Hairline cracks spread out like spider webs through the entire structure. Chunks of ice the size of houses start raining down as ice shatters against the ground, sending shrapnel everywhere.

Hundreds of mephits die before I can claim their experience as my own.

I stare into the sky, watching the deadly meteors rain from above. Is this karma? The smaller pieces of ice shatter harmlessly off my body, but I sidestep the ones that would kill me.

I maneuver around, looking for the crown the "frost king" wore. I hope that it wasn't decoration but an actual magic item. I tried to not go for the head but shave off an entire side of him. I couldn't find the crown.

Rob is also looking for something among the carnage. His agility is higher than mine, so I don't worry about him being crushed. Even if he does, it's not like he'll die.

I attack the mephits that run past me with Flash Gordon. I try locating Duchess and Khan to see if they are okay and spot them high at a safe angle, watching the carnage below.

It'll be suicide for them to come down here and pick me up, but one of them could've offered.

Rob scurries off, probably with what he was looking for, so I decided it's time to go. It's been over ten seconds since chunks of debris have been falling. Not willing to wait here any longer, I'll make my escape.

~

Once the carnage settled, we flew back to the remains of the spire to salvage whatever we could find. Rob caught my eye with a brand new jaw line.

[Undead Chimerism C

The user does not need to eat, drink, sleep, or breathe. The user is classified as undead and is subjected to their weaknesses and limitations.

The user may replace parts to gain unique effects. (3/5)

-Humerus of a Human Butcher (+15 Might)]

-Lower Extremities of an Artic Wolf (+45 Agility)

-Jaw of a Frost Mephit (+20 Spirit) (+20 Intelligence) (-5 Vigor)]

Talk about a glass jaw. The penalty to Vigor is concerning since Rob has the lowest health. I'm glad he is physically unable to die, and my healing works on him. I rub his skull and check my [Status] while I have the time.

Name / Nickname

Ellis Vincere / The Last Winner

Race

Human

Class

Unique Master (Rank C)

Level

59 (45,890/10m)

Titles

Proud Owner of a Rock, Fell the Mighty, Indulger…

~

~

Health Points

1400/1622 (+130% bonus)

Mana Points

40/639

Armor Points

0

Might

156 (116 > 134 + 5)

Agility

100 (85 + 10 + 5)

Vigor

141 (99 > 111 +15 + 15 )

Mind

114 > 126

Spirit

138 (116 > 128 + 10)

Perception

40

Charisma

20 (5 + 15)

Luck

2

Unused 2 > 8

There is no surviving loot among the wreckage. The remains of the "frost king" lay buried under his spire. I wonder if he had a story behind his monarchy, or if he had an overarching goal to achieve. It's his fault for dying, so there's no skin off my back.

I gave up after a few minutes and headed back to the sled on Duchess' back, but it was no longer there.

"..."

[Master?]

"...."

[Thiss one believes someone stole our sled.]

"... I had all the mana crystals and resources I found in this place on that sled."

[There, there]

A [Telekinesis] head patting was strange enough to kick me out of my disbelief. The sled left tracks, so it wouldn't be hard to follow. The only caveat is if the snowstorm kicks up again.

I point at the tracks and speak to the beast with the highest perception, all fifty-nine.

"Khan. Follow."

The whirlwind of sharks started getting agitated and began darting through the snow, following the tracks. If Khan wasn't so lovable, he'd be super scary.

His bonkers perception is only boosted by my passive, giving him an insane total of seventy, the highest in the party. If he can't find the sled, then nobody can.

I mean, Khan has 118 eyes, after all.

~

The snowstorm came back, blanketing the land in a new layer of snow. The loud winds and the vision obscurement bring no detriment to Khan, as he still travels at full speed.

We catch up to the sled in no time. It's unsurprisingly chock full of [Snow Mephits]. They must have deserted after seeing the spire crumble and stumbled across the sled.

Nothing pulls the sled because the snow underneath just moves everything for them. That's a nifty trick. Too bad none of us can duplicate such a feat.

I fling Flash Gordon at the closest mephit. Its grubby mitts were digging around where I keep my crystals.

Flash Gordon instantly decapitates it.

A lightbulb appears in my head. Since the mephits are no longer touching the ground, their uncanny healing and dodging skills are unavailable. Killing the rest of the mephits is a piece of cake now as any blow can sunder them crippled or dead.

Surprisingly, Rob was the one that cleaned up the best. His unlimited [Bone Shots] make short work of the vulnerable mephits.

A few managed to escape as they dived into the snowstorm and went into hiding.

The sled has stopped, and my loot has been recovered. A handful of crystals are gone, probably eaten, but the rest is accounted for.

"Alright. Now, where are we."

I look around at my tamed beasts as none of them answer me. I look past them and see nothing but snow in the air and on the ground. A shiver runs down my spine. It's getting colder.

