Chapter 79: Advanced Energy Explosion

A week had passed since that surreal event, and I gradually regained my vigor. With energy restored, I donned the gaming helmet I’d set aside for a week, entered the mirror synthesis, and appeared in the ever-bustling Tianlong City.

I headed to the quest hall to see what missions were available. After searching for a while, I couldn’t find many suitable tasks, but among countless quests, one finally caught my eye.

Quest Name: Snow Mountain Ruins. Quest Description: “It’s said that on the northwest coordinates of the Eternal Snow Mountain, there lies a dilapidated, abandoned area that was once the capital of the Ice Blue Kingdom. The legend goes that the King of Ice Blue sought to claim the Eternal Snow Mountain as his own territory, sending his army into the mountains. The local natives couldn’t withstand the invasion and were quickly defeated, enslaved by the Ice Blue Kingdom. Yet some managed to escape and climbed to the summit of the Eternal Snow Mountain, beseeching the mountain’s guardian deity, the Frost Dragon Skarsa, to save their people from suffering. Hearing his followers’ plea, Skarsa was enraged and unleashed his terrifying icy breath, freezing the capital of the Ice Blue Kingdom and burying it deep beneath the mountain. Only recently has this ruin resurfaced, revealing untold treasures of the kingdom. The empire now calls upon adventurers to retrieve the Imperial Seal of the Ice Blue Kingdom from the ruins. Those who succeed will be handsomely rewarded. (Currently, 17 adventurers have accepted this quest; the maximum is twenty.)”

Reading the bracketed note at the end, I immediately understood—this was a competitive quest, open to multiple players but with a single objective. My interest piqued, I accepted it without hesitation. I received two quest items: a map and something called “Hot Drink.” Its attributes indicated that consuming it would grant immunity to cold for five hours.

To explain, in the Second World, climate affects players. For example, on the Eternal Snow Mountain, players enter a “Cold” status, which drains 1% of their health every minute. Don’t underestimate that 1%—over time, it’s deadly. Conversely, entering the desert area of the Blood-Red Wasteland triggers a “Hot” status, causing thirst to rise by 1% per minute, eventually leading to dehydration. To avoid these effects, players must use appropriate potions: Hot Drink to resist cold, Cold Drink to resist heat. These are available in the system shop—one can’t help but note how the game company increasingly exploits players' assets.

After downing the Hot Drink, I began my ascent. After a stretch, the Eternal Snow Mountain appeared before me, and I couldn’t help but glance at the mid-slope. The mountain remained untouched by players, though many teams had previously attempted to pioneer it, only to be wiped out and forced to return to the city. Thus, the Eternal Snow Mountain was the most perilous leveling area outside Tianlong City.

Consulting the map, it indicated that reaching the ruins required passing through an ice cave. I had already entered the Road of Ice, which formed the mountain’s periphery—a bamboo forest wholly blanketed by snow and ice, with a single frozen river stretching into the distance. This was the only route to the ice cave. Countless bamboo leaves were adorned with crystalline icicles, sparkling in the sunlight. The forest was vast, reaching the horizon, with no end in sight.

Entering the bamboo grove, a wave of cold struck me. The chill was extraordinary, but thanks to the Hot Drink, I avoided health loss and felt a surge of warmth throughout my body.

The forest was dense. I followed a narrow path, my nerves taut, gripping my Ruyi Staff tightly. I summoned the Gale Wolf King to my side; it seemed unfazed by the cold, its thick fur providing ample protection.

Not far in, I sensed something amiss—the rustling of bamboo leaves in the wind. The Gale Wolf King grew restless; there was movement in the woods. My first instinct was that a monster was nearby.

Suddenly, the wind shifted, and the rustling frequency changed. Sensing danger, the Gale Wolf King grabbed me and darted left, deftly dodging an attack. A massive white figure burst from the bamboo—upon closer look, it was a huge white bear, resembling a polar bear. I activated True Sight: Ice Bear, level 30, ordinary beast. Description: Carnivorous mammal dwelling on the Road of Ice, adept at ambush.

The Gale Wolf King released me and engaged the Ice Bear. At the same time, I felt a sharp pain in my back. Looking up, a white shadow darted overhead and vanished into the bamboo.

“What speed!” I thought, certain it was another Ice Bear. It seemed these creatures hunted in packs. That swipe of its claws had taken over 500 health points—a formidable attack.

Crouched low, I readied myself as the Ice Bear lunged again, its claws slicing through the air with a faint “swish.” I rolled left to evade, stood up, and struck with a Crushing Blow: —420 points of damage appeared. The Ice Bear withstood the hit and retaliated; I ducked as its claws swept over my head.

Rising, I gripped my Ruyi Staff and jabbed at the bear’s right eye, launching an Energy Explosion.

“Boom—”

Orange energy erupted at the bear’s right eye, sending it flying. The bamboo ahead snapped—three stalks broken at the waist. The bear howled, and a damage value appeared.

I found myself sitting in the snow, stunned.

The shockwave nearly deafened me, my vision blurred, and the recoil numbed my wrist. Words failed to describe the power of the Energy Explosion.

—1792!

When had my Energy Explosion reached such heights? I quickly checked the skill.

[Energy Explosion]: Consumes 150 magic points to deal magic damage to a target, plus 300 fixed non-elemental explosion damage; 12% chance to add 300 fire-element explosion damage and knockback. Causes recoil to self. Cooldown: 5 seconds. Current level: Advanced (Upgradeable).

Unnoticed, the skill had reached Advanced. Magic consumption and power had increased, with an added bonus damage. Though the chance was low, weapon and skill damage normally had limits—rarely did I hit peak damage. My Energy Explosion had fixed non-elemental and additional damage, both ignoring defenses, even those with invincibility skills. This strike had dealt 1792—a staggering number even to me.

Yet the level 30 Ice Bear survived, albeit gravely wounded.

It had been flung over twenty meters. I ran over, seeing a large pool of blood—easy to spot on the snow. I chased deeper into the forest and found the bear. Its right eye was blasted open, blood gushing, leaving a bright red hole.

Without hesitation, I finished it off, sparing it further pain and sending it back to the mainframe. Yet to my disappointment, the bear dropped nothing—not even a single hair.

“Stingy,” I muttered. I only gained 200 experience points, pitifully low. It made sense—a level 40 player slaying a level 30 monster wouldn’t earn much.

Meanwhile, the Gale Wolf King dispatched the other Ice Bear, which was equally unrewarding, earning my scorn. Along the way, more Ice Bears appeared—first a few, then a whole pack. I had to summon the Dragon Warrior to assist. After the battle, I recalled him. I hesitated to call Amaterasu, as adding another summoned beast meant splitting experience. Dragon Warrior and Amaterasu couldn’t evolve, so experience wasn’t meaningful to them. When a monster dies, the player gains 100% experience, and so does the summoned beast if only one is summoned. With more, experience is divided. Players can allocate all experience to their summoned beasts, but while they gain, the player’s growth stalls—not advantageous.

After three hours, I finally reached the ice cave, situated halfway up the mountain. At the entrance stood a figure resembling a human, but formed entirely of solid ice, crystal blue throughout, its hands shaped into deadly claws.

Level 35 boss: Blue Ice Guardian. Description: A magical lifeform guarding an important passage, it will kill any creature entering its attack range.