Clash with the Beastly Horde (Part 1)
Four days had passed in the valley, which felt like an unending labyrinth. Thanks to the natural gifts of the Thunder Tempests, their keen noses guided us through the crimson death prison. I couldn't complain too much—during this time, I managed to kill eleven more monsters, pushing me to level 17. Unfortunately, I didn't gain any new abilities this time.
The sun this morning was scorching, and Soo-Ah could barely hold on, her body drenched in sweat and teetering on the edge of exhaustion. She seemed to drift in and out of consciousness, slumped on the back of the Omenpaw as we traveled. After five long hours—moving at what felt like fifty or sixty kilometers per hour, thanks to the Thunder Tempests' incredible speed—the environment finally began to change. The crimson ground gradually faded, replaced by simple rocky terrain, painting an entirely new picture. Slowly but surely, the ground cooled beneath us.