The Ice Dragon Awakens
『 ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ 【Frostia】 Ice Dragon LV□□□ 』
Seven stars. A rank I'd never seen even once while running Shadow Symphony. The highest I'd known was five stars, and my single black star was unknown territory. But seven stars intuitively told me just how immense this being's potential was.
Level: unknown. Even back in my seed days, I could see the levels of Frost Drakes that far outstripped mine. How high could that hidden level be? I couldn't even guess.
And on top of that, the species name Ice Dragon. In any fantasy world, dragons reigned as the apex predators. Their strength was evident enough from game sub-species like wyverns and drakes, but now it hit me—this true dragon was overwhelmingly beyond any such lesser kin.
Run...
The chill of the ice cave felt sharper than ever. My petals shrank back one by one, my roots instinctively trying to burrow deeper into the soil. But I couldn't move a bit. It was as if time itself had frozen; terror had encased me completely.
Such a being was right here. Approaching me.
Thud... Thud...
A colossal dragon, too vast for my detection radar to fully grasp, drew nearer bit by bit. It was definitely closing in, yet like a fog-shrouded shape, I couldn't make out the Ice Dragon's form.
Detection LV9 skill level has increased.
Even with Detection leveling up, I still couldn't see it. It felt like an unfathomable gap in stature was blocking my vision.
Thud... The approaching footsteps made the entire ice cave tremble. Chaos reigned around me. Ice Goblins trampled each other trying to flee, Snow Hyenas clawed madly at the walls in search of escape. Frost Wolf pups cowered instinctively, trembling, while even flying Fly Raynders crashed into walls, too gripped by fear to fly straight.
The ice cave filled with the screams of monsters that couldn't escape. Gone were the savage brawls from moments ago—only primal terror remained.
Michael... Michael... Michael... Michael... Michael... Michael... Michael...
My petal tips quivered. Michael was all I could rely on. A mere venomous flower like me could do nothing. Just pray.
But then, with the final footfall, a massive shadow loomed.
Deep slumber. The hibernation spanning centuries felt eternal. In the frigid heart of the deepest lair, condensed by extreme cold, she passed cold, lonely time.
This scent... a flower...?
A mysterious yet lethal fragrance brushed her nostrils—sweet yet perilous. A flower's scent in this abyss? In a place where ice's chill rejected all life, had a flower dared to bloom?
The vitality evoked the World Tree. Her long-frozen eyelids slowly parted. Pale blue eyes gleamed coldly like moonlight.
Intriguing...
The Ice Dragon's long neck moved gracefully. For millennia, her glacial power had ruled this labyrinth. Only ice-attuned monsters could endure the chill. No plants existed here.
Yet that scent was unmistakably floral. And so alluring.
A flower in an ice labyrinth...
A faint smile touched the Ice Dragon's lips. Curiosity outweighed any irritation at waking. She rose slowly. Ice crystals encasing her massive form shattered and fell. Pristine white scales gleamed amid the shards. Wings like condensed first snow unfurled softly like snowflakes.
The labyrinth's ruler began to move. For one flower.
As she ascended from the depths, her brows furrowed slightly.
So noisy...
Deep-layer monsters stampeded toward the upper levels, frenziedly attacking one another. Sensing their ruler, they fled in terror—but the slow ones met gruesome ends.
Insolent.
A cold, elegant step. The deep layer's temperature plummeted. Monsters slowed, then crystallized in an instant.
The Ice Dragon advanced slowly. Crystal statues of monsters shattered like frost flowers, one by one, dissolving into glittering ice dust in the frigid air.
The middle layers too.
Now the path to the mid-layers. Frenzied fights among deranged monsters. Those fleeing survived; the rest were trapped in blue ice coffins, silenced forever.
Silent footsteps. Her pristine scales shimmering, the Ice Dragon glided like moonlight. Each step turned chaotic battlefields into gardens of cold crystal.
To inspire such madness...
A smile curved her lips. This tiny change after millennia shattered her boredom.
She reached the mid-layers at last. And there, toward the source of sweet floral and metallic blood scents, she went.
The cavern held dozens of monster corpses strewn about. At the center bloomed a single flower.
This is...
In the blue glow of the ice cave, one flower blazed red. Atop a jet-black stem, it resembled a blood moon transplanted. Crimson petals gleamed more lustrous than gems, elongated purple stamens flaunting beauty.
Beautiful...
It awakened the girl-like heart long dormant within the Ice Dragon.
Then came the surprise. Faintly, almost imperceptibly, holy power emanated from the flower.
This... surely Michael's?
Even to an Ice Dragon of millennia, this was unprecedented. A tiny monster bearing Michael's holy power. Impossible life blooming in icy domain. And above all...
That enchanting scent and beauty.
Her gaze lit with interest toward the flower. No intruder had ever piqued her curiosity like this.
Nis bragging about her minions was always grating.
A beautiful smile graced the ruler's lips. In that instant, radiant light like white starlight enveloped her colossal form. Pristine scales crumbled into sparkling silver dust. Vast wings disintegrated softly like snowflakes; long neck and tail melted into starlight.
As the light faded, a woman stood there. Endless silver hair sparkled like ice crystals, alabaster skin pure as first snow. The icy dignity remained, but indescribable beauty dominated. Silver dress like moonlight fluttered in unseen breeze.
Her pale blue eyes softened toward the flower.
She approached slowly. Barefoot, she moved lithely over cold ice like walking on clouds. Frost flowers bloomed and faded at each step.
The silver-haired woman knelt gracefully to the flower's level. Her white fingers gently brushed a petal. The petal quivered at the cool, tender touch.
"Truly... beautiful..."
Her voice rang clear and pure, like shattering ice crystals.
"A flower blooming in a place like this. And how did you come by Michael's holy power?"
With a faint smile, she continued naturally, as if to an old friend.
"I am Frostia. Ruler of Sia Kalt."
She gazed thoughtfully at the flower, then spoke with resolve.
"You're mine now."
Firm yet gentle tone. An undeniable command, yet laced with strange affection. Her cold eyes sparkled with the thrill of discovering a long-sought treasure.
The Ice Dragon's gaze fixed on me.
Please... please... spare me...
Detection made it impossible to look away. The massive Ice Dragon, now inches away, came into sharp focus—its overwhelming presence constantly reminding me escape or hiding was futile.
Suddenly, light flooded the area.
Wha... what...?
An unbelievable sight unfolded. The colossal Ice Dragon vanished, replaced by a woman. Skin white as first snow, endless silver hair, pale blue eyes... flawless beauty beyond this world.
Wow... she's so pretty...
For a moment, dreams of my own great transformation flashed by. But reality snapped back.
What am I thinking! Ahh... please spare me...
The silver-haired woman approached slowly. Her gait carried the dragon's majesty fully, yet no hostility emanated. Instead... interest? Curiosity?
She knelt elegantly to my level. White fingers brushed my petals softly. Cool, but infused with odd affection.
Wait... is this... being chosen...?
I recalled internet videos of stray cats finding kind owners and starting new lives. Was this how they felt? The situation felt eerily similar.
Maybe... my owner...?
Then she spoke.
"□□... □□□□□..."
Yes...?
Isekai language! In the game, it auto-translated... Ah? So this really is isekai?