As soon as he stepped out, the entire world was instantly devoured by the roaring wind. All other sounds disappeared, leaving only the howl of the wind.
He seemed like a lone boat, navigating an ocean churning with white giant waves. He could only lower his head, slightly hunching his body to reduce wind resistance, each step taken with utmost stability.
Braving the wind, relying on his memory of the terrain, he trudged arduously toward the direction of the lake surface.
He didn't head for the center of the lake, but stopped instead at an area near the shore where the wind was most concentrated.
Here, the ice surface was almost "polished" by the fierce wind, leaving only a layer of snow compacted as hard as stone.
He stamped forcefully with the heel of his boot, and the snow layer emitted a solid "bang bang" sound, akin to knocking on a wooden plank, leaving only a shallow mark.
"It's right here." He murmured to himself, his voice nearly swept away by the wind.
