"Snow? Where is this snow coming from?"
Standing on Mushroom Island, Soren Park was lost in confusion.
Most game mechanics defied real life, but things like weather followed some semblance of physics.
Snow only fell in places with low temperatures or high altitudes.
Places like Sky Island and Mushroom Island existed above the void, but their altitude wasn't considered high; they were classified as plains.
How could it be snowing in a plains biome?!
Furthermore, this snow was unusual; as it piled up on the ground, it gradually turned into ice blocks.
Breaking them all, Soren Park looked around.
"Why are there so many ice blocks over by Sky Island?"
He hadn't noticed before, but looking now, it wasn't just a few ice blocks on the other side of Sky Island.
It had practically become a glacier!
[SYSTEM: BLOCK RESOURCES REFRESHED, A SPECIAL TERRAIN HAS APPEARED NEAR YOU: GLACIER]
[SYSTEM: HAVING LOST THE AURORA PALACE, THE SNOW QUEEN IS FURIOUS!]
[SYSTEM: CENTERED ON THE GLACIER, ICE MAGIC WILL COVER A RADIUS OF SEVENTY BLOCKS!]
"Aurora Palace? Snow Queen?"
Weren't those bosses from the Twilight Forest!
Soren Park never imagined that these random block resource refreshes wouldn't just spawn zombies and monster spawners.
It could even spawn a boss?
He was just trying to lay low in his chunk and develop his land in peace, and then a boss spawns?
You've got to be kidding me!
After a brief moment of panic, Soren Park's brow furrowed as he turned his gaze toward Sky Island.
"Wait, the glacier is clearly closer to Sky Island. Even if a boss shows up, it should head toward Galen Yu's place first!"
He had flown over the mob grinder a few days ago and knew Galen Yu wasn't on Sky Island.
But the special NPCs, villagers, and various buildings were all there. If a boss suddenly descended...
Even if it couldn't hit Galen Yu, destroying Sky Island would still deal him a massive blow!
"This thing even spawns bosses? The difficulty has spiked way too much."
"Does this mean players won't just face zombies, but also have to deal with bosses and other monsters appearing at any time?"
"Luckily it spawned on Galen Yu's side. This time, we'll be the ones reaping the benefits!"
"Galen Yu is strong, but do his NPCs really have the ability to solo a boss?"
"The Snow Queen is enraged. Face your punishment!"
"Luck is finally on our side!"
The Stick Nation audience was brimming with anticipation, unaware of the reality.
Inside Sky Island, the last stone brick was placed.
"It's finished!"
The Architect breathed a long sigh of relief. If Galen Yu were to return to Sky Island now...
...he would see the status of the Great Wall change.
[GREAT WALL OF CHINA: MYTHIC]
[THIS WONDER HAS BEGUN TO TAKE SHAPE. THE INITIAL CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETE, GRANTING IT PRACTICAL COMBAT CAPABILITIES.]
[NEW ABILITY: SOUL CONTRACT.]
[CAN FORCIBLY SHACKLE ANY CREATURE WITHIN THE CHUNK. CURRENT LIMIT: 0/1.]
The Great Wall spanned countless miles; manifesting it in its entirety was indeed difficult given Sky Island's current resources.
However, finishing a portion of it was enough for now.
As the creator, the Architect sensed the newly unlocked ability.
The contract didn't restrict creature attributes or types. He had intended to wait for Galen Yu's return to choose a target.
But winter had arrived.
A powerful aura appeared outside Sky Island as snow filled the sky.
For reasons unknown, the Snow Queen had been brought here. Bereft of her Aurora Palace and without her penguin companions, she was utterly alone and consumed by rage.
Beneath her was an icy cloud; magic composed of ice blocks soared into the sky.
Snow Guardians, their forms shimmering with ice crystals and visible only by their armor and weapons amidst snow particles, appeared.
Ice Crystals, covered in jagged shards and spitting ranged ice orbs, also emerged.
