Frostfire Legacy

Aster and the girls took a much-needed 12-hour break. It was a long rest, but given the relentless onslaught they had just endured, it was more than justified.

The first to stir was Octavia, the only one who hadn't tired from fighting hordes of monsters. Instead of sleeping, she spent hours in front of a mirror, grooming her hair and feathers until they were pristine. Each motion was precise, a testament to her obsession with perfection.

On her lap, Argus lay sprawled out, the rhythmic movements of her grooming lulling him into a deep, peaceful sleep.

"Oh, Aster, you're up already?" Octavia said, glancing over her shoulder. Her calm, melodic tone carried across the room.

Aster trudged into the living area, his posture slouched. His eyes were heavy, but he gave her a faint smile. "Ah… I haven't slept," he admitted. "I've been reorganizing our supplies. The last fight drained us—especially of potions."

Potions were lifelines to adventurers, essential for emergencies and survival. Aster and the group had always kept a stock of them on hand, prepared for difficult encounters. But during the seemingly endless waves of monsters earlier, their supply had dwindled to nothing. Not even a single vial remained.

"I see… So, we're heading back to restock after reaching the next floor?" Octavia asked, tilting her head.

Aster nodded sluggishly and collapsed onto the couch with a deep sigh. "We don't have much of a choice. Thankfully, clearing the boss shouldn't be an issue. But if we get hit with another monster wave like that…"

"It'd be troublesome, huh?" Octavia replied in her usual detached tone, as if the ordeal hadn't fazed her.

"Right…" Aster murmured, his voice trailing off as his eyelids drooped. "Then… I'll take a… short… nap…"

Before the sentence was finished, his breathing slowed, and he was fast asleep.

Octavia watched him for a moment, then rose gracefully from her chair. She cradled the now-awake Argus in her arms and approached Aster. With a faint blush coloring her cheeks, she leaned closer, her expression softening.

She planted a light kiss on his forehead, then pulled back, a small, sweet smile gracing her lips. "Sleep tight," she whispered before walking away, a noticeable bounce in her step. Whatever thoughts ran through her mind at that moment, neither Argus nor anyone else would know.

---

By the time the 12-hour rest ended, everyone was fully recovered. Though traces of fatigue lingered, it wasn't enough to hinder them.

"All right, let's go!" Aster urged, rallying the group as they set out once more.

Their current lack of provisions made advancing risky. They chose to minimize conflicts, carefully navigating past monsters instead of bulldozing through as they usually did. They waited for clear paths or ended fights quickly to conserve energy and avoid unnecessary risks. Despite their efforts, sneaking and evasion slowed their progress significantly. It took them 18 hours to reach the next rest spot.

From this second rest area, the boss room lay just five hours ahead. Their challenge on the 101st floor was finally nearing its end. At Aster's suggestion, they took turns resting, recovering the last remnants of exhaustion.

The rest went smoothly, save for a few hundred monsters attempting to approach their portable home. The core, now fully recharged, effortlessly powered the portable home's defenses, reducing the attackers to lifeless husks without any need for human intervention.

Just as everyone gathered, ready to head onward, "Star," a soft voice broke the quiet.

Cassy tugged at Aster's sleeve, her trembling caught his attention immediately.

"What's wrong?" he asked, concern flashing across his face.

"I…" Cassy hesitated, her voice barely audible. "I'm getting a bad feeling. Something… ominous is ahead." Her hands tightened on his sleeve as her voice trembled. "It feels like whispers… warning me about danger. I don't understand this feeling—it's new."

Aster frowned, processing her words. "Is it about the boss we're about to face?" he asked, his tone calm but probing.
Find your next adventure on empire

Cassy shook her head, frustration clear in her expression. "I don't know. It's just… unsettling."

"It might be related to your new class," Liz interjected, stepping forward with a thoughtful expression. "As a Saintess, you're probably more attuned to danger or ill intent aimed at you—or us."

"That makes sense," Aster agreed. "Cassy, if anything changes—even if it's small—let us know right away. We're here to back you up."

Cassy nodded hesitantly, her trembling beginning to subside. "Thanks, Star," she murmured, her grip loosening.

As they resumed their journey, Aster doubled his vigilance. Although Cassy's warning was vague, her senses had always been reliable. He knew better than to simply dismiss it.

The group's tension mounted as they progressed. Every noise, shadow, and movement was scrutinized, adding to the mental strain. Despite their heightened senses, they encountered nothing beyond a few routine skirmishes.

"Was it a false alarm?" Kali muttered, though her posture remained taut with caution.

"No," Aster countered, shaking his head. "It could be something about the boss. Remember that one time with the Spectral Warden?"

Cassy shuddered at the memory. "The one resistant to physical, magical, and projectile attacks? Which was from the 900th floor?" She sighed. "I guess that's possible. If so, we need to be extra careful."

Aster nodded, his gaze sharpening as they neared the portal. The air felt heavier, the eerie silence pressing down on them like the calm before a storm.

"All right. I'm summoning the boss," he announced, stepping forward.

The moment he entered the summoning range, a massive ball of light materialized in the cavern's center. Without hesitation, Aster barked, "ARGUS!"

*Arf!*

Argus sprang to action, streaks of red lightning enveloping him. With a single bark, a crimson bolt shot from his body toward the glowing sphere.

Aster followed up instantly. "Elemental Sword—Ice!" he shouted, swinging his blade.

A crescent wave of frost erupted forward, turning the ground into an icy spectacle as it raced toward the sphere.

The attacks hit their mark, and the cavern filled with smoke and dust. Silence followed as the party tensed, waiting for any sign of movement.

The next moment, a faint glow surrounded them—proof they had leveled up. Aster blinked, caught off guard.

"… It's over?" Kali asked, disbelief dripping from her voice. "What a waste of time."

"Better an easy win than a hard fight," Liz shrugged with a wry smile, trying to pacify her.

But Cassy's expression froze, her face growing pale. She clutched her chest, her trembling returning in full force. "Star," she whispered, her voice shaking. "The sense of dread… it's even stronger now."