The mont Ryuzen stepped into the Arctic Den on Extre Mode, as if the usual temperature seed to drop even further. But this it was 10°C minus than Hard difficulty.
But because of his natural affinity toward cold, and Manus form’s integrated frost shell skill activated, he barely felt a thing.
He looked around cautiously.
The frosted walls shimred with an unnatural glow, and the very air felt heavier, infused with mana that pulsed like a living thing.
The Arctic Den howled as if sensing a worthy challenger had entered its cursed halls.
CRUNCH... CRUNCH...
Ryuzen’s boots sank into the thick snow with each step. A freezing mist swirled around him, stinging at his skin. The sky overhead was gone, replaced by a do of jagged ice and twisted frost-trees that cracked with ancient groans.
His breath was steady, eyes narrowed as he scanned the white terrain.
Suddenly—
SKREEEEE!!!
A chorus of shrill cries pierced the air.
From the veil of falling snow erged dozens of bestial forms with sharp fangs, claws of ice, and eyes glowing like pale lanterns in the dark. Frostfang Wolves. Snowshard Panthers. Crystalis Rhinos. And more. All of them above level 10.
Ryuzen’s pupils contracted.
"So this is Extre difficulty..."
THUD!
CRACK!
GRAAAAAHHH!!!
The beasts attacked, snarling, slamming into the frozen ground. In their path the snow burst out with each step.
Whoosh!
Ryu dashed forward, [ Windleap Dash ] igniting with a burst of wind. He weaved through them, fist colliding with a wolf’s belly.
BAM!
The wolf crahsed onto a tree.
But they were relentless.
A Crystalis Rhino barreled toward him, its horn gleaming with frost.
BOOM!
It caught him in the ribs.
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"Urgh!" Ryu coughed, skidding across the snow.
Instantly, Frost Armor flared to life, coating his body in a magical icy shell. But even that cracked under the sheer force of the attackers.
Slash!
Claw!
Howl!
They ca from all sides now. Too many.
"Slash!"
Ryu slashed one of their necks clean, but more erged.
Ten more. Then fifteen.
"You’ve got to be kidding ... Is this why so few beginners take on this difficulty mode?" Ryuzen muttered, panting on one knee.
GROWL!
Suddenly, the air trembled as a Snowshard Panther leapt from above.
Ryu steeled his heart. He quickly activated [Phantom Claw] and slashed upward. Its body exploded into shards of ice and blood.
Thud!
He landed with knees bent, breath ragged.
With the constant use of skills, his mana was draining fast. He needed to exploit their weaknesses. And against Ice-type beasts, the most effective elent was Fire.
So he stood up and activated [Firestorm Emission].
BUZZZ!
Instantly, a burst of fire erupted from his Manus Core, incinerating seven nearby beasts in searing flas.
Their painful howls and screeches filled the dungeon like a ghostly symphony, but Ryu didn’t care. Not when his life was on the line.
When the smoke cleared and the firestorm died down, a terryfying scene unfolded. The beasts caught in the flas had been completely incinerated. Only ashes remained, and amidst them, several glowing books and shimring orbs landed on the lted, scorched ground with soft thuds.
But Ryu didn’t move to pick them up.
Not yet.
The remaining 20 beasts had already lunged at him from all sides.
Rumble!
A thunderous rumble shook the dungeon floor as they unleashed their attacks all at once. So cast elental strikes, like icy shards and Icicle Blades.
Swish, swish, swish...
They sliced through the air, while others charged forward with nothing but raw brute force. Extended claws and fangs beca theit weapon to tear him into shreds.
Ryu’s eyes narrowed.
He clenched his fists, and the mana around him swelled once again.
[ Avalanche Titan’s Fist ]
"BOOOM!"
He punched the ground, and in the next instant, a surge of violent force erupted beneath him.
"Clatter, Clatter..."
Jagged pillars of stone burst upward like erupting mountains, sending several beasts flying back mid-charge.
The ground split apart, tremors tearing through the ice-covered terrain, shaking even the stalactites above.
The shockwave alone crushed three of the beasts instantly.
The rest staggered, disoriented by the sudden seismic upheaval.
FWOOSH!
Without wasting the opportunity, Ryu unleashed his Draconic Fire Breath, a blazing inferno that carried nearly 50% of the force of a true dragon’s breath.
It was more than enough.
The searing flas engulfed the battlefield, reducing several beasts to ash in a matter of seconds. Their screams echoed only briefly before being silenced by the roaring blaze.
[ Level Up. Level 10 → Level 11 ]
A notification flashed in his mind, but Ryu ignored it. Now wasn’t the ti.
With newfound power coursing through him, he leapt into the air. Mid-flight, his claws shimred with ethereal energy.
[ Phantom Claws ]
Slice. Slash. Tear.
He cleaved through three more monsters in rapid succession. But just as he landed, a massive fist from an Ice Giant slamd into his stomach.
"BANG!"
Ryu was sent flying like a ragdoll. His body crashed into a jagged boulder, which cracked and splintered like a shattered mirror from the impact.
Dust and debris scattered.
"Grrraaah... ROAR..."
As Ryu struggled to his feet, his vision blurred for a mont. He wiped the blood from his lips and narrowed his eyes.
Then he froze.
"Holy f*ck... So many Ice Giants?"
His voice cracked with disbelief.
From the surrounding icy ridges and fog-covered cliffs, more monstrous forms erged — hulking silhouettes of thirty to forty Ice Giants, surrounding him in a slow, deliberate circle. Each of them towered with primitive weapons: massive crude hamrs, iron-barked clubs, jagged shields forged from glacial ore.
Their levels ranged from 11 to 15 — far above what most F-Rank hunters could hope to face alone.
For any beginner, just one of these would be a deadly opponent.
Now there were dozens.
They roared like ancient warriors, slamming their weapons on the frozen earth and charging in unison. The ground trembled beneath their stampede.
They ca to kill.
To crush.
To tear.
But instead of fear or panic, Ryu simply smiled.
A slow, cold, tooth-baring grin spread across his face.
"I have experienced death, and yet you think your numbers will scare , big guys? Hehe.. Let’s see if I can squeeze another level or two out of you all, ..."
Instantly Mana erupted around him.
The very air warped as his body began to transform.
Golden-white scales shimred across his skin. Horns burst from his temples. His back split open as powerful wings unfurled. His chest expanded, limbs thickened with draconic power, and his belly bulged — not in weakness, but as a vessel of majesty.
His transformation was complete.
Solarfrost Imperial Dragon.
In a matter of seconds, Ryu stood transford — a 2.3-ter-tall, 5-ter-long draconic entity.
Majestic, terrifying.
Strong ridges lined his back, and his eyes burned with both frost and fla, while his razor-sharp jaws looked ready to crush mountains.
The giants paused. So even hesitated.
But it was too late for regret.
"ROARRRRR!"
Ryu roared, a thunderous cry that shook the cavern walls.
And with that, the real battle began.
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