Phoenix Vanguard: Legends of Astravera

Mapping the Frozen Territory

The next day dawned with a pale blue sky, the sun struggling to break through the thick veil of frost that covered Frostveil. The chill in the air bit at their skin, but the trio was fueled by the excitement of their new mission. As they prepared to set out, Andres couldn’t shake the feeling of being overshadowed by Haruki’s focused demeanor and Ashton’s commanding presence. He sulked slightly, muttering to himself about the unfairness of it all.

“Why do I have to be tied to you, anyway?” Andres grumbled, glancing sideways at Ashton, who had secured a length of rope around his own waist and the other end to Andres. “I’m not a child!”

Ashton smirked, “You’re right, but I’d rather keep you from causing chaos while we’re out here. We need to stay focused.”

“Yeah, focus on all the fun I’m missing out on!” Andres huffed, crossing his arms defiantly.

Haruki rolled his eyes but couldn’t suppress a smile. “Come on, Andres. Today’s lesson is all about gathering information. We need to know what we’re dealing with if we’re going to take on those monsters.”

With a reluctant nod, Andres followed Haruki and Ashton as they began their journey into the frozen wilderness, each step crunching in the thick layer of snow. Haruki, ever the observant one, scanned the surroundings, taking notes as they went. He documented every twist and turn, marking the paths they took and any signs of monster activity.

After an hour of surveying, they decided to head back to the town hall to consolidate their findings. As they arrived, the worn wooden structure loomed above them, a stark contrast to the beautiful, if harsh, landscape outside.

Once inside, Haruki laid out a small map he had created, meticulously marking the locations of the monsters they had observed. Each symbol represented a different creature, their levels scrawled beside them.

“Okay, here’s what we’ve got,” he said, pointing to the map. “Level 21: Frost Wisp—often found flitting about the forest’s edge. Level 22: Ice Troll—more common near the northern caves. Level 23: Frost Giant—typically roams the high peaks, but we spotted one near the old ruins.”

“And what about the others?” Andres asked, leaning in closer, finally feeling a spark of interest.

Haruki continued, “Level 24: Glacial Wolf, Level 25: Chilling Specter, and so on, all the way up to the Level 30 Glacial Phoenix. This is our target.”

Ashton nodded, “We need to prepare for each encounter, especially the higher-level monsters. Their intelligence sets them apart from the ones we faced in Valoria.”

Andres straightened, a glimmer of determination flashing in his eyes. “I can take on any of them! Just give me a chance!”

Ashton chuckled, “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Strategy is key here. If we’re going to succeed, we need to work together, using the strengths each of us brings.”

“Right, so what’s the plan?” Andres asked, finally eager to contribute.

“First, we’ll focus on the Frost Wisp and Ice Troll,” Haruki suggested. “We can assess their behavior and gather more data before tackling the tougher monsters. We need to understand their weaknesses.”

Ashton added, “And while you both engage them, I can set up traps to control the battlefield. We can draw them to specific areas where we have the upper hand.”

Andres nodded enthusiastically, the earlier sulking forgotten. “Alright! Let’s do this! We’ll take on the Frostveil monsters and come back with stories of our adventures!”

As the sun peeked over the horizon, casting a soft glow on the frost-covered landscape, Andres was already buzzing with excitement for the day's hunt. The desire to take the lead filled him with a sense of determination. “I want to be the point of the hunt today!” he declared, a broad grin stretching across his face.