The ice on the floor began to melt. The heat radiating from the four of us, entangled together, was more than enough to overwhelm the chill of Floor 13. The 'Vessel' inside my body was vibrating past its limits. Every time Jia's scales scraped my chest, golden sparks flew, and every time Mei moaned, mana rippled out like a wave.
"Li-An, just now... the ground is shaking."
Mei said, gripping my shoulder tight. She was right. The frozen corridor floor was cracking open, and water began to pool. It wasn't just ice; the mana crystals of the dungeon were melting under our body heat.
"Go harder. Don't stop."
Chen bit my neck once more. The blood pact between her and me acted as a catalyst to amplify the mana. My vision turned red, and I pulled Jia, Mei, and Chen into a single embrace. At that moment, the massive ice wall surrounding us collapsed with a roar.
BOOM!
An explosive heat surged in every direction. Thick steam billowed up, and we slid down through the collapsed floor. When I came to my senses, we had fallen into a completely different area.
"Is this... the mid-boss room?"
Jia stood up, adjusting her clothes. Her eyes were still bloodshot. In front of us stood a massive ice statue. No, it wasn't a statue. It was the guardian of Floor 13, the 'Frost Lord,' who had been sleeping inside the ice.
The heat we released had melted the prison holding it. Its eyes glowed blue as it glared at us. But we weren't afraid. Instead, Chen licked her lips and drew her sword.
"My body's all warmed up thanks to that. Perfect timing."
Mei grinned, readjusting her daggers. The look in their eyes, which had been indulging in me just moments ago, had returned to that of a predator. I felt the different manas they had filled me with—hot, sharp, and heavy power.
"Let's go. Let's play with this one for a long time."