Reinhard crouched down on the snow covered roots as he saw the Frost Giant looking around with a glare. After a couple more seconds, the giant turned around and began heading towards the cavern.
Reinhard kept his gaze on the giant while lowering himself more just in case the giant decided to look up. Soon the giant reached the cavern entrance and then entered inside with the ground shaking.
He furrowed his brows before then standing up and moving to slowly climb down, using the extended roots as a ladder.
Reinhard stopped at the edge and leaned to the right to peer into the cavern. He saw the back of the giant which had gashes and crystals on its back but then he blinked. The cavern began shaking even more before more giants had appeared and they moved towards the first one.
There really was more… Of course. Reinhard sighed as he moved back and leaned against the root. He turned around before he began climbing up the roots and then once he was on top of the cavern. He began walking forward through the ankle-deep snow while his mind began to wander.
There are trolls, serpents, wolves, snow horses and now giants. Did my beast have to compete with these monsters? Or were they just enemies it encountered on its way to the top? Reinhard thought as he wrapped his arms around himself. It would be a lie to say that he wasn't a bit frustrated and annoyed at how things are.
From what he knew, most people would have already had some semblance of the purpose of their trial. Whether it be a hint from the trial itself or the trial being so obvious that there was no need to guess. While his trial did tell him to go up, he couldn't really believe it was that simple.
Mostly because nothing so far has been simple. Or maybe others trials were similar to mine but they just downplay it to not discourage others. Reinhard thought.
It wasn't far-fetched considering downplaying things in the world of Tianli is a very common thing. Whether it be Inquisitors saying there aren't many Phantasm Beasts roaming around the towns and villages. Or parents being full of stress but saying they are fine to their kids and telling them everything is alright.
Or troublesome siblings lying about how they feel…
Reinhard frowned as he continued walking and seeing holes ahead. He walked around before pausing and then peering inside to see the Frost Giants walking around. Looking from left to right, he counted over a dozen of them with their weapons laying on the ground.
But what made him shiver was there were no bushes or anything that could have been used to sneak around.
"Going inside really was just a dead end." Reinhard muttered before he continued walking.
The path eventually began elevating upward with the rushing passed him. There was no barrier or anything to protect him from the full force of the wind, leading Reinhard having to walk with his arm raised.
During the walk he would see more holes with even more giants walking around. Their footsteps were loud enough that he could hear them even as the wind continued blowing. Reinhard frowned as he wondered just why there were so many Front Giants on this floor.
Now that he thought about it, just where was he?
He can't recall any place on the Tianli map. And there wasn't any mention of a massive tree in the winter like this in any of the books he had read. He should know because he had read plenty of books before making his way to Memento Mori academy.
All to prepare for the trial as they had no interest in dying or failing.
The only good thing was that this further proved his beast is very high ranking. But thinking about the things he had to confront and the danger he avoided with the Frost Giant.
He couldn't help but feel it was still a pain in the ass, leading him to sigh. Then as he continued walking, his mind drifted to where the trolls, wolves, and horses come from?
Unlike the previous floors, this one has Frost Giants that were hunting and killing them. But what has him confused is that it seems like this isn't the first time the giant has come out to kill the monsters.
If this is true, then where did they come from? Did they do what I did and just climb up from the roots? Or is there multiple roots up here and climbing up is just one of them? Reinhard thought as he furrowed his brows.
It would make sense since this trial is most likely him following the path his beast took. Which meant it would only be showing the path the beast knows about and no other one. It was comforting that he only needed to follow one path, and he was on the right one.
But a bit terrifying as it forces him to push through any obstacles his beast did, such as that cavern filled with Frost Giants.
The pathway continued its gradual ascent for a couple minutes. On the way, Reinhard felt his legs beginning to ache from the constant walking and pushing through the snow.
He supposed the only reason he didn't feel like it was on fire is because of the constant wind. His face was getting more stiff as time passed and his finger tips were gradually becoming numb.
The fact I am still walking is a miracle. Reinhard thought, as his dislike for the cold would have made him want to give up long ago.
But he had a goal he must accomplish no matter what.
After a bit longer he had reached the end of the pathway and looking out, he saw another wide snow-covered area. He then looked down to see the open cavern entrance with roots falling down and swaying at the front.
"I should first check if any giants are around…" Reinhard mutters as he walks over to the edge before he slowly begins climbing down.
Once he reached low enough to look inside, he peered inside of the cavern and then sighed in relief. As he saw no Front Giants around and he didn't hear any of their footsteps, which meant it was safe for now.
Happy it was safe, Reinhard continued climbing down before dropping down into the snow and then walking forward. He quickly arrived in the wide snow-covered area and saw no footprints or signs of monsters walking around here. After seeing no sign of monsters, he smiled and then looked towards the tree trunk.
And then saw the ice covering the trunk like one of the floors before. There was no way to climb it and trying to attempt will just end up with him becoming injured. But it's then he saw smoke beginning to spread from the wall, making him blink in surprise. Then he saw the smoke turning into shapes and then it began to form something on the ice.
Reinhard ran up the tree to see what it was doing and then he saw the words formed on the tree.
It read.
One more climb to the top and then claim everything.