A Hospital in Another World?

Chapter 407: Summiting, Advancing!

Chapter 407: Summiting, Advancing!

New

Apr 6, 2024

Garrett was unaware that his oak staff had quietly grown a bit taller.

In fact, he didn't even glance at the tip of his staff. Head down, waist bowed, he climbed upwards with difficulty. A mental shield interwove outside his body, protecting him, striving upwards:

One step!

Another step!

And another!

His chest felt tight, his head dizzy, and darkness crept into his vision. Garrett dared not stop, grabbing the water hose and taking two big gulps. The strange taste rolled over his tongue, and he unconsciously furrowed his brow:

Ah, the taste of glucose and salt water, no matter how many times I drink it, I never get used to it. But, to replenish energy quickly, this is the only way...

He continued to climb!

His mental power was suppressed, pushed upwards, suppressed again, and then pushed upwards...

Standing in the snow and looking up, one could see the dragon's nest above the steep slope, seemingly within reach. The vast square rock face was open and flat, with not even snowflakes able to remain on it. If it weren't for the zigzagging staircase carved out of it, Garrett would not have had the courage to continue climbing:

Climbing with bare hands was beyond his abilities!

Even with the convenience of the staircase, looking up at the giant rock from the snow slope, there was still an instinctual shiver, as if the giant rock could topple over at any moment. Garrett only took one look before lowering his head again:

Before reaching the rock base, there was no need, nor the ability, to worry about the path above. Even if it required using hands and feet, even if it required climbing, that was a matter for later. First, he had to make his way through the path at hand:

Lift the left leg for a step, plant both staffs on the ground, push off with the right leg, shift the weight;

Lean forward, swing the right leg forward;

The left hand with the climbing staff, and the right hand with the oak staff, driven into the snow, ensuring the base below was safe and reliable;

Push off with the left leg again, shifting the weight...

This cycle repeated, turning into almost a mechanical process. Not only that, but the magic shield outside his body, along with mental and magical powers, intertwined and gradually solidified. Not knowing how long he had climbed, suddenly, the pure white snow in front of him turned into a mix of gray and dark black rocks.

The dragon's nest's giant rock, reached!

Garrett stood below the giant rock and looked up. The sky was clear, with a saturation of pure blue that was almost dizzying. The intense sunlight shone on the rock wall, reflecting into his eyes, making him squint from time to time, even with sunglasses for protection. A silver-white line was embedded at the top of the cliff, probably snow accumulated at the top of the giant rock, never melting.

Garrett straightened his clothes, put the climbing staff back into the space bag, took off the snowshoes. Pulling over the water pouch's straw, he drank a few more sips of the glucose and salt supplement. He touched the ?Endless Ink Pen? in his chest pocket to ensure he could release the Featherfall spell at any moment, adjusted his breathing, and took a step forward—

The staircase, narrow enough for only one person to climb, was narrow and steep, hanging alone on the rock wall. The mountain wind howled, covering even Bernard's breathing sounds. Between heaven and earth, it seemed as if he was the only one continuing this lonely climb.

With his face against the rock wall, using hands and feet together, he dug into each step with effort. The heavy pressure covered his whole body, and unknowingly, his mental power had already merged with his magical power, forged by the dragon's aura to become more solid.

Breathing, heartbeat, every muscle, every drop of rushing blood, all tangible and intangible powers in his body twisted into one under the heavy pressure. The oak staff hanging under his right wrist glowed green, spontaneously growing roots, desperately drawing power from the surrounding nature:

Help me!

Help me!

We are one! Air, water, earth, sunlight, everything, help me!

"Nice little guy." Ophelia smiled slightly. She tilted her head, asking her niece in a soft voice:

"Did you say before, he's a priest of the God of Nature?"

"He said so himself." Seraina stared at the screen without blinking. Several times, when Garrett's foot slipped and he narrowly grasped the step to stop his body, she even held her breath:

"I think he looks like it. Not caring about food or clothing, focusing solely on healing people, only a priest of the God of Nature would be like that, right?"

"…Heh." Ophelia chuckled lightly. As

an adult dragon, having received more of the dragon's heritage, she knew more:

"A priest of the gods? Heh. This child's faith is clearly in nature—you see, he's starting to draw power from nature. Though he still needs the oak staff as a medium, how smooth—it's such a smooth resonance with nature, ordinary dragon's aura can't suppress him anymore…"

Broadly speaking, dragons are also a part of nature, and the dragon's aura is also a part of nature. When facing a powerful beast, when standing on a high mountain overlooking a cliff, when a sword stops at your throat, you naturally feel fear and stiffness. The source of the dragon's aura is this magnified fear.

But now, Garrett has entered a state similar to meditation, his mind clear and serene, resonating harmonically with nature. The dragon's aura, forcibly spread by the silver dragon's presence around the residence, no longer had any effect on him.

"Then... What should we do? Auntie, this part of the climb is very difficult, don't increase the pressure yet, wait for him to come up?"

"Of course. There's another little guy behind him—"

Thanks to Bernard, the silver dragon Ophelia did not increase the pressure, allowing Garrett to successfully climb to the platform at the entrance of the dragon's nest. Once on the platform, he lay face down on the ground, drenched in sweat:

So tired!

Too tired!

Not to mention standing, sitting, kneeling, he couldn't lift a single finger, feeling like after a night of emergency surgeries—car accident injuries, stab wounds, fall injuries, operating all night long... Just spread a surgical gown on the ground, and he could sleep right there...

Behind him, the scraping of leather armor, boot soles, and rock, step by step, each one higher than the last. Bernard had also climbed up... He had worked hard, insisting on climbing behind me, preventing me from falling down. I wonder how his pressure training went, did he advance successfully?

Garrett struggled to roll to the side, making room for him. Turning his face backwards, a rough hand quickly climbed onto the platform's surface, followed by messy hair, then Bernard's red-swollen face. Shoulders, chest, the upper body, one leg stepped onto the platform, then, his gaze sharpened—

"Garrett!!!"

The barbarian roared angrily. Unsheathing the bone club from his shoulder, he swung it vigorously and charged into the cave.

Garrett: ???

What does that mean?

I'm here! Bernard, what did you see? Don't rush in! Whoever lured you definitely means no good! Come back! Come back!

He shouted twice, but the barbarian ignored him, not looking back. Garrett gritted his teeth, leaning on the oak staff to kneel and rise, struggling to walk inside—

Passing the platform, entering the cave. The first step from light to dark felt a sudden increase in pressure, like swimming upstream in turbulent waters. He exerted all his strength to inflate his chest and lungs to take a breath, and his heartbeat became even more frantic:

It's okay!

Just the dragon's aura!

The silver dragon won't hurt me, just walking in front of her under the dragon's aura, no problem!

Keep going!

Garrett silently chanted to himself, leaning on the oak staff, silently moving forward. With every step, sweat dripped down his forehead, leaving wet footprints along the way. The darker it got, the brighter it became, and then the light shone brightly in front of him, a dragon seemingly made of silver lying in the distance, looking up at him—

The pressure in front of him suddenly eased. Before Garrett had a chance to catch his breath, he felt something compressed to the extreme suddenly expand.

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