"Grosel!" The recent "Reprimanding Knight" dragon, Zeler, rushed forward, steadying Grosel and then gradually releasing his grip, slowly standing upright as if having just woken from a bewildering dream. Chastel broke free from Mobert's support, disregarding her bodily pain and swiftly running toward Grosel at the wind's assistance. She bent down, carefully observing for a moment, then pushed him with a voice strained and desperate, shouting, "Wake up! Wake up! We have to go!" Her voice gradually weakened and faded into silence. Mobert stood by, watching as the giant's body swayed unsteadily, struggling to maintain balance, and finally collapsed to the ground with a soft thud. He remained silent for a few seconds, then exhaled slowly and deeply. At this point, Anderson and Edwenna had rushed to Snowman, the ice-bound monk, where Anderson used fire and Edwenna simulated holy light to quickly thaw him. Only Caine, being nearby, had directly gone to Grolser's side. His "spirit thread" vision revealed that Grolser was already dead, with only his spirit lingering—though that spirit was beginning to fade—rendering his healing transfer ability ineffective. Since the dawn light had first ignited and then ensnared the frost giant dragon, Grolser must have been preparing for death all along. Caine stood silent. Mobeit glanced at him, offered a wry smile: "To be honest, I've seen only a few giants. Most of my impressions come from books, teachers, and my parents—我一直 believed this race to be cruel and violent, more like monsters than wise beings. But Grolser isn't like that. He's straightforward, honest, optimistic. Though he may seem a bit naive, he's clearly aware of what's right and what's wrong. 'He told me this because he isn't among the oldest giants—nor even among the second or third generations. The more violent and frenzied giants also possess the instinct to mate and reproduce, and among their offspring, occasionally more rational types emerge. These rational ones go on to reproduce, gradually transforming the entire giant race away from monster-like traits.' Honestly, I'm not sure whether to believe him—but his very existence proves such a possibility." Mobeit spoke, then paused suddenly, as though lost in memories of the past. At that moment, Edwena and Anderson supported Snowman, who still felt stiff and rigid, bringing him close. Struggling, Snowman made his way to Grolser's side. Gazing at the closed vertical eye, Snowman drew a symbol resembling a cross on his chest, half-closed his eyes, and began to pray softly: "Father of all, Great Root, here is a sincere and pure spirit... May he enter your kingdom and receive eternal salvation..." Chastel opened her mouth, as if to say that Grolser believed in the giant king Orlmir, but ultimately remained silent, watching Snowman complete his prayer. "We must get out as soon as possible—we have no idea how long that door will remain open!" the elven singer said, surveying the group. Her sorrow and pain had made her notably impatient. She glanced down again at the giant, her voice low and resonant, adding, "We cannot allow Groserel's spirit to fade in this illusory world—we must bring him back to reality!" "Agreed," Moberet immediately responded, and the others showed no dissent. Edwenna turned and called out to the cave draped in ice and snow, "Danzis, you can come out now." At that moment, Chastel's eyes flickered, as if she had just realized something, and she turned to Cline, "Do you have paper and pen?" "Yes," Cline produced his water-resistant steel pen and notepad—a professional habit of a seer. Chastel took them and began writing steadily, without pause, even as Danzis emerged from the cave. Danzis remained silent, his expression subdued, showing little joy or excitement at the prospect of leaving the world of the book. At last, Chastel paused in her writing, handing over both the parchment and the pen to Caine: "The recipe you asked for." Didn't they trade when they went out? Caine silently murmured in confusion, taking back his own pen and the "Sea Singer" potion recipe. Noticing his bewilderment, Chastel turned her head toward Grossel lying on the ground, and said in a low tone: "Now we are companions." So they could simply hand over the recipe? Caine tucked away the items, giving a barely perceptible nod: "After we leave, I'll give you the cup." Chastel didn't reply; instead, she pushed Moberet gently: "Go lift Grossel." Moberet glanced down at her relatively frail frame and her pointed, elevated boots, sighed with a helpless smile, and walked over to one of Grossel's legs. Dragon Zel, the "Reaper Knight," remained silent, bending down to take hold of the giant's left shoulder. Anderson glanced to either side, exhaled, and said, "You're all wounded, weakened—let me handle this." He then reached around and grasped Grossel's shoulder on the other side. As Kline was about to move to the remaining leg, Daniz had already stepped quickly past him, securing the position. Seeing this, Kline halted, watching as Anderson and the others lifted Grossel and carried him toward the ethereal gate veiled in snow. He, Edwenna, and the wobbly, staggered Chastel and Snowman followed silently, reaching the exit formed by the transformed body of the frost giant Yuris. At this moment, Kline