There wasn't much to do beneath the heavy white blanket of winter. Most people hid indoors, behind shuttered walls, wrapped in cloaks and thick quilts.
But for Twig, Aron, and Jenny, life followed a different rhythm.
Every day of that winter was filled with fights and small victories. The trio had repeated the early dungeons so many times that they not only completed the 5–10 collections but also progressed well into the 30–35 dungeon. Twig's collector title now granted a +6 aura to all stats for the entire party — a clear reward for their persistence and teamwork.
While Aron and Jenny kept a minimal routine outside, Twig often ventured alone into the highest dungeon he could solo, grinding for EXP and perfecting his Merchant class. It wasn't glamorous work, but the effort paid off. Even with the 20% EXP penalty from running multiple classes, his plan had worked. Eventually, the Merchant class hit its max level — every skill mastered.
"It was worth the extra hours," he thought, remembering the countless runs that had built his fortune and strength.
Each week, the group still faced off against random arena bosses. In one of these fights, after defeating yet another Vagabond Wolf, Twig obtained another Stardust Blade — a welcome addition to their arsenal as the winter grew harsher.
As he admired the newly won blade, Twig's mind drifted to his squire — Madrik. Someday, he'd need to travel to King's Landing to find out what had become of the boy.
More bosses fell, both familiar and new. The goal was clear: gather gear strong enough to prepare them for the highest-level dungeon within reach. Between battles, Twig inspected each drop, flipping through the Omnibook in search of optimal combinations and recalling fragments of build strategies from his old gaming memories.
But he knew low-level items wouldn't be enough to face dragons head-on.
There was another path — Cards.
"If we can drop the right cards, we'll gain real power," he realized.
Cards allowed them to shape resistances and enhance damage against specific races or elements — a far more efficient shortcut than relying solely on common weapons and armor. It was the missing piece to turn disadvantage into strategy, and danger into opportunity.
The first monster on Twig's new grind route was the Vadon — a massive crab-like crustacean found in the 25–30-level dungeons. Once he completed its collection, he started farming it regularly for its Vadon Card.
That card had a crucial purpose: when slotted into a weapon, it increased damage against Fire-element monsters — exactly what Twig needed after confirming, via both experience and the Omnibook, that the dragons of the Volcano Lair were all fire-aligned. It was a simple, direct advantage — one that could turn each thrust into a decisive blow.
But damage alone wasn't enough — he'd need to endure the heat as well.
Twig remembered another monster: Jakk, a ghostly Jack-o'-Lantern wearing a top hat, tuxedo and cane, found in the 40–45 dungeons — looking like Halloween itself come to life.
The Jakk Card, when slotted into a cloak, granted high Fire resistance to its bearer. With that, anyone wearing a Jakk-equipped cape could withstand flame attacks far more easily. It was the missing defensive key to the plan of storming a blazing lair.
The heat problem solved, Twig turned to the next challenge: the dragons themselves.
For that, he focused on a pair of creatures he remembered well — the Petites, smaller dragon kin that came in two forms: Earth Petite (ground type) and Sky Petite (flying type).
Both dropped decisive cards —
Earth Petite Card (weapon) → Greatly increases damage to Dragon-type monsters.
Sky Petite Card (shield) → Significantly reduces damage received from Dragon-type monsters.
Together, they formed the perfect duo — offense and defense, complementing the existing Fire resistance. It was exactly what the team needed to turn the fiery stronghold from an hellfire hardcore challenge into a fresh easy breeze.
With their target defined, Twig and his friends dove in with full force. Day after day, they fought, farmed, and refined their gear. Their teamwork sharpened; their power grew.
Then Twig noticed something strange — something the System had warned about long ago, but he had ignored.
They had been spending too much time inside the dungeons — where time flowed differently.
They were aging.
[Ding!]
[— USER STATUS —]
Name: Robert Nilig (Twig)
Age: 14 (+21)
Race: Human
Title: [Veteran Collector]
Jobs:
Knight – LVL [46/70] | EXP: 378,513 / 412,241
Merchant – LVL [50/50] | EXP: — / —
Base Level: 66 | EXP: 274,752 / 759,742
HP: 15,477 | MP: 460
Stats:
STR 79 | VIT 84 | AGI 71 | DEX 74 | INT 50 | LUK 51
Resources:
Stat Points: 0 | Knight Skill Points: 0 | Merchant Skill Points: 0
Zeny: 563,741
Equipment:
Pike [4], Chain Mail [1], Buckler [1], Gloves, Boots [1], Ulfhedinn [1]
Skills:
[Hidden]+
When he checked his own status, Twig froze.
Over the course of that single winter, he had aged more than a year inside the dungeons.
He immediately called the others for an explanation.
"Guys, we need to talk about something serious. Time inside the dungeon is catching up with us."
"What do you mean?" Aron frowned.
"We're aging in there," Twig explained. "The gods warned me about the cost of time distortion… and I ignored it. Just this few months in winter, I've aged more than a year."
Jenny fell silent, processing the revelation.
"Then we need to limit our sessions," she said at last.
"Exactly," Twig nodded. "We'll keep grinding, but with shorter runs, more breaks outside, and limits per session. Power's great, but not if it costs us our lives. And now that I've mastered my Merchant skills, we have enough zeny to sustain us."
They didn't notice it yet, but their bodies had already begun to change — growing stronger, more mature. Saul did notice.
For months, he had watched the trio disappear and return late — even through the dead of winter — without a scratch, always energized. It wasn't normal. And the pantry… it barely emptied.
What terrified Saul most was not knowing which fear to choose:
The fear of witchcraft? Some supernatural force he couldn't name?
Or the far more human dread — that they might be stealing from someone powerful, and that someday the consequences would fall on them… and on him.
He rehearsed questions, imagined confrontations, swore he'd demand answers — but every time they reappeared, taller, stronger, almost adults, his resolve faltered.
Jenny, the smallest of them, now nearly reached his height.
She reminded him painfully of his late wife.
So, torn between pride and unease, Saul said nothing. Again.
Tomorrow, he told himself. I'll ask them tomorrow.
Twig, unaware of Saul's silent turmoil but feeling the need for balance, made a decision.
"No more dungeons for now," he thought. "It's time to focus on something else — class advancement."
With his Merchant class now maxed out, two new paths opened before him: Blacksmith and Alchemist.
It was a difficult choice. In Ragnarok Online, both could become tremendously powerful.
Here, perhaps the rules differed — but their usefulness was undeniable.
A Blacksmith meant forged weapons, crafted gear, mastery over metal and fire — power turned tangible.
An Alchemist meant potions, catalysts, controlled explosions, and long-term survival.
"Which path should I take?" Twig pondered by the fire.
"Which one will give me tools I don't even realize I'll need yet?"
He knew that whichever he chose would shape their next battles — and their fates.
It wasn't just about strength anymore. It was about strategy.
"If the next dungeon is a nest of fire and dragons," he thought, "the right weapons could decide the fight… but the right potions could save our lives too."
Between hammers and flasks, the silence deepened.
And Twig understood something vital —
Sometimes, the right choice isn't the one that come easy…
It's the one that keeps everyone alive to see the next dawn.