Ren landed on the summit, feeling the impact reverberating through his body, his HP dropping by half in an instant.

[You've suffered Bludgeoning damage!]

But at least he was still alive.

"Evie?" he immediately called out.

"I'm fine," ca muffled voice, and when Ren looked to the side, he found Evie stuck in a pile of snow.

"Evie!" Ren hurriedly helped her to her feet.

"Thanks, I almost got buried there," Evie said as she brushed the snow from her clothes.

Ren couldn't help but stifle a laugh. She was small and cute when she did that.

Evie peered up at him from beneath her long lashes, a playful glint dancing in her eyes. "You just laughed, didn't you?"

"Sorry," Ren chuckled, unable to contain his amusement. "I couldn't help it. How did you manage to get buried in the snow?"

"Did you see the size of that thing?" Evie gestured towards the towering pile of snow nearby. "It could swallow you whole."

Ren doubted the snowdrift was that massive, but he wisely opted to keep his mouth shut unless he wanted to endure an endless barrage of stomping on his feet.

"Hey Iraelyn, how are you going to get up?" Vivi asked Iraelyn, who was still stuck with Potato and the others down below.

"Wait, I'll go down there and help you up!" Azazel offered, but Ren immediately grabbed him by the collar.

"And who's going to hurl you upward when that happens?" Ren asked pointedly.

Azazel thought for a moment, then grinned. "I guess I'll just have to hurl myself—!"

Azazel was flung to the side while Ren addressed Iraelyn.

"Get down with the others first. Climb up here after the swarm has ceased!" Ren commanded.

"Copy that!" Iraelyn responded, turning to Potato and the others. "Let's get going. I don't want to end up as ice statues."

Potato and the others didn't need to be asked twice, and they all hurried down the mountain.

Climbing up was more daunting than going down. The Ice Spiders might be fast, but the rockgoats were no pushovers with their speed either.

Each step was a test of balance and strength as they ascended the steep slope, the icy winds biting at their skin.

Ren's muscles strained as he hastily consumed an [HP] potion, desperate to replenish his dwindling health.

Ragged gasps escaped his lips, each breath a struggle in the thin air. The snowy terrain, coupled with the slippery ground, posed a constant challenge to maintaining his balance, despite being clad in winter gear.

Meanwhile, Iraelyn and the others descended quickly, their movements swift while the Ice Spider showed no sign of stopping.

Something was spooking them into a frantic retreat, and those caught in their path were swiftly turned to ice, their frozen forms shattering upon impact with the unforgiving ground.

Despite the treacherous terrain, Potato and the others navigated the rocky slopes with remarkable ease, their agility a testament to their class and experience.

As they descended, the swarm of Ice Spiders gradually thinned out, the creatures retreating to every nook and cranny they could find.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Iraelyn and the others reached the ground, their bodies weary from the exertion of the harrowing descent.

"We made it," Potato sighed, relief evident in his voice as he surveyed the icy expanse before them.

Iraelyn nodded, her expression grim yet determined. "Now let's wait for these Ice Spiders to disperse and then we can start climbing back up."

Potato and the others exchanged wary glances.

"Are you sure you want to go back up there after what we've been through?" Potato asked, his invisible eyebrows likely raised in concern.

Iraelyn nodded as if it were no big deal. "Of course. That was the deal, wasn't it? You lead us there and bring us back. My friends are up there, and I'm not leaving them behind. So, don't tellyou're going to back out on our agreement after we've paid you in half?"

Potato and the others exchanged uneasy looks, gulping audibly in the presence of Iraelyn's imposing figure.

"Either you bringback up there and fulfill your end of the bargain, or . . ." Iraelyn's voice trailed off ominously, leaving the unspoken threat hanging in the air. "And lettell you now, you'd better choose the first option if you don't want a world of pain."

While Iraelyn was busy coercing Potato and the others into considering the ascent back to Whispering Peak, Ren and the rest of the group were preoccupied with inspecting the summit, where the Goddess of Gossip supposedly imprisoned.

However, instead of finding a majestic castle as expected, all they encountered was a barren expanse of ice, with a towering sphere at its center.

"I thought there would be a grand castle here," Elena remarked, a hint of disappointment coloring her tone.

"Or a prison,' Evie added.

"Is the Goddess really here?" Desira scanned the surroundings with a furrowed brow. "I don't see anything except that ugly-looking icicle spire."

Ren and the others approached the only structure at the center of the summit.

It was an imposing ice spire that seemed to stretch endlessly upwards.

"Hey, what's that inside?" Elena leaned in, peering through the crystalline surface.

Upon closer inspection, the group discovered a woman trapped within the ice.

"Could it be . . . ?" Vivi's voice trailed off in surprise.

"It must be the goddess," Desira remarked, her enthusiasm lacking.

"Yes! We've finally found her!" Azazel exclaimed, jumping to his feet. "Now we can finally learn where Lorelai is!"

"Don't get your hopes up too much," Malifira interjected, placing her palms on the ice. "I believe this crystal is the reason why we couldn't use magic in the first place."

"Eh? Really?" Azazel shrugged, seemingly unfazed by the revelation.

"Perhaps we could break this crystal and free her?" Elena suggested optimistically.

Malifira shook her head solemnly. "I'm afraid it wouldn't be that simple. This ice is protected by skind of powerful array, making shattering it nearly impossible."

"But not entirely impossible, right?" Ren inquired.

Malifira beamed at Ren. "That's correct. However, we need Iraelyn's brute strength for that."