The power dwelling within the spear demanded release. Its overwhelming, insatiable mana whispered to me, temptih tless violent solutions. Keeping it bottled up was impossible—it cwed at my will, threatening to erupt. If I didn’t el it soon, it would explode and take me with it.

  Gritting my teeth, I tightened my grip on the handle, feeling the icy vibrations of its energy c through me. With a surge of will, I used the spear’s power to unch myself into the air.

  As I breached the safety of Istvan’s shield, the world outside hit me like a hammer. A cold, salty gust of wind tore at my face, carrying the tang of blood and sea. Above, the storm roared its fury, the rain shing against me like needles. My ast was short-lived—a massive, slimy tentacle shot up, intercepting my path with terrifying speed.

  My heart pounded as I twisted midair, the spear’s glowing tip ready to meet the attack. The icy bubble surrounding me absorbed some of the tentacle’s momentum, slowing it just enough, but the impact still reverberated through my arms, rattling my bones.

  When the grotesque, stinking limb collided with the spear, a pierg shriek tore through the battlefield, shaking the air with its iy. The creature’s enraged mana surged, an oppressive wave of power crashing down on me. My chest tightened as if the o itself had smothered me. That’s the Boss’s power for you!

  The tentacle forced me downward, the strength behind it uing. My heels skidded on the ice-covered o, the frozen surface splintering uhe pressure. Yet, as the ana from my spear flowed outward, frost crept along the tentacle’s flesh. It hissed and groaned, its movements slowing as the freezing energy locked it in pce.

  My breaths came in ragged gasps, visible iorm-chilled air. The spear thrummed in my hand, its prowing colder, sharper, and more relentless with every passing sed.

  [You lost 60 HP][Target lost 420 HP][You healed yourself for 82 HP]I paused, frozen in disbelief at the se before me. The chaos was surreal, almost like the dizzy walk home after a night at the pub. Was this truly the power of a hero? My bat skills felt as good as those of a level forty Priest—ughable in the grand scheme of things—but overpowered at this point.

  That hesitation e. A tentacle shed out, raking past me with terrifying speed. The spear in my hand pulsed hungrily, almost as if it demanded blood. I gave in, allowing its force to propel me forward, closer to the grotesque enemy.

  My heels skimmed the frozen surface of the o, each step leaving behind a spreading trail of ice as the water beh me solidified, dodging.

  The Boss shed out in desperation, its tentacles slig through the air with vicious i. But my agility far outstripped its clumsy attacks. Each strike missed by mere inches as I weaved and darted, my movements fueled by the icy magic c through me.

  The sound of tearing ice was deafening, a thunderous roar that echoed across the frozen battlefield. Saltwater surged through the cracks, only to freeze midair iorm’s frigid grasp, turning into jagged crystals that joihe snow swirling arouhe rain transformed into a blizzard, driven by the furious power of [Ice Dance]. Is this ability really this strong at higher levels? Truly a marvel level.

  Sweet.

  I leapt to avoid a massive k of ice crashing from above, the storm’s fury adding to the chaos. But I miscalcuted. One of the Boss’s tentacles snapped out with lightning speed, its slimy sucker ing around me. Yuck! The creature let out a guttural, triumphant scream, dragging me across the frozen expah relentless strength. My body smmed against the ice as its other tentacles desded, attag with brutal precision.

  The st strike sent me careening into the freezing o. The shock of the water stole the breath from my lungs, and darkness closed around me. I struggled to find my bearings, but my own magic betrayed me. The freezing energy that had empowered me now became a prison, eng me in jagged ice that pressed painfully against my skin, cutting into me with every desperate movement.

  [You lost 58 HP][You lost 10 HP][You lost 10 HP][You lost 10 HP][You lost 10 HP]Help! My precious spear answered my desperate plea. Its power surged in response, and I let the mana within it ma. However, I wasn’t ready for it. Instead of stopping at the on, the mana surged into my veins.

  A searing, unbearable heat flooded my body, setting every nerve abze. Stupid 100% reality limit! I couldn’t hold back the scream that tore from my throat as the maed, bursting out of me in a massive explosion that sent shards of frost and light scattering in every dire.

  The battlefield transformed into a swirling chaos of id snow as the storm intensified, cealing my movements. With the ice madness providing cover, I darted toward the Boss’s massive, ludicrous body, weaviween the filiacles and jagged ks of tumbling ice. Crag id shrieking winds created a deafening hat filled the air. Suddenly, an ued blow came from below, shattering the ice beh, and bringing a swarm of elite floaters onto the frozen surface.

  Sweet.

  A wicked grin twisted ay face, happy but impossible to suppress. It betrayed my true iions. These creatures weren’t a challenge, not anymore. Not at my current power level. Their fragile, pathetis didn’t stand a ce. All it took was one ssh. With oating swipe of my spear, I sealed their fate.

  As the spear’s blue light enveloped them, the frost spread with merciless precision, creeping over their bodies like a living thing. The icy power froze them iheir forms locked in a chilling stasis. They became sculptures of despair, frozen in time.

  Knowing my time was limited, I surged forward, my steps light and sure despite the ever-expanding unstable ice beh me. For a moment, I even soared, the mana within the spear propelling me like a force of nature. The raw power c through me was exhirating, driviraight toward the massive, foolish foe ahead. The storm howled around me, but all I could hear was the pounding of my heart and the spear’s call to finish what it had begun.

  [Critical hit! Target lost 910 HP][You lost 47 HP]The system rewarded me with niumbers as I nded a hit on the main body. When my strike ected, a strange substance gushed out, burning my exposed skin. Stupid ent armor. Thanks a lot, dear developers. Magic coursed through my veins, fillih ice-cold relief from the searing pain, but it wasn’t enough to stop me from screaming.

