章節 20: Chapter 20

59th Floor - Frozen Wasteland

The cold intensified with every step Ruby took, her metal armor growing frigid against her skin despite the thick layers she wore beneath. As a Magic Knight, she relied heavily on both physical and magical prowess, but her steel-plated gear felt like a curse in this frozen wasteland. Each movement made her shiver more violently, the chill biting deeper than she had expected.

"Great… so much for being prepared," she grumbled, wincing as she felt the cold seep through her armor. Her sword, too, was beginning to freeze over, its once-polished blade now coated with a thin layer of frost.

Fang slithered beside her but struggled to keep pace. His scales, built for the warmth of the desert, were no match for this icy environment. His usual swift and graceful movements had become sluggish. Ruby glanced at him, concern furrowing her brow.

"Fang, you need to rest," she said softly, kneeling next to him. He hissed weakly in protest, but Ruby shook her head. "It's too cold. You'll freeze if you keep going."

With a flick of her wrist, she dismissed Fang back into her familiar bond, the magical connection between them keeping him safe from the elements until she could summon him again. She let out a frustrated sigh. Without Fang, her mobility and scouting abilities were severely hampered. She was now alone in this frozen wilderness, with nothing but her sword and her wits to rely on.

The landscape was eerily quiet, the only sound the howling wind whipping through the barren ice fields. Ruby trudged forward, her eyes scanning for any sign of shelter. The cold gnawed at her relentlessly, and every few steps, she had to stop and shake her limbs to keep them from going numb.

It wasn't long before she spotted movement in the distance. At first, she thought it might be some sort of structure, but as she got closer, her heart sank. A pack of ice wolves, their fur gleaming white against the snow, prowled silently through the storm. Their eyes glowed an icy blue, watching her with predatory hunger.

"Damn it…" Ruby muttered under her breath, gripping the hilt of her sword. Her breath came in ragged bursts, the weight of her armor making it harder to move quickly. She was at a disadvantage here—her heavy armor slowing her down in the snow, her sword becoming a liability in the freezing temperatures.

The wolves growled, circling her with quiet precision. Ruby tensed, preparing herself for the fight. She could feel the magic flowing through her veins, but casting spells in this cold was risky. Her abilities were hampered, and even a quick fire spell would drain her energy faster than usual.

The first wolf lunged, its teeth bared, but Ruby was ready. She sidestepped just enough to avoid the strike, swinging her sword in a wide arc. The blade connected, sending a spray of ice and fur into the air as the wolf yelped in pain and fell back. But it wasn't dead—not by a long shot.

Before she could catch her breath, another wolf attacked from behind. Ruby spun, her sword raised to parry, but the weight of her armor slowed her down just enough for the beast to swipe at her side. She winced as the claws tore through her coat, the cold seeping even deeper into her body.

"I can't keep this up," she thought, panting heavily. "I need to find shelter—fast."

With a sudden burst of energy, Ruby cast <Flare>, a quick flash of fire that forced the wolves to back off momentarily. It wasn't much, but it bought her time. She turned and bolted, pushing through the snow as fast as her heavy armor allowed. Her breath came out in ragged gasps, the cold air burning her lungs.

She didn't know how far she had run when she finally saw it—a faint plume of smoke rising from the horizon. A village! Relief surged through her, though she knew she wasn't safe yet. The wolves hadn't given up, and she could hear them snarling, their paws crunching in the snow behind her.

Ruby pushed harder, her legs burning with effort as she raced toward the village. The wolves were closing in, but she was close—so close.

Suddenly, a figure appeared in the distance, standing at the outskirts of the village. Ruby's vision blurred from exhaustion, but she could make out the shape of a person—tall, clad in heavy furs, holding a staff.

"Help!" Ruby shouted, her voice hoarse from the cold. The figure moved swiftly, raising the staff and chanting something Ruby couldn't make out.

