Dungeon of Niflheim

Khione flashed a mischievous grin before explaining exactly what Frost needed to be aware of when they eventually ascend the mountain and challenge the higher level runs.

"Yellow runs, the child and newbie friendly difficulty, contains nothing more than a gentle slope and the occasional bump." She stated with a single finger raised.

"Red runs; the slope isn't as gentle nor is it straight and clear sailing, obstacles such trees, snow pits and banks are dotted throughout as are small ramps and grinding rails which are perfect for learning to do tricks." Lots of failures happen on the red runs, the difficulty at which most people try to experiment with their skills.

"When you get to green level runs things get even more interesting. Not only are the paths sharper, the obstacles more common and harder to avoid but alongside an even steeper curve actual traps are present. Nothing lethal yet but a surprise pitfall could do a bit more than knock on your ass." At the third level the boys and girls are separated from the men and women, to conquer this difficulty proved that you had some skill.

Upon hearing the word 'trap' Frost visibly balked as his mind thought of the traps he had littered throughout his Dungeon. The ice mines that could instantly freeze a victim or just their leg if on the upper floors. The spiked pitfalls that would stab cleanly through leather armour if given the chance and of course the artistic statues that would suddenly make a clicking sound before firing freezing flames. All very nasty and not something you exactly expect to be greeted with during a skiing holiday.

"Blue runs are for advanced skiers only, the paths are more than treacherous, even without running into any traps you could crash headfirst into solid walls or crack your ribs on frustratingly placed trees. The traps also rise in difficulty as well as size, large Aoe affects make them really, really hard to avoid. I've lost count of how many sets of skis and boards I've lost to those damned traps, such good craftsmanship and oh so sweet allowance down the drain." Khione visibly frowned as she remembered blemishes from her youth. Only those with sufficient strength as well as mastery of their skis or snowboard were able to survive the blue runs and challenge the next level.

"Next are the violet runs, the true dividing line between the merely skilled and the professionals. At this level it's no longer considered a sport, a fun game but rather a challenge, a deadly challenge that if you aren't careful can deprive you of your very life. In the violet runs and those following the traps are no longer mere obstacles, frustrating encounters that you find difficult to avoid but are in fact lethal surprises that can cleave through mid-tier winter apparel like a hot knife through butter. For this reason unless you are at the least C-rank in strength challenging them is forbidden."

To attempt these runs as a D-rank would spell certain death, the cold air would make your body freeze from the inside, your eyes freeze shut, and the lethal traps eat you up like a weak lamb. Even those who reach C-rank aren't free from the dangers of the terrifying climate nor can they safely stride through the traps as if they weren't there.

Khione being a peak A-rank however wouldn't even have to turn out the way, she could let an iron or steel spear strike her bare flesh, and she wouldn't feel so much as a minor sting. Her skin may get scratched, but her muscles would prove to be impenetrable thus taking out a great deal of the danger.

Frost was blown away with the degree of danger involved in a common winter sport, something that's enjoyed throughout the entire continent.

'Well I guess when most of the population is averaging B-rank strength you need to add a bit more flavour to make things interesting.' Taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture the degree of difficulty makes sense.

Right now even with his poor skills he could likely challenge the green or even blue runs without too much fear. Of course he'd likely crash every few tens of metres and barrel headfirst into every trap but with his strength the most he'd likely get is a nasty bruise or minor gash, something easily remedied with a little TLC, no need for health potions.

And because he wasn't a fan of making a fool of himself he wouldn't dive straight into the deep end like a masochistic idiot but gradually go step by step. Embarrassing himself by challenging a run beyond his means wouldn't do well for his long term plans of wooing the Raging Valkyrie. He needed to maintain a certain image; a portrayal of confidence and skill that would make her see him as an equal instead of a weakling with a pretty face.

While Frost was ruminating on the idea of traps being added to this once tepid affair Khione was smiling from ear to ear as her explanation finally reached the black runs, the run she herself liked to challenge.

"Finally and most spectacularly we have the black runs which are further divided into extreme, hell and underworld difficulty, terms coined by my father personally as he played a big part in designing them, underworld in particular." Khione shivered at the mention of the underworld difficulty, even she with her arrogance and unwavering spirit couldn't even begin to imagine challenging such bullshit conditions.

Less than 10 people were capable of challenging underworld level runs and each and every one of them were Gods. That's right Gods, only at that level would one be able to reach the end alive.

One of Khione's elder brothers, a man who held even greater promise than she did attempted to challenge underworld difficulty in his prime. At the late stage of S-rank he was pumped with vigour and confidence as he rode the lift to the top of the Hindalin mountains, determined to be the first mortal to achieve something only the Gods could accomplish.

Alas the moment he passed the halfway point; hell the real hell seemed a far more pleasant experience. If he didn't activate his emergency beacon allowing his father to save him his life would have been brought to a swift end. His efforts, his dedication, his blood, sweat and tears moments from becoming a pointless waste of time.

Faced with such a terrifying wall, a setback like no other her elder brother's personality did a complete 180, his arrogance and cockiness vanishing like a puff of smoke.

"In black runs it's not just the terrain and traps you have to worry about but the monsters that dwell on the upper strata of the mountains, lying in wait for the chance to enjoy a bountiful feast."

"What! You have monsters, the eat everything in sight ask questions later kind roaming freely!" Frost screamed, the colour draining from his face.

Monsters such as the residents present in the Metropolis are considered civil, intelligent and not all that different from sapients when it comes to their regular nature, but Khione clearly wasn't talking about that kind of monster. No she was talking about the beast like creatures that live on instinct, aggressive, hungry and fiercely territorial. And given where they were it was unlikely that even a single one of them would be below B-rank.

"Of course otherwise it wouldn't be any fun for those like myself." With her strength simple, non-thinking, inflexible traps no matter how lethal they were had a limit when up against people like Khione. For those at the peak of A-rank and for those who had passed the first stage in understanding the divine, the S-rank the threat needed to be unpredictable, to be capable of adapting and flexible in its attacks otherwise every move would be telegraphed, predictable.

"You're insane! It's a goddamn recreational activity; a sport why would there need to be such danger involved." The hairs on the back of Frost's neck stood on end as he imagined himself struggling with deadly traps and unpredictable terrain only to be blindsided by a monster that could tear him limb from limb.

"Yes it's a recreational activity and the whole point is to have fun but it's for everyone to have fun. Normal people will enjoy the gentle slops and obstacles, more skilled people will enjoy avoiding traps while those with extreme strength like yours truly need to have a little extra in order to get my motor running. And be honest with me Frost with your personality are you really that adverse to a bit of danger?" Khione fully expected Frost to be initially shocked and even against the whole design but after spending time with him she felt she knew his true nature, a nature that was quite similar to her own.

"Ah…..ok you've got a point." Frost held his hands up Khione knew him well. He was shocked at first and even blurted out his misgivings but the moment the words left his lips he suddenly felt the urge to try it himself. Danger meant risk and risk usually meant reward….as long as you survived it of course.

"Hehehehe I knew you'd be interested, but it's a shame you're too weak to experience that rush, maybe in a few years we can come here again." Frost would be no different from a little fish in a very big pond if he dared to challenge the black level runs with his current strength.

The young Dungeon core would thus have to restrict himself to violet level runs and below…for his own safety.