The freezing wind blew with relentless violence as soon as we took our first steps beyond the biome's transition line. The mild breeze and the welcoming scent of the silver-leaved forest disappeared for good, giving way to an icy storm that lashed our cloaks and made the thin air burn deep in our throats with every deep breath. The volcanic rocks of the terrain were covered by a thick layer of smooth, slippery ice, requiring every step to be calculated with extreme attention to avoid dangerous falls on those steep slopes.
I adjusted the hood of my heavy thermal cloak, pulling the reinforced wool fabric up to protect my face against the cutting gusts that hurled snow crystals against our skin. Ahead of me, the mountain trail narrowed into a narrow gorge, flanked by colossal walls of stone covered with icy stalactites that gleamed with a bluish hue beneath the dense, grayish sky of the seventeenth floor.
"Maintain a steady walking pace and keep the formation tightly grouped!" I ordered, raising my voice to make myself heard above the continuous howling of the wind. "Short and firm steps! Use your body weight to secure the spikes of your boots into the ice!"
"Visibility is dropping drastically because of the freezing fog!" Scarlet warned, walking right behind me with her right hand resting on the hilt of her longsword, alert to any suspicious movement in the white mist. "If the windstorm increases in intensity, we will have difficulty seeing the edges of the cliff!"
"The humidity in the air and the low temperature are affecting energy conduction through the rock walls," commented Liriel's assistant, struggling to hold the sheets of her clipboard against her chest as she walked beside Liriel. "The severity of this climate is disproportionate for an intermediate floor. The tower is compressing elemental ice magic into this mountain gorge to wear down the invaders' endurance."
"It is a deliberate attempt by the environment to consume our physical strength without the need for direct combat," observed Liriel, keeping her sacred wooden staff planted on the ground with every step to ensure stability. "The arcane energy around us is so dense and hostile that channeling continuous warming spells would consume our mana reserves at a dangerously accelerated rate."
"She is absolutely right," I agreed, turning my head to check the group's integrity as we maintained our gradual ascent. "We will not waste precious mana fighting the environmental cold. Our thermal clothing and our own muscular movement are enough to keep the body warm. We will save our magic strictly for combat or situations of absolute emergency."
Rai'kanna and Elara moved through the rocky formations along the sides with impressive agility, defying the slippery incline of the terrain. The beast-girl kept her senses sharp, testing the cold air currents to detect any scent of danger, while Elara checked the tension of her bowstring, ensuring that the freezing temperatures did not compromise the flexibility of the enchanted wood.
"The rock structure beneath the layer of ice is quite unstable in some places," Rai'kanna warned, jumping from one block of stone to another and landing without making a single unnecessary sound. "There are deep cracks covered by thin bridges of soft snow. If someone steps in the wrong place, the ground will give way instantly."
"Good warning, Rai'kanna," said Lyannis, who was bringing up the rear of the squad, ensuring that no one was left behind. "Vespera, keep your eyes focused on the left flank. The slope of that stone wall looks prone to small snow collapses."
"Understood," Vespera replied, adjusting the woolen covering over her shoulders. "I am monitoring the vibrations in the rock. Any change in the accumulation of ice above us will be detected before it becomes a real danger."
As I led the squad through the steep and winding curves of the gorge, I allowed a calm and tactical reflection to fill my mind. The true challenge of a frozen mountain lies not only in the gusts of wind or the slippery ground, but in the silent fatigue that the cold imposes on the spirit of those who advance. The constant cold invites the mind toward exhaustion and hesitation; it makes every step feel heavier and causes the temptation to stop and rest in an unprotected location to arise as an illusory relief. However, within the merciless architecture of the Demon King's tower, stopping in the middle of a hostile biome without adequate protection is the first step toward defeat. A commander's determination is reflected in their ability to convey confidence and firmness to the team. As long as we maintain a steady march and disciplined alignment, the severity of the magical nature of this floor will be nothing more than a backdrop to our victory.
"Look up there, Takumi!" Scarlet exclaimed, pointing with her leather glove toward the top of the gorge, where the rocky formations seemed to open into a wider ridge. "The slope of the terrain begins to soften just after that bend!"
"The route is correct," I confirmed confidently, slightly quickening my pace without losing my defensive posture. "The exit to the eighteenth floor and the great transition gate are certainly located on that elevated plateau. It is the highest point of this entire mountain range."
"The density of the wind is changing slightly ahead," analyzed Liriel's assistant, looking at the arcane compass in her hand. "The flow of elemental magic seems to be concentrating around that upper elevation. This indicates that we are approaching the central control zone of the floor."
"That means the sector's defenses will not let us reach the gate without a final test," pondered Lyannis, tightening her grip on the handle of her battle axe and maintaining heightened vigilance. "The native monsters of this climate must be hiding in the mist around that ridge."
"Let them come," Elara said with unshakable calm, pulling a steel-tipped arrow from her quiver and holding it against the bow's grip. "Our weapons remain sharp and our formation is more cohesive than ever."
The group responded with a mutual feeling of readiness and focus. The climb through the ice mountain had been exhausting and rigorous, but our physical and mental structure remained absolutely unshakable. The freezing wind continued to howl through the cracks in the rock, but the determination of our squad was an inner fire that no magical storm could extinguish.
"Continue advancing cautiously," I ordered, leading the group through the final meters of the steep slope. "We are about to reach the top of the elevation. Keep your hands on your weapons and your attention focused on the mist. Victory on this seventeenth floor is getting closer and closer."
With firm steps and our eyes fixed on the plateau taking shape on the misty horizon, our squad crossed the final bend of the gorge, ready to face whatever challenge the frozen mountain placed in our path.