System Made Me a Tank [LitRPG-Evolution]

When their rest ended, all three of them felt noticeably better. Noemi's depleted mana had now fully regenerated. The deep cuts and bruises Boran had received during the battle had almost completely healed, thanks to the potion he drank and the rest. The tired expression on his face had given way to a determined look.

Boran asked as he was gathering himself: "So what do we do now? I think we should go directly to kill the Ice-Tailed Wyvern."

Noemi answered while organizing the items in her inventory: "If I remember correctly, there's a cold area in the northern part of the crystal valley. It should be there."

Boran raised his eyebrows: "What do we know about it?"

Noemi explained while checking her wand: "It's a powerful creature around Level 40. Its most dangerous weapon is its massive tail covered in magical ice — it can instantly freeze anything it touches. It also turns the ground into ice wherever it walks, which means a slippery and dangerous battlefield for us."

Noemi added with concern: "It creates constant snowfall and ice formations around itself. It turns its hunting grounds into a small winter landscape. Unfortunately, we don't have a map, we just know we need to search for the cold region in the north."

Boran smiled: "Does this monster at least drop something valuable?"

Noemi nodded: "Yes, it can drop thick Wyvern claws, frozen Wyvern scales, and medium-quality ice essence."

Boran placed his shield on his back: "Then let's not waste time. Let's head north and find the cold region."

As they left the crystal area, the landscape around them began to change gradually. The purple and pink crystals gave way to ice crystals in blue and white tones. Their steps now moved across a thin layer of ice that slightly crackled, rather than soft soil.

"Do you feel the air? We're definitely heading in the right direction," said Boran.

Noemi nodded in agreement. "Yes, I'm starting to feel cold. Must be the effect of the Ice-Tailed Wyvern."

As they advanced, their breath became visible. The vapor from their mouths dispersed in small clouds in the cold air. The colorful view of the crystal valley was now far behind. Now before them, a completely different landscape was emerging.

Boran suddenly stopped. "Look," he whispered, pointing to the hill ahead.

Beyond the hill stretched an area completely different from the rest of the valley. It was as if they had stepped into another realm. This section of the valley was completely covered with snow and ice. Large blocks of ice glistened in the sunlight. There was a layer of snow at least a hand's width thick on the ground. Trees and crystals were covered with ice crystals, as if suddenly frozen by a spell.

"There," Noemi whispered, "we've reached the Ice-Tailed Wyvern's territory."

All three stood behind the hill, at the edge of a large snow and ice area. The wind was cold enough to sting their faces.

"Look at that area," said Noemi, shielding her eyes with her hand. "Right in the middle, what is that?"

In the middle of the snow-covered plain, a massive block of ice rose toward the sky. With its dazzling crystal structure, it reflected sunlight in all directions, shimmering in blue and white tones. Around this majestic ice formation, sharp ice spikes were arranged in a perfect circle. Each spike was aligned at equal intervals, as if carefully placed. This orderly and symmetrical image certainly did not give the impression of a randomly formed natural structure. Instead, it appeared to have been deliberately constructed or shaped by some supernatural force.

And there, next to the magnificent ice mass, stood an imposing silhouette rising like a ghost in all its splendor, with its scales gleaming in the sunlight and massive wings covered with ice crystals. Fine ice particles floated in the air around the creature, while ice vapor spread from its mouth with each breath.

"There it is," said Boran. "The Ice-Tailed Wyvern."

Although the distance was far, the creature's enormous size and impressive appearance were clearly visible. The Wyvern was at least four meters long. Its body was covered with blue-white scales. Its wings shimmered like translucent ice crystals. But its most striking feature was its tail, which also gave it its name. Its tail was covered with a thick layer of brilliantly shining ice and scattered ice crystals around with every movement.

Boran held his breath in amazement. "Wow... Very impressive."

Noemi gripped her wand tightly. "Attacking directly wouldn't be wise."

Boran, crouching behind a rock, said, "Let's observe it a bit more closely. I want to understand its movements."

The trio took shelter behind large rocks at the edge of the snowy area and began to watch the Wyvern. The creature was slowly circling around the ice mass, occasionally stopping to sniff its surroundings. Every time it struck its tail on the ground, new ice formations appeared.

"Look," Noemi whispered, "it seems to be protecting its offspring."

Looking carefully, they saw blue glimmers inside the ice mass. The ice mass was actually a large nest. Inside, there were at least three small Wyvern cubs.

Boran frowned. "Nobody gave us this information. This wasn't written in the mission description..."

Noemi thoughtfully said, "Maybe the person or thing that prepared the mission didn't know about this situation. Or they didn't care."

Boran continued to silently observe the creature. "This complicates things," he said finally. Boran looked at his friends with concern. "What do you want to do? The mission is clear: we need to kill the Wyvern."

Noemi was looking thoughtfully at the snow-covered area. "I don't know... Attacking while it has cubs... doesn't feel right."

