Mystic Overlord: Reading Gives Strength

Under normal circumstances.

It's understandable that an ordinary person loses their balance and falls on a smooth ice surface.

But Nicole is no ordinary person.

Even though her character is naturally spontaneous, and she's currently in the cartoon world created by "Maze Picture Book," she quickly regains her balance and steadies herself on the ice after losing it for just an instant.

Due to the overly smooth ice surface, she had no choice but to slide forward a bit.

Next, Nicole scanned her surroundings.

The curiosity in her eyes finally fell upon Ronald:

"Ronald, you should try it too!"

"It's so slippery here! Even the frozen ice surface of Lake Chris in winter can't compare... No! This is the most slippery ice I've ever seen!"

"..."

"Nicole, our current task is to escape."

Though Ronald didn't want to interrupt Nicole's excitement, the situation was extremely urgent, and they couldn't afford to waste time on such matters.

"Quickly... Ahem!"

While advising, Ronald walked toward Nicole, but his foot slipped as well.

Luckily, he quickly stabilized his balance, avoiding the same stumble Nicole had a moment ago.

"This is insanely slippery..."

Ronald couldn't help but complain.

Even though all combat means were prohibited, Ronald and Nicole's trained abilities should be able to handle a smooth surface.

——So there's only one answer.

The ground in this ice world isn't just smooth.

It is an inherent factor, like an environmental setting.

Even professional adventurers wearing anti-slip shoes might find it hard to avoid slipping under such conditions as Ronald and Nicole.

"Ronald, isn't this interesting!"

Noticing Ronald's movement and expression change, Nicole slid directly in front of him and asked with keen interest:

"Your original text is fantastic!"

"Let's find some time to play together?"

Ronald nodded, grabbed Nicole's hand, and then slid forward with her:

"Let's keep moving now."

"Next time, I'll definitely take you to play..."

[The Great Mother who births all things is about to awaken from slumber!]

[But there are villains who dream of keeping her in eternal sleep, never to awaken again.]

[Children, the enemies are above.]

[Apprehend them, eat their flesh and bone before they flee this continent!]

Ronald and Nicole were advancing deeper into the ice layer.

And at that moment.

A furious voice emerged from the void, condemning unforgivable sins.

Nicole, upon hearing this voice, was momentarily confused.

However, Ronald, who had once experienced a labyrinth chase game, was well aware.

The suddenly appearing outside voice indicated the start of the Pursuer's operation, and, as he and Nicole had seen before leaving, the number of predatory entities Bai Chuan birthed wasn't just one. This escape mission would be fraught with various hardships.

"Ronald, is our pursuer coming?"

Nico, after a brief pause, quickly reacted and asked Ronald about the announcement's significance:

"Are we going to lose now?"

[Fearsome monsters are waking!]

[Daring adventurers, escape from these demons' grasp, return this secret treasure to the civilized human world.]

[The choice that will determine the world's destiny—right now!]

...

Ronald and Nicole exchanged glances.

While the investigator girl was about to ask Ronald to clarify the situation, the voice from the void appeared again, its tone altered.

And this time, the target wasn't those responsible for chasing but Ronald and Nicole, who were escaping.

Snap—

Simultaneously with the end of the declaration from the void.

A glowing key appeared before Ronald, its metal surface covered with ancient and beautiful oak patterns, instantly recognizable as a treasure.

Snap—

Ronald instinctively grasped it.

With this action, he understood the key's significance.

This is the escape seal lock bestowed by "Maze Picture Book" upon him, the escapee. If Ronald and Nicole succeed in escaping the Arctic continent during this game, the key will appear in the real world.

Then, this will be the crucial tool to maintain the seal on the dust giant beast.

As long as the key exists, the dust giant beast will remain sealed beneath the Arctic as per the spell for a hundred years.

And during this century, if Ronald changes his mind, he can destroy the key.

Then the seal on the dust giant beast will disappear accordingly.

"..."

"That's quite humane..."

Ronald murmured quietly, then turned to inform Nicole of the situation:

"Nicole, the announcement meant our pursuers have set off."

"We need to keep moving faster."

"..."

No need to discuss further.

Ronald and Nicole naturally continued to speed up their progress.

Since Bai Chuan's predatory entities had just awakened, they were currently climbing up the lower crevices. Without any prompts, these beings had yet to track Ronald and Nicole's position.

While Ronald and Nicole continued advancing, several minutes passed, and the eternally unchanged ice realm around them finally began to show differences.

"Ronald, there seems to be a team ahead."

Nicole, already excited, quickly pointed out what's ahead.

What appeared before them were the cave creatures they'd encountered previously.

However, these creatures were now in groups, forming a long lineup moving forward, and at the front, there seemed to be a narrow ice crevice along their advance route.

"..."

As the two moved forward, the scene became clearer as the distance closed.

At this crevice entrance, strange beings entirely constituted of ice blocks were holding up the cave creatures, checking them slowing down visibly.

"This... should be the trial we have to pass."

Ronald quickly judged the scene before them.

And at this moment.

The outside voice from the void fittingly reached their ears—

[The refugee team intending to escape the underground is trudging through Cold Ice Country's territory. They face an uncertain path and an upcoming miserable, hopeless fate!]

[Brave adventurer!]

[To reach the surface from here, you must pass Cold Ice Country's trial!]

[Meet the King's demands to get a passage license.]

[Or choose another path to escape from here!]