173 — The Road to Frostfall Basin

The expedition did not leave the Frozen Sword Citadel immediately. Once the map of the regional network had appeared, Ara and the support team spent several hours recording every route, junction, and connection that the Citadel's system was willing to reveal. The information was more valuable than any single monster core they had collected since entering the World Dungeon. For the first time, they had a practical picture of how the dungeon's regions were connected, and that picture made Frostfall Basin more important than it had initially appeared.

It was not simply another location marked on an ancient map.

Frostfall Basin was the damaged secondary junction responsible for part of the Frozen Region's connection to the wider network. Until the damage was understood, the Citadel could not synchronize properly with the external gate network, and the Arctic entrance on Earth would remain unstable. If the junction deteriorated further, the connection could weaken or disappear entirely. If they repaired it successfully, however, they might be able to raise the synchronization of the entire network and establish a more reliable route between Earth and the World Dungeon.

That gave the expedition a clear reason to move.

Ara stood before the central projection with several members of the technical team, studying the unstable route leading east from the Citadel. “The damage isn't isolated to one point,” she explained. “The map shows fluctuations along the entire route. Something disrupted the junction, and the network has been compensating by shifting mana through secondary channels.”

Yerin examined the projection. “Can the Citadel repair itself?”

“No. The main junction is functioning, but it can't reach the damaged section. Frostfall Basin has become isolated from the regional management system.”

Subin looked at the route.

“How long before the connection becomes unstable enough to affect the Citadel?”

Ara hesitated. “We don't know. But the network is already rerouting energy. If the damaged junction continues losing stability, the system could shut down that branch completely.”

“And if that happens?”

“The Arctic gate may become unstable.”

Subin nodded.

That was enough.

They weren't traveling to Frostfall Basin because the dungeon had presented them with another interesting destination. They were going because the damaged junction was directly connected to the expedition's objective. Understanding the World Dungeon meant understanding the systems that connected its regions, and the only way to learn how those systems worked was to examine them while they were still functioning.

Director Kang's voice came through the communication device.

“Subin, we've received the data from the Citadel.”

The team turned toward the communication crystal.

“The Association has confirmed that the Arctic gate on Earth is still active,” Kang continued. “Its stability has fluctuated between fifty-eight and sixty-three percent since formation.”

Ara looked at Subin.

“That matches the Citadel's readings.”

Kang continued. “The international teams are preparing around the Arctic entrance, but we are holding them back for now. We don't want people entering until we understand the connection.”

“That is the right decision,” Subin said. “If the junction fails while people are crossing, we could lose the route entirely.”

There was a short pause.

“What do you need?”

“Time,” Subin replied. “We'll investigate Frostfall Basin and determine whether the damage can be repaired. Until then, nobody should attempt large-scale entry through the Arctic gate.”

“Understood. The Association will maintain the external perimeter.”

The communication ended.

Jae-hyun rested his sword against his shoulder.

“So we're going deeper into the dungeon while everyone outside waits for us to figure out whether the door works.”

Subin glanced at him.

“That's one way to describe it.”

Jae-hyun smiled. “I prefer my version.”

The expedition prepared for departure.

They reduced their equipment to what was necessary for long-distance travel and divided the group into several functional units. Ara would lead the mapping and environmental analysis, Rafael and Diego would handle defensive formations, while Yerin, Jae-hyun, Liu Wei, Ethan, and Subin would form the primary combat group. Nobody expected the route to Frostfall Basin to be safe simply because the Citadel had recognized their purpose.

The World Dungeon had already demonstrated that each region possessed its own ecosystem.

The Frozen Frontier was no exception.

The eastern gate of the Citadel opened slowly.

Beyond it stretched a broad valley covered in snow.

A line of blue crystals extended from the Citadel toward the distant mountains. These crystals were much smaller than the structures around the fortress, but they appeared at regular intervals, creating a natural route through the frozen landscape.

Ara checked the map.

“These are probably network markers. If we stay near them, we should remain close to the original route.”

Subin looked toward the mountains.

“How far?”

“According to the Citadel's map, approximately one hundred and eighty-four kilometers.”

Rafael raised an eyebrow.

“That is a long walk.”

“We can move faster,” Subin said.

The expedition began crossing the valley.

For the first few hours, the journey was surprisingly uneventful. The weather remained cold but stable, and no major monsters appeared. The silence of the Frozen Frontier was almost unsettling after the constant movement of the previous regions.

But the lack of combat did not mean the environment was empty.

The expedition passed frozen lakes containing enormous shadows beneath their surfaces, herds of six-legged creatures moving across distant slopes, and strange crystalline plants that opened when mana passed nearby. Several times, Ara stopped to record changes in the environment.

The deeper they traveled, the more obvious the effects of the damaged junction became.

At first, the changes were minor.

Some of the network markers had gone dark.

Then entire sections of the crystalline route disappeared beneath the snow.

Later, they found a stream flowing uphill.

Yerin stopped beside it.

“That isn't normal.”

Ara knelt and examined the water.

“The mana current is pulling it.”

Subin watched the stream.

Water flowed down the slope for several meters before suddenly reversing direction and moving uphill toward a cluster of crystals.

“The network is redirecting environmental energy,” Ara said. “The damaged junction is compensating for the missing connection.”

Jae-hyun looked at the distant mountains.

“So the damage is already affecting the region.”

“It's affecting everything connected to the regional mana circulation.”

Subin looked at the route ahead.

That explained why the Citadel's synchronization had remained at only eighteen percent.

The network wasn't simply missing a connection.

It was struggling to maintain itself.

The expedition continued.

