One moment, Cerydra was strolling through the bustling streets of Okhema. The next, as she stepped through the Century Gate, the vibrant cityscape transformed into an endless expanse of icy plains stretching as far as the eye could see.
A bone-chilling wind swept across the plains, sending a shiver down her spine.
This wasn't because she was sensitive to the cold, but rather an instinctive reaction to the sudden transition from a temperate environment to the extreme cold.
It's worth noting that Cerydra was still wearing her signature outfit: a blue-themed ensemble with one leg clad in black stockings and the other bare. Despite initially complaining about the awkwardness of the attire and promising to change, after much deliberation, she had ultimately reverted to her 'factory default' look.
The main reason was that her figure was theoretically perfect for white stockings, just like Hyacine's—they would look undeniably adorable. However, since she was traveling to become the Northern Territory Empress, such a look was inappropriate.
Black stockings? Not quite right either. They inexplicably gave off the impression of a child secretly wearing adult clothes. After endless experimentation with outfits, she finally concluded that the asymmetrical combination of one black stocking and one bare leg was the most fitting choice.
The first impression created by this outfit wasn't "cute" or "trying to look mature," but rather "a bit odd," which immediately drew attention and left a lasting impression. That was enough.
In contrast, Hysilens had changed into a striking black evening gown adorned with intricate golden patterns. The shoulder- and back-baring design was paired with brand-new black thigh-high stockings, and her high heels clicked crisply against the icy surface with each step.
Hysilens looked less like a warrior here to unite the Northern Territory through combat and more like a noblewoman attending a grand ball.
As for Cipher, Aria, Douglas, and Feidric, all four were bundled in thick, furry winter gear, wrapped up tightly against the cold.
Cerydra pulled out her phone to check the Northern Territory map. They were currently located in the exact center of the region—a spot Tribios had chosen at random.
The Northern Territory was home to countless clans, perhaps over a thousand in total. However, none of these clans had permanent settlements; they all lived as nomadic pastoralists.
After all, this desolate place had no soil. Beneath their feet lay only ice formed from frozen seawater, making farming impossible. Survival depended on other means.
In Cerydra's previous life, nomadic life meant herding cattle and sheep. After grazing a pasture bare, they would move on to another. But in the Northern Territory, raising livestock was equally impossible. The barbarians' nomadic method was "Fish Tracking."
Beneath the Northern Territory's icy surface lay a vast ocean teeming with fish. These schools migrated erratically, and the barbarians on the ice followed them relentlessly.
Among the barbarians, a crucial position was that of the "Underwater Fish School Observer." Despite the immense thickness of the Northern Territory's ice, these observers could discern subtle cues—variations in ice thickness, shifts in current, and the faint echoes of fish movements—to predict the schools' movements. They then guided their clans, leading them to the next food source.
Of course, a single miscalculation could plunge the entire clan into starvation. In such dire circumstances, only two options remained: first, attack another clan to seize their food and track their fish schools; or second... disband on the spot, leaving each member to their fate and fortune, either joining another clan or perishing alone.
A clan could never accept all members of another clan at once; it would be too dangerous. But if only one or two individuals came seeking refuge, the clan leader might take pity and agree.
In short, because the Northern Territory clans' movements were so unpredictable, Tribios had no idea where any settlements might be. She simply dropped the group in the middle of the Northern Territory.
While pondering this, Hysilens slowly crouched down and placed her right hand on the ice. The ice here was bitterly cold; direct contact could cause frostbite for an ordinary person.
But Hysilens had no such worries. She focused her mind and carefully sensed her surroundings. After a moment, she stood up and pointed to the group's left, declaring, "Over there."
The reason was simple: a massive school of fish swam in the sea to their left. Logic dictated that a Barbarian clan would likely be nearby, exploiting this abundant resource. They just needed to head in that direction.
To be honest, she still didn't have a clear strategy for unifying the Northern Territory. Douglas had warned her about the Northerners' xenophobia, but she didn't know the extent of their hostility, making it difficult to formulate a plan. For now, she could only proceed cautiously, taking things one step at a time.
The six of them began their trek across the Ice Plains. With each breath, the frigid air rushed into their nostrils and filled their lungs, causing every hair on their bodies to stand on end.
Each breath felt like gulping down icy water, a bone-chilling sensation erupting from their lungs and spreading throughout their bodies.
Simply existing in the Northern Lands—merely breathing—rapidly drained body heat. To survive here, one needed not only thick furs but also exceptional physical strength.
The body had to generate heat at a rate equal to the heat loss, or they would freeze to death simply from breathing. This was why most merchants avoided this region. First, the Northern Territory was desperately poor; second, venturing here meant risking death by freezing.
This harsh environment was what forged the Northern Territory Barbarians into formidable warriors. Those born and raised in this land possessed absurdly high physical capabilities. Or, to put it bluntly, those who lacked the necessary strength had already perished.
Cerydra, Hysilens, and Cipher needed no further mention. Even before their year of training under Okhema, Aria and Douglas had been capable of surviving in the Northern Territory. Now, after their rigorous training, they were even better prepared.
Upon closer inspection, one could notice the longsword strapped to Aria's back emitting a faint golden glow, like fireflies circling her, continuously dispelling the biting cold.
As for Feidric, he had immediately cast a spell at the outset: "First-Level Abjuration School, Thermostatic Barrier."
A completely transparent shield enveloped him, maintaining a normal temperature within—warm in winter, cool in summer—completely unaffected by the freezing weather outside.
Magic... how convenient.