surveyed the scene and noticed that the pale blue blood that had flowed from the "King of the North" earlier had completely vanished—as if it had never been there at all. Indeed, a truly manifested, almost tangible monster. Kline remained behind, watching as Edwenna stepped forward a few paces, slightly bent her back, and placed her palms upon the gate. Then the "Iceberg Commodore" suddenly exerted her strength, pushing open the snow-covered door with a single, decisive motion. In silence, everything the gathered guests saw began to fade, becoming ethereal, then transparent, and finally vanishing. Before them, a series of warm, golden bookshelves materialized, the orange sun setting at the horizon outside came into view, and a table adorned with pens, ink bottles, and sheets of paper appeared. This was Captain Edwena's bridge! Klein and the others quickly turned their attention to the center of the table, where a book bound in brownish leather lay open. Gently stirred by an unseen breeze, the book turned to its final page, and Klein and the others saw the closing lines: "With the help of the intrepid adventurer and the powerful hunter, Grolser fulfilled his promise, leading his team to defeat the 'King of the North.' Yet, he also fell asleep in the land of frost." "None of us have been given our own endings," Klein said. "Where do you wish to go next, Chastas?" Mobeit lowered Groserel's leg and tilted her head to ask the elven singer. Chastel's gaze suddenly grew hazy for several seconds, then settled firmly as she said, "Find my people..." As she finished speaking, she suddenly saw Mobeit's light blonde hair rapidly turning white, and the smoothness of her face beginning to show deep lines. In the span of just one breath, Mobeit appeared to have aged to the point of near death. Chastel's heart tightened, and she reached to spring forward, only to find her legs suddenly weak and powerless. With a thud, she collapsed to the floor, discovering age spots spreading across her forearm—marks typically found in elders. Instantly understanding what had happened, tears streamed down her face, while her body strained and struggled, trying to crawl toward Mobeit. Mobeit too had slumped to the ground, moving slowly toward her and extending her right hand. Hastas extended her right hand and grasped the dry, thin one. They struggled to lift their heads, their eyes reflecting the other's current appearance. Their mouths simultaneously curved upward, yet weakened and could not release, their eyelids drooped, blocking the light. Klein, Edwenna, Andersen, and Daniz were completely unprepared for this transformation, didn't know what to do, and could only watch as Grolser's body rapidly decayed, his flesh evaporating, leaving only bones and the extraordinary properties that had seeped out. They watched as Moberet, Hastas, Snowman, and Longzeler aged and grew weak within just a few seconds, then lost their breath, repeating exactly what had happened to Grolser's body. Their garments either vanished or turned to ash, and their spirits faded at an unprecedented pace, soon disappearing entirely. "The shortest one has already been living inside for over 165 years..." Edwenna murmured, turning her gaze toward the white bones gazing out at the sea and the sun. This was Dragon Zeler, the "Sentinel Knight," seated in his chair, looking westward toward Bekland. Snorman sat beside him, his remains preserved in a posture of prayer. Indeed, in the world of the books, they had lived for centuries, even millennia—yet, according to the rules of the outside world, beings who were not even half-gods should have long since perished... I should have anticipated this question... Why didn't I feel any alertness? Perhaps... Cline suddenly recalled the subtle psychological impacts the book world had on Moberet, Grossel, and others, and began to form a sense of understanding. Once again, he lowered his eyes to the book bound in calf skin, believing that its secrets were still countless. "This guy was quite interesting—died like this..." Anderson gazed at Moberet's body, gave a slight dismissive shrug. At this moment, all the extraordinary traits were slowly coalescing, yet Dragon Zelar, the "Sentinel Knight," had not manifested anything similar. Edwenna examined him carefully and spoke with a calm, matter-of-fact tone: "The magic potion he consumed was false; the power he gained was likewise false—just like the frost giant dragon." They were one the size of a clenched fist, resembling a heart, dotted with holes and glowing with the radiance of morning light; another like a jellyfish, its translucent outer layer encasing blue seawater, with occasional gusts stirring spirals and flashes of silvery light, and a soft, melodic song faintly echoing through; a third a pure, luminous crystal, exuding a sense of sacredness; and a fourth like an infant's palm, with five delicate fingers gently spread, shifting in hue according to the surrounding environment. "Oh, we can't keep gazing at them like this forever," finally broke the silence Anderson. "Let's categorize these remarkable qualities." Just as Edwena's pale blue eyes had begun to flare with indignation, the hunter shrugged, offering a wry smile: "I believe this is also their wish, since we've fought side by side as companions.