02.00 PM.

The world felt different the moment Lux stepped out of the helicopter.

Colder.

Older.

Heavier.

The downdraft from the twin rotors whipped snow into the air, scattering it like shards of glass across the vast, silent expanse.

The sound of the blades faded as the helicopters lifted away, leaving behind a stillness, like the mountain itself was holding its breath, observing the intruders who dared set foot upon its domain.

Lux adjusted his suit jacket instinctively, the crisp fabric utterly out of place against the brutal, pristine wilderness.

Before them rose the Dragon Mountains, a colossal formation of stone and ice that defied natural logic. The range curved and contorted until it formed the silhouette of a massive dragon's head emerging from the earth itself.

Jagged peaks shaped like horns pierced the sky, while the "snout" stretched forward in a frozen roar. Snow blanketed the crown of the formation, glistening under the pale sun like frost on ancient scales.

The aura was unmistakable.

Ancient.

Predatory.

Alive.

It pressed against Lux's senses like a silent warning, a reminder that this was not merely a location… it was a territory claimed long before kingdoms, before even memory. Magic pulsed beneath the ice, deep and rhythmic, like the heartbeat of a slumbering god.

And there they stood.

Lux in his dark suit, hands tucked casually into his pockets as if he were attending a corporate meeting rather than trespassing into a primordial dragon sanctuary.

Beside him, Rava bounced lightly on her shoes despite the cold.

Mira stood poised and alert with the familiarity of someone returning home.

Naomi wrapped in practical elegance, and Ely radiated soft composure, her breath forming gentle clouds in the frigid air.

Lux exhaled slowly, watching the mist leave his lips.

"…Mira."

She turned her head slightly, already sensing the complaint forming.

"You didn't tell me anything about the snow."

A faint smile tugged at her lips. "I thought cold was normal for a demon like you. You're cold-proof, right?"

Lux looked down at himself,tailored suit, polished shoes, absolutely zero survival practicality, and then back at the endless white landscape.

"Yeah," he admitted, shrugging with theatrical resignation. "But…"

He gestured subtly to his attire.

"I'm clearly underdressed for this fashion show."

Naomi snorted softly, her shoulders shaking with restrained laughter.

Rava didn't even try to hide it, grinning openly.

Ely covered her smile with her hand.

Mira simply shook her head. "You insisted on the suit."

"It insists on me," Lux corrected smoothly. "Brand consistency."

He rolled his shoulders, letting a faint aura of infernal warmth radiate from his body.

The cold retreated instantly, forming an invisible barrier around him. The snow that touched his shoes melted just enough to avoid discomfort, though he made no effort to conceal the fact that he was still dramatically out of place.

"Oh well," he added lightly. "Commitment to the aesthetic."

Ely stepped forward, her gaze scanning the towering formation ahead. "Where's the entrance?"

Mira lifted her hand, pointing toward the base of the dragon-shaped mountain where the stone appeared unnaturally smooth compared to the surrounding jagged terrain.

"We need to go straight," she explained. "There will be stone gates. We can get inside from there."

She paused, her expression sharpening slightly as the wind howled through the peaks.

"And be careful. The Dragon Mountains are different from the normal places we live. Some ancient monsters reside here. Not all of them are friendly."

Naomi nodded, her posture shifting subtly into readiness. "Okay. We need to be careful."

Lux's eyes flickered toward Mira, studying the way her stance changed, more grounded, more instinctive. This was her domain. Her heritage. He felt a quiet surge of pride watching her take the lead.

Mira glanced back at them. "Follow me."

And they moved.

The snow crunched beneath their feet as they advanced toward the colossal dragon head, the scale of it becoming more overwhelming with every step. Shadows stretched unnaturally along the mountainside, forming shapes that seemed to shift when not directly observed.

Lux's senses remained alert, cataloging every subtle fluctuation in magical pressure.

[Environmental Analysis: High-density ancient mana detected.]

[Threat level: Elevated.]

Lux smirked faintly. "Relax. We've walked into worse places."

[Statistically accurate, sir. However, most of those locations did not attempt to eat you.]

"Fair point."

The path narrowed as they approached the base, flanked by towering stone formations resembling fangs. Frost-covered runes etched into the rock glowed faintly, pulsing in rhythm with the mountain's aura. The air grew denser, colder, not physically, but spiritually, as if time itself slowed within this sacred boundary.

Rava's voice broke the silence. "This place feels… alive."

"It is," Mira replied softly. "The mountain is a guardian. It remembers everyone who enters."

Lux raised a brow. "Let's hope it remembers to be polite."

Naomi shot him a look. "Try not to flirt with the guardian."

"No promises."

Ely's lips curved in quiet amusement, though her eyes remained vigilant. She extended her senses, golden light flickering faintly around her fingertips as she assessed their surroundings.

The wind shifted.

A rustle followed.

Soft at first, like snow sliding over stone, but then it came again, sharper this time, echoing faintly between the jagged peaks. It wasn't the clean sound of wildlife or the predictable movement of mountain creatures. It was… irregular. Uneven. Like something moving just out of sight, deliberately careful, deliberately quiet.

Lux's steps slowed, his gaze sweeping across the snow-laden terrain. The Dragon Mountains already felt ancient and oppressive, but now there was something else layered beneath the silence.

Naomi's posture shifted instantly, her body tightening with alertness as she scanned the surroundings. "What's that?" she asked, voice low but steady. "Animals?"

Ely closed her eyes briefly, focusing. The golden light around her fingers pulsed once, then faded as she completed her assessment. When she opened her eyes, there was a thoughtful seriousness in her expression.

"Animals… yes," she said slowly. "But not like normal animals."

Naomi frowned slightly. "Define not normal."