Monster from the Frozen Lake
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Rookie: Baek Jaesung 38
Of all the night watch shifts, the easiest had to be the first watch or the last one. That's why Hwang Minjun was pretty damn satisfied to draw the final watch. Sure, the relaxed rotation was nice, but the real perk was sharing it with the Jaesung Party crew—specifically, with Rina.
Minjun spent the time stealing glances at Rina. The Jaesung Party was packed with beauties, but in his eyes, Rina stood head and shoulders above the rest.
Her doll-like petite frame and cute features contrasted perfectly with her confident stride and cool voice—that gap moe hit him right in the feels, matching his ideal of the "icy city girl" to a T. And hell, her small size just made her all the more huggable.
Even though Lee Minhyuk, the other dealer in his party, swore by Sujin as the top pick, An Rina was number one in Minjun's heart. That's why yesterday, when they'd stayed behind in the cavity together, he'd made a subtle move on her. But Rina had shut him down with an iron wall, just like her looks suggested. Not that Minjun was giving up anytime soon.
"Whew… It's cold."
After racking his brain for a natural opener, Minjun went with the safe bet. Rina just nodded silently in response. End of conversation.
Minjun flashed an awkward smile and scrambled for a new topic. That's when it happened.
ZZZzt!
A sharp crack sliced through the still night air, echoing around them. Minjun and Rina both caught it at the same instant. They locked eyes, confirming it wasn't their imagination.
"What the hell?"
Minjun yelped in confusion. The static buzz was coming from the direction of the frozen lake. A surprise conversation starter had dropped from the sky, but Minjun couldn't exactly celebrate—this was a clear emergency.
Minjun hesitated, wondering if he should wake the others. Rina beat him to it.
"I'll get everyone up."
She darted between the tents, rousing the rest of the party. The sleepy crew stumbled out, gearing up before even asking questions. Only after they were armed did they start inquiring.
"What's going on?"
Jaesung stepped up as the rep. Rina explained the weird static noise she'd heard.
"Static crackling?"
"Yeah. Sounded like something breaking. From over there, by the lake."
Rina pointed at the frozen lake. Jaesung cranked up the lantern's brightness and aimed it that way. They were too far for a clear view.
"Ice cracking?"
Rina nodded at Jaesung's guess.
"Something like that. But it felt like… someone pounding on the ice to break it?"
It definitely wasn't natural ice fracturing. Jaesung checked the time: just past 4:30 a.m., thirty minutes shy of their planned wake-up at 5.
"Pack up the tents and prep to move out. We were gonna break camp early at dawn anyway. Just a bit ahead of schedule."
Sleep was off the table now regardless. Everyone agreed with Jaesung. They hustled to break camp. Then, the breaking sound Rina and Minjun had heard rang out again.
Crack-rrk!
Every eye snapped to the frozen lake. No doubt about it—this was something smashing through thick ice on purpose.
"It's definitely from the lake!"
"Monster? Hurry up, everyone."
Jaesung urged the group, wrapping up camp in record time. No breakfast, but they were ready to roll. Not exactly mealtime vibes.
"Tch. Thought this room was just cold and peaceful. Guess not."
Jaesung stretched a hand toward the lake. Time to get eyes on whatever was happening.
"Light Control."
A brilliant orb of light formed in his palm. Jaesung launched it over the lake.
The light sphere outshone their lanterns by miles—a mini sun illuminating the dark lake surroundings. Now the party could see what was up with the frozen expanse.
Crack-rrk-rrk!
A deafening racket boomed across the lake. This was louder, different from the first two cracks.
The glaring light revealed the source: massive tentacles bursting from the ice-bound lake.
"Wh-what the fuck is that? Kraken?!"
Minjun shrieked at the sight. A colossal blue tentacle, lined with sucker pads like an octopus leg, erupted upward. The noises were from it shattering the lake's ice sheet.
And it wasn't alone. Three or four more tentacles punched through the cracks—like a mid-game boss straight out of a game.
"We should probably back off, right?"
Kim Sunwook said, retreating. Jaesung nodded. Then—
Zzzzt!
