Damn, that's cold.
That was my brief review after diving into the -2°C ocean.
I extended the Eternal Ice Chain and tied it to the expedition ship's anchor.
No way I was getting stranded in the middle of an iceberg sea.
They'd think I was insane.
If I had time, I would've jumped in somewhere out of sight.
But the sensation hit me out of nowhere. I didn't have the luxury to wait.
No telling when it'd disappear.
Alright then.
I shut my eyes and focused.
A faint ringing filled my ears.
The ocean's flow brushed against my skin.
Nothing clear yet.
Still, I stayed patient, tuning into the current.
Swoooosh.
A strange vibration pressed into my body.
Once. Twice. Three times.
It kept coming at regular intervals.
And then—
Thump!
A sharper pulse hit.
My eyes snapped open.
The sea was pitch black, no moonlight, nothing visible.
And yet… I could see it.
The heartbeat of something massive, pushing the water aside.
A grin crept onto my face.
What led me here was one of the countless scales of the Black Dragon.
That didn't guarantee I'd find Drakan's Claw.
For all I knew, it could've been another scale.
But the moment I felt that pulse—
I knew.
It's here.
The Black Dragon.
So that's why everything vanished.
The sea life that had disappeared without a trace.
Creatures born in the ocean would've sensed it instantly.
Something impossible, lurking nearby.
And worse—it was already awake.
So they ran.
Just to survive.
They must've found it already.
The reason the Icelandic government wiped away every trace of the dried-up sea—
They discovered it too late.
A dragon.
Something out of myth and legend.
Iceland's military power was weak even before Awakening.
Now?
Still weak.
Ranked 135th out of 145 countries.
Which meant they were constantly pushed around by nations like the UK, the US, Russia, France.
So the moment they found a dragon—
Their eyes must've lit up.
This could flip everything.
Hmm.
Dangling off the ship, I pressed my forehead.
I wasn't looking down on Iceland.
But this?
This was greed.
Their low ranking didn't just mean weak military—it meant their players were weak too.
So no.
They won't be able to kill it.
Not unless a miracle happens.
I'd seen its overwhelming presence inside the Tower of Myth.
That was enough to judge.
Alright.
Plan set.
If Iceland can handle it?
I'll just take the claw. Fair and square.
But if they can't—
It's all mine.
Every last bit.
And honestly, that'd be better for them too.
If they woke it up and failed…
Their country would end up just like the city I saw in the Tower.
Perfect.
I nodded, satisfied.
Then glanced at the expedition ship dragging me along.
Cold bastards.
Could've at least slowed down. Pretended to look.
Guess that's what I get for being alone.
I reeled in the chain and headed back to the ship.
Better get on board.
Before they mark me as dead.
Ilulissat—one of Greenland's massive icebergs.
It had broken off a glacier not long ago, but its sheer size made it famous.
And surrounding it—
Dozens of ships.
Icelandic military vessels.
One ship approached Ilulissat.
Drills, excavators, forklifts—construction equipment moved nonstop across the ice.
Admiral Robion of the Icelandic Defense Force stared at the iceberg.
"Progress?"
"Over 80%. Teams are rotating shifts, and ability users are assisting."
His aide, Jokla, handed over a tablet.
A hologram of the iceberg.
When they first found it, it was buried too deep to reach.
Now?
Almost there.
Just a little more.
"Hurry it up. We can't afford to drag this out."
Robion checked a message he'd just received.
All expedition ships accounted for. Moving toward Greenland.
He ground his teeth.
Hyenas.
He'd done everything to cover it up, and still they came sniffing around.
"Looks like no one's caught on yet."
Robion nodded.
At least they had no idea.
What was sleeping inside this iceberg.
"Let's move."
"Yes, sir."
Wearing specialized suits, Robion and Jokla stepped into a temporary elevator.
The lift descended through pristine, transparent ice.
Then—
Thud.
It stopped.
And revealed it.
A colossal ancient creature, sealed within the ice.
Too large to take in at once.
Robion's lips curled upward.