"Besides," said Boran, "this is its territory. Everything is ice and snow. Our mobility will be limited, while it can move perfectly here." Boran took a deep breath. "Strategically, it will be a difficult battle."

The three thought silently for a while. The wind howled around them. The Wyvern was still circling around its nest, occasionally looking up at the sky.

"Maybe there's another way," Noemi said finally. "Maybe there's another way to complete the mission."

Boran turned to her curiously. "Like what?"

"Do you remember exactly what the mission said? Word for word?"

Boran thought. "Kill... no, it didn't say exactly that. It said 'Defeat the Ice-Tailed Wyvern.'"

Noemi nodded. "There you go. Maybe killing isn't the only solution."

Boran, continuing to watch the creature, asked, "What do you suggest?"

"I can't think of anything..."

"Then there's nothing we can do, we need to complete the mission."

"You're right but... I don't know, it doesn't feel right to me."

"Try not to overthink it. Think about how we can defeat this creature."

"I have an idea," said Noemi. "The Wyvern must have highly developed cold resistance. But what about the opposite?"

Boran's eyes lit up. "Fire! Of course, why didn't I think of that before? If it's extremely resistant to cold, it must be equally vulnerable to fire."

Boran frowned with concern. "We can use fire spells, but that means attacking directly. Plus, moving in this area covered with ice and snow will still be difficult for us."

"Maybe we don't have to attack directly," said Noemi. "Could we lure the Wyvern away from here? If we can draw it to another area, the advantage would be ours."

Boran thought about it. "That might work. But how will we lure it? Or will it even follow?"

"We won't know until we try."

"Then let's do this: You go up to that high peak we just passed and cast only your powerful fireballs. Boney, you do the same. While you attack from above, I'll make it chase me."

"What if it doesn't come?"

"Then your job becomes easier, you just keep attacking."

***

Boran took a deep breath one last time. "Is everyone ready?" he asked, looking at his friends.

Noemi and Boney nodded. "We're ready," said Noemi, gripping her staff tightly.

Boran smiled. "Always." Then he became serious. "Alright, I'll make the first move. As soon as I go down, Noemi, you'll start attacking from the hill with Fireball. Boney will shoot his arrow at the same time."

Boney and Noemi separated from Boran and quickly moved toward the hill they had discussed earlier. Both were taking careful steps on the icy ground, trying not to fall. When Boran saw that they had reached the hill, he slowly emerged into the open area.

He drew his shield and raised it in the air for a moment. The creature suddenly turned its head and saw Boran. It remained motionless for a moment, then slowly began to turn toward Boran.

"Here you come..." Boran muttered to himself.

The Wyvern made a high-pitched sound like a warning. This sound made the ice crystals around them vibrate. Then it slowly began to advance toward Boran, scattering ice crystals with each step.

Boran, holding his shield firmly, said, "Come on, watch me," and then ran toward the Wyvern. As he approached, he slid under the Wyvern's tail and delivered a quick shield strike. The shield hit the Wyvern's ice-covered scales with a metallic sound, but it couldn't cause serious damage to the creature, only stunned it briefly.

The Wyvern roared in anger and swung its tail. Boran jumped over the tail just in time. "Let's go toward the hill..." he muttered and started running north.

The Wyvern began to follow Boran. With each strike of its tail on the ground, new ice formations appeared. The path behind Boran was becoming increasingly slippery and dangerous.

Meanwhile, Noemi and Boney were watching the situation from the hill. "Here it comes!" Noemi said excitedly. "Boney, get ready!"

Boney silently drew his bow. He took out an arrow and began to aim.

As Boran approached the hilly area, he looked back. The Wyvern was quickly following him. Just then, Boney released his arrow. The arrow whistled through the air and hit the Wyvern's right wing.

The Wyvern roared and rose into the air. At that moment, Noemi began preparing a powerful fire spell by joining her hands. A bright fireball formed between her hands. "Fireball!" she shouted and hurled the fireball toward the Wyvern.

The fireball rapidly traveled through the air and hit the Wyvern's chest. There was a big explosion, and the Wyvern was thrown back several meters. Some of its scales had begun to melt.

When Boran saw the situation, he shouted, "Keep going! It's working!"

As the Wyvern tried to recover, Boney prepared his second arrow. This time, he aimed more carefully and shot it toward the Wyvern's left wing. The arrow lodged right in the middle of the wing.

The Wyvern was now in rage and pain. It tried to look toward its nest, but Noemi's second fireball hit it again. This time, the fireball hit the Wyvern's face directly. The creature writhed in pain and fell onto the snow.

Boran quickly ran toward the Wyvern. Gripping his shield with both hands, he delivered a powerful blow to the creature's neck.

The Wyvern turned to Boran and looked into his eyes. There was pain and fear in its eyes. But Boran saw something else there too: the instinct to protect its young.

