The lingering echoes of victory in the Toxic Mist Nest had not yet completely faded when the trio, carrying their spoils, returned via the teleportation array to the bustling central plaza of Green Town.
Notifications of equipment durability and the addition of rare materials to their inventories served as reminders of the brutal battle they had just endured.
"First stop, the blacksmith. Then we head to the general merchant to clear out the surplus materials," Kiriya said, laying out the next steps with practiced ease as his eyes scanned the town map.
Lina nodded, about to speak, when a translucent private chat window—adorned with snowflake motifs—suddenly popped up in front of her.
Her gaze sharpened, ice-blue eyes swiftly scanning the message. A flicker of surprise crossed her face, quickly replaced by solemn focus.
Kiriya and Violet noticed the change in her demeanor and both came to a stop.
Moments later, Lina closed the interface, turning to her companions. Her voice carried a rare hint of personal plea, the kind reserved for friends:
"It's from a friend of mine in the real world—Mira. She's run into a difficult situation in-game."
Violet pushed her golden-framed glasses up her nose, curiosity alight in her soft violet eyes.
"Oh? What happened? Does she need help?"
"She's triggered an extremely rare hidden quest chain—the 'Trial of the Frozen Throne.'" Lina explained, her tone grave.
"The quest is highly difficult. Most importantly, the final stage only allows her to bring a single companion into the trial grounds."
Kiriya raised a brow. "A hidden quest? The rewards must be impressive." His interest in such exclusive challenges was immediate.
"Yes. Rumor has it that the final reward may be tied to the prototype of a unique frost-element legendary equipment or a powerful exclusive skill. It may even unlock a hidden class."
Lina went on, and though her voice remained calm, a faint trace of expectation lingered beneath.
"Mira is a meticulous and exceptionally focused mage. Her understanding and control of magic surpass that of most players at her level, but her strengths lie in field control and sustained damage—her instantaneous burst is relatively lacking.
The last stage of the trial requires the rapid elimination of several frost guardians with extremely high magic resistance, followed by a confrontation with the Frost Elemental Lord.
She'll need a sufficiently sharp 'sword' to break through the ice."
Her gaze settled directly on Kiriya.
"She needs a high-burst, highly mobile, and trustworthy partner. I recommended you, Kiriya."
"Me?" Kiriya blinked in mild surprise. Violet's eyes flickered between Lina and Kiriya, her lips curling into a knowing, amused smile.
"Your clone ability can disrupt trial mechanics on a large scale, and your main body's explosive damage is enough to shatter the guardians' cores in a short span."
Lina's tone was as cool and objective as ever.
"More importantly, I trust your skill and adaptability. This quest cannot fail—failure will sever the chain permanently, and the rewards will be gone forever. Mira has already invested tremendous effort and resources to reach this point."
Violet leaned closer, elbowing Kiriya lightly, and lowered her voice with a playful grin.
"Oh? A real-life friend, a hidden quest, a chance to be alone together?"
Kiriya ignored Violet's teasing and fell silent for a moment in thought.
The lure of a hidden quest was undeniable—not only the promise of powerful rewards, but also the unique experience itself, a prize valued by players in its own right.
And beyond that, this was Lina's request. Given the bond of camaraderie forged through their battles, refusing was hardly an option.
"Where's the location? What mechanics should I watch out for?" His question was essentially an acceptance.
A flicker of relief passed through Lina's eyes, subtle but unmistakable.
"In the Northern Region's 'Ever Frost Gorge.' The main hazards are the extreme cold, which inflicts continuous frostbite damage, requiring periodic relief at heat sources within the environment.
In the boss fight, the Frost Lord frequently casts full-field ice explosions—dodging requires either very high movement speed or teleportation. Your 'Blink Step' and clone shifts should be perfect counters."
She transmitted Mira's in-game ID and basic information to Kiriya.
"She joined the game around the same time as us, also level 25, class: Mage. Add her, and you can work out the details together. She should already be waiting at the entry town near Ever Frost Gorge."
Violet clapped her hands cheerfully.
"Settled then! Kiriya, you go help Lina's bestie with her epic quest. Meanwhile, Lina and I can hit the marketplace, stock up on potions and supplies, and maybe drop by that ale tavern."
She winked at Lina. "Don't worry—I'll keep her company and make sure no weirdos try to hit on her."
Lina shot Violet a helpless glance, then turned back to Kiriya.
"I'm counting on you. Mira might seem cold on the surface, but she's a good person. Her combat instincts and analytical ability are exceptional—you two should complement each other well."
Kiriya gave a firm nod.
"Understood. I'll contact her now and head for the North. Stay in touch—if anything happens, let me know right away."
After parting from his teammates, Kiriya made his way toward the teleportation array while sending a friend request to the player named [Mira].
The request was accepted almost instantly.
A calm, even-toned female voice, cool as ice and devoid of pleasantries, flowed through the private channel:
"Kiriya? This is Mira, Lina's friend. Thank you for your assistance. Time is limited. Please teleport to 'Northwind Outpost'—I'll be waiting at the teleportation point."
"On my way." Kiriya's reply was concise. A party invitation appeared soon after; he accepted, and Mira's portrait popped up in the party list—a woman with shoulder-length blue hair, pale and composed features, and eyes that seemed to radiate a quiet chill even through the screen.
After paying the teleport fee, Kiriya stepped into the array leading north. The vibrant clamor of Green Town dissolved in an instant, replaced by a snow-swept wilderness.
