Theluji's Cold Endurance Contest
Last updated 2026-08-22
Theluji's Cold Endurance Contest (unofficial name) is a Hidden Exploration Objective that takes place in Volkodlak Tundra, Snezhnaya.
Steps
Start by approaching the docks northeast of Rankova Zorya.
- Talk to ??? (Theluji)
- Sit in the designated chair
- Remain seated for 20 seconds
- The Eye of Graeae's energy depletes at an increased rate[Energy decreases by 1% per second?]
- Sit in the chair again
- Remain seated for 28 seconds[verification needed]
- Sheer Cold will accumulate at a rate of Transcription missing, and the challenge will fail once it reaches 100%.
Gameplay Notes
- Completing the challenge for the first time yields a Common Chest, and an Exquisite Chest after the second time.
- During the second round, the player will fail if no method for reducing Sheer Cold accumulation is used. Valid ways to complete the challenge include:
- Consuming Sheer Cold-reducing Food items
- Creating a Basic Heat Source (the area-of-effect can overlap with Theluji's seat; she will not be affected)
- At the start of the second round, the Eye of Graeae's energy will be instantly depleted to 0% when the challenge starts unless a Basic Heat Source was created.
- This energy is not automatically recovered when the challenge ends, but successfully completing the challenge will move the active character next to a Mini Kresnik's Torch and the Eye of Graeae's energy will be immediately replenished once the cutscene ends.
- Completing this Hidden Exploration Objective rewards the Wonders of the World achievement Colder Than a Snowman.
- After completing the second round, Theluji will move to a nearby tent.
Dialogue
- ???: Warm-ups complete! Let's see how long I can hold out today...
- Paimon: Wait, you're from Natlan! What are you doing out here?
- Theluji: Hm? The name's Theluji. I'm... tempering my body by plunging myself into these freezing waters.
- Paimon: Wh—What?! Aren't you afraid of getting frostbite?!
- Theluji: Heh, someone with your tiny frame would freeze in seconds, little one.
- Theluji: But for a seasoned warrior, the boiling blood inside our body can turn even the iciest waters into a relaxing hot spring, or even a scalding river!
Incredible!
That sounds like a terrible idea...- Theluji: Hehe, once you try it, you'll see the results of this training method for yourself. A truly gifted warrior needs only to try it once, and they'll grasp the tenets of "The Book of Five Springs" in no time!
- Theluji: Word has it there's a tier above that called the Way of the Molten Lava. Once you reach that height, your opponents will collapse before they can even get close, as their blood turns to steam within their veins...
- Paimon: Whoa! Now that does sound incredible!
- Theluji: But training alone can get a bit tedious... Let me think...
- Theluji: Ah, how about this? Let's see who can endure the freezing waters the longest! The classic "Cold Endurance Contest," that's what we call it.
- Theluji: The rules are simple: You and I take a seat in the river. Whoever stands up first loses!
- Theluji: Ah, just thinking of testing my limits against someone here... I can feel a fire starting to burn somewhere within my heart!
If you say so...
- Paimon: A—Are you seriously going through with this?!
- Theluji: Haha! Then let the contest begin!
Actually, I think I'll pass...
- Theluji: What a pity. I can sense a power within you that burns as bright as the sun itself. Hopefully, I'll have the chance to spar with you when we meet again.
- (Talk to Theluji again, optional)
- Theluji: If you're ready to begin... just take a seat on the chair in the freezing river!
- (Sit in the chair)
Sit- (Quest objective appears)
-
- Who-Can-Last-the-Longest-in-the-Cold Contest
- Remain standing [sic] until the very end
- Theluji: *panting* ... Hmph. This icy... refreshing... feeling — I can't get enough of it.
- (When 11 seconds remain)
- Theluji: What? H—How are you holding out th—this long...
- (When 4 seconds remain)
- Theluji: I've... almost had it...
- (After completing the challenge)
- Theluji: Whoa... Incredible! I'm freezing so bad and it feels like the current has washed my toes right away! Yet you look totally chilled out, like you're lounging in a hot spring!
- Theluji: It's terrifying... Do you have some kind of secret technique for resisting the cold?!
- Paimon: Well, not exactly... but we do have "Goggles." Uh... basically, it's a gadget that keeps your body temperature stable!
- Theluji: ...W-Wait, you used a gadget?!
- Theluji: I mean... not that there's anything wrong with using gear. I sometimes drink a bowl of hot Borsch before diving in. It gets you nice and toasty, and it keeps the chill off a bit.
- Theluji: But relying on some fancy item just feels like cheating your own true strength... Ugh, fine, maybe I'm just being a sore loser...
- Theluji: Take off those "Goggles" or whatever they are, and let's go another round later...
- (A Common Chest spawns)
- (Talk to Theluji again, optional)
- Theluji: Let's do this contest again. Just take a seat and the match is on! But don't wear those "Goggles" or whatever this time!
- (Sit in the chair)
Sit- (Quest objective appears)
-
- Who-Can-Last-the-Longest-in-the-Cold Contest
- Remain standing [sic] until the very end
- Theluji: G—G—Gotta hold on...
- (When 20 seconds remain)
- Theluji: G—Gotta warm myself up with my inner flame...
- (When 4 seconds remain)
- Theluji: Y—You're so strong... I—I can't do this anymore...
- (If the player stands or the Sheer Cold gauge reaches 100%)
-
- (Challenge fails)
- Theluji: I-I won...? Oh, thank goodness. I was sure I'd lost for a moment there...
- Theluji: I suppose my training wasn't completely pointless... Ah—achoo!
- Theluji: W—Well, come find me if you ever want to train together again!
- (After completing the challenge)
- Theluji: Incredible! You truly are a natural talent. Keep training like this, and you'll definitely become a master of "The Book of Five Springs" one day!
- Theluji: Mmm... Oh, right! A victory deserves a reward. Here, take these!
- Paimon: Hehe, thank you, then.
- Theluji: You two have already mastered not breaking a sweat in warm water, and staying completely unfazed in chilly water... Who knows, you might even achieve absolute immunity to ice water any day now!
- Paimon: "Absolute immunity to ice water" doesn't sound all that impressive to Paimon...
- Theluji: How can you say that? The main character of the story didn't even reach this level until Volume 8 of the light novel. That's really impressive!
- Paimon: Wait, you got all this from a light novel?!
Trivia
- There is no dialogue variant related to the World Quest Is "Intensity" Really the Key? in Series In the Footsteps of the Chosen of Dragons, in which Ma'chah devises a training regimen based on the same light novel Theluji references, "The Book of Five Springs."
Change History
Released in Version 7.0