Mike watched the remaining shadow tigers disappear into the giant jungle, their shadows fading away. Ice noticed Mike's sadness and tried to cheer him up.
"It was the right thing. They wouldn't be able to climb the mountain anyway."
Mike smiled, grateful.
"True, the curse. Well, let's get going. We still have to climb this giant."
He stopped for a moment and looked at the enormous mountain.
"Literally a giant."
Then he moved ahead, since they were still at the very beginning. Ice glanced back for a moment, proud of their victory, then followed Mike.
After about an hour, they had covered many meters, but were still only at the mountain's base. It rose steeply. Mike equipped his sword, and Ice did the same.
"Let's try using the sword as a climbing tool. You know what I mean."
Ice nodded and demonstrated. Since they stood before a sheer rock wall, they would not have been able to continue normally, but the idea changed everything. Ice took a short run up and jumped. Her sword pierced the stone and held firmly. She gripped the hilt, her legs bracing against the wall.
Mike grinned. He had not expected this to actually work. He called up to Ice.
"And now again, and again!"
Ice did not answer, exhausted, but she clearly heard him. She repeated the motion, faster this time, and within minutes she was very high.
Mike whispered worriedly, "Better not fall now."
But he had to do it himself. He jumped at the wall, drove his sword in, pulled it out, leaped higher, and repeated the process again and again until they reached the top. Ice pulled Mike up and the two of them finally made it to the summit.
The last rays of sunlight broke through the clouds, but night was approaching. Ice lay on the ground, exhausted. Mike remained standing, though he also just wanted to collapse.
He did. Both of them lay on the ground, breathing heavily. Then Mike spoke with a forced little grin.
"I hope we never have to do that again."
Ice said nothing and only breathed. It seemed as if the air here was different, but it was only a feeling. The temperature had dropped sharply below zero. Mike activated his Hyper Scale for warmth while Ice was already working on a fire a bit away from the cliff. She stood there, and Mike simply watched her for a moment.
He checked their surroundings. Behind them the mountain still reached higher, but to continue they would have to pass through a small forest area. In front of Mike was a sheer drop. Only one path led onward. Ice decided to rest for the night, and Mike understood. She was very strong despite having gained only a few levels. She definitely had potential.
Mike turned toward the cliff and sat down. He enjoyed the last traces of sunlight, the warmth touching his face for a moment before darkness replaced it. The fire behind him was now their only light. He stood up and joined Ice.
"You made it, didn't you?"
Ice grinned.
"After a few attempts."
The fire burned and kept them warm.
Mike offered to keep watch for the night and look out for any creatures. Ice nodded gratefully and closed her eyes. Mike was not tired anyway, so he could take the watch. Out here in the open they were not protected, and with only the two of them they could become easy prey.
Mike drew his sword. The moonlight reflected off the golden hilt, casting a soft golden glow.
"How beautiful," Mike whispered as he looked at the smooth grip. He was proud of the fight against the king, although he questioned whether he should be proud. Remembering how he won made him unsure. But he was the one who won, and now he could wield a divine sword, the highest possible class.
Mike had always loved swords and used to collect them in the game. He looked up at the moon and whispered,
"I should start a sword collection again."
After a few more thoughts and some sword practice, the sun crawled back up over the horizon. Ice woke quickly and found herself safe by the campfire.
Mike smiled, ready to continue their journey.
They moved quickly, not wanting to waste any time. Mike and Ice crossed the small forest area and reached another rock wall, where they had to repeat their climbing act. Exhausted after about thirty minutes of repeated jumps and sword strikes into the stone, they found themselves at another mountain peak. They had likely spent the previous day climbing the giant's arm. Mike panted heavily and pointed at a sign.
"Look, a sign. What does it say?"
He stepped closer.
(Climb higher to enter the Mountains of the Giants)
Ice repeated the name of the new area.
"Mountains of the Giants?"
This was most likely level three, so they followed the path upward. This time there was no rock wall, and they even found stairs leading them high up. The stairs were extremely long. They had now passed through the clouds and could see the sky clearly. The sky around them was a bright heavenly blue, yet farther ahead, where they were heading, the sky turned gray as if it had turned to stone.
When the stairs finally ended, they reached the summit and were rewarded with a sign, a merchant, and a white wall they could pass through. Mike and Ice looked at the merchant as he greeted them.
"Hellooo, finally made it, huh? Well, that was only the beginning. You can buy something now or continue."
The merchant tapped the sign with a stick.
(Mountains of the Giants)
The merchant laughed.
"You are about to enter a kingdom that does not belong to you. It belongs to the petrified giants. Long ago the mighty dragons and the giants faced each other in a final battle. They petrified one another. It is said that only one dragon survived, Zai…"
Mike interrupted the merchant.
"Zaikel, the plant dragon?"
The merchant froze and stared at Mike.
"Well, uhm, yes. You know the story?"
Mike did not answer and simply looked at Ice.
"Why didn't Zaikel carry us up here?"
As if triggered by a switch, the merchant answered immediately.
"It could be because dragons are not allowed to enter the giants' territory. They would also turn to stone."
Mike sighed.
"Okay, I guess we have to continue."
He said his goodbye and Ice stepped forward. She nodded once and jumped through the white wall. It wrapped around her and swallowed her just like last time.
Mike took a step forward.
"I hope this won't be as exhausting."
Then he jumped inside.