Clink. Clink. 

The gears started to turn in his head as his memories came back up.

[You have discovered the boss monster of the Earth area, the Frost Queen.]

[Once defeated, safe zones will appear on Earth.]

The first thing that popped into his head was the time he had first met the Frost Queen 26 years ago.

- So you’ve come to seek your death.

- End… this?

- Ahahaha! You really don’t know anything about this world.

She had a cold, unfamiliar expression that didn’t resemble the current Frost Queen.

‘It’s so similar.’ 

It was the same air, the same message as back then. Even when he was full of rage, the Frost Queen’s aura had been intimidating and burdensome. Every time she breathed, he felt like his entire body would freeze over. However, he had been able to endure it because of his anger.

‘The Frost Queen was Earth’s Floor Master.’

So…

‘That’s another Floor Master.’ 

Frontier’s Floor Master, instead of Earth's.

Clink. Clink. 

The gears in his head continued to turn regardless of his intentions.

- Hurry up and clear the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors… All the way up to the 10th, so I can retire. I’ll be rooting for you guys as much as possible.

The 2nd Floor Administrator, Reiji, had encouraged him. He thought that she had merely been pushing him to go up to the 3rd floor as fast as possible. However, that actually hadn’t been the case at all.

‘The 2nd floor actually had a real Floor Master.’ 

Clink. Clink. 

This time, it was a relatively recent memory.

- If you win there, you can get matching points and use them to buy a third-floor ticket from the Administrator’s Store when it opens.

- Actually, they weren’t selling it before, but they started selling it a few years ago.

- It seems that you were thinking that the Big 6 are preventing Players from entering the 3rd floor until they’re skilled enough.

He was an idiot. It wasn’t that simple and easy.

He had felt that something was off. When he defeated the Frost Queen, the 2nd floor had opened up just like that. He had been very curious as to why the same system had kept the 3rd floor closed off for the past 20 years.

‘This guy has been around since the beginning...’

The Players simply hadn’t found him yet.

‘The first Archmage…’ 

He had been involved in this. After all, he was the first one to discover these strange creatures hundreds of years ago, and the only one who had realized how dangerous they were. He was the very mage who had sealed them after judging that humans wouldn’t be able to defeat them.

‘That’s why no one’s ever discovered them until now.’ 

People hadn’t paid any attention to Blackfield for over 20 years because the emperor had forbidden it. No one’s desire for adventure outweighed his absolute power.

‘Dammit.’ 

This was the worst possible situation. It was easy to calculate.

‘...What would’ve happened if the Frost Queen was able to grow stronger for hundreds of years in Antarctica?’ 

Not only would she have recovered her original power, but she would also have become even stronger than that. Of course, this scenario was a little different. It definitely wasn’t a good situation, but there were some optimistic parts about it.

‘It hasn’t been long since was born.’ 

The queen had been killed merely a few weeks ago. That probably meant that Janabi hadn’t existed before then.

‘I can’t imagine it.’ 

Seo Jun-Ho couldn’t imagine him following anyone else’s orders. Besides, this was Blackfield.

‘This place has been frozen in time for hundreds of years. They probably ran out of food a long time ago.’ 

Though the monsters looked like bees, they didn’t eat honey or royal jelly.

They were pure carnivores. Now that he thought about it, there was a simple reason as to why they hadn’t heard any birds in Blackfield’s forests.

‘They ate them all.’ 

Now that they had run out of things to eat, the bees couldn’t contain their hunger, so they killed their queen and ripped a hole in Blackfield to hunt for new prey.

- Tchr?

The monster in front of him made a strange sound and stared at him. The monster’s head was tilted, and he seemed curious about Seo Jun-Ho. He didn’t understand how his food was still standing perfectly fine and breathing.

“Contractor…” The Frost Queen pulled his sleeve with her small hand. As he looked down in response, she bit her lip as she warned him. “Keep your eyes on your enemy, and do not be shaken.”

Shaken? Him?

Seo Jun-Ho was surprised by her words, but only then did he realize that his entire body was trembling like a leaf. He was careful of every breath he took and every time he blinked.

The reason for this was simple.

He didn’t want to provoke the monster.

Crunch! 

Janabi chewed on the Player’s bones and slowly stood up. When he stood up straight, he was over 2 meters tall.