A gust of wind howled through the air, swirling around Ruby as a wall of ice rose from the ground, blocking the wolves from advancing any further. They howled in frustration, scratching at the ice, but the barrier held firm.

Ruby stumbled forward, collapsing into the snow as the figure approached. She felt strong hands lift her gently, her vision darkening as the cold finally overtook her.

The last thing she saw before everything went black was the faint outline of the village in the distance, and the feeling of warmth starting to return to her frozen body.

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58th Floor

Blake Belladonna crouched low, her amber eyes scanning the aftermath of the battle. The once-shifting sands were still now, the remains of Ymitris, the Sandstorm, reduced to piles of dust and shattered stone. She narrowed her eyes, frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. Ruby had been here—not long ago—but they were too late.

"She fought him," Blake murmured, her hand brushing the remnants of the Sand Prowler skin still left in the sand. "And won."

Adam Taurus stood a few feet behind her, his crimson eyes cold as they swept the battlefield. His grip tightened on the hilt of his sword, Wilt, his frustration evident in the rigid set of his jaw. The desert wind blew across the dunes, carrying with it the faint scent of battle, of blood, and of bitter defeat.

"Too late," Adam muttered, his voice sharp with barely-contained anger. "We were too late."

Blake stood up, brushing the sand off her pants. She could feel the tension radiating off Adam, and she understood his frustration. They had been chasing Ruby for days, ever since she had escaped from the inn, their mission growing more urgent with each passing moment. Now, standing here, it was clear that Ruby had not only survived but had thrived—defeating a Floor Keeper without hesitation, without any sign of weakness.

"She's strong," Blake said quietly, turning to face Adam. "Stronger than we thought."

Adam's lips curled into a sneer. "Stronger?" he scoffed, his voice dripping with contempt. "She got lucky. That's all."

Blake remained silent, though she wasn't convinced. She had seen Ruby fight before, and luck had very little to do with her skill. But saying so would only stoke the fire already burning inside Adam. His obsession with Ruby had grown dangerous, clouding his judgment more with every passing day.

"This was supposed to be our mission," Adam growled, pacing in a tight circle. "We were supposed to capture her, to finish this. And now she's moving on, slipping through our fingers again."

Blake watched him silently, her mind working through the possibilities. Ruby was headed to the next floor—the frozen wasteland of the 59th Floor. The contrast between the scorching desert and the icy tundra would slow her down, especially if she wasn't prepared. It would be the perfect time to strike. But Blake couldn't shake the feeling that something deeper was at play here. Ruby wasn't just running—she was moving with purpose.

"She won't get far in that frozen hell," Blake said finally, her voice steady. "Her armor isn't suited for the cold, and that snake of hers will be useless in such a harsh climate. We can still catch up to her."

Adam stopped pacing, his eyes locking onto Blake's with a calculating glare. "You think she'll slow down?"

Blake nodded, though inside she wasn't entirely sure. "She'll have to. No one can push through the 59th Floor without rest. If we move now, we can track her down before she reaches any shelter."

Adam's hand flexed on his sword hilt, his knuckles white. He seemed to consider her words for a moment before nodding sharply. "Then we don't waste any more time."

Without another word, he turned and began marching toward the portal that would lead them to the frozen wasteland. Blake hesitated for a split second, casting one last glance over the battlefield. The signs of struggle, the broken earth where Ruby had fought Ymitris, were a reminder of how close they had been—and how easily Ruby had slipped away.

Blake's hand tightened around Gambol Shroud, her weapon, as she followed after Adam. As much as she resented the chase, a part of her was glad they hadn't confronted Ruby here. Adam's hatred had grown more vicious since the start of their mission, and Blake feared that when they finally caught up to Ruby, there would be no reasoning with him.

The frozen wasteland awaited them, and Blake couldn't help but wonder how long they could continue this pursuit before something—or someone—broke.

"Don't make us chase you forever, Ruby," Blake thought, her breath misting in the desert air as they stepped into the portal. "Because I'm not sure what happens when we catch you."