The Wyvern tried to rise with one last effort. But Noemi's third fireball hit it again. The creature fell to the ground and remained motionless.

Boran lowered his shield and approached the Wyvern. The creature was still alive, but it no longer had the strength to fight. Its eyes were still looking toward its nest.

Boran called out to Noemi and Boney: "Come down!"

The pair descended from the hill and joined Boran. All three looked at the Wyvern lying on the ground.

"What are we going to do?" Noemi asked in a low voice.

Boran put his shield on the ground. "I don't know... I don't want to kill it."

Just then, sounds began to come from inside the ice nest. Baby Wyverns must have heard their mother's voice. They were trying to emerge from the nest.

Noemi looked at Boran anxiously. "Boran, we need to complete the quest. But maybe... maybe there's another way."

Boran was thoughtful. "The quest said 'Defeat the Ice-Tailed Wyvern,' right? We've defeated it. It's in no position to fight us now."

Noemi said, "You're right. Technically, we've completed the quest."

[...]

[Quest Completed]

[You've earned 1500 XP, 1500 Gold]

Noemi chuckled. "We really did complete the quest."

"So now what we need to do —" Boran's words were cut short by a sudden explosion above the Wyvern. A projectile, seemingly appearing from nowhere, detonated upon impact with the creature's body. The Wyvern's eyes widened in shock before the life drained from them instantly, its massive form collapsing with a heavy thud that sent vibrations through the icy ground.

Stunned silence fell over the trio as they stared at the now-lifeless creature. From behind the distant glaciers came the sound of approaching footsteps and voices, growing louder with each passing moment. Boran, Noemi, and Boney exchanged worried glances before turning toward the source of the disturbance.

"Who's there?" Boran called out, his hand instinctively reaching for his shield again.

Four figures emerged from behind the ice formations, their silhouettes growing clearer as they approached. The man leading the group was tall with dark hair that contrasted sharply against the white landscape. As recognition dawned on Boran's face, his expression transformed from confusion to something darker, more primal.

"Well, well, well! Boran! Small world!" the leader called out, his voice carrying a cruel mockery that seemed to cut through the frigid air like a blade.

Boran's face paled before flushing with anger, his hands clenching into tight fists at his sides. "Emir? You... what are you doing here?" His voice was tight, controlled, but barely containing the rage underneath.

Sensing the sudden tension, Noemi leaned closer to Boran and whispered, "Who are these people?"

Boran's jaw clenched so tightly that a muscle twitched visibly along his temple. "My old team," he replied through gritted teeth, never taking his eyes off the approaching group. "The ones who left me to die."

Emir gestured casually to his companions, his demeanor relaxed as though they were merely old friends crossing paths. "You're still angry with us, I guess. What could we have done? It was you or all of us." He turned to the tall man with a bow slung across his back. "Nice shot, Halil. You hit it perfectly."

Halil smiled proudly, patting the ornate quiver at his side. "These explosive arrows work well. Should we fire another one? Make sure it's really dead?"

Emir shook his head, surveying the motionless Wyvern with cold satisfaction. "No need. The creature is already dead."

Something broke within Boran then. He stepped forward, his face contorted with a mixture of rage and profound grief. "Why did you kill the Wyvern?!" he shouted, his voice echoing across the icy landscape. "We had already completed our quest without taking its life!" He gestured frantically toward the nest with trembling hands.

Emir's expression remained unchanged, a mask of indifference as he shrugged. "There was a quest telling us to kill it. So we killed it. You're always so dramatic, Boran. I tink they're just lines of code designed to look like creatures. Nothing more."

Boran took a deep breath, struggling to control his emotions. His hands opened and closed at his sides as he visibly fought against the urge to retaliate.

Emir's smile widened, sensing Boran's internal conflict. "Well, don't worry. Maybe next time you'll be faster. Or perhaps you'll learn that mercy has no place in this world if you want to gain an advantage."

Noemi approached Boran and placed a gentle hand on his arm. "It's not worth dealing with these people," she said softly but firmly. "We've already completed our quest. We got the reward too. Let's leave this place before things get worse."

Boran looked at Emir one last time, his gaze burning with quiet intensity. "One day I'll make you answer for what you've done. Not just today, but for everything."

Emir laughed, the sound hollow and cold. "Of course, of course. I'll be waiting." Then he turned to his friends with a cruel smile. "Come on, let's clean up those babies in the nest too. Maybe we'll get some extra XP for them as well."

The words hit Boran like physical blows. His body tensed, preparing to lunge at Emir, but Noemi firmly pulled him away by the arm. "Now is not the time," she whispered urgently. "There will be a better opportunity."

As the trio moved away across the snow, Boran looked back one last time over his shoulder. The lifeless body of the Wyvern lay sprawled against the white landscape, while Emir stood triumphantly beside it, gesturing toward the nest. The image burned itself into Boran's mind—a reminder, a promise. This account had not been closed, only postponed.