Lambert led twelve elite knights, walking on the snow.
They took each step with extreme caution, not daring to make any sound.
As they gradually approached the lair of the Ice Vein Giant Snake, the air was filled with a suffocating sense of oppression.
The snake's breathing sounded like distant thunder, echoing deeply and rhythmically through the valley.
Each breath it took carried a special chill, dropping the temperature of the surrounding air noticeably.
Its massive body writhed slightly, as if even in sleep it could sense the approaching threat, making anyone watching feel an uncontrollable sense of dread.
Suddenly, a faint sound of cracking ice shattered the silence of the valley.
A young knight had stepped on a thin layer of ice, the slight noise almost imperceptible in other circumstances.
But in this quiet atmosphere, it was as jarring as an alarm bell.
"Hush." Lambert immediately turned back, eyes carrying a hint of sternness.