Sparks exploded from the sky-high tentacle. It slammed down vertically. The crackling electricity arced across the frozen ground—not ordinary juice, but mana-charged lightning.
"Gaaahhh!"
"Kyaaahhh!"
The party felt the jolt rip through them. Starting at their feet, the mana shock paralyzed their muscles.
Caught off-guard by the ambush, they collapsed helplessly. Their dungeon suits handled water, fire, and blades—but not insulation. Electric monsters were their kryptonite.
"Everyone okay!?"
The only one still standing was Yeonji. She'd used Material Conversion to turn her body rubbery on the fly. Quick thinking.
"Light Cure."
Jaesung shook off the shock with his heal. But before he could tend to the others, another tentacle reared for a smash. Blocking it was priority one.
"Holy Missile!"
A light projectile streaked toward the tentacle. It detonated on impact with the electrified limb, blasting it back mid-descent. But more tentacles were in play.
Another one zeroed in—not on empty ground, but Jaesung. It aimed to crush him flat.
"Jaesung!"
Yeonji jumped in front. The tentacle was dozens of meters long—its downward force rivaled a speeding truck.
Yeonji laced her fingers, dropped to a crouch, tensed her toes, looked skyward, and exploded off the ground.
Her body rocketed up like a slingshot stone. She met the plunging tentacle bare-handed.
"Iron Hammer!"
Her interlocked fists swung savagely at the tentacle. Close enough to see the massive suckers twitch, she unleashed her killing blow.
Fist met tentacle. First sensation: like punching a waterbed. Squishy yet tough, it pressed back with overwhelming power.
Thwack!
But Yeonji's strength was no joke. The tentacle reeled, much like from Jaesung's missile. He seized the opening.
"Light Saber."
A radiant blade materialized in his right hand, glowing holy like a fantasy hero's sword.
'Time Acceleration.'
He bolted for the lake. Tentacles tracked him, sparking fiercely as they whipped down. All packing voltage.
But the same trick wouldn't land twice on Jaesung.
'Wind Control!'
Unlike Yeonji's raw muscle launch, Jaesung blasted wind downward for lift. Kim Sunwook's party was far enough that he could tap non-Light skills.
He flipped mid-air, dodging the lightning clean. His jump bordered on air-walking—thanks to grinding Wind Control.
He covered nearly 30 meters in one leap, beyond mere evasion.
Jaesung's boots hit the ice. A massive crack loomed meters away, spewing tentacles. Their owner lurked below, no doubt.
The monster ramped up against the intruder. The ice underfoot thrummed. It was trying to shatter the surface entirely.
Light saber raised, Jaesung closed on a protruding tentacle. His blade pierced clean through.
Shwick!
The light sword sliced the behemoth effortlessly. Meters thick, yet bisected in a blink.
Blood gushed from the stump like a hot spring. The upright tentacle crumpled.
'Tougher defense than expected? No—weak to slashing?'
It tanked Yeonji's hammer without severing, so impacts were its forte.
BOOM!
Its sheer mass made the crash seismic. Fresh cracks spiderwebbed the ice.
Jaesung kept carving. The monster didn't just watch—it sparked up. Jaesung gripped tight and backpedaled.
"Jaesung! I got it!"
Yeonji arrowed in. Jaesung tossed her the saber. It lit her hands.
"Haaah!"
With a mighty kiai, she severed the rest.
The intense discharge singed even her rubberized body—strong current melts insulators.
Acrid smoke rose from Yeonji, but she held firm. All surface tentacles were history.
"Light Heal."
Jaesung mended her wounds. They retreated. His Darkness Radar pinged the beast below—twitching faintly, not dead.
"Diving in to finish it would be suicide."
Fighting an electric monster in water? Insane. Neutralizing the tentacles would have to do.
Thwoom!
Suddenly, another tentacle burst up. They'd missed some.
"Watch out!"
Jaesung and Yeonji were drained on stamina and mana. The new one targeted the recovering party, not them.
Thud!
It smashed the ground with a thunderous boom.