Chapter 425

425
Third Person’s POV
Horace Hill was tall and treacherous, lacking the dense forests of previous mountains to carve a path through.
The climb from base to midpoint was manageable, but the higher they went, the steeper the terrain became.
Beyond the midpoint, the mountain face was a sheer cliff, with only a few resilient trees sprouting from its crevices–effectively, no path at all.
The cliff face, at least thirty meters high, had to be scaled. Beyond it, the path, though difficult, could be navigated with hacking and slashing.
But the cliff itself was the obstacle.
“We’ve got iron hooks and ropes,” one said.
Klein replied, “They’re useless here. The cliff face is too smooth–no protruding rocks for the hooks to grip. We’ll have to leap up and grab those saplings for leverage. Only Lance and I can manage it.”
Tommy assessed the situation. “I can do it too,” he volunteered.
If he could leap up and grab a sapling, he could ascend. Though challenging, he was confident he could pull it off.
Caldwell, nimble and agile, also chimed in. “I can do it as well.”
Time was of the essence with pursuers close behind.
Klein and Lance exchanged a glance and decided on the only viable option–carrying the others up the cliff.
But aside from Tommy and Caldwell, eleven more people needed to be carried, meaning at least five or six trips back and forth.
In their exhausted state, this was a daunting prospect.
“Klein, I’m sorry,” Lance said apologetically.
Klein sighed. “You’re my only student, and I’m stuck in a mate with the most stubborn werewolf in the Frostfang Pack. If I won’t look after you, who will?”
Lance wanted to say he was actually happy, but he swallowed the words under Klein’s pitying gaze .
First , get them back.
Klein had a rebellious streak. If things didn’t go his way, he’d likely throw a tantrum.
No time for more talk.
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Lance decided to prioritize carrying Magnus , while Klein took Eugene The remaining group cayed behind to guard Marsh.
“Wrap your arms around me tightly. Don’t move an inch except to breathe, Lance instructed Magnus
Magnus nodded and secured his hold around Lance’s neck.
With that, Lance leaped upward, successfully grasping a sapling.
He didn’t put his full weight on it–knowing’they’d need to repeat this several times–he used it to propel himself higher, reaching for another sapling to the left.
The onlookers below held their breath, their hearts in their throats.
From below, it seemed Lance was just out of reach of the sapling, as if he might miss.
But he caught it.
Relief washed over the group.
Klein opted for a different route, selecting another set of saplings.
These saplings probably weren’t rooted that deep. They couldn’t take this kind of treatment repeatedly.
His path was riskier, steeper, and a misstep could mean a fall.
Yet, despite the peril, both safely reached the cliff top.
After securing Magnus and Eugene, Klein and Lance slid back down the cliff.
Descending required less effort. Once they reached a certain height, they grabbed saplings to pivot and leap back to their starting point.
Caldwell and Tommy waited to climb until everyone was transported.
After just one trip, Lance and Klein were already panting with exhaustion.
They sat down to rest for a moment, then pushed themselves to keep going.
It took five trips for Klein and six for Lance.
On the final trip, they returned for Marsh, who had to be strapped to Lance’s back as he lacked the strength to hold on.
Thus, Klein accompanied them again.
“You take him up, and I’ll follow close behind, just in case,” Klein said, his back drenched in sweat, hair plastered to his scalp.
Lance nodded. This time, climbing while bent over added to the difficulty.
Tommy and Caldwell would also assist, effectively forming a three–person support team.
Everyone held their breath as Lance grasped the first sapling and stabilized himself. They watched him2 / 3
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steady his breathing, then leap for the second sapling. He secured it. Reaching for the third and fourth saplings went smoothly.
But Lance’s bent–over posture made the climb arduous. When he lunged for the fifth sapling , his finger brushed the trunk only to slip.
His heart skipped a beat. He quickly flattened his hands against the cliff face. Now clinging vertically to the cliff, he was exposed.
Marsh’s head lolled backward, and the two lost their balance.
In this critical moment, Klein and Tommy lunged forward. Each grabbed one of Lance’s hands, while the other hand clutched a sapling.
But due to the distance, they could only hold Lance and not haul him up.
Eugene swiftly lowered an iron hook rope, its length just reaching Lance’s right side.
Tommy and Lance exchanged a glance. With a nod, Tommy released his grip.
Lance immediately seized the rope with his right hand. Then Klein let go, and Lance’s left hand also clutched the rope.
With both hands on the rope, they now relied on the others above to pull them up.
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