Elias rose from his frigid resting place, the dull thrum in his Mana Conduit a testament to its slow recovery. The rest had been vital, replenishing his physical strength, though the intense cold of Level 3 still gnawed at him. His Ice Absorption provided a subtle, constant trickle of vitality, helping to counter the environment's draining effects, while Frost Resistance kept the biting chill from completely immobilizing him. He was ready to move.
He pushed deeper into Level 3, the labyrinthine passages becoming increasingly complex. Jagged ice spires scraped against the cavern ceilings, and fissures in the frozen walls glowed with an eerie, shifting blue light, casting long, dancing shadows. The air grew heavier, thick with the scent of ozone and the metallic tang he now associated with high-density mana. His Perception and Ethereal Sense were constantly active, sifting through the ambient noises of the living dungeon for any sign of new threats.
The sounds of the dungeon were a symphony of cold: the creak of stressed ice, the distant drip-drip-drip of freezing water, and occasionally, a profound, resonating groan that seemed to vibrate through the very bedrock. Elias moved with a practiced fluidity, his Enhanced Agility allowing him to navigate the treacherous, often slick, terrain with a predatory grace. He was no longer just surviving; he was adapting, evolving with every step.
He discovered signs of Level 3's unique ecosystem. Scarred sections of ice walls bore the marks of colossal claws, far larger than those of the Ice Stalkers. Strange, crystalline formations jutted from the floor, pulsating with faint light, hinting at hidden sources of power or perhaps dormant creatures. The subtle shifts in the air, picked up by his Ethereal Sense, suggested that many of Level 3's inhabitants possessed phasing or cloaking abilities, making them almost impossible to detect by conventional means.
After hours of relentless trekking, the passages opened into a vast, awe-inspiring cavern. It was a cathedral of ice, its ceiling lost in the swirling mist far above, supported by colossal pillars of ancient, frosted crystal. In the center of this immense space, a colossal, six-legged creature, made entirely of glacial ice and rock, stirred. This was no ordinary monster.
Its form was roughly the size of a two-story building, its massive, jointed legs ending in blunt, crushing feet that left deep indentations in the unyielding ice floor. Its body was a chaotic amalgamation of jagged ice shards and dark, volcanic rock, with two immense, glowing blue eyes set deep within its multifaceted head. It moved with a slow, deliberate majesty, each step reverberating through the entire cavern. This was undoubtedly the Floor Boss of Level 3.
[Notification]
You have entered the territory of the Glacial Behemoth (Lesser Dungeon Lord)!
Description: A colossal elemental construct of ice and stone, guardian of Level 3. Possesses immense physical strength, powerful ice attacks, and impenetrable defenses.
Elias instinctively ducked behind a smaller ice spire, his heart thundering in his chest. The sheer scale of the creature was daunting. His internal warning bells screamed, far louder than they had for the Stone Hulk or the Ice Stalkers. This was different. This was a true challenge, the kind he had been told would test heroes to their breaking point.
The Glacial Behemoth let out a low, rumbling growl, a sound that cracked ice from the ceiling. It began to slowly pivot, its glowing eyes scanning the cavern. Elias knew it wouldn't be long before it sensed him. His recent battle against the Stalkers had taught him the harsh lesson of ice monsters: direct attacks often proved futile against their regenerative capabilities or sheer resilience. He needed a plan, something more than just brute force. His still-recovering Mana Conduit felt like a distant hope.
This would be a genuine struggle.