A freezing gale, carrying shards of snow, struck him head-on. The temperature plunged. He now stood in a rugged town square built from raw timber and stone, every building buried beneath thick snow, icicles dangling from eaves. NPCs and players in heavy fur gear hurried by.
And near the teleportation array, one figure immediately drew his gaze.
A tall female mage stood poised, shoulder-length blue hair immaculately arranged, framing a face as pristine and austere as carved ice. Her expression was calm, almost detached, and her ice-blue eyes swept her surroundings with the precision of someone analyzing data.
She wore a finely tailored azure mage robe embroidered with intricate frost sigils. In her hand rested a staff nearly as tall as herself, its shaft forged from a crystalline, cold-blue material, its tip set with a large gem that pulsed with icy radiance, releasing tendrils of frost into the air.
Around her, snowflakes seemed to fall more slowly, the very air warped by the faint chill she exuded, enough that nearby players instinctively kept their distance.
Her gaze fell on Kiriya. For a brief moment, she seemed to measure him, then strode forward with steady purpose, the ambient frost flowing with her movement.
"Kiriya," she said, her voice as calm and precise as in chat. She extended a gloved hand, thin and blue. "I am Mira. Time is short—let's talk while we walk." Efficient and direct, yet not lacking courtesy.
Kiriya clasped her hand briefly—the touch was cool.
"Alright." His reply was terse, but he could already tell: this was a partner who valued efficiency and results.
Mira gave a curt nod and turned, leading the way. Her stride was sure and unhesitant. Together, they left Northwind Outpost and entered the frozen reaches of Everfrost Gorge.
Snow crunched beneath their boots; jagged icicles and cliffs loomed around them, cold mist curling through the air. The frost she radiated seemed to merge seamlessly with the environment.
As they walked, Mira laid out the quest details with impeccable clarity, her cadence steady, her focus unwavering.
"The Trial of the Frozen Throne originates from the inheritance test of the ancient Frost Giant kings. I gained entry after solving puzzles, gathering rare frost materials, and completing a series of high-difficulty challenges."
"The trial has three phases," her voice was crystalline, like ice beads striking stone.
"First phase: 'Path of Ice'—evade periodic ice spikes erupting from the ground, eliminate twenty-eight frost elementals. I've already calculated the optimal route.
Second phase: 'Hall of Mirrors'—we'll face mirror clones that replicate our skills and data. Identification is based on energy fluctuation anomalies. I will mark the real targets.
Third phase: 'Throne Between'—four Frost Guardians must be destroyed quickly. They channel protective ice wards to the boss, 'Frostheart Glacriel.' If four layers stack, the fight becomes unwinnable. After the guardians, we engage the lord himself."
Raising her staff slightly, the icy gem shimmered with light.
"Glacriel's skill sequence: high-frequency ice shards—moderate threat; Frost Nova—limited radius, low threat; most dangerous is 'Total Iceburst.' Short chant time, arena-wide coverage. Only safe zones are behind the six frost pillars at the edge of the field. Requires extreme mobility. My teleport alone cannot fully cover it. Your movement and clone displacement are essential." Her explanation was clinical, as if reciting a tactical report.
Kiriya absorbed every word, already mapping battle models in his mind. Clones for bait and testing, Blink Step for dodging—the role fit him perfectly.
"The guardians' stats?"
"Each has approximately 3,200 HP. High physical resistance, extreme resistance to frost magic. My damage output is almost entirely frost-based. Efficiency against them is too low—if they live too long, shields stack, and the DPS window closes." Her tone was flat, objective, as though analyzing an equation, not her own limitations.
Kiriya nodded. His hybrid damage was indeed the ideal solution.
"Leave the guardians to me. You handle control and mechanics. Save your burst for the boss."
Mira's ice-blue gaze lingered on him briefly before she inclined her head—a small acknowledgment of his quick grasp.
"Agreed. I believe Lina's judgment was correct."
After about ten minutes of walking, they arrived at the entrance to a massive cavern, its mouth framed by towering statues of frost giants. Their crossed battle-axes formed an arch, within which a glowing arcane gate flickered, runes brightening toward their zenith.
"This is it." Mira's voice remained steady. From her inventory, she drew an ice-crystal token carved with intricate throne motifs. Its frosty aura resonated with the energy surrounding her. "The trial pass."
Kiriya made one final check—HP and MP full, skills ready.
At the moment the runes blazed brightest, Mira pressed the token firmly into the sigil at the gate's center.
A resonant hum.
Blinding blue light consumed everything as space itself shifted.
[Entering special instance: Trial of the Frozen Throne]
[Objective: Complete the Trial of the Frozen Throne]
[Warning: This is a one-time challenge. Failure will permanently terminate the quest chain!]
The light faded. Before them stretched a grand, glacial corridor, frigid air biting to the bone, every breath misting into frost. From the ice fog ahead came the grinding shriek of crystal against crystal, and the guttural growls of elementals.
Mira tightened her grip on her frost staff. Her aura surged, cold magic swirling like a living thing, freezing droplets from the air into a spiral of glittering shards. Her expression was as cold as ice, but her eyes burned sharp as frozen lances, brimming with absolute focus.
"Prepare to advance." Her voice rang out crisp and steady, cold yet strangely reassuring.
Kiriya slowly unsheathed his bronze sword. Two bluish clones shimmered silently into being at his flanks, blades angled toward the mist ahead.
"Of course." His gaze was keen, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Let's begin."