They were poised for battle, their collective gaze fixed grandly upon Sky Island.
Although they didn't know who had taken their palace or who had teleported them here...
...it didn't stop them from venting their current fury.
The human in the distance was about to have a very bad day!
The Snow Queen's crimson pupils locked onto the white-clad Architect.
Ice magic surged around her; a massive battle was imminent!
Soren Park prepared his blocks and mushrooms, wanting to enjoy the fight in peace.
From the information leaking out, he could see that Sky Island only had a few Guard Villagers, while the Snow Queen was surrounded by Snow Guardians and Ice Crystals.
Who had the advantage? It went without saying.
"Galen Yu is finished!"
Just as he took a bite of a mushroom, he saw the Architect at the lead look overjoyed.
"Such a powerful aura of ice magic! The Sovereign will surely love this gift!"
"On behalf of the King of Sky Island, the Creator of Myths, the Hero of Twilight Legends... I hereby establish a Soul Contract!"
*Clang!*
Divine Runes flowed as brilliant gold light erupted, surrounding the Snow Queen from all sides.
Realizing something was wrong, the Snow Queen tried to flee, but there was no way to dodge.
She could only watch as the golden light surged into her body. *Snap!*
Instantly, the ice and snow halted, as if spring had returned to all things.
Without the sustenance of ice magic, the glacier collapsed and drifted into the void. The Snow Guardians shattered into droplets, falling forever into the mouth of the abyss.
Deprived of all means of resistance, the Snow Queen lost her domineering aura and slowly descended from the air onto Sky Island.
She was respectful and humble, showing no trace of being a boss.
With the mushroom stuck in his mouth, Soren Park's jaw dropped wide enough to fit an egg.
"Huh???"
Such a grand battle had ended so abruptly?
Even Galen Yu wasn't there!
Witnessing the entire event, the audience's emotions flared.
"I was wondering how they got the first clear so suddenly. So that's how it is!"
"Holy crap, the Snow Queen was defeated by Galen Yu's subordinate!"
"It's one thing for the player to be strong, but even the lackey he picked up is this powerful?"
"Soren Park! Look at whose coattails you failed to ride!"
"Subdued without even a fight... Such a powerful servant should have belonged to our Stick Nation!"
"Oh my god, the Nine Provinces is going to defy the heavens this time!"
"Look at the Indus Kingdom next door... unbelievable!"
It was clear the Architect hadn't used a traditional killing method.
It was more like he had placed the Snow Queen under control to achieve victory.
And yet, dealing with the same boss tier, some could control them while others could only kneel or resort to cowardly sneak attacks to win...
Far away in the Twilight Forest, Kapil, who had just slain another Naga, sneezed.
'Is it because of the curse? Why do I feel colder and colder?'
Wiping his nose, he shook his head, pushing aside those ethereal thoughts.
Regardless, personal strength was what mattered most. He took out the Proud Soul in his hand.
It was nearly half-filled with energy; it wouldn't take much longer.
Soon, he would officially unlock the SlashBlade!
Lifting his head, Kapil continued his journey.
"It has nothing to do with other players; it's the credit of the chunk building!"
Having identified the source, Fries and Headmaster Quill breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as it wasn't someone trying to frame Galen Yu!
"I didn't expect the Architect to be so powerful, being able to handle even the Snow Queen with such ease!"
The more she watched, the more Fries felt that the move to convert the Zombie Villager back then was absolute genius!
Even if a similar Zombie Villager were thrown out now, few could replicate the feat.
How to control the zombie, what materials to use, how to convert it...
It seemed simple, but it was full of hidden complexities!
Furthermore, the spawn rate for hidden mobs was extremely low; perhaps only one was encountered in the entire outskirts.
"Next, we can properly receive the rewards for the Twilight Forest first clear!"
Finally being able to see the first clear rewards, Fries felt a swell of anticipation.
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