The mountain road grew rugged, with gravel and snow appearing beneath their feet.
Lynn’s boots crunched against the snow, making a rhythmic squeaking sound.
He felt his physical strength draining rapidly.
“Watch your step,” Vivian suddenly stopped, her voice low.
A rolling stone skidded past them, nearly striking Lilith.
Startled, Lilith leaned closer to Lynn.
Lynn instinctively reached out to steady her.
Lilith’s Blackening Value: 99%
The blood-red numbers jumped again.
Lynn felt a bitter taste in his mouth.
‘I can’t go on like this. I must break out of this passive situation as soon as possible.’
They continued their ascent.
The snow grew deeper, and the wind intensified.
Lynn found it somewhat difficult to breathe.
“Lynn,” Alicia’s voice drifted from behind him.
Lynn turned to look.
Alicia’s face was pale, and beads of sweat had formed on her forehead.
She reached out to support herself against the nearby rock wall.
“I… I don’t think I can walk anymore,” she said, her voice sounding weak.
Alicia’s Blackening Value: 92%
Lynn’s heart skipped a beat.
‘This is a trap.’
He knew Alicia’s constitution; she was the Saintess.
This level of climbing shouldn’t trouble her at all.
But he couldn’t say that aloud.
“Are you alright?”
Lynn stepped forward, intending to help her.
Alicia took the opportunity to rest her hand on Lynn’s arm, her body leaning toward him.
“I think I twisted my ankle,” Alicia said softly, her weight fully supported by Lynn.
“Lynn, can you… can you carry me on your back?”
Her gaze was fixed intensely on Lynn, her eyes filled with expectation and a hint of… possessiveness.
Lynn felt his muscles tense.
He could feel Alicia’s weight and the faint, holy fragrance radiating from her.
The scent entered his nose, making him feel slightly lightheaded.
Alicia’s Blackening Value has increased by 3%! Current: 95%!
Lynn’s Blackening Value Monitor flickered frantically.
‘If I carry her, Lilith and Vivian’s Blackening Values will explode instantly.’
But he couldn’t refuse her directly either.
He knew Alicia’s temper.
“This… this might not be very convenient,” Lynn tried to find an excuse.
“What’s inconvenient about it?”
Alicia’s tone suddenly became assertive.
“I am the Saintess and I am injured. As my guard, isn’t it only natural for you to carry me?”
She emphasized her words, her gaze sweeping over Lilith and Vivian.
Lilith’s mouth hung open slightly, her eyes filled with resentment.
Her grip on Lynn’s sleeve tightened even more.
Vivian stopped in her tracks.
She turned around, watching Alicia and Lynn in silence.
Her gaze was like two icy blades piercing straight through Alicia.
The surrounding air pressure turned freezing in an instant.
Lynn felt as if he were suffocating, caught in the middle.
Lilith’s Blackening Value has increased by 2%! Current: 100%!
The blood-red numbers exploded again.
Lynn’s heart skipped a beat.
‘100%! Lilith is truly being triggered.’
He had to do something.
Just as Lynn was thinking about how to move Alicia off him, she took the initiative to lean against his back.
Her arms wrapped around his neck, her chin resting gently on his shoulder.
She took a soft breath.
“Lynn, the scent on you… it smells so good,” Alicia murmured, her voice filled with satisfaction and obsession.
Lynn’s scalp tingled.
He could feel Alicia’s breath brushing against his ear and her hair grazing his cheek.
Alicia’s Blackening Value has increased by 2%! Current: 97%!
“What do you think you’re doing?!”
A cold voice thundered like a sudden explosion.
Vivian moved.
She took wide strides, reaching Lynn and Alicia in just a few steps.
Her hand, like an iron vice, gripped Lynn’s arm.
Lynn felt a massive surge of force.
Alicia was instantly pulled away from Lynn’s back.
Before Lynn could react, Vivian scooped him up.
It was a “carry,” not a “support” or a “back-carry.”
Vivian held Lynn firmly in a princess carry.
Her movements were decisive, and she wore no expression.
Lynn’s head was pressed right against Vivian’s chest.
He could feel the coldness of her breastplate and the warmth radiating from her body.
He caught a faint scent of blood lingering on her sword.
Vivian’s Blackening Value has increased by 3%! Current: 90%!
Alicia was startled by Vivian’s rough movements.
She stumbled back two steps, the saintly look in her eyes replaced by a flash of anger.
“Vivian, how dare you!”
Alicia’s voice took on a sharp edge.
Vivian ignored her.
Her eyes remained fixed forward as she took wide strides, continuing the climb.
Her pace was even faster than before.
Lynn, held in her arms, felt a violent jolting.
Vivian’s body shielded him from the wind and snow.
He was being held tightly like a giant body pillow.
Lynn’s face was pressed against the cold, hard breastplate.
He could even hear his own racing heartbeat.
At this moment, his dignity had shattered into pieces.
Lilith stared blankly at Lynn being carried away, her mouth slightly agape.
The innocent smile on her face gradually vanished, replaced by a deeper, murkier gaze.
Lilith’s Blackening Value has decreased by 1%! Current: 99%!
Lilith’s value had actually dropped a point.
Not because she was no longer obsessed, but because Vivian’s actions had made her feel… a sense of crisis.
Alicia watched Vivian’s departing figure, her hands slowly clenching into fists.
The paleness on her face had vanished, replaced by a twisted persistence beneath her saintly exterior.
“Vivian…”
Alicia’s voice was low, sounding as if the words were squeezed through her teeth.
“You… are looking for death.”
She took a deep breath, and the Holy Light on her body flared up once more.
She quickened her pace and followed.
Held in Vivian’s arms, Lynn watched the snowscape recede rapidly.
He could feel the immense strength in Vivian’s arms.
He sensed Lilith and Alicia chasing from behind.
He was being carried by one woman like cargo while being pursued by two others.
All he wanted was to survive.
All he wanted was an excuse.
All he wanted was to buy time.
But now, not only did he have to slay a dragon, he also had to deal with a “snatching” war on this snowy mountain that he had inadvertently triggered.
Lynn closed his eyes.
He felt his body swaying in Vivian’s arms.
He didn’t know if this counted as successfully avoiding danger.
He only knew that he was being pushed into an even deeper abyss.
Up ahead, the wind and snow grew even fiercer.