Douglas watched his teammates—one protected by a Divine Artifact, the other by magic—and exhaled a large puff of white mist. He touched his nose. "Damn, no wonder it's so hard to breathe. My snot's frozen solid!"
"Hey, you two are taking shortcuts! That's not fair!" Douglas protested, glancing at Cerydra and Hysilens before quickly averting his gaze. Finally, he focused on Cipher. "Looks like it's just us two freezing our asses off..."
Cipher shot him a sidelong glance, her cat tail swaying gently behind her. With warm lips, she delivered an ice-cold remark, "No, actually, you're the only one freezing. All these layers are just a disguise."
Douglas finally realized that the Catgirl in his party was also a Demigod! He took a deep breath, then shuddered again. "Whew, it's freezing!"
In contrast, neither the Little Owlbear nor Half showed the slightest hint of being cold. The two little creatures—especially the Little Owlbear—were running around and even rolling on the ground, clearly thrilled by their first encounter with such a snowy landscape.
Half chased after the Little Owlbear, but his short legs couldn't keep up, no matter how hard he tried. Frustrated, he ran after the Owlbear, meowing frantically.
Watching this scene, Aria couldn't help but find the two little creatures adorable. But then she asked, "Wait, does Half's meow sound a bit off? Do dogs even meow?"
Feidric scoffed, "That's clearly a cat's meow! No dog barks like that!"
Aria tilted her head slightly, glancing at Cipher, who awkwardly averted her gaze, avoiding direct eye contact. "I didn't mean to do it," Cipher mumbled. "Who could have guessed that a casual 'meow' I made would actually stick with him...?"
"Why don't you try correcting him, Aria?"
"Correct him?" After a moment's thought, Aria scurried over to Half, scooped him up, and held him up in front of her. After a brief pause, she opened her mouth and said, "Woof?"
Half tilted his head slightly. "Meow?"
"No, not 'meow'—'woof'!" Aria insisted.
"Meow!" Half replied stubbornly.
Cipher watched in exasperation as the two continued their back-and-forth, their voices echoing through the group with alternating "meows" and "woofs."
Cipher and Feidric exchanged exasperated glances, while Douglas, oblivious to the chaos, sneezed loudly, "Achoo~!"
Time drifted slowly as the group of six silently pressed onward for two to three hours. Finally, they reached the location where Hysilens had sensed the fish school.
However, Hysilens scanned the surroundings but saw no sign of any Barbarians. A look of surprise crossed her face. Could this fish school be unclaimed? Was their luck really that bad?
Seeing the guide stop, Feidric asked, "What's wrong?"
"Wait, let me ask," Hysilens replied.
She crouched down and placed her hand on the ice. Instantly, the ice beneath her touch began to melt rapidly, forming a circular hole roughly ten centimeters in diameter.
Ice was merely one of water's many forms, and Hysilens's Authority to "Alter Water Forms" naturally allowed her to transform ice back into water, achieving the effect of melting.
Then, she dipped her right index finger into the sea. Several fish quickly gathered around her finger, gently nudging it with their heads, as if kissing her.
Most fish are notoriously dim-witted, as the saying goes: "A fish's memory lasts only seven seconds." While the reality might not be quite that extreme, it's not far off.
This meant that if Hysilens asked these fish, "Where are the Barbarians?", she'd get no answer. The fish simply couldn't understand the question. However, if she asked, "Has the number of your companions decreased recently?" or "Have any other creatures been hunting you?", she could still get answers.
Then, amidst Aria, Feidric, and Douglas's utterly bewildered expressions, Hysilens began softly conversing with the fish in the water.
Douglas murmured, "She's talking to fish?"
Feidric echoed, "Fish can actually talk?"
There's a spell called Animal Communication that translates animal languages and allows communication. Feidric had previously used this spell to translate the Little Owlbear's cries, learning that the creature thoroughly despised Douglas.
But this magic was useless on fish, because... fish don't vocalize! Without vocalizations, there was nothing to translate.
Just as the group stood there, bewildered, Hysilens rose to her feet. "Because their numbers have been mysteriously dwindling, they perceive their previous habitat as highly dangerous. This school of fish is currently migrating."
In other words, a Barbarian Clan must be nearby. Their relentless hunting has driven the fish to migrate. Now, the group didn't need to wander aimlessly; they could simply wait in place, and a band of Barbarians, following the fish's trail, should appear before them soon.
Just as Hysilens was explaining the situation, a brown figure darted past her, rushed to the edge of the melted Ice Cave, stuck its head inside, and promptly snatched out a fish. It was the Little Owlbear.
With a flick of its neck, the little creature swallowed the entire fish—the very one that had just shared its intelligence with Hysilens—in a single gulp.
Feidric: "!"
Douglas: "!"
Aria stammered, "Um... Sister Hysilens, Rice (the Little Owlbear's name) seems to have eaten your friend..."
Hysilens glanced down at the Little Owlbear at her feet and nodded. "Yes, I see."
Just as the trio began to worry that Hysilens might be angry, she crooked a finger, and instantly, more fish leaped from the Ice Cave, landing beside the Little Owlbear. Without hesitation, the Owlbear lowered its head and began feasting on the buffet.
Half, arriving late, approached one of the fish with curiosity, sniffing at it. The fish suddenly flipped its tail, striking him sharply across the face.
The fish was nearly as large as Half himself, leaving him dazed from the blow.
Seeing this, Hysilens chuckled softly. Feidric then asked, "You don't mind these fish being eaten...?"
"Why should I?" Hysilens replied. "Isn't it natural for big fish to eat little fish in the sea?"