Zara's wings flared as she angled downward, beginning their descent toward the distant horizon.
"We don't have to enter the city," Nox said. "Just scout for the tallest mountain."
'Aye!' Zara responded, flapping her wings with even more power. She maneuvered through the air with expert precision, her massive form gliding effortlessly through the icy winds. The frigid air grew sharper as they descended.
Nox's keen gaze swept over the terrain below, scanning for the highest peak. The jagged, snow-capped mountains loomed in the distance, their summits lost within swirling mists.
"There," he pointed toward a towering mountain that pierced the heavens, its peak crowned with thick layers of ice and frost. "That should be a perfect vantage point."
Zara let out a low rumble of acknowledgment and adjusted her flight path. She beat her wings harder, propelling them toward the chosen mountain. The closer they got, the more apparent its sheer size became. Sharp, uneven cliffs jutted out from the sides, and powerful gales howled around it, carrying beautiful shards of ice.
Looking at the mountain, Nox felt it would be the best place for Thirteen's evolution. At such close proximity, he was struggling to even breathe properly because of the swirling mist.
And the fierce wind, which felt like a biting force slicing through his skin, didn't really help matters either.
Zara effortlessly cut through the thick mist. Some moments later, as they neared the summit, Nox noticed something unusual. The peak wasn't just covered in ice—it was glowing faintly, as if something beneath the surface radiated an eerie, bluish light.
Zara noticed it too. 'That's not natural,' she murmured into his mind.
Nox's mind flickered with intrigue. He was more than certain that something was down there, and his curious side was tempted to check it out. However, he didn't have the leisure to do that.
Therefore, he simply ignored it.
Zara flapped her wings one last time before landing gracefully on a flat outcrop near the peak. The moment her claws touched the frozen ground, a strange pulse rippled through the air, sending a shiver down Nox's spine.
He slid off her back, landing lightly beside her. His breath came out in visible puffs, the cold far more intense here than anywhere else they had traveled.
"Thirteen, come out!" Nox called out, and instantly, a bluish portal appeared. The panda stepped out, looking around, his eyes filled with great curiosity.
Nox briefly scanned Thirteen's system status.
[Thirteen – Intermediate Lv1]
Progress: [100%/100%]
[Description:] A very disciplined and hardworking panda who will one day rule the world.
Roll with It (Passive)
Cute Factor (Passive)
Martial Awareness (Passive)
Oceanic Torrent (Active)
Dragon's Requiem (Active)
Evolution Path (1/8): Thirteen → Frostpaw
✔ Reach Intermediate Tier
✔ Collect 3 vials of Glacial Water, a rare substance found in ancient glaciers.
✔ Gather 10 Arctic Herbs known for their enhancing properties, typically found in frozen forests or mystical locations.
✖ Evolve at the summit of a frozen mountain to harness the purest ice energy. (Incomplete)
[Description:] Frostpaw is the first evolved form of Thirteen, channeling its discipline and strength into a more powerful icy form. It grows larger and more imposing, with a thicker, white-tinted icy coat that gives off a faint frost. This form unlocks new ice elemental skills and enhances existing ones.
For several months now, Thirteen had been stuck in the Intermediate Tier because of the unfulfilled evolution requirements. This stagnation had considerably slowed the panda's growth.
Without wasting any more time, Nox proceeded to get the evolution underway. But before that...
'System, how do I start the evolution process?'
Since this was his first time, Nox was clueless about how the evolution process worked.
Fortunately, he had the system, which was like a vast pool of knowledge. He could ask Zara as well, but he trusted the system more.
As expected, a moment later, a cascade of messages appeared before him.
[System Notification: Evolution Process Initiation]
✔ Evolution materials verified...
✔ Evolution site verified...
✔ Environmental conditions optimal...
When this notification appeared, Nox noticed that the evolution items vanished from his inventory.
'It seems I don't have to feed it directly,' he noted.
There are several methods to activate the evolution process. But for now, I'll reveal the most optimal method for our situation.
To initiate Thirteen's evolution into Frostpaw:
Place him at the designated evolution location (Completed).
The host must then infuse a sufficient stream of mana to trigger the transformation.
A baptism of pure ice energy from the mountain's peak will reinforce the process.
Warning: Evolution may cause temporary exhaustion, pain, and an uncontrollable surge of energy.
"Alright, let's get this started," Nox said.
Thirteen stood before him, his dark fur with frozen details already bristling from the cold breeze, but there was a gleam of determination in his dark eyes. The panda wasn't just waiting for evolution—he was ready for it.
Evolution meant growth, power, and stepping into a new realm of strength. It was a moment Thirteen had worked tirelessly for, and Nox wouldn't let anything go wrong.
Nox raised his hand, letting mana flow outward in steady waves. Almost instantly, the air around them shifted. The faint blue glow beneath the ice intensified, as if reacting to the process.
Then, the vials of Glacial Water and 10 Arctic Herbs, which had disappeared from Nox's inventory, materialized out of thin air, hovering around Thirteen.
The vials of Glacial Water shattered into droplets of glowing blue essence, swirling around Thirteen in a spiral. The Arctic Herbs dissolved into shimmering motes of frost, fusing with his fur.
A blinding pillar of ice energy erupted from Thirteen, piercing the sky. The winds howled louder, thickening with raw frost mana. Zara instinctively flared her wings, stepping back as the temperature plummeted.
Nox, after seeing the pillar, deactivated his mana and took a step back, watching as the howl of wind spiraled around them, carrying sharp shards of frost.
The ground beneath Thirteen cracked, radiating an intense chill as ancient ice energy surged upward, wrapping around his form.
Within the blinding pillar of ice energy, Thirteen's body trembled, his muscles tensing as his fur darkened momentarily before transitioning into a brilliant white with streaks of icy blue running along his limbs. His form expanded, his physique growing bulkier and more defined. His claws lengthened, turning an almost crystalline shade, and a faint mist of cold emanated from his very being.
As the evolution process continued, suddenly, Nox's system buzzed again.
The glow in Thirteen's eyes sharpened as the final surge of energy struck, fully transforming him.
A moment later, Nox's system buzzed again.
[Ding! Evolution Process Completed!]
[Rewards will now be calculated!]