The dim glow of candlelight flickered across the room, casting ominous shadows against the silk curtains and ornate furnishings. A light mist of incense curled through the air, carrying the sweet scent of strawberries and vanilla—an odd choice for a supposed ritual of malice.
Lyndoria stood in the center of it all, a vision of delicate yet dangerous allure. Her lacy black lingerie clung to her curves, the sheer fabric teasing soft, porcelain skin. Her long, silken legs were bare, her thighs plush, and her hips smooth and shapely, accentuated by the dim lighting. Her ash brown hair cascaded down her back and shoulders in sleek waves, and her copper eyes gleamed with wicked determination.
Before her lay a poorly drawn magic circle, its markings uneven, smeared in what was unmistakably chocolate syrup. At its heart sat a small straw doll, its silvery threads imitating the hair of her most despised foe, and golden buttons for eyes that glimmered soullessly beneath the flickering flames.
Around it, an assortment of ritualistic “offerings” was placed with utmost reverence: a plate of cupcakes, a mountain of cookies, and a suspiciously empty pudding cup—an unfortunate casualty of her earlier “preparations.”
Lyndoria lifted her arms dramatically, her voice dropping to a whisper as she began her incantation.
“Zigarith, Malgaron, Shakarooo… Bazoombas… Haxxor Starfarce—No! Starfrost! By the will of the dark abyss… by the fury of the forsaken… may this accursed vermin be swallowed by the eternal flames of suffering!”
She raised a hand to the heavens, then, with all the solemnity of a high priestess, stabbed a pin straight into the doll’s stomach.
The stuffed monsters surrounding the ritual circle flinched in unison. The Owlbear plushy, still wrapped in bandages from past atrocities, subtly inched away, hoping to avoid another round of abuse.
Lyndoria exhaled, brushing a nonexistent bead of sweat from her brow. A satisfied smile curled on her lips. “Hah! That should send him straight to the netherworld for making the princess worry! Suffer, Haxks Starfrost!”
Feeling triumphant, she turned toward her dresser to fetch her clothes when she happened to catch sight of herself in the standing mirror.
She paused.
Her brows furrowed.
Slowly, her eyes lowered, and her expression darkened with despair. After weeks of practically replacing her daily intake of water with milk, her chest was still… underwhelming.
A vein twitched at her temple.
Her head turned, almost mechanically, toward the trembling Owlbear plushy, its beady eyes wide with dread.
CRACK. CRACK.
Lyndoria rolled her wrists, her fingers flexing ominously. The shadows stretched as she loomed over the unfortunate plushy. The Owlbear—battle-scarred and weary—quivered beneath her piercing glare.
A single tear slid down its stitched cheek.
“Blame the gods who made me like this,” she seethed, lunging forward.
The candles flickered wildly as the room filled with the sounds of stuffing being pounded mercilessly into submission.
***
Daisuke burst from the forest into a vast clearing, his boots kicking up a flurry of snow as he came to a sharp halt. Ahead, a frozen pond stretched wide beneath the darkening sky, its fractured surface reflecting the last traces of daylight like shattered glass.
But he had no time to take in the scenery—his eyes immediately locked onto something far more alarming.
A single iron nail was driven into the ground, its surface smeared with crimson. A few feet away, an axe lay abandoned, its hilt darkened with blood. And then—drag marks. Deep, desperate grooves in the snow leading straight to the pond’s edge… before vanishing beneath the ice.
Daisuke stopped breathing, and his pulse thundered in his ears. “Tiphanna.” His voice came out hoarse, his expression twisting in dread. “Don’t tell me…”
No. He refused to accept it. Shoving the thought aside, he snatched up the nail and hammer before diving headfirst into the freezing water.
DING!
[You have been exposed to harsh temperatures. Hypothermia will set in within minutes, reducing mobility and health. Seek warmth immediately.]
DING!
[The skill «Thermal Equilibrium» activates, counteracting the freezing cold. Your body temperature stabilizes, preventing the effects of frostbite and hypothermia.]
[Thermal Equilibrium]
[Rank: Rare
Classification: Passive Skill
This skill enables the user to maintain a stable body temperature in any environment, whether sweltering heat or freezing cold. The body automatically adjusts its internal temperature, ensuring peak performance without the risk of overheating or hypothermia.
Skill Effect:
▪︎ Automatically regulates body temperature in extreme environments. Does not apply to debuffs inflicted by skills.]
[Frost Drake’s Leather Breastplate]
[Rank: Unique (Set)
Type: Breastplate | Light Armor
Durability: 65/68 | Physical Defense: 38 | Magical Defense: 59.7
Forged from the unyielding scales and fierce essence of the mighty Frost Drake, this armor provides exceptional defense against physical and ice-based attacks. It grants unparalleled resilience in frozen terrains, ensuring the wearer thrives in even the harshest cold. At the wearer’s command, the armor radiates a chilling aura, freezing the air around it and sapping the heat from nearby foes.
Set Bonus (2/6): Ice-type Attack Damage +45
Set Bonus (4/6): Ice Resistance +75%
Set Bonus (6/6): Unlocks the «Glacial Dominion» skill.