He was certain.
This thing would elevate Iceland's status overnight.
"The presidential office contacted us last night. They're asking if we still haven't identified the cause. Coastal cities like Reykjavik are taking heavy damage."
"Tell them to wait. Does that even matter right now?"
Robion clicked his tongue.
The president and his circle were panicking.
Demanding they fix whatever was draining the ocean.
That's why he hadn't reported this discovery.
"They're too comfortable. Can't see the bigger picture."
This was Iceland's chance.
To smash that pathetic 135th ranking.
And rise as a global power.
He wouldn't miss it.
"Are the mind-control devices and taming players ready?"
"Yes. They've proven effective—subduing even a Tower of Despair boss in one second. We'll deploy even more here. Even accounting for synchronization issues, it should be enough."
"Good. We start tomorrow."
"Understood. Preparations will be complete. What about the expedition ships?"
"Leave them. Let them fight among themselves. Once they've entered the Greenland Sea, they won't get here anyway."
Robion chuckled.
This was their first time in these waters.
They had no idea.
That the entire sea was a maze of glaciers and icebergs.
Expedition ship—deck restaurant.
People at the railing turned.
Roce was still sitting, calmly eating.
"Wasn't that your boyfriend? He jumped overboard."
"What'd you say to him? Dude ran mid-meal."
Roce set down her fork and smiled.
"Why don't you stop worrying about my love life and go check your friend's wrist? He looks like he's about to cry."
"What?"
The man with the broken wrist and his group approached.
Others nearby started watching.
"French hunters?"
"They're pretty well-known. That girl's screwed."
The French mercenaries laughed.
Up close, it was even more ridiculous.
She looked fragile enough to snap with a flick.
What was she relying on?
"You should watch your mouth. No boyfriend here to protect you."
Roce slowly wiped her lips and stood.
Then looked around.
"Well? Since we're already here…"
Her lips curled.
"We weren't planning to play nice and share, right? That's why we came armed. Am I wrong?"
Silence fell.
She was right.
No one cared about research.
Didn't even matter what was in the sea.
Orders were simple—take it. By any means necessary.
That's why mercenaries were here.
Off the record.
Because this was going to get ugly.
A fight in a frozen ocean.
"Bold girl."
A British mercenary stood.
Then armed himself.
"Got the US backing you? Think that'll save you out here? Doesn't matter. I agree. Let's settle rankings now. No point playing mind games the whole trip. If you die, that's on you."
"Old man finally said something useful."
Others stood too.
They wanted blood.
Roce shivered slightly.
Ran a hand over her arm.
Licked her lips.
She loved it.
No—she craved it.
The tension right before a fight.
And more than anything—
She enjoyed lighting the fuse.
Slash!
"AAAAAAAGH!!"
A French hunter's wrist flew into the air.
Blood sprayed everywhere.
The signal had been given.
Chaos erupted.
Abilities flared. Weapons clashed.
"Kill her!!"
French mercenaries rushed in.
Their attacks pierced her upper body—
Swooooosh…
Her body dissolved into dark blue mist.
And the moment they realized—
A massive pair of scissors descended from behind.
Two hunters barely managed to dodge.
The others—
Didn't stand a chance.
Bodies collapsed, blood splattering.
"Whoa, whoa… that's cheating."
An old man grimaced, backing away.
He'd heard of this.
Dark blue mist.
Giant scissors.
It was her.
"Everyone, listen up!!"
His voice boomed, enhanced by an ability.
All eyes turned.
He pointed at Roce.
"Russian спецназ—Valikits."
"What?"
"No way…"
Recognition spread instantly.
In the underworld, her name was infamous.
War.
Death.
Disaster.
"Let's kill that monster first. A national спецназ operative? That's cheating."
"Agreed."
"Same here."
Every weapon turned toward her.
Roce raised her hand slightly.
Smiling.
"I agree."
"Kill her!!"
The battle exploded again—
And beneath the chaos on deck,
A hand slowly rose from the ocean.
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T/N:
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