As Jihoon traversed the Frozen Abyss, the biting cold gnawed at his bones. Each step felt heavier as he moved through swirling snow and relentless gusts of wind, his breath forming icy clouds in the frigid air. The eerie silence was occasionally broken by the growls of frost wolves prowling the snowy landscape, their blue-tinted fur blending perfectly with the surroundings.
Suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed from the depths of the icy wilderness. A massive ice bear, easily the size of a big truck, lumbered toward him, its breath a visible mist. Jihoon braced himself, drawing Hell's Dagger, the blade glinting ominously in the pale light. As the bear charged, he darted to the side, narrowly avoiding its icy swipe and delivering a swift cut along its flank. The bear howled in pain but barely flinched.
In a flurry of motion, Jihoon engaged multiple foes, slashing through the wolves and dodging the bear's powerful claws. Each victory brought a small thrill, yet waves of fatigue began to weigh him down. Just as he felt he was gaining the upper hand, a commotion drew his attention.
Ahead, a beautiful woman was being chased by a group of plunderers—ruthless players notorious for hunting down others for their gains. The sight ignited a protective instinct within Jihoon. He rushed forward, ready to help, but as he neared her, he realized that there were too many of them.
"Get out of here!" he shouted at the woman, but she was already cornered. Without thinking twice, Jihoon made a quick decision. He had to protect her, and the only way was to get her to safety. He rushed to her side and, with a swift motion, scooped her up in his arms.
"Hold on tight!" he instructed, feeling the weight of her body against him as he sprinted away from the pursuing plunderers. Their shouts and jeers faded into the background as he pushed forward, adrenaline fueling his escape.
As they raced through the icy landscape, Jihoon realized he needed to lure the plunderers into a trap. He headed toward the entrance of the Ice Elf's lair, where the air crackled with a cold, menacing energy. He could hear the plunderers closing in behind him, and a quick glance over his shoulder revealed the fierce determination in their eyes. He led them straight to the boss room, where they would meet their fate.
Upon entering the lair, Jihoon quickly set the woman down. But as soon as they stepped inside, the Ice Elf emerged from the shadows, ethereal and powerful, her icy blue skin glistening under the dim light. Before Jihoon could react, she waved her hand, and the entrance sealed off behind them, blocking any chance of escape.
The plunderers, stunned by the transformation of the scene before them, hesitated momentarily. The Ice Elf summoned a blizzard that engulfed all her enemies, trapping them in a storm of ice and snow. Jihoon activated the gloves of chronos to nullify the attack while the others struggled against the freezing winds, their movements slowed by the overwhelming cold. One by one, they were frozen solid, their bodies encased in glimmering ice.
Now alone with the Ice Elf, Jihoon faced the powerful foe. The battle that ensued was brutal. She wielded her icy might with precision, hurling freezing blasts and summoning shards of ice that pierced the air. Jihoon fought fiercely, but the sheer power of the Ice Elf overwhelmed him. Each strike he landed seemed to do little more than annoy her, while every hit he took drained his energy and morale.
As Jihoon staggered back, bruised and battered, a flicker of desperation ignited within him. He closed his eyes, focusing on the Necromancy ability he had gained after defeating the Dullahan. Summoning the lingering essence of the fallen, he attempted to call forth their spirits to bolster his strength.
With newfound determination, Jihoon channeled his energy into the spell, the chilling air thick with darkness as he began to weave the intricate incantations. A shadowy figure emerged, a ghostly wraith rising from the ground. The wraith surged forth, flanking the Ice Elf and distracting her just long enough for Jihoon to land a decisive blow.
In a final desperate attempt, Jihoon plunged Hell's Dagger deep into the Ice Elf's core. An eruption of icy mist filled the room as the creature shattered into a thousand pieces. Breathless and panting, Jihoon stumbled backward, the remnants of the necromantic spell fading away.
As the chaos settled, Jihoon opened his eyes to find himself resting on the lap of the human woman he had saved. Embarrassed, he shot up quickly, shaking off the disorientation. "What happened?" he asked, trying to piece together the blurred memories of the fierce battle.
"You were injured," she replied, her voice soothing yet filled with concern. "I helped you recover."
He thought to himself "I see I blacked out, well I did over exhaust my self"
She smiled at him, warmth radiating from her despite the icy surroundings. "I owe you my life. Thank you."
As he prepared to leave, he turned to her, feeling a sudden need to know her name. "I forgot to ask for your name," he said, his voice steady.
"Baek Suzy," she replied, her eyes shining with gratitude. And also asked for his name in return.
"Raven," he responded coolly, a hint of a smirk creeping onto his lips.
"Thank you, Raven," she said, her tone sincere. With a final smile, she waved goodbye and logged out, leaving Jihoon alone in the vast chamber.
Now, with a sense of accomplishment but also a clear understanding of the challenges that lay ahead, Jihoon decided to check the Ice Elf's remnants. A message appeared before him, detailing the rewards he had earned for defeating her:
Reward:
Ice Crystal Shard: A powerful component that enhances ice-related abilities by 10%.
Frozen Veil Pendant: Grants resistance to ice-based attacks and boosts agility in snowy environments.
Achievement Points: +1000 AP for defeating the Ice Elf.
With excitement coursing through him, Jihoon focused on the Ice Elf's corpse. He activated his evolved Necromancy ability. To his astonishment, a shimmering apparition of the Ice Elf materialized before him, ethereal yet regal. Although the spectral figure only contained 15% of her original strength, Jihoon felt a surge of potential radiating from the summoned entity.
"My powers are yours to command My liege" he declared, feeling the weight of his new abilities and the path that lay ahead.
He then turned focused on the ice crystal shard and enhanced her abilities, which made her even stronger. Since he couldn't always call her ice queen he gave her the name seraphine.
He looked at the ice queens corpse again and used his talent - Greed to absorb the stats, just then he received a familiar notification.
[You have absorbed the skill: Frost Storm (Active)]
Jihoon felt invigorated by his victories and the new abilities he had gained but knew he needed to prepare for the next trial. The battles would only grow more difficult, and he would need every advantage he could muster to face the powerful bosses waiting beyond the next floors. With renewed resolve, he turned to leave the Ice Elf's lair, ready to face whatever challenges awaited him in the depths of the Netherealm.