Clang—whoosh—
Clang—whoosh—
On a nearly vertical, sheer rock face.
David relied on his years of experience.
Using the least amount of effort, he drove his ice axe into the thick ice before him.
Behind him was a blizzard with almost zero visibility; beneath him lay a bottomless abyss.
Sharp, blade-like snowflakes struck his goggles, producing a crackling sound through bone conduction.
White vapor puffed rhythmically from his thick beard, only to be quickly scattered by the freezing wind.
In such a brutal environment, conquering a snow-capped mountain was practically challenging the limits of a Muggle.
Yet David was not a Muggle... he was an exceptional adult wizard.
Facing the blizzard, David's heart remained utterly still. He kept to his rhythm, exerting strength with both hands and feet as he climbed upward step by step.
Focused entirely on how to conserve his strength, David's hand suddenly swung into empty air at one point.
David's mind, frozen stiff by the cold wind, abruptly broke free of its stupor.
He hurriedly lowered the leg he had habitually raised, steadying himself.
But just then, a hand grabbed his arm.
That familiar grip, that familiar glove...
David breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.
It seemed they had reached their destination...
With the force pulling from above, David easily climbed onto the stone platform before him.
It was a broad, deep cave. For some reason, the blizzard could not blow inside.
David did not dwell on it. He skillfully removed his goggles, put away his ice axe, and wiped the ice crystals from his thick beard.
Behind him stood a man dressed much like him, his skin also weathered dark red from years spent outdoors.
Their powerful bodies resembled black bears. It was hard to imagine wizards who placed such importance on physical training.
"Thanks,