Just Extra

In the ice mountains, Naviga's body felt more relaxed than it had in days. The Yin essence in the frigid air blended perfectly with the bone-deep cold, and it suited her cultivation perfectly. Her breathing came easier here, and she could feel her energy flowing more smoothly to her core. For Minerva, however, the relentless chill pressed down much harder against her fire-based constitution. Her fire element clashed violently with the overwhelming ice energy, forcing her to reach into her storage ring and retrieve a fire warming talisman. She pressed the small artifact firmly against her chest, and a thin veil of blessed heat spread slowly around her entire body, easing the uncomfortable tension in her muscles.

Minerva looked around with calculating eyes, her sharp gaze tracing the endless walls of solid ice that surrounded them on all sides. The frozen barriers stretched upward beyond sight, creating a natural fortress that seemed impossible to breach. "Naviga, we need to find a way through these mountains," she said, her voice remaining calm.

Naviga nodded silently in agreement. They both made the practical decision to split up and search different sections of the mountain face for any possible opening. As she walked carefully along the icy base, Naviga whispered a quiet command to the advanced chip embedded within her mind. "Scan for a path forward through this ice."

At once, faint ripples of concentrated information spread outward from her position in all directions. Since her recent breakthrough to a higher cultivation level, the chip's scanning range had expanded significantly—now it could effectively cover nearly two full kilometers in every direction. A steady stream of detailed data began flowing directly into her consciousness.

"Host, path detected. One kilometer ahead to the northeast," the chip's mechanical voice reported with perfect clarity.

The precise image of the discovered location was projected directly into her mind like a three-dimensional map carved from pure light. Naviga followed the mental guidance quickly, her sturdy boots crunching rhythmically against the hardened snow and ice until she reached the indicated slope. She studied the area carefully with both her eyes and her enhanced senses—the scan had been completely accurate. This was indeed a viable way forward through the mountain barrier.

After confirming the passage with her own careful observation, she touched the communication charm hanging at her neck and called out softly across the distance, "Miss Minerva, I have found a passage through the ice."

Minerva arrived shortly after, her breath creating faint mist in the cold air, her red eyes sharp with curiosity and anticipation. Together, they stood before the narrow icy path that wound deeper into the heart of the mountain.

Naviga stepped carefully onto the treacherous icy path, her boots finding purchase on the slick surface with practiced ease. As she walked steadily deeper into the mountain passage, she murmured quietly in her mind, "Chip, scan ahead continuously. Look for any potential danger."

The chip responded instantly to her command, expanding its detection range deep into the winding passage ahead. Lines of detailed data flickered constantly through her thoughts like a steady stream. So far, no hostile presence had been detected anywhere—only thick layers of ancient ice and a steadily rising slope that led further into the mountain's interior.

Behind her, Minerva followed closely, maintaining a safe distance while staying alert. Her veil moved gently with the persistent cold wind that flowed through the passage. Her crimson eyes scanned the solid ice walls on both sides continuously, always remaining vigilant for potential threats, while her right hand remained positioned near her storage ring, ready to draw her weapon at the first sign of danger.

They walked for almost an hour through the frozen corridor, the oppressive silence broken only by the steady sound of their careful steps pressing into the thick ice beneath their feet. The passage seemed to wind endlessly through the mountain's heart, sometimes widening, sometimes narrowing to barely allow them to pass single file.

At last, the cramped path opened wider into a vast chamber, and before them stretched an impossible sight—a river flowing calmly and steadily through the very heart of the frozen mountain.

Naviga stopped abruptly, her eyes narrowing in disbelief. Clear water ran smooth and steady, cutting directly through the endless frost that dominated everything else. It was genuinely surprising—almost completely unbelievable given their current environment. With the overwhelming cold that permeated this place, even the air felt like it could freeze their breath solid, yet this mysterious river flowed freely and naturally, completely untouched by ice formation.

The current was not particularly fast, flowing more like a steady stream that glistened beautifully under the faint blue glow that seemed to seep naturally from the icy walls surrounding them. Thin wisps of steam rose mysteriously from the water's surface.

Minerva frowned deeply beneath her protective veil, clearly troubled by what they were witnessing. "This is very strange. A flowing river here, inside this kind of frozen mountain..." She crouched down slightly, touching the edge of the flowing water carefully with her gloved fingers. The water felt surprisingly cool but not freezing. "It does not make any logical sense. The ice outside should be harder than forged steel, but here this water moves like it has its own independent will."

Naviga studied the mysterious river in thoughtful silence for several long moments. The chip inside her mind was also actively scanning the entire area, recording detailed data about the anomalous phenomenon, though it provided no clear explanation for what they were observing. She exhaled lightly, her breath visible in the cold air. "Whatever this mysterious thing is, it must lead somewhere important. Let us follow it, Miss Minerva."

Minerva nodded in firm agreement. Without further hesitation or delay, they began to walk steadily along the river's winding path, allowing the sound of the flowing water to guide them deeper into the mountain's hidden secrets.

