"Fourth... talon." I wretch my dagger from the skull of a talon, swept my blade through the air, swatting the blood off.

My breath was ragged. Standing on the body of the talon, I looked around at the inert remains of the talons we’d defeated.

Three mornings had already passed since we arrived at this dungeon, but now we were making progress. We’d soon be out of here.

Snow still drifted down from thick clouds, which made it hard to differentiate early morning from evening. The mountain peak was the only sanctuary with a better amount of sunlight.

The wind blew violently in a blizzard, lifting my loose robe on my body, whipping in the wind, as the temperature in the dungeon dropped drastically.

But that wasn’t our worry for now.

For the days we had been here, surviving on heated talons — cause apparently they taste like fish — and ice we had melted to drink. It was terrible.

Even my stay as a peasant in the village wasn’t this bad during the winter season.

I pulled out—

[mana fragments: 548/500]

[mana level increased: B rank]

Dragonpoint +220%

[set rank: S rank]

As always, Dragonpoint amplified my supposed mana level, keeping me two ranks ahead. My mana swam around me, denser than before. The weight of my body felt lighter, infused with power from the level.

"Hmm. The change in your mana is now noticeable, Walter," Quinette said, watching from the side. She crossed her arms; her hair was loose from her bun, drooping down her shoulders in curls. She had a fur cloak around her after taking off her armour.

"You really defeated them all by yourself."

Since I was growing stronger with each battle, and our main target was the wolves, she had to stay aside, reserving our mana for today, where the hunted becomes the hunter.

Fortunately for us, we had enough talons. Even though their intelligence didn’t seem to have a sense of coordination like the wolves — fighting for territory — else it wouldn’t be possible to slay them all.

She pulled her sword behind her, walked closer. "When are we leaving? With the two of us, we can hunt the wolves one by one, taking them out before they notice."

She was right. With two S-ranks, we could carve at their numbers, reducing them to nothing before our—

"I’m already, are you?"

"Of course," Quinette said, guarding her resolve. She held a poker face, clenching the hilt of her sword.

I dropped down from the talon’s skull, landing in a low stance, holding my dual daggers at my side.

"Alright, then. Let’s go hunt some wolves."

We traced our way back to the chamber we had left behind, descending down the mountains, into the dense forest. I kept my eyes open, constantly searching for a recognizable landmark to know if we knew our way back.

Quinette was alert while walking behind, her hand resting on her blade.

Barefoot, I walked, crunching the snow beneath my feet.

Walking forward—

"Walter, if I may ask. How old are you?"

"19 years."

"Eh? 19?!"

I nodded, my eyes still staying on the path, leading the way. "Is anything wrong?"

"No. You are young. Very young."

"How old are you, then?"

"39."

I wasn’t surprised by Quinette’s answer. Dragons were known to have a long life span. A 19-year-old dragon is almost the same as a 10-year-old child. Rumours even said their queen is 200 years old.

Hm? I don’t believe that.

Soon we reached the base of the mountains, into the quiet forest, walking under its canopy.

Crunch, crunch, frost inside the forest, looking straight ahead, I could figure out the chamber we had transported in, sitting at the clearing.

I raised my hand. "Get ready, Quinette." But at the edge of the forest, I couldn’t sense any heavy mana presence around, else it also learnt mana suppression like those talons.

We broke out of the forest into the clearing, the wide path. The footsteps of the wolf were still present, tracking down the trail.

It was still. I surveyed it, getting closer to the paw print.

"It just passed; we missed it."

"I bet it went that way," Quinette said, looking the opposite direction the wolf had come from last time. I couldn’t argue she was right.

The fresh paw print had stretched that way but hasn’t retreated back, like the other prints showed.

I straightened up. "Then we’ll wait."

To be honest, I didn’t believe this chamber would still be standing. I looked at the chamber. Yet it stood, with only half of the walls crumbled, snow already piled on the room.

I walked to the ruin, stood before the broken wall, searching the room within. It wasn’t useful any more. It was wretched.

I took a step into the chamber, then another. I walked to the centre of the room.

The vase with flowers had already crashed to the ground. The chandelier laid over the crumble of the centre table.

I spotted a pawn buried in the snow, picking it up, wiping the dirt and snow off it.

"We’re getting out of here today. I can feel it, Quinette."

"Same with me."

I dusted the long lounge chair before sinking into the comfy seat and let out a satisfied exhale. This is much better than sleeping in the cave on solid ground, with nothing but a fur mat. Tsk.

"Shouldn’t we go after the wolf?"

"No need. It would come to us."

I leaned my head into the chair, looking above through the destroyed ceiling. Not scheming, just thinking about the passage I would request the moment I leave this hell.

With a bottle of wine. Just one would do.

Relaxed, I was disturbed. Light trembled. The walls shook, dust poured from the ceiling, from its destroyed concrete, almost getting into my eyes.

"Walter, it’s here."

I dusted my face, sitting up, to look at the window. With a mixed reaction, annoyance and boredom — I wanted this over quick.

The huge wolf was in the distance, following the path, drawing closer. Its body was still clad in armour, made of heavy ice.

It halted, still far off, but its eyes were held on the chamber. Its crimson eyes met with my brown.

I waved.

It remained in its spot, growling, with its teeth on display.

Then I flashed my dagger.

The tremblings continued, heavier than the last. The wolf charged at us, with its tongue lashing out.

"Let’s see if your armour can stop my blade now."