[TUTORIAL FLOOR EIGHT: FROZEN ARENA]
Objective: Defeat the Ice Beast.
Environment: Absolute Cold
Special Rule:
• No weapons allowed.
• No heat sources permitted.
• No party coordination.
Survivors endure. Champions adapt. But only monsters evolve.
Wang Ling opened his eyes to cold.
Not the kind of cold that stung.
The kind that crushed.
He stood barefoot in a half-dome of ice and bone. Frost already spread across his bare chest. His breath came out as crystal fog. Yue was gone—separated. Everyone was. This floor was solo-only.
Far above, a bell rang once.
And then…
It roared.
The Ice Beast dropped from the ceiling like a meteor.
Three meters tall.
Six limbs.
Flesh made of frostbite and frozen marrow.
Its mouth didn't open — it split.
And it charged.
[System Warning: Danger-Class Monster – Coldcore Devourer]
Weakness: None
Resistance: Extreme
Arena temp: -48°C and falling
Survival Rate: 0.5%
Most players died in the first minute.
Some from the cold.
Others from panic.
Some simply shattered when the beast's charge hit their bones.
Wang Ling?
He smiled.
"No weapons. No help. No warmth."
"But the Tower forgot one thing."
"I already died colder than this."
He sidestepped the first charge.
The beast skidded past, tearing gouges through the frozen earth.
Wang Ling's foot cracked open.
Blood hit the ice. Froze instantly.
His body was failing.
So what?
He needed a trigger.
Not for a skill from the system.
But from himself.
"Break."
"Or evolve."
[Critical Condition: Body temperature approaching hypothermic threshold]
"Come on. Show me what I became."
The beast lunged.
This time Wang Ling didn't dodge.
He met it.
Flesh against flesh.
The beast's claw struck his side — tore open frozen ribs.
Wang Ling drove his knee up — cracking through the monster's collar.
Blood. Frost. Steam.
The Tower shuddered.
[Trigger Condition Met]
Unique Trait Activation: Monarch of Survival – Awakening Node Reached
You have survived 8 floors under impossible conditions.
You have never received a skill by system reward.
You now create one.
[Skill Unlocked: Feral Reign – Lv.1]
Type: Body Reinforcement (Unique)
Origin: Self-Forged
Description:
When cornered without weapon, ally, or aid, your cells remember war.
Strength and Reflexes rise based on pain endured.
The more broken your body, the more lethal it becomes.
⚠️ Warning: Skill is fueled by agony. Control is optional.
Wang Ling exhaled.
The cold didn't vanish.
But now it obeyed him.
The beast lunged again.
He met it with both hands bare.
He caught its jaw mid-split.
Ripped.
And snapped its skull clean off.
[Boss Defeated – Floor Complete]
Time: 4 Minutes, 19 Seconds
Damage Taken: Extreme
+3 Levels
+45 AP
Title Gained: "Barehanded Godslayer"
Attacks without weapons deal +30% damage
Fear Aura triggers on kill
[Ranking Update – Floor 8 Cleared (Solo)]
1. Wang Ling – 515 Achievement Points
2. Aimee Hart – 224 AP
3. Haruto Shino – 189 AP
4. Yue Lin – 124 AP (Tutorial-protected status)
Wang Ling stood over the beast's frozen corpse.
His fists bled.
The system pinged softly.
He didn't check it.
He looked at the ceiling.
There were only three floors left.
And then…
The Gate would open.