Seo Jun-Ho gulped.

‘I have to fight.’ 

The only reason he came up to the roof was to stop the monster here.

He had already expected the monster to be strong.

‘I knew that, and I still came up here.’ 

Because he was Specter—Seo Jun-Ho. He was once the strongest Player in the world and a hero worshipped by all. Back then, his surrender meant humanity’s defeat.

“Hoo… Hoo!” Seo Jun-Ho made himself take forceful breaths. It was a way to provoke Janabi, but it also forced him to shrug off his own weakness.

‘Alright. I’m ready now.’ Hero’s Mind (S) helped him pull himself together. Then, his concentration greatly increased.

The only thing he saw was Janabi. He didn’t even register the other bees.

“Let’s fight.” His low voice echoed across the expansive roof. His magic circuits started to heat up.

Chwak. 

White Armor, the armor that had been forged with the effort of Kwon Noya and Palmo, covered his body in an instant.

- Tchr!

Janabi’s head cocked to the side like an owl’s. He appeared to be intrigued by the way the armor had unfolded.

Seo Jun-Ho reached into his inventory and took out Black Dragon Fang. It was his favorite sword, as well as the one he had used the longest and practiced with after his return. He would only use it when he had to be at his best.

“...” Seo Jun-Ho gnashed his teeth. He felt like all his cells were facing toward Janabi.

‘Good, this is good. It’s making me excited.’

He was in his best condition. This was the most refreshed he had ever felt since his return. As soon as he overcame his fear—shame and humiliation took its place.

‘I was scared of a mere insect…’ 

He was enraged at Janabi.

- Tchr! 

Incensed by Seo Jun-Ho’s strong hostility, Janabi grabbed the wasp that had placed more food beside him and crushed it with one hand. The king was enraged by the fact that they had allowed his prey to stand in front of him like this.

“If you won’t go, I will.” Seo Jun-Ho shot forward, his body hunched. As for his Overclocking output…

‘80%.’

He crossed the large roof in an instant, and his sword tore through the air.

“...!”

Seo Jun-Ho couldn’t tell if Janabi couldn’t dodge his attack or if he simply decided not to dodge. Seo Jun-Ho’s sword pierced where Janabi’s heart was supposed to be.

‘Wait, do bees even have hearts?’ He had realized it too late, like an idiot.

Meanwhile, Janabi started to tremble as he stared dumbfounded at the sword in his chest.

- Chr?

He spread his six fingers as he swiped the green blood with a shaking hand.

And a piercing roar tore through the air.

- Kiiieeeee!

This was pain. Janabi sobbed like a child that had tripped over for the first time.

The worked bees that had been buzzing around came to a stop, and they glared at Seo Jun-Ho with bloodlust, as he had injured their king.

“C-Contractor!”

“...Sorry. I’ll leave them to you.” If Seo Jun-Ho gave them any attention, he wouldn’t even be able to scratch Janabi.

He twisted his wrist, trying to slice all the way up to Janabi’s head, but Janabi’s six fingers were already waiting for him.

Fwoosh! 

A jet-black sword aura covered Black Dragon Fang’s blade, and Janabi fumbled to grab it.

‘He’s trying to block a sword aura with his bare hand? He has to be inexperienced.’ 

Slice! 

Janabi’s six fingers flew into the air.

‘I have to do it now, while he’s still inexperienced! Go for the head!’ 

Just as the sword was about to reach his face, Janabi opened his mouth wide and bit down on the blade with two fangs.

- Kiiiii…

His anger was rekindled when he saw his fingers twitching on the ground.

Crunch! 

‘What’s with his jaw strength?!’ 

Black Dragon Fang broke in half between Janabi’s teeth.

Astonished, Seo Jun-Ho tossed his sword aside and retreated, grabbing a new weapon from his Inventory.

Shhhhh! 

The simple act of retrieving the spear made the temperature drop around them. It was a weapon forged by dwarves and made of Cold Iron, but it was nameless.

-...!

The moment Seo Jun-Ho pulled out the spear, all the hairs on Janabi’s body stood on end. Although he had been enraptured by pain just a moment before, his six fingers regenerated in an instant. And then, he disappeared.

