When Midir’s palm gently brushed against the protruding surface, the originally chaotic elemental energy seemed to be given life. One by one, they arranged themselves in an orderly fashion, following his will to gradually weave into rows of strange characters.
The writing on it was definitely not any script currently in circulation on the continent, and neither of them could distinguish what was written. Miraculously, even though Midir didn't understand it at all, he continued to refine the symbols as if it were an innate talent.
As the protrusion was completely covered by these strange characters, the space above their heads suddenly rippled, and a portal similar to the previous one slowly took shape.
After sensing that the spatial fluctuations from the door had gradually stabilized, Midir nodded to Aila, signaling that she could enter.
With her previous experience, Aila didn't hesitate. She gave a light hop and leapt into the spinning portal, leaving the area.
Midir followed close behind, stepping into that bizarre doorway. Before leaving, he cast a deep look at the stone carved with unknown writing, as if to etch every symbol into the depths of his memory.
In an instant, the two found themselves standing on a snow-covered plain. Sunlight pierced through the clouds, casting dappled light and shadow that intertwined with the biting cold wind unique to the Valley of Ice, bringing a distinct sense of freshness and freedom.
Aila couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief. Although the surrounding environment was no longer as warm and pleasant as before, the feeling of having her feet on solid ground made her feel much more at ease. They had finally returned to the surface and begun a new journey.
“Look behind you!” Having regained her composure, Aila suddenly noticed their surroundings and shouted while pointing behind Midir.
Hearing her call, Midir also turned to look. Standing behind him was a massive mountain peak that pierced straight into the sky. Looking up along the steep cliffs of the mountain, ring-shaped clouds were slowly rotating around its summit.
This massive mountain was the full view of Crown Peak, the tallest peak on the continent, situated in the center of the Valley of Ice.
Standing at the foot of the mountain, both of them felt incredibly small, like ants beneath a dragon's foot.
“It seems we really have reached our destination. What do we do next? Can you feel anything?” After recovering from the initial shock, Aila looked at Midir and asked.
“We need to climb!” Midir looked up at the summit disappearing into the clouds, finally feeling that attraction that had once appeared in his dreams.
It was an indescribable and peculiar feeling, as if someone were gently beckoning to him from within the thick clouds, yet the sensation was also so surreal.
Aila let out a soft sigh upon hearing this, looking up at the towering Crown Mountain.
“I knew we wouldn't catch a break. So we really have to climb up? Since we're already here, it wouldn't make sense not to go. But before we set off, give me two more pieces of clothing. I don't want to be frozen solid on the way up.”
“I didn't realize you were so sensitive to the cold. Here, take these. Do you need to rest for a bit? Looking at the height and size of Crown Peak, we won't find our target in a short amount of time.”
Midir smiled and took out two carefully prepared sets of winter clothing from his storage space, handing them to Aila.
The two had just escaped from a series of battles and were still wearing practical gear. Although he had reached the Saint Rank and could withstand heat and cold, Aila clearly could not yet do the same.
“Forget resting. I got enough rest during that ascent earlier. If I wasn't worried about falling, I might have even taken a nap. Let's head out early and settle this matter of yours!”
Aila took the leather coat from his hand and immediately put it on. After moving her limbs a bit to confirm it didn't hinder her movement, she spoke.
After a brief period of adjustment and planning, the two immediately began their difficult climb.
Crown Peak was not only the tallest on the continent but also ranked among the steepest. If an ordinary person were to attempt the climb, most wouldn't even be able to make it past the base.
Midir originally intended to take Aila and use instant movement to go straight up, but after moving only a short distance, his path was blocked by a transparent spatial rift.
Upon careful investigation, he discovered that the air around Crown Peak was filled with fine and subtle spatial rifts. Not only were they difficult to see with the naked eye, but they were also slowly drifting at an imperceptible speed, like invisible traps set by nature.
Sensing these dense rifts made Midir’s scalp tingle. At the same time, he felt lucky that he hadn't foolishly attempted a long-distance teleportation. If he had crashed into one of those rifts, even he would certainly not have a good time.
Ultimately, he had to give up on the idea of taking a shortcut. The two of them had to honestly climb up along the ridge.
While the ridge didn't have those terrifying spatial rifts, it was constantly buffed by fierce winds as sharp as blades. The already frighteningly low temperature became even more extreme as they ascended.
Fortunately, both of their physical conditions were far beyond those of ordinary people. Although the mountain path was steep, it could not stop their progress.
As Aila had mentioned, during the climb, they discovered many fragments of ancient ruins. These ruins appeared even more desolate and lonely in the biting cold wind, as if telling stories of past glory and sorrow.
“So, what kind of people lived in a place like this in the past? Does this even make sense?” After climbing for some time, the two found a relatively sheltered ruin for a brief rest. Midir looked at the ancient stone house before him and couldn't help but remark.
“Now that you mention it, I find it strange too. What normal person would live in such a cold and inconvenient place? But the layout and displays of these ruins prove that people once used them.”
Aila brushed the fine snow off her head and shoulders as she echoed his question.
Although the interior was somewhat dim, one could still see the furnishings made of stone slabs and blocks. Even after so many years of erosion by wind and snow, their original shapes were still clearly discernible.
Even the decorative murals and carvings on the walls could still be vaguely identified. The most common image was of a being with wings, which in modern terms would likely be an angel. This also matched the legend that Crown Peak was a bridge connecting to the Ancient City of Gods.
“After all, these are things left behind over ten thousand years ago. Maybe from our current perspective, it just seems strange. But then again, didn't you say in the records that there are many ghosts and monsters on this mountain? We've been walking for so long, so why haven't we seen anything?”
Midir patted a decoration on the wall beside him, expressing his inability to understand the aesthetic of these murals, and then continued his questioning.
Aila was also a bit confused by the question. According to the records she had gathered from various places, Crown Peak should be extremely dangerous.
Yet, in this current stretch of the journey, only the incredibly harsh weather could be considered an obstacle; it was far from being terrifying.
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