Meanwhile—
The basement trembled under distant roars and the relentless cracking of ice.
Jordan rushed down the final flight of stone steps. His breathing remained sharp but controlled as freezing air wrapped around him with every step downward.
'She must be tired by now,' he thought, gripping the railing as he descended. 'After fighting that many hordes… and the boss monster of this gate… even Isabella Crown has limits.'
His steps quickened.
'If she's already on her last leg… this is my chance to complete the quest.'
He stepped off the final stair—
—and froze.
The sight before him shocked him.
The entire basement had transformed into a frozen graveyard.
Thick layers of snow buried the ground. Jagged ice spread across the floor in uneven formations, reflecting pale blue light across shattered pillars and fractured walls.
Frost hung from the ceiling like deadly stalactites, turning the underground chamber into a world of ice and death.
And at the center of it—