‘Is that invisibility… No!’ 

A large ice shield formed over Seo Jun-Ho’s left arm and he lowered it to protect his torso.

Crack! 

It shattered in the air as his body was thrown back. Janabi had easily kicked through the thick shield and reached Seo Jun-Ho’s armor.

‘If White Armor weren’t protecting my entire body, that would have broken my arm.’ 

Because White Armor was made to be adaptable to combat, it absorbed most of the shock. If it hadn’t, he would have been heavily injured by that attack.

'His attack was still really strong, even though I blocked it properly…’

Seo Jun-Ho quickly flipped through the options. Going on the defensive was one option, but it made him picture a boxer being knocked out in the corner of the ring after being cornered.

‘I can’t just block. I have to attack. I have to interrupt his attacks and hit him with my own.’

It was easy.

In theory, yes, it was. Hypothetically, that approach would guarantee victory, and he wouldn’t lose even if he wanted to.

However, it wasn’t that simple in reality. No matter how strong someone was, nothing ever went a certain way just because they wished for it.

‘I can’t read his muscles.’ 

Though Janabi looked like he was human, he was protected by carapace and fur, so Seo Jun-Ho couldn’t see the way his bones and muscles moved. All he could do was watch the trajectory when Janabi’s attacks came flying in.

“Gah!” 

One side of his head started to ring as the Frost Queen summoned ice golems to fight the wasps. Janabi took the opportunity to reach for his neck, planning to rip Seo Jun-Ho’s head straight off his body. Seo Jun-Ho swung his spear and tried to cut his hand off, but he failed. Janabi’s regenerated arm had become much stronger than before.

‘I can freeze them, but I can’t sever them…?’ 

This was bad. Every time Janabi regenerated, his skin would grow tougher and stronger.

Clang! 

Seo Jun-Ho was soon pushed into a corner. As he hastily blocked an attack, he started to feel more like a cornered boxer.

‘Dammit. In the past, I would’ve been able to just use darkness’ defense penetration without worrying about anyone seeing.’ 

…No, wait. Seo Jun-Ho suddenly realized something.

‘Specter’s protecting me right now!’ 

He had said that Specter would protect him in Blackfield. Since that was the case, he could use Watchguard of Darkness as much as he wanted as long as he made sure he wouldn’t get caught.

“...That’s a relief.” The moment he realized this, Seo Jun-Ho covered his hands with Frost's energy. There was a simple way to avoid being seen. During his year at the goshiwon, he had endlessly researched and contemplated this technique.

“Blind them, Crystal Room.”

Crackle! 

A thin structure formed over the roof of the Magic Tower. It resembled a palace, and inside, there were 128 ice mirrors.

-...

Janabi quickly looked around. He couldn’t sense his prey.

- Kiiii…

For the first time ever, his eyesight had betrayed him. He could see his reflection in all 128 mirrors. Every time he turned, his reflection turned as well. Up, down, and sideways, all he could see was himself. He got the heavy impression that he was being watched from all sides, and he became agitated.

- Tchr. 

He got the strong feeling that he had to get out of here as soon as possible.

Slice! 

His antenna was cut off. If he hadn’t ducked on instinct, his head would have gone flying.

- Kiaaaaaaa!

His angry roar echoed and reflected across the mirrors before it faded away.

Crack! 

He punched a mirror, enraged.

Crackle! 

But he had ended up taking the bait, and his arm froze over in an instant.

-...

Janabi silently severed his arm from the shoulder joint with no hesitation. He was pleased by his new arm, which seemed stronger than the last.

- Kii. 

The next time he saw his prey, he would tear him into pieces. He swore to himself.

But when he looked down at his feet, he discovered something.

It was a stain. It looked like a small, jet-black ink blot that had fallen on a piece of paper. But just as it started to draw him in, it covered the entire roof.

- Kii?!

Not a single ray of light came into this dark place. Even if he strained his eyes, all he could see were his reflections.

- Kyaaaat!

As he panicked, Specter’s low, dark voice whispered from beside him.

“Curtain of Darkness.”

As luck would have it, Vita’s clock was pointing to 7:39 PM.

[Night has fallen. Hunter’s Night (A) has been activated.]

[All stats increased by 10%.]

[Your senses have been sharpened.]