off a faintly suspicious feeling.
It was positioned as if it were deliberately telling people: “Come break me.” Stelle couldn’t resist reaching out to touch the strange ice pillar.
It felt no different from ordinary ice, but the energy contained within gave her a peculiar sensation.
Frowning slightly, she quickly withdrew her hand.
Looking at the pillar, her brows furrowed.
She was thinking about whether she should smash it.
The feeling it gave her was similar to the manhole covers on Belobog’s streets—whenever she passed one, she always had the urge to step on it.
What would happen if she broke it?
Surely she wouldn’t be accused of destroying cultural relics, right?
But seeing something so out of place…
she really couldn’t resist.
Actually, thinking about it, this place was deserted.
Even if she smashed it, who would know it was her?
“Well then…” Just as she took out her bat, preparing to strike, something unexpected happened.
Behind her, a loud roar suddenly erupted—like a beast bellowing.
Stelle turned around in confusion, only to see a massive white beast charging straight toward her.
“Watch out!” Boom— After the deafening impact, everything was shrouded in white mist, her vision completely obscured.
However, Stelle could feel that she was pressed against a soft body.
Particularly…
those soft, white mounds were extremely plush.
“Spacing out on Dragonspine can cost you your life.” It was Rosaria’s voice, carrying a hint of laziness, but more of concern.
She set Stelle down.
That moment just now had been extremely dangerous—even for her.
Stelle blinked, hesitating as if she wanted to say something.
She wanted to tell Rosaria that even without her intervention, that Frostarm Lawachurl wouldn’t have posed any real threat.
With her speed and reflexes, she could have easily avoided it.
Besides, she had actually planned to use her bat to bring it to a sudden stop.
A bat stopping a charging beast.
Too bad Rosaria had interrupted…
“Thanks.” In the end, Stelle just smiled and thanked her.
No matter what, Rosaria had acted out of good intentions—and had even risked herself to save her.
“Hmph.
Be more careful next time.” Rosaria glanced at her, then quickly turned her head away.
Seeing Stelle’s sincere smile, her heart began pounding uncontrollably.
Maybe it was just because of the strain from that last-second rescue…
“So this is the Frostarm Lawachurl.
It’s pretty solid.” Stelle turned back to look at the giant beast.
Its size far exceeded that of ordinary Hilichurls—even larger than Mitachurls.
“Can you handle it?” Rosaria steadied herself and took out her spear.
She wielded a Cryo Vision, which put her at a disadvantage against this creature.
Especially once it covered itself in icy armor, she would have to rely on physical strength rather than elemental power.
Her help would be limited.
“Of course!” Stelle gripped her bat, arcs of electricity beginning to crackle across it.
“After all, rules are made to be broken!” “What?” Rosaria frowned slightly.
She didn’t understand that sudden, out-of-place remark.
What did rules being broken have to do with this?
“Cough, nothing, nothing…” Stelle chuckled awkwardly.
It had nothing to do with the situation—she just felt the urge to say it every time she went all out.
“Roar—” The Frostarm Lawachurl slammed its fists together, Cryo energy surging as a suit of icy armor formed over its body.
It looked far sturdier than the ice-shield Mitachurls she had encountered earlier.
Let’s see if it can take two hits.
Stelle thought silently as she stepped forward.
“Hey—” Rosaria started to warn her not to be so reckless.
But Stelle moved faster than her words.
In an instant, she had already reached the Frostarm Lawachurl.
“Farewell hit!” A thunderous impact echoed.
Right before Rosaria’s eyes, the Frostarm Lawachurl’s icy armor shattered.
All that remained was the creature’s agonized roar.
Even those with Pyro Visions would struggle to melt that armor—but Stelle had crushed it with pure brute force.
If she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, Rosaria would never have believed it.