Beast Evolution Forge - Chapter 195

Chapter 195: I am dropping this book 5
The wind howled louder as Vell and his team trudged through the snow, their boots sinking with every step. The cold bit at their fingers and noses, turning their cheeks red. Ruby kept close to Vell, her fluffy hat bouncing as she shivered. Wren grumbled under her breath, her claws tucked away to save energy. Jolly marched ahead, her big steps carving a path for the others. Jia and Regina stayed quiet, eyes scanning the white wasteland around them.

“Master, are we there yet?” Ruby asked, her voice small against the wind.

“Almost,” Vell said, squinting through the snow. “The lake’s close. Keep moving.”

The frozen lake shimmered into view, a giant sheet of ice glowing faintly under the gray sky. The settlement Lira had told them about sat on its shore—small wooden huts with smoke puffing from their tops. Players moved around, their dark shapes blurry in the falling snow. It looked peaceful, but Vell knew better. Places like this always hid trouble.

“Let’s be smart,” he said, slowing down. “We stick to the trees, check it out first.”

They crept along the edge of the forest, staying low. The huts were rough—some had holes patched with ice, others leaned like they might fall. A few players chopped wood or carried buckets, ignoring the cold. Then Vell saw her—a tall woman with a spear, standing like a guard. Her sharp eyes locked onto them as they got closer.

“You’re new,” she called, her voice cutting through the wind. “I’m Lira. What do you want?”

Vell stepped forward, hands loose at his sides. “Just passing through. Need info on this floor.”

Lira tilted her head, looking them over. “Info costs something. Got points or stuff to trade?”

Ruby popped up, tail wagging. “We’ve got stories! We cleared Floor 4—fought sand demons and a huge giant!”

Lira’s eyebrow went up. “Floor 4? Heard the desert’s quiet now. That you?”

“Maybe,” Vell said, keeping it cool. “What’s that worth?”

She grinned a little. “Enough. Come in.”

They followed her into a big hut. Furs lined the walls, and a fire crackled in the middle. A few players sat around it, warming up. Lira pointed at the floor. “Sit. Let’s talk.”

“Floor 5’s tough,” she started, poking the fire with her spear. “Cold kills you if you’re not careful. Frost wolves are fast and hunt in packs. Lake spirits are worse—hard to hit, tricky to beat. They guard something under the ice.”

“What kind of something?” Regina asked, leaning in.

Lira shrugged. “No one knows. Maybe the key to clear this floor. Most who look don’t come back.”

Vell nodded. “And the players?”

“Lots of teams here,” Lira said. “Some trade, some fight. Watch out for the Icefang Clan up north. They’re mean and control the supplies.”

“Like the Desert Kings?” Wren asked, frowning.

“Worse,” Lira said. “Desert Kings wanted stuff. Icefangs want blood. Be careful.”

They thanked her and left. Snow fell harder now, piling up fast. Under a big tree, Regina pulled them close. “The lake spirits might be our shot at the key.”

“Agreed,” Vell said. “But we gear up first. This cold’s no joke.”

They traded points at the settlement for warm cloaks and gloves. Ruby’s new hat was so fluffy she looked like a snowball with fox ears. Wren complained about her heavy coat, but she stopped shivering. Night came quick, and the lake glowed under the twin moons.

They snuck to the lake’s edge, snow hiding their steps. The ice was smooth, with blue cracks shining from below. A weird hum filled the air, soft but creepy.

“Spirits,” Regina whispered, her grimoire glowing. “I feel their mana.”

“Stay tight,” Vell said, pulling his dagger. “No wandering off.”

They stepped onto the ice, slipping a bit. The hum got louder, and shapes moved under the surface—fast, like glowing fish. Then one jumped out.

It was tall and thin, made of shimmering water that froze in weird shapes. Its white eyes glowed, and its claws looked sharp enough to cut stone. It floated above the ice, staring.

“Hi?” Ruby said, waving nervously.

The spirit screeched—loud, like glass breaking—and charged. Vell shoved Ruby aside and swung his dagger. The blade went right through, hitting nothing.

“No physical hits!” he yelled.

“Like the sand demons!” Regina shouted. She threw a fireball, and it hit the spirit. It screamed and turned to mist, leaving a blue glow behind.

“Magic only,” Wren said, her claws sparking with mana. She slashed another spirit as it popped up, and it vanished too.

More came—five, then ten—rising from the cracks. The team made a circle, backs together. Ruby shot water blasts, weaker in the cold but still working. Jolly punched with glowing fists, smashing spirits. Jia’s daggers shone as she cut through them.

Vell stayed cool, calling out, “Hit the big ones! They’re tougher!”

A huge spirit rose, twice as tall, its claws sparking with ice. It swung at Jolly, who blocked but slid back with a grunt.

“Regina!” Vell shouted.

“Got it!” She fired a big wave of flame, melting the spirit into steam. A small blue stone dropped onto the ice.

“What’s that?” Ruby asked, grabbing it.

“Loot,” Vell said, taking it. “Could help.”

[Frost Spirit defeated. Ice Shard earned. 100 points per spirit. 1200 points total.]