Near sunset, they reached the first abandoned observation station.

It was almost completely buried in snow, but the structure itself remained intact.

Ara entered first.

The station contained several broken crystal panels and a large map carved into the wall. Unlike the Citadel's sophisticated display, this map appeared to have been designed for travelers.

A route was marked across the mountains.

Frostfall Basin was shown at the end.

But another symbol had been added beside it.

A warning.

Ara translated the inscription.

“Network collapse.”

Everyone became quiet.

“What does the rest say?” Yerin asked.

Ara studied the damaged symbols.

“It's warning travelers not to approach the basin during a network instability event.”

Rafael frowned.

“That's exactly what we're doing.”

Subin looked at the map.

“Then we need to know why.”

Ara continued translating.

The inscription described Frostfall Basin as a major regional junction where several mana channels converged. During normal operation, it distributed environmental energy throughout the eastern Frozen Frontier and maintained the connection between the Citadel and the deeper regions.

But when the junction became unstable, the surrounding environment reacted violently.

Water changed direction.

Mana currents became unpredictable.

Creatures were forced from their territories.

And the terrain itself could change.

Subin immediately recognized the pattern.

The same phenomenon had appeared during the Territory Network Arc on Earth, although on a much larger scale.

The dungeon wasn't simply storing mana.

Its regions behaved like connected ecosystems.

Damage to one part could force everything around it to adapt.

Yerin looked toward Subin.

“Do you think the damage is causing the monsters to migrate?”

“Probably.”

That meant their approach could become dangerous.

They weren't walking toward an empty facility.

They were moving toward a region where the environment itself was becoming unstable.

The expedition left the observation station before nightfall.

They continued through the mountain pass under the pale light of the frozen sky.

Several hours later, the first monsters appeared.

A group of white-scaled creatures moved across the ridge above them.

Ara scanned them.

[Frostmane Elk — Level 142 — A]

They weren't attacking.

They were running.

Dozens followed.

Then hundreds.

The herd descended toward the valley and continued south without stopping.

Jae-hyun watched them disappear.

“They're evacuating.”

Subin nodded.

A second group emerged from the opposite side.

Then another.

The number increased rapidly.

The expedition moved aside as the animals passed.

No monster attacked.

They were simply leaving.

Something had disturbed the eastern region badly enough that even the strongest creatures were abandoning their territories.

Ara checked the network readings.

“Frostfall Basin is losing stability faster.”

“How much?” Subin asked.

“Current regional synchronization has dropped from seventy-three percent to sixty-six.”

Everyone became serious.

That change had happened within minutes.

Subin looked toward the mountains.

“How long until it becomes critical?”

Ara calculated quickly.

“If the decline continues at this rate, several hours.”

“We're not stopping.”

The expedition accelerated.

They moved through the mountains as quickly as the terrain allowed, crossing narrow ice bridges and frozen ravines while avoiding the larger groups of migrating monsters. Whenever the terrain became too difficult, Subin used his sword to clear obstacles rather than allowing the team to lose time.

Eventually, they reached the top of a ridge.

The landscape beyond it opened dramatically.

A gigantic basin lay between the mountains.

At its center was a circular depression filled with dark blue light.

Frostfall Basin.

Even from this distance, they could see that something was wrong.

The surrounding snow was moving.

Not because of the wind.

The entire basin was slowly rotating.

Large streams of ice and snow spiraled toward the center while crystalline pillars repeatedly emerged from the ground and collapsed again.

Mana lightning flashed across the sky.

Ara's instruments began producing warning signals.

“This is much worse than the Citadel predicted.”

Subin stared at the basin.

At the center stood an enormous crystalline structure, partially broken and leaning to one side.

That was the secondary junction.

But it wasn't empty.

Something enormous was moving around it.

The system finally identified the creature.

[Frostfall Devourer — Level 207 — A+]

The creature resembled a gigantic armored wolf, but its body was almost entirely covered in dark ice. Several crystalline tendrils extended from its back into the ground, connecting directly to the damaged junction.

Ara's expression changed.

“It's attached to the network.”

Subin understood immediately.

The creature wasn't merely occupying Frostfall Basin.

It had become part of the unstable junction.

Its movements were drawing mana from the damaged structure, while the damaged structure was feeding mana back into the creature.

Yerin raised her spear.

“If we attack it, could we damage the junction?”

“Possibly,” Ara said.

Jae-hyun looked at the creature.

“Then we can't just kill it.”

Subin shook his head.

“No.”

He looked across the basin at the damaged structure.

“The creature isn't the cause.”

Ara quickly scanned the area.

“Then what is?”

A massive crack opened beneath the crystalline junction.

The entire basin shook.

The Frostfall Devourer roared as the structure tilted further.

The system displayed a new warning.

[Secondary Regional Junction Stability: 41%.]

[Critical Failure Imminent.]

Subin tightened his grip around Simple Edge.

Now they understood why the expedition had been directed here.

Frostfall Basin wasn't simply a damaged location waiting to be repaired.

It was an active regional emergency.

If the junction collapsed, the Frozen Region could lose one of its major connections, the Arctic gate on Earth could become unstable, and the damage might spread toward the other active regions.

Subin looked at the expedition.

“We stabilize the junction first.”

Yerin nodded.

“And the creature?”

Subin looked toward the Frostfall Devourer.

“We keep it alive unless we have no other choice.”

The team began moving down into the basin.

Behind them, the mountain route remained open.

Ahead, the damaged junction continued to collapse.

For the first time since entering the World Dungeon, the expedition wasn't simply exploring a dangerous environment.

They were trying to keep an entire regional connection from breaking apart.