~

Waiting for the storm to pass again would be a colossal waste of time, so we just wandered aimlessly in the direction we think is the right way. Once I get that relic I was promised by the goblins, I can leave or focus on getting more levels.

I'm only human, constantly being in a hostile environment shouldn't be good for my mental health, although I'm not uncomfortable yet. Maybe it has to do with the mansion I can enter whenever I need a break, the burden of needing to find or make shelter constantly no longer weighs on me.

"We are lost."

[Master, did you bring a compass?]

"Nope. Compasses don't work in most fractures anyways. What magnetic field are they going to read?"

The winds are getting more frigid the longer it's been since we killed the tyrants. I wonder how the goblins weather the constant cold. Do they have an innate ability, or is there something off with them in the first place?

Maybe the cold is making me paranoid. Perhaps the cold is making me more rational. Even if something is going on behind the scenes, as long as it doesn't negatively affect me, why should I care?

Speaking of goblins, we find one walking through a snow bank. The goblin is covered in furs and wields a black staff with frozen leaves. He’s a bit taller than the average goblin, but nothing too extraordinary.

He seems unique, and I haven't seen him at the settlement. I stop the sled and approach him alone. He must not have seen me until I got closer since he jumped up in surprise when I got within twenty feet of him.

Before he could exclaim in shock, I spoke in elvish.

"Hello. What are you doing here out in the cold?"

Surprisingly I got a response.

His words are shaky, almost like he is actively searching for the correct translations in real-time. His elvish must be rusty.

"Traveler. It is the first time I've seen a traveler in a long time."

Goblins' voices are typically higher-pitched compared to humans, but his voice is deeper and christened with age. I can't see his face from this angle, but I bet his face bears weathering from the snows of time.

I take a step forward, and he points his staff at me.

"Back. Stanger stays back."

"Why? I don't have a reason to hurt you."

"Some people need no reasons. They just do. Be on your way."

"Can you tell me why you are trudging in the cold? And where the nearest settlement is?"

I worded my answer in a way that implied that I didn't know about the goblin settlement. This guy didn't call me "Ikki baba" once, so I'm assuming he hasn't been around other goblins in a while.

He grunts before speaking. "I no longer have a village. I follow the path of the snow walker. My home is with the ice and sleet, and I sleep knowing I am blessed to wake up every day."

"..."

I wait for him to give me directions, but he just starts to walk away.

He gets a few feet away before pointing off in a direction.

"That way."

"Oh, thanks."

~

The directions were solid. We went "that way" and arrived at the goblin settlement a few hours later. The goblins guarding the gate do nothing to impede my entrance. My sled moves through the community for the first time as I direct Khan to where Jatan lives.

Goblins leave their home to gawk at their Ikki baba and his beasts. I could get used to this, but it'll be difficult. I don't really like all this unwavering attention.

Jatan leaves her home as I pull up outside of it.

"So? Have the tyrants been slain?"

Identifying a tone that could give away intent is difficult if the person you are analyzing is not speaking their native language. Regardless, I think I can spot a hint of excitement, even though Jatan's body language is mute.

"Yes."

"That's phenomenal news! The tribe just started to ration food because the shamans predicted bad weather. If it wasn't for that, we would've hosted a grand feast in your honor."

"No worries, just give me the compensation you promised, and that would be reward enough."

"Alright, Ikki baba. Follow me."

~

She leads me into the chieftain's house. The encampment leader is an extremely old goblin wearing the most jewelry that could possibly fit on his body. His eyes are closed as he sits on a pillow in the middle of the room. If he noticed our entrance, he didn't show it.

I wonder what the "greatest relic" the goblins have and why we are in the same room as this old man. Maybe this guy is wearing the magic item, and Jatan is requisitioning it.

Instead of chairs or tables, there are pillows on the ground. Jatan walks over to one of those pillows and picks up something. She offers it to me with both hands.

"..."

A thin string with three tiny bones and a single feather.

"..."

I wordlessly take it.

Jatan longingly looked at the necklace in my hands and forced herself to look away. I use [Scientific Insight+] on this "relic."

[Goblin Necklace ?]

Shit, I'll need to visit an identifier or buy a scroll that can do the same thing. At least this thing has the potential to be great.

"What does this do?"

"I don't know what Ikki baba means?"

"Nevermind. By the way, do you know who that tall old goblin with a black staff is? I saw him in my travel back."

The atmosphere shifts as I mention the stranger in the snow. Even the chief opens his eyes in shock.

"Ikki baba? Can you describe what you saw in further detail?"

"A voice that didn't exactly match a goblin, maybe an old one. I never saw the goblin's face, but I did get a good look at the staff. It was shaped like a tree branch. It was completely black except for the frozen leaves. The stranger called himself a snow walker."

"Ikki baba, that was most likely a spirit."

"What?"