  “You! You ugly, dirty, stupid boss!” I yelled, sshing again. More of the vile substance sprayed, this time coating my entire body. Terrific.

  The Boss was deadliest at a distance, but his only cle defense was his stupid acid. Lucky me. Ice Dance slowed his movements, while my battle-hungry spear absorbed his blood, bolstering my attacks. I pressed on, striking fast to chip away at his getinous mass. With a st slice, I cut through his slimy body, and the battle was over.

  [Iginous has beeed. +900XP. XP to the level: 1992/2450][You are the first to defeat World Boss! Due to the circumstances, a reward has been withheld]Hey System, aren’t you stingy? World-Boss and only this? I guess the spear did most of the work, but still…

  With the big guy out of ission, I sprinted back to the ship—there was still a battle raging, after all. My spear still funed, and I wasted no time unleashing chaos on the remaining ehey fell like level-one noobs. Having sin the final floater, I searched the battlefield, ready for anht. My gaze nded on Istvan’s fragile frame, his familiar sinister smile twisting his lips.

  “Easy now, Hero. The fight is over,” he said calmly, striding toward me. “It is the spear talking.”

  I locked eyes with him, gripping my spear tightly, every muscle ready to strike. “No, it’s not! En garde!” I luhrusting my spear through the space between us, but he sidestepped with an almost zy grace. Before I could strike again, his staff moved in precise, fluid motions, pleting a spell that made my spear vanish.

  “Hero! Your reckless charge nearly cost us everything!” His voice hit like a hammer, hard and unwavering. “You secured the victory, but your soul was on the line. As an immortal you shouldn’t have a real one, but you’ve got a piece of o’s curious, but you, yes, never do that again. Never!” The chilly edge of his words shattered the intoxig rush of power c through me. The ice shielding my pain thawed, leaviaring at him, dumbfounded.

  How?

  How could I, an experienced warrior, let myself sink so far into it?

  Duke’s voice cut through the tension, anding and authoritative as ever. “Let’s focus on what’s important, Istvan,” he said, leaving no room for obje. He turo me, his gaze sharp and unyielding. “Hero, kneel.”

  I blirying to process his words. Khat could only mean two things, and my mind tched onto the worst possibility. My knees hit the ground before I could stop them. Execution? Is this how it ends?

  The sun bathed a vibrant meadow, teeming with dangerous monsters. On one side, he ridge, pyers were tirelessly strug a crude stone wall. They darted about with purpose, w nonstop, and the sight brought a small, satisfied smile to Lucas’s lips.

  Ian, dressed in striking blue assassin gear, approached the fledgling fortress, his expression a mix of awe and disbelief. He’d never imagined something like this could exist outside of a formal guild.

  Though his goal had been to track down Charlie, stumbling upon this odd operatio like an opportunity he couldn’t ignore. Whatever Charlie’s pns were, he was determio undermihem. “This is insane! Why are all these pyers w like that? Are you some secret millionaire, Lucas?” he asked, uo hide his curiosity.

  Lucas turo him slowly, pulling his scarf higher to lend an air of mystery. “I’m a cryptot more mohan I know what to do with. You gotta i in this fortress,” he said in aohough the amused glint in his eyes gave him away. What an amateur liar, Ian thought with a smirk.

  Before Ian could respond, a small girl came bounding over, her excitement bubbling over into a high-pitched squeal. She fidgeted, barely able to tain herself. “Lucas! I finished my quest! I dive me another one, please!”

  “Of course, Lilith108,” Lucas replied, already navigating the system menu with practiced ease.

  “It’s just Lilith for you, Lucas! Drop the numbers!” she giggled, hopping up and down as she adjusted a few loose stones on the wall.

  Lucas shook his head, a pyful smirk tugging at his lips. “For this to work, I have to be precise. We wouldn’t want someone else actally getting your quest, now would we, Lilith?”

  [You created Quest “Build the Wall” for the pyer Lilith108][Build the Wall]Requirement: 10x [Manufactured Stone]Reward: 200 builder-XP* The keeper of East Fortification need help with stru of the essential defenses. He is an experieh work on this big projebsp;in exge for ten [Manufactured Stohanks! I’ll be right back!” Lilith shouted before darting off like her life depended on it.

  Lucas watched her go, grinning, but Ian didn’t share his amusement. He gred after her, shaking his head in disbelief. “Lucas, are they w for free? What the hell is going on?” Ian muttered, his suspi growing. The evil Charlie must be behind this, exploiting the game somehow.

  Lucas’s grin only widened. “Do you know how rare it is to find work for builders in this game? I’m the only one giving them quests, and I always max out the rewards. Sure, it racks up fortress debt, but if the system allows it, why wouldn’t I?” He punched Ian lightly on the shoulder, his enthusiasm unshaken. “Fet that. Let’s have some fun. Have you seen the monsters here? This meadow is the perfect farming spot! If you just hold the s off for a bit—”

  “No way,” Ian interrupted, shaking his head firmly. “Have you even looked at them? Level ten and poiso a proper warrior and healer first, then we talk. You’re nuts if you think this will work.”

  Lucas just smirked. “Don’t worry about it. If you hit their stingers hard enough, they’ll fall off and won’t attack. Trust me.”

  Ian groaned, but after more of Lucas’s relentless persuasion, they made their way to the meadow. Lucas cast his trusty spark spell, pulling ts toward them. As the buzzing enemies closed in, Ian tensed, his muscles coiled and ready. He lunged, aiming a swift ssh at their stingers.

  He missed.

  The s easily dodged aaliated, one of them stinging Ian and inflig poison.

  “Only a madman would try this, Lucas!” Ian yelled, clutg at his wound as the poison spread. “Is this because I skipped out on payierday?”