Chapter 67: Do you recall what happened last time you said you’d make soup out of me?

Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Do you recall what happened last time you said you’d make soup out of me? Isabella did not dare stay on that stupid mountain a second longer. The second she ensured the last warrior was dead, dead, absolutely dead, she turned and left. She didn’t stop. Didn’t look back. Just walked straight for the edge of the mountain, determined to get the hell out of there. Then, she froze. "...Oh." She was at the edge of a ridiculously high cliff. Her eye twitched. Right. She climbed up. She did not think about how to get down. The wind whistled ominously, and she glanced at the tiny, white animal snuggled in her arms. It stared at her with innocent eyes, completely unaware of how screwed they were. She inhaled sharply. "Okay. No problem. I’ll just—" Her system suddenly dinged. [???? New Shop Category Unlocked: CLIMBING EQUIPMENT] Isabella blinked. Oh. Her gaze snapped to the floating blue screen. If the system unlocked a shop category, that meant she was going to need it. She tapped on it. A new list appeared, filled with all kinds of climbing items— And as she scrolled, her eyebrow kept twitching. —Unbreakable Climbing Rope – 600 pts —Self-Locking Carabiner – 500 pts —Gravity-Adjusting Boots – 1000 pts —Ultra-Lightweight Climbing Suit – 900 pts —Magic Grip Gloves – 750 pts —High-Altitude Breathing Mask – 1200 pts Her scroll slowed. "...Why the hell is there a ’Weather-Proof Floating Bridge’ for 4000 points?!" And what the hell was a Dimension-Walking Rope?! 7000 points to negate climbing risks entirely? What was she, a god?! She looked at her current points: [Current Points Amount: 8,326 points] She let out a slow breath, massaging her temples. "Yeah. No. I just got rich. I’m not wasting my points." Her grip on the white animal tightened as she looked at the list again. "Alright, Bubu, which one do I need to get down?" A soft chime sounded, and the system’s voice responded: [Recommended for Cost Efficiency: Unbreakable Climbing Rope – 600 pts.] "Perfect," Isabella muttered, instantly selecting it. Ding! [-600 points deducted. Item delivered!] [Remaining Points: 7,726] Before her, a sleek black rope materialized, coiled neatly in mid-air before dropping into her hands. It felt ridiculously sturdy, like it could tow a mammoth—or hold up an entire building. She gave it an experimental tug. Didn’t even stretch. "Alright, good enough." The tiny white creature in her arms let out a soft chirp. "Yeah, I know," she sighed. "Let’s hope this works, huh?" She secured the rope around a sturdy rock, testing its strength with a firm pull. Didn’t budge. Good. She adjusted her grip, took a deep breath— And stepped off the edge. Gravity yanked her down instantly. The sudden drop sent a sharp thrill through her body, but she clenched her jaw and gripped the rope tight. It held. Her descent steadied. "Okay. Not dead. Great start." The little creature wiggled in her arms, and she shifted it higher against her chest, making sure it was secure. "Hang tight. We’re getting out of here." Step. Grip. Step. Grip. She moved steadily, keeping her pace controlled. The wind howled around her, but she didn’t let it shake her focus. Halfway down, she glanced at the glowing mountainside. The embedded crystals shimmered like stars, casting eerie, otherworldly light across the jagged rock. Beautiful. But also deadly as hell. She exhaled through her nose and kept moving. Fifteen minutes later— Her feet hit solid ground. The moment she let go, the system automatically stored the rope, keeping it reusable for later. "Nice," she breathed, shifting the little creature in her arms. It nuzzled against her, clearly relieved. She chuckled. "Yeah, yeah, we survived. Again." Her gaze flicked back to the massive mountain behind her—then to the still-open climbing shop in her system. Her lips curled slightly. "...Looks like I’ll be coming here more often." It was only after Isabella’s feet touched the ground that she realized something was... off. The sky above her burned with soft orange and purple hues, the light stretching lazily across the horizon. It looked like sunset. But at the same time... it felt like early morning. Her brows furrowed. "Wait a minute..." Her instincts screamed at her not to trust it. And instead of guessing, she immediately asked, "Bubu, what time is it?" A soft chime rang. [Current Time: Dawn is just beginning.] Isabella froze. Dawn? Her mind raced. She climbed this mountain yesterday morning. She had fought, searched, explored, killed—all in one day. And now it was morning again? She exhaled sharply. That meant this mountain had completely erased an entire night. Her grip tightened around the small creature in her arms. This place... wasn’t normal. The Isabella will realize something. Isabella blinked. Then blinked again. She could still feel the lingering strength in her limbs, but something wasn’t right. That insane power she had—no, relied on—was slipping away. Her eyes flickered to the fan tucked at her side. She hesitated, then called, "Bubu, status on my fan?" A familiar chime. [Status: Normal Hand Fan.] She froze. "What? What do you mean, ’normal’?" [It is currently a regular accessory. To restore its abilities, you must cultivate and grow stronger. The fan will evolve alongside you.] Betrayal. Absolute betrayal. Isabella’s mouth fell open. "I barely even got to enjoy it!" [Correction: You almost got yourself killed multiple times because you didn’t know how to use it.] She scoffed. "That’s not the point! So all my power is just—poof? Gone?" [Correct. Unless you plan on returning to the mountain. However, that is not recommended.] Her eyes narrowed. "Why?" A pause. Then— [When you entered the mountain, you unknowingly absorbed its power, making you immensely strong. However, you stayed too long. You have drained yourself.] Isabella stiffened. [In three days, you will feel the effects. You will fall severely ill and require rest for an additional three days.] Her stomach dropped. "You’re telling me I’m about to be completely powerless?!" No. No way. She liked being strong. She liked how she had fought—how her body had moved, swift and precise, like she had been born for battle. "Will I at least still be able to fight like that?" [You must train.] "So I’m back to square one?!" From grace to grass. Her fingers twitched. Her eye twitched. Everything twitched. "Bubu, if I catch you—" [Do you recall what happened last time you said you’d make soup out of me?] ... Isabella immediately shut her mouth. Huffed. Looked away. The little white creature in her arms let out a soft, happy chirp, snuggling closer. She sighed. "At least someone’s enjoying themselves."