After their final meal in the quiet warmth of their camp, the signal was given.

With spirits braced for the climb, the members of both the Stone and Water teams set off, beginning the final race toward the frozen summit of the Icy Storm Mountain.

"Okay, someone remind me again, why are we wasting time gathering leaves and sticks?"

Haruki barked, throwing a branch to the ground in frustration.

"Beats me. I thought this was supposed to be a race."

Seiya stood beside the growing pile of branches.

She rested her tanto on her shoulder, watching Eiji with a puzzled frown as he gathered wood while the Water Team was already miles ahead.

Eiji noticed the confusion on everyone's faces.

He stood straight and took a deep breath.

"Listen, think about what the general said,”

Eiji cleared his throat,

“Whoever reaches the top of the Icy Storm Mountain first gets the privilege of proper ‘accommodation.'”

Eiji deepened his voice, trying to imitate the general, but it only earned him a giggle from his friends.

Haruki had heard enough.

"This is ridiculous."

He turned to Ishito and a handful of other teammates.

"We’re going to beat the Water Team to the top. If you’re smart enough, come with me."

Almost half the group followed him, trusting the general’s son to lead them to victory.

Eiji watched them go, feeling a knot of worry in his stomach.

He was asking the others to trust him, and if he were wrong, they would all lose.

"You’re just going to let them run off?"

Nobutaka asked, gesturing to the departing group.

"It’s better this way,"

Eiji calmly answered and began cutting branches.

"We need them to keep racing.”

He tossed a branch on the pile.

"As long as they're chasing Haruki's group, the Water Team won't stop to wonder why we're falling behind."

Across the field, he could sense the doubt lingering among his remaining teammates.

Eiji immediately stopped what he was doing and stood straight.

"Think about it,”

He dusted off his hands.

“Have you ever seen anyone carry supplies to the summit?”

Every eye shifted toward Eiji.

“Even if they did, everything up there is frozen solid. How are you supposed to stay 'accommodated' in a block of ice?"

Slowly, his teammates nodded.

It made sense.

"The general said he wouldn't follow us up there for three whole days," he added.

"That means we have to survive on our own until then. We would need food, water, and warmth to survive up there."

Seiya smirked, "You know, sometimes you’re actually brilliant, Eiji. I just hope you’re right."

As Nobutaka and Nadare giggled at Eiji’s flustered expression, the group set to work.

Some trekked into the woods to hunt wild birds and rabbits, others gathered dry firewood, and a few climbed higher up the slope, searching for a stream of melted ice.

High above, those who followed Haruki moved like shadows, leaping over frozen logs and sprinting up the treacherous inclines.

Staying near Haruki, Ishito tried to contain his thoughts.

"Spit it out,"

Haruki hissed at Ishito, noticing his friend’s unusual silence.

"I can tell from the look on your face that you don't entirely approve of this."

"No, I think we’re doing the right thing.”

Haruki was relieved, but then,

“Though I believe Eiji was on to something." Ishito panted.

"What do you mean?"

"The general never said that we win by just being the first to reach the summit."

Ishito explained between breaths.

"He also said he’ll follow us in three days.”

Haruki frowned.

“So?”

”So, this isn't just a race; it's also going to be a survival test! Eiji must have realized that, which is probably why he didn't stop us.”

“If he's right… then gathering supplies wasn't a waste.”

Ishito concluded.

Haruki scowled, but the logic hit home.

"If you're right, there might be a massive advantage to holding the summit first."

With renewed determination, they pushed themselves harder and fixed their focus on the jagged white peaks above.

Far away, watching through a magical lens, Vice General Asatsuyu leaned toward Hyosei.

"It seems the Stone Team already figured out the game."

Hyosei’s lips curled into a faint smirk.

"I suppose they have. But let's see if they can survive a week on that frozen rock."

Asatsuyu stared through the lens.

"...You really are cruel."

Hyosei smiled.

"I'm trying to raise a General."

And then they laughed.

…

Both teams were halfway to the summit when the forest suddenly turned against them.

Out of the swirling white chaos, a pack of snow apes descended. These creatures were slender yet possessed immense strength and agility that rivaled any trained samurai.

Born from the mountain’s cursed magic, they wielded crude, scavenged weapons with a primal cunning.

The apprentices had dismissed the stories of these monsters as myths, but as the snow turned crimson, the reality became clear.

Hyosei and Asatsuyu watched the carnage through the magic lens, their expressions unmoving; they had faced these beasts before.

"It’s a good thing we have our weapons,"

Haruki panted, his naginata carving a desperate arc through the air as he struck down an ape.

"But we’re at a disadvantage!"

Ishito shouted, fending off an attacker with his katana.

"Half of our team is still down there! We’re slowly getting outnumbered!"

"We don’t need them!"

Haruki roared, his pride surging even as his muscles burned.

"WE CAN MAKE IT! DEFEAT THE APES!"

His cry echoed off the cliffs, rallying his dwindling team to push forward with renewed fury.

Hours later, the snow was silent again.

The Stone Team stood victorious, but at a terrible price. Many were bleeding, others lay motionless in the drifts.

Haruki felt his consciousness slipping, his grip on his weapon slackening. Witnessing the carnage, he felt cold, and a sharp doubt pierced his mind.

“We’re not going to make it.”

Ishito collapsed beside him, his strength spent. Haruki caught his friend, shaking him frantically.

"Ishito! You can’t pass out now! We... need... to... move..."

But the cold was relentless. Haruki’s own vision blurred, and he sank back into the snow.

As his vision began to slide shut, a dark silhouette emerged from the mist.

It was Eiji.

With heavy logs strapped across his back, he led the rest of the group.

Haruki caught a final glimpse of Eiji through the snow.

For the first time in years, seeing his brother filled him with relief.

Then darkness claimed him.

Eiji rushed to Haruki’s side, shaking him to no avail. Nobutaka knelt nearby, surveying the wreckage of the fight.

"They fought them off, even though they were gravely outnumbered."

Eiji’s stomach knotted.

He had prepared for the mountain.

Haruki had bled to clear the path.

He gritted his teeth, refusing to let that sacrifice be in vain.

"Let’s not put their sacrifice to waste!"

Eiji commanded.

"Gather the wood! We will build sleds to carry the wounded to the top, and help those who can still walk.”

He lowered the logs from his back, knelt beside Haruki, and gently lifted him.

“We move now!”