The river continued to flow smooth and steady, its clear surface catching beautiful glimmers of the faint blue light emanating from the ice formations above. On both sides of the flowing water, a few strange trees managed to grow despite the harsh conditions—thin trunks completely covered in thick frost, their delicate branches sharp and brittle like perfect crystal formations. Beneath the clear water, small shapes darted quickly back and forth, flashes of silver and pale blue that moved with surprising grace.

Naviga crouched down beside the water's edge, her eyes narrowing with focused concentration. "Fish," she said quietly, confirming what the moving shapes were. With a quick, fluid movement born of instinct and practice, she dipped her hand smoothly into the flowing water, her body moving with the practiced precision of someone who had done this many times before. In one clean, efficient motion, she pulled two icy-looking fish directly from the water, their scales shining brilliantly like polished glass. They squirmed desperately in her strong hands, making faint splashing sounds before she ended their struggle with swift efficiency.

Minerva raised an eyebrow in mild surprise, her lips curving slightly upward in what might have been amusement. "You have gotten remarkably good at that particular skill. What else are you hiding from me, Naviga?"

Naviga smiled faintly, shaking her head in gentle denial. "Nothing particularly impressive, young lady. I simply used to practice catching things quickly when I was younger. The skill comes in handy during situations like this."

Minerva gave a quiet "hmm" acknowledgment, though the way her eyes lingered on Naviga showed she was genuinely amused by the display of skill. With a casual flick of her fingers, controlled flames burst to life, curling warm and steady against the bitter cold air. She roasted both fish with practiced ease, her fire element perfectly controlled so the skin crisped to a golden brown without burning the delicate flesh inside.

Naviga sprinkled a small amount of salt that she kept stored in her travel pouch over both fish before handing one to Minerva with a respectful gesture. "Here, Miss Minerva. Please try it."

Minerva accepted the offered fish gratefully, blowing gently on the hot surface before taking her first careful taste. The warmth from the cooked meat spread quickly through her body, effectively easing the persistent bite of the icy mountain air. She chewed slowly and thoughtfully, her eyes visibly softening with appreciation. "Not bad at all... I did not expect fish from a frozen mountain river to taste this remarkably good."

Naviga bit into her own portion, the crisp skin giving way to reveal tender, surprisingly rich flesh beneath. She chewed with obvious satisfaction, walking alongside Minerva as they continued following the river's mysterious path deeper into the mountain. "Sometimes the simplest food tastes better than any elaborate feast, does it not?"

Minerva gave her a sideways glance, her veil shifting slightly in the cold breeze. "It certainly does. Especially when I do not have to cook it myself."

Naviga laughed quietly, the pleasant sound echoing lightly against the silence of the icy cavern around them.

They were walking comfortably side by side, the river's quiet flow steady and soothing in their ears, when suddenly the frost-covered branches directly above them shifted ominously.

In the blink of an eye, a dark shadow leaped down aggressively from the frozen trees, dropping straight toward Minerva with deadly intent.

Naviga's body reacted before her conscious mind fully caught up to the threat. That deadly assassin's instinct, carved deep into her very bones from her previous life's experiences, flared like brilliant lightning through her nervous system. Her chest tightened with familiar tension, her pulse spiked dramatically, and without any hesitation she poured concentrated universal essence into a devastating strike.

The focused force ripped through the cold mountain air, slamming with tremendous impact into the unknown attacking object while it was still mid-descent. With a sharp crack and a violent burst of icy dust, the mysterious thing was knocked powerfully away, thrown hard against the rocky ground several paces ahead of their position.

They both froze completely for a tense moment, staring intently at the object that had just crashed heavily to the ground before them.

It was a reptile, its entire body shimmering with an unnatural blue light that seemed to pulse with inner energy. Even with the chip's advanced scanning capabilities, it had remained completely invisible until the moment it moved to attack—and now its true form glimmered faintly in the dim light. Naviga's eyes narrowed with growing concern. Her concentrated universal essence strike had barely managed to scratch its surface; the creature's shell was impossibly hard, reflecting the cold light around them like polished armor.

Minerva exhaled slowly, her voice remaining calm despite the underlying tension. "It is a Rainbow Reptile."

Naviga's gaze sharpened with recognition and worry. "Rainbow...?"

Minerva nodded grimly. "It can change colors depending completely on its surrounding environment, and it can use any elemental power that is available in the area. Right now, it is using ice element, perfectly matching this frozen environment. If it were in a lightning-rich area, it could wield lightning power instead. Its camouflage ability is absolutely perfect—it knows how to vanish better than almost any other creature. Even a 2nd Essence Core cultivator would struggle greatly to detect it."

The reptile's cold, intelligent eyes tracked them steadily, its powerful body shifting slightly with the frozen mist swirling around them. Its stance suggested it was preparing for another attack.

Naviga tensed her muscles, ready for combat. Minerva mirrored her defensive stance, both women preparing themselves for another dangerous fight in this frozen wasteland.

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