The spirits stopped coming. The team panted, breath fogging in the cold air.

“They’re guarding something,” Regina said, staring at the ice. “These shards—they fit into a bigger thing.”

“Then we hunt more,” Vell said. “Let’s go.”

Next day, they went north, chasing spirit rumors. Snow got deeper, wind sharper. They found a frozen river with more blue cracks.

“Spirits again?” Jolly asked, looking down.

Before Vell could answer, voices shouted, “There!”

Ten players in white cloaks jumped from the trees, weapons ready. Their leader had a big axe and a hood hiding his face. Icefang Clan marks were on their gear.

“You’re the Floor 4 team,” the leader growled. “Heard you’re strong. Let’s see.”

“No chat this time,” Vell said, dagger out. “Go!”

The fight was quick and messy. The Icefangs knew how to move together. Axe guy swung at Vell, who dodged and hit him with a mana ball. The guy stumbled, arms locked.

Ruby froze two with water. Wren’s claws ripped another’s cloak, making him run. Jia and Jolly smashed three more, perfect teamwork. Regina’s fire spell sent the rest scattering.

“This isn’t over!” the leader yelled as he fled.

[Icefang Scouts defeated. 150 points per player. 1500 points earned.]

“They’ll come back,” Vell said, wiping his dagger. “Bigger group next time.”

“Good,” Wren smirked. “More points.”

They kept going, finding spirits by the river. Each dropped a shard. Soon, they had five. The shards glowed brighter together, humming.

“These make something,” Regina said. “Maybe a key?”

Vell nodded. “We need the lock.”

Days went by, cold wearing them thin. They fought spirits and dodged Icefangs, gathering shards until they had ten. The settlement became home base, trading points for food and fire. Lira started liking them.

“You’re shaking things up,” she said one night. “Icefangs are pissed. And the lake’s glowing more.”

“Glowing?” Vell asked.

“Check it out,” she said. “Something’s waking.”

At dawn, they hit the lake again. The ice was alive now, blue lines pulsing under it. In the middle, a temple rose—sharp spires of ice, shining bright.

“That’s new,” Jolly said, amazed.

“Shards did it,” Regina said. “Let’s move.”

They crossed the ice, the temple growing huge. Its doors were shut, but ten slots lined the frame—perfect for the shards.

“Here we go,” Vell said, slotting them in. The slots lit up, and the doors opened with a groan.

Inside, the air was quiet, walls sparkling with frost. A spiral stair went down, deep under the lake. At the bottom was a room with an ice floor. A blue-white orb floated in the center, a key inside.

“The floor key,” Regina whispered.

Vell reached for it, but the ice broke. Water shot up, forming a giant spirit—bigger than any, swirling with snow and ice.

“Boss time,” Wren grinned, claws out.

The spirit roared, shaking everything. Ice spikes flew like arrows, scattering the team.

“Magic only!” Vell yelled, dodging.

Regina’s fire made steam. Ruby’s water and Jolly’s fists chipped it down. Wren and Jia slashed with glowing attacks.

The spirit swung, sending an ice wave. Vell shadow-stepped over it, landing by the orb. “Keep it busy!”

Regina’s barriers stopped the next hit. Vell grabbed the orb, and the key dropped—a silver rod with frost designs.

“Got it!” he shouted.

The spirit grew, ice sealing the walls. “Break it!” Vell ordered.

They hit hard—fire, water, claws, fists. Cracks spread, and Regina’s final blast shattered it into ice bits.

[Lake Guardian defeated. Floor 5 Key earned. 3000 points awarded.]

The ice melted, showing a portal. They stepped through, back to the tower’s base. The cold was gone.

Floor 6 hit them with warm air and floating islands under a blue sky. Bridges swayed between them, and birds screeched above.

“Flying monsters,” Regina said, checking her map. “And old ruins.”

“Let’s look around,” Vell said, testing a bridge. It wobbled but held.

They hopped islands, finding broken temples and statues. Winged beasts attacked—metal-clawed eagles, screaming bats. The team fought smart, using the land.

On the third island, a puzzle waited—stone tiles with symbols. Regina cracked it, opening a chest with a golden feather.

“Key piece?” Ruby asked.

“Think so,” Vell said. “Keep looking.”

Days later, a huge island held a ruined castle. Inside, a giant bird waited—steel feathers, gold eyes. The Sky King.

It screeched, wind knocking them back. Vell led, dodging claws and striking. The team wore it down, and it fell, dropping another feather.

[Sky King defeated. 4000 points earned.]

With two feathers, they found a pedestal on the tallest island. The feathers fit, sparking a portal. Floor 6 done.

Floor 7 was a volcano—lava rivers, ash everywhere. Heat crushed them, worse than the desert. Fire monsters burned anything close.

They battled through, grabbing obsidian shards from the enemies. A lava giant guarded the key, but they tricked it into a trap.

[Volcano Guardian defeated. Floor 7 Key earned. 5000 points awarded.]

Back at the tower, Vell looked up. “Seven floors cleared. How many more?”

“No clue,” Regina said. “But we’re tougher now.”

The team grinned, ready for anything. The tower stretched high, full of fights and secrets. Together, they’d take it all on.