Mystic Overlord: Reading Gives Strength

"Nicole, let's go."

Ronald called out, and together with the young female investigator, they continued forward.

Before they left, Ronald regretfully glanced at the white object behind them that had saved them.

If there were time, he certainly wished to study what this thing truly was. Unfortunately, the narration from the void was clear; the pursuit of the predatory entity was imminent.

At this moment.

The situation no longer allowed him to delay any further.

Otherwise, by the time Ronald satisfied his curiosity, the appetite of Bai Chuan's predatory entity might also be satisfied!

"Ronald, what a shame..."

As they continued to explore upwards on the final ice layer, Nicole's tone was also tinged with regret:

"Considering our encounters, this ark you've created should be based on real-world geography. If we return to Berlinwich afterward, does that mean we won't have the chance to play on the ice again?"

Besides what she said, Nicole's low spirits had other reasons.

Soon after they stopped sliding, the skateboards they had been riding inexplicably shattered into pieces, impossible to reassemble as before, which left Nicole quite dejected.

To be honest.

The young investigator truly loved the exhilarating experience of speeding along just now.

Not only was the game over, but the skateboard as a memento was also broken—this was truly a heavy blow.

"..."

"You're not even twenty; what are you worried about?"

Ronald offered a little comfort to Nicole as they moved forward, focusing on time.

Not to mention the adjustments Ronald had made to Nicole's lifespan. Even if her life wasn't extended, once they resolved the issues caused by the spell, Nicole herself would have a future worth looking forward to.

Considering her identity as a caster...

Having a few trips to the Arctic continent in her lifetime really wasn't much of a problem.

"I hope so."

The young investigator didn't dwell too much on it and simply shrugged it off.

Then, they set off on their path.

The road to the surface wasn't difficult to find either.

By passing through two forks, they reached an upward slope through a naturally cracked ice fissure. Crossing the final dozen or so meters, Ronald and Nicole successfully returned to the surface.

"So, this is the Arctic continent?"

Setting foot for the first time on a land completely covered by ice, Nicole cutely scratched her head.

Although this was the cartoon world described by the "Maze Picture Book."

But the vast expanse of pure white land before her, composed entirely of ice and snow, was a polar landscape she had never seen before.

All of this was new to Nicole.

If it weren't for Bai Chuan's predatory entity pursuing them from behind, this would be a great place to enjoy the scenery.

"..."

"Alright, let's keep moving."

After a brief moment, Ronald spoke again, regaining Nicole's attention.

He confirmed that the young investigator had embraced this new environment.

The most urgent task now was to continue their escape from the Arctic continent.

They pressed on.

Like their journey from underground to the surface, leaving the Arctic continent was equally arduous.

Even outside the maze chase, Ronald took several days using his flight abilities to reach this location from the Arctic continent's boundary.

Even without the pursuit factor.

Judging by Ronald and Nicole's inability to cast spells, it would undoubtedly take considerable time to succeed in leaving.

"Ronald, in the real world, would these ice formations look the same?"

As they traveled south, Nicole took the time to ask questions she was curious about. The young investigator was aware of their current position but was uncertain if the real Arctic was as she was experiencing now, due to the interference from the "Maze Picture Book."

"Besides the ice, is there nothing else here?"

Ronald naturally shook his head in denial:

"While the environment is as harsh as you see, it's not the same in other aspects. Perhaps because the book has gamified this place, we can't see some of the rare creatures that should exist in the Arctic."

Nicole nodded thoughtfully:

"I see..."

The peaceful conversation didn't last long.

As a book of original meaning.

The maze world constructed by the "Maze Picture Book" naturally adhered fully to the essence of a maze.

So, quarter of an hour after Ronald and Nicole headed south, the ice surface around them gradually began to deform, with dead ends and countless branches isolated here by towering ice walls.

What was once a relatively flat ice field instantly transformed into a natural ice maze.

"..."

"Ronald, we don't have to traverse this massive maze, do we?"

Faced with the towering maze in front of them, seemingly endless no matter which direction they looked, Nicole's cartoonish face couldn't help but gape.

"In real life, you'd probably freeze to death before you walked out of this godforsaken place!"

Ronald nodded in strong agreement:

"The danger of Arctic exploration is right here; the explorers who come here are well-prepared and brave enough to face all consequences."

Then, before entering the maze.

Ronald first found a nearby high point, climbing this small snowy hill.

In a relatively elevated position.

He assessed the maze's coverage, spanning all the land within sight.

If they wished to continue moving south, this was an obstacle that must be overcome.

"If only we could use the 'Star Map'...."

Ronald lamented quietly, then stood on tiptoes, trying to gaze as far south as possible.

It was perhaps a blessing in disguise.

Though the maze was vast and seemed endless, it wasn't the traditional type with only one correct path. Despite its complex interior, there were numerous paths intertwining inside it that led southward.

As long as they could maintain their sense of direction.

Although it would take quite some time, there was still a chance for the two of them to successfully pass through.

"Alright, that's settled!"

Having confirmed the situation, Ronald jumped down from the ice mound.

He pointed towards the maze in front of them, speaking earnestly to the young investigator:

"Nicole, listen up."

"In this upcoming maze, we must hold hands at all times."

"I'll be responsible for finding our way forward in the maze, guiding you along, while you ensure you don't change the direction you're facing, to prevent us from losing our way."

"As long as we keep our general direction straight, we'll definitely be able to escape from here!"