Reincarnated With a Cheat System

Chapter 11: Into the Frozen Oasis

The streets of Frostfall bustled with life as Kaien and Lein navigated through the crowds. Snowflakes drifted lazily from the gray sky, coating the stone roads in a thin white layer. Merchants shouted their wares, warriors exchanged battle stories over steaming cups of broth, and guild members gathered near mission boards, eyeing their next hunt.

Kaien and Lein moved with purpose, cutting through the crowd toward the towering Adventurer's Guild at the heart of the city. The massive hall was a fortress of thick stone and iron, built to withstand not only the cold but the raw power of adventurers who passed through its doors. A grand sign, carved with runes that pulsed faintly with mana, marked its entrance.

Phyro and Klein trailed behind, whispering between themselves.

"We gotta play it cool," Klein muttered. "If we act like we're interested, they'll definitely leave us behind."

Phyro nodded. "Right. We're just two innocent kids, enjoying the sights. Not at all plotting to sneak into a dungeon."

Kaien stopped at the entrance and turned to glare at them. "I can hear you."

Both immediately shut up.

Inside, the guild hall was lively. A giant iron chandelier, its flames flickering blue from mana infusion, hung from the ceiling. Warriors, mages, and archers crowded around wooden tables, their laughter and battle stories filling the space. Monster heads—trophies from past victories—lined the walls. The scent of roasted meat and spiced ale wafted through the air.

At the counter, a woman with silver hair and cold, calculating eyes was shuffling through parchment. She barely glanced up before addressing them. "Newcomers?"

Lein nodded. "We're registering for a dungeon expedition. No detours, just straight exploration."

The woman raised an eyebrow but didn't argue. "Efficient. I like that." She flipped through her records before sliding a parchment across the counter. "Your options are limited right now. One collapsed last week, so only three remain."

Kaien's gaze swept over the list, but one name caught his eye immediately—the Frozen Oasis. An underground labyrinth of ice and ancient ruins. Anomalous mana readings had been detected in the area, and teams who entered rarely returned. No one knew why the ruins had remained so well-preserved despite the ages.

"That one," he said, tapping the name.

The guild woman didn't even blink. "Figures." She stamped their paperwork and handed over a rolled-up map. "It's about two hours east. Once you enter, you're on your own. No rescue teams if things go south."

Lein smirked. "Wouldn't have it any other way."

They turned to leave, but before they could take a step, Phyro and Klein casually strolled up to the counter.

"So! Yeah, we'd like to register too," Phyro said, trying his best to sound professional.

The guild woman stared at them. Then at Kaien. Then back at the kids.

"…No."

Kaien grabbed both of them by the back of their cloaks. "They're not registering for anything."

Phyro flailed. "Wait, wait! Let's negotiate—"

"No."

The journey through the eastern ridge was harsh. The further they traveled, the deeper the snow became, the colder the air bit at their skin. Towering cliffs loomed in the distance, their jagged peaks piercing through the thick clouds above.

Kaien exhaled, his breath visible in the freezing air. "Finally. No distractions."

Lein nodded. "We can focus without—"

A loud sneeze echoed behind them.

Both turned slowly.

Several feet back, wrapped in oversized cloaks and shivering violently, stood Phyro and Klein.

"…Yo," Klein said, rubbing his nose.

Kaien stared, unblinking. "How."

"We have our ways," Phyro said, grinning.

"You literally just walked behind us," Lein muttered.

Kaien exhaled slowly, massaging his temple. "You're lucky I don't feel like dragging you both back."

Phyro and Klein high-fived.

Lein shook his head. "This is going to be a nightmare."

As they approached the entrance to the dungeon, a strange pulse of energy coursed through Phyro's body. A translucent screen flashed before his eyes.

[New Quest Acquired]

Dungeon Subjugation Mission

EXP Gain: 3000

Rewards: 3 Skill Points, Earn Lein and Kaien's Respect, New Title: Prodigy

Phyro blinked. "Wait. Titles? What do those do?"

Silence. No response. Not even a system notification.

"…Hello? Anyone there?"

Still nothing.

Klein raised an eyebrow. "You good?"

Phyro sighed. "Yeah, yeah. Just talking to myself."

The entrance to the dungeon was massive—an archway of ice and stone carved into the side of a frozen cliff. Strange symbols pulsed faintly across the surface, glowing with an eerie blue light. As they stepped closer, the runes shimmered, and the doors began to rumble.

The ice melted away, revealing a dark tunnel stretching into the depths below. Cold air seeped from within, carrying a strange scent—not of decay, but of something ancient and untouched.

As soon as they stepped inside, the doors slammed shut behind them.

Klein sighed. "Yup. Saw that coming."

The deeper they walked, the colder it became. The walls were lined with ice crystals, reflecting their torchlight in ghostly hues. The floor was slick, forcing them to tread carefully.

Then came the first sound.

A deep, guttural growl.

From the shadows, figures began to emerge.

They were wolves—but frozen. Their bodies were covered in thick layers of jagged ice, their eyes glowing with an unnatural blue light. Their breath came out in misty puffs, and as they moved, frost crackled from their limbs.

Lein pulled out his sword. "Icebound Wolves. They don't bleed, so go for the cores in their chests."

One of the wolves lunged. Kaien met it mid-air, his blade clashing against its frozen fangs. The force sent a shockwave through the corridor, shards of ice scattering across the floor.

Lein ducked under another, slicing clean through its leg, but the wolf didn't fall. The ice reformed almost instantly.

Phyro cracked his knuckles. "Alright. Time to test something."

He dashed forward, his fists glowing with heat. The moment he struck the nearest wolf, the ice sizzled and cracked. The creature let out a piercing howl as its core shattered, sending it collapsing into a pile of frost.

Klein whistled. "Oh, I want in on this."

He reached into his cloak and pulled out a small dagger, coated in enchanted fire. With a quick dash, he leapt onto a wolf's back, driving the blade straight into its glowing chest. The creature spasmed before shattering completely.

Within moments, the battle was over.

Kaien exhaled. "You two actually pulled your weight."

Lein wiped his blade clean. "Yeah. For once."

Phyro smirked. "Guess that means we earned your respect, huh?"

Kaien and Lein said nothing.

"…Right?"

Lein patted him on the head. "Keep dreaming, kid."

With the path cleared, they continued deeper into the Frozen Oasis. Unbeknownst to them, the deeper they went, the stronger the presence lurking within became.