(Four years passed)
The Painted World that held the mythical Ycracuse creature had changed.
New territories rose, old ruins collapsed, and monsters being captured faster by humans.
There where those who were seeking adventurers, official mercenaries who love battle, and trainers traveled the world seeking power, fortune, or glory through the creatures that they captured.
But there was one known species of Ycracuse that was nearly impossible to catch.
Mørrýû.
A tall, black jackal walking upright, with bone spikes hidden within its obsidian fur. Its long tail dragged behind it—lined with spikes sharp enough to rip through metal. Its eyes glowed a pale violet.
Unlike the others the community found, this species was listed as an A rank.
It becomes a challenge for trainers to see who was going to capture it first.
---
Mørrýû sprinted across the frost-covered ground. Behind it, voices shouted:
"There! Don't let it escape!"
"Spread out! Keep pressure on it!"
A pack of Ycracuse trainers, each accompanied by their own monster companions, cut through the trees in pursuit.
Elemental attacks lit the forest.
A bolt of lightning tore through the branches overhead.
A water mouse launched a twisting hydro blast.
A stone gargoyle slammed the ground, sending a tremor that nearly knocked Mørrýû off balance.
Mørrýû snarled and pushed harder, claws scraping across the frozen soil.
That when he noticed something in the distance...a cave.
There was a chance of survival.
It dashed inside, but the trainers were relentless.
"Don't let up! Hit it!"
Three monsters fired simultaneously—
A fireball.
A jet of water.
A blade of wind.
The explosions collided, blasting Mørrýû off its feet and into the cavern wall. Before crashing to the stone floor with a pained growl.
One trainer stepped forward and tossed a glowing capture cube.
"Override—capture!"
The cube struck Mørrýû's shoulder and burst opened into multiple blocks where a red sphere of light, beginning to pull the jackal in—
But Mørrýû roared, flames erupting from its mouth.
Flamethrower.
The fire burst shattered the cube into molten fragments. Smoke filled the cave as Mørrýû slammed its hands onto the ground.
Earth Wall.
A thick wall of stone exploded upward, blocking the cave entrance from the trainers.
For a moment, Mørrýû panted heavily, chest rising and falling.
But then—
A strange cold beneath its feet.
Mørrýû's gaze dropped.
Ice.
Ice everywhere.
Covering the floor.
The walls.
Even the ceiling.
Not natural.
Not accidental.
A deep, ancient cold.
Behind the stone wall, the trainers were breaking through, their monsters smashing and clawing at the earth barrier.
Mørrýû had no choice.
It turned toward the source of the ice—
a narrow drop deeper into the cavern.
And it jumped.
---
Mørrýû slid down the frozen tunnel, claws scraping desperately for control. The slide shot it into a massive chamber.
There, resting upon a huge crystalline platform, was a strange iceberg glowing faintly blue.
Inside was a human.
Dark hair with blue hairlights frozen behind him.
Clothes torn and burnt.
Arms curled protectively over his chest.
Eyes closed.
Perfectly still.
Mørrýû approached cautiously, sniffing the air around the frozen figure.
It didn't understand what it was seeing.
A human invader.
But preserved.
Dead… or not?
Before the jackal could investigate further—
CRACK!
The trainers had broke through the earth wall and entered into the chamber.
"There it is!"
"Forget the jackal for now—what is that?!"
Their footsteps halted as they surrounded the enormous iceberg.
The man inside was unmistakably human…
but something about him radiated danger.
"What happened to him…?"
"Looks like he has seen better days."
"Idiot probably fought a monster unprepared."
Mørrýû crouched behind the iceberg, silent and tense.
For the first time since the hunt began…
The trainers ignored it.
"Well we can't leave him here," one trainer said, already pulling out tools. "He might be alive."
"Fair point, we can bring him back to camp," another agreed. "I must admit that today has been crazy. First Mørrýû, now this."
"I know, hopefully the boss is okay with this honestly."
They pressed their palms against the frozen surface.
"Everyone! Heat attacks on my mark!"
Mørrýû realized, with shock, what they were doing—
They weren't trying to catch it.
They were trying to break open the iceberg.
And free the stranger inside.
The jackal lowered its body, watching closely as fire and heat began melting away the ice.
Little by little…
The man inside began to emerge.
Arthur Norton.
The stranger frozen in time.