▪︎ HP +1200
▪︎ MP +200
▪︎ Stamina +10
▪︎ Reduces stamina consumption in cold environments +12%
Conditions of Use: Lvl 43+ | Male | Strength 108+ | Stamina 86+]
Daisuke didn’t need the Eye of Verity to navigate. The moment he plunged into the pond’s frigid depths, he spotted the entrance to an underwater cave—its gaping maw glowing faintly against the abyss.
His body screamed in protest, muscles still torn and aching from his battle with the Colossal Frost Treant, but he had no time for pain. He kicked hard, slicing through the dark water, adrenaline numbing the exhaustion weighing him down.
The cave loomed ahead, a jagged, yawning chasm that swallowed all light. He surged forward, slipping through the entrance into an ominous corridor of stone.
The pressure of the water pressed in on him, a suffocating force, but he kept going, his lungs burning as he fought against the instinct to surface. The passage was narrow, winding, and utterly silent—until he spotted a break in the darkness.
With one final push, he broke through into a small pocket of air, his breath ragged as he gasped for oxygen. The chamber was tight, the walls slick with condensation. He barely allowed himself a moment’s reprieve before diving again, plunging deeper into the unknown.
And then, he surfaced into something unreal.
A cavern stretched before him, its vastness staggering—at least 25,000 square feet of untouched, subterranean beauty. Several small, glowing pools dotted the floor, feeding into a forest that shimmered like something out of a dream.
The trees and undergrowth, sculpted from glossy blue crystal threaded with traces of violet and rose, pulsed with an eerie bioluminescence. Jagged crystalline formations jutted from the cavern walls and ceiling, scattering fractured beams of light like a thousand frozen stars suspended in the gloom.
DING!
[You have entered the Quartz Forest.]
Daisuke barely spared the notification a glance. He was already sprinting through the sea of shimmering crystals, his every thought focused on finding Tiphanna.
With a burst of momentum, he vaulted onto a narrow ledge jutting from the wall, scanning the landscape for any sign of her. But what he saw made his blood run cold.
DING!
[You have trespassed upon the territory of a most fearsome beast. Your life is now in danger.]
DING!
[The Quartz Forest’s Guardian stirs from its slumber. Now it means to slaughter the intruder.]
Daisuke’s breath hitched.
Without delay, he activated the Eye of Verity and nearly collapsed under the sheer force of what he perceived.
A fierce green aura roared to life like a feral beast, its oppressive weight crashing down on him like an avalanche. It clawed at his senses, suffocating, violent, primal. His gaze snapped to an elevated platform at the far end of the cavern—an enormous nest—where something stirred in the darkness.
DING!
[Cryosirentis | Lvl 57 | Field Boss | HP: 7669064/7669064]
A sickening chill crept up Daisuke’s spine. His face paled, cold sweat beading along his brow before dripping from his chin.
Then—movement.
The beast’s massive, soulless eyes locked onto him and an invisible force slammed into his chest like a hammer in response. The sheer pressure of its gaze alone sent a shockwave through his body, rattling his bones. His breath caught in his throat. His stomach lurched. And for a fleeting moment, he felt an overwhelming spell of nausea.
What the hell is that thing?! His mind reeled. So that diffused aura I saw… initially I thought it was the Treant’s roots, but it was an entirely different Field Boss all along?
His gaze veered down to his stamina bar. 43%. His hands trembled. Is it even remotely possible for me to take this thing on with less than half—
A flicker of movement caught his eye.
Near the base of the platform, several monstrous plant-like organisms loomed—frightening, translucent creatures reminiscent of a Venus flytrap with writhing tendrils.
They were several times larger than the Seedreaper. But more importantly, Daisuke’s focus zeroed in on the figure trapped within one of their maw-like enclosures.
Tiphanna.
His heart stopped.
“Ti-Tiphanna!” He bellowed, his voice hoarse with desperation. What the hell are those things? He thought while referring to the now updated Monster Guide Handbook.
DING!
[Slitherus]
[This parasitic plant extends its sinuous appendages beyond the cave, feeling through the water like a fusion of deep-sea siphonophores and creeping vines.
These tendrils ensnare fish, crustaceans, monsters, and even unsuspecting adventurers, dragging them into the depths for Cryosirentis to consume. In return, the serpent secretes nutrient-rich frost from its scales, which the Slitherus absorbs to sustain itself, eliminating the need for sunlight or soil.]
Daisuke scanned the enclosure.
The unconscious elf wasn’t the only one trapped. Other aquatic and terrestrial creatures—some still alive, others long since expired—lay ensnared within the monstrous flora, awaiting their inevitable fate.
But Cryosirentis wasn’t about to let him assess the situation at his leisure.
ROOOAAARRRRR!
The cavern quaked as a deafening bellow shattered the silence. The sheer force of the sound sent cracks splintering through the crystal formations, sending razor-sharp shards raining down like jagged knives.
Cryosirentis’ serpentine form uncoiled, its elongated body—a fusion of an oarfish and a wyvern—glistened with an icy, metallic sheen. Its massive fins, reminiscent of wings, shifted with unnerving fluidity, and its long whiskers slithered through the air like searching tendrils. And then those hollow, abyssal eyes locked onto him—vast, soulless voids brimming with an unfathomable hunger.
Daisuke barely had time to react before its maw gaped open, rows upon rows of jagged teeth glistening with frost. Then an enormous pillar of ice erupted forward, hurtling toward him like a lance of frozen death.
BOOOOOOOOM!