Part 1: The World Shakes (Flashback)
Ten days ago, the moment Glacius disintegrated into blue dust and Elian collapsed face-first into the snow, the world didn't just stay silent.
The sky above Floor 26—and every floor below it—turned a blinding shade of gold.
A sound like a massive gong resonated across the entire Tower, vibrating in the ears of every single player, from the beginners on Floor 1 to the Warlords on Floor 25.
[GLOBAL SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT]
[Achievement Unlocked: The First Landlord]
[The Field Boss 'Glacius, The Winter King' has been slain!]
[Congratulations to the Party: Eclipse]
The message wasn't done. The text grew larger, burning into the sky.
[Territory Claimed: The Glacial Spire (Floor 26)]
[Owner: Eclipse Guild]
[Status: Sovereign Territory]
On the flagship of the Dynasty Guild, the Guild Master crushed his wine glass, staring at the sky in disbelief. "They own land? On an unmapped floor?"
In the bustling markets of Floor 10, crafting players stopped their hammers. "Eclipse? Who are they? Is that Elian's group?"
"They claimed an island? That's impossible. No one has ever owned a Field Dungeon!"
The chat logs exploded. The forums crashed. The balance of power had shifted in a single second.
But in the freezing cavern where history was made, there was no cheering. There was only the sound of wind, and a High Elf gently carrying his broken captain to safety.
Part 2: The Late Arrival (Present)
Ten days later.
The emotional reunion settled into a warm, comfortable silence inside the stone shelter Kael had built on the Glacial Spire. The team sat around Elian's bed, sharing food and stories of the long wait.
Elian ate a bowl of stew that Roger had made, feeling the strength slowly returning to his limbs. The global fame outside didn't matter right now; only the people in this room did.
"So," Elian wiped his mouth, looking at the group. "We cleared the dungeon. We have the loot. But... I feel like I'm missing something."
Just then, the heavy oak door to the other room kicked open.
Kael marched in. He had cleaned the soot from his face, braided his beard, and was carrying a long, heavy object wrapped in thick, velvet black cloth. He walked with his chest puffed out, looking like a king presenting a crown.
"Make way, make way!" Kael grumbled, though his eyes were twinkling. "The Captain is awake, which means it's finally time to unveil it."
He placed the bundle on the stone table in the center of the room. The cloth seemed to hum, vibrating slightly against the stone.
"I haven't slept in three days," Kael announced loudly, looking at Elian. "I sweated blood over this anvil. I poured my soul, my mana, and probably a few years of my life into this metal. It is, without a doubt, the greatest thing I have ever created."
Roger rolled his eyes playfully. "Here comes the sales pitch."
"Quiet, sniper!" Kael barked. "You wouldn't know art if it shot you in the face."
He looked back at Elian, grinning proudly. "Go on, lad. Open it."
Part 3: The Roast
Elian stood up, his legs a bit wobbly but steady enough. He walked to the table and grabbed the edge of the black cloth.
He pulled it away.
Underneath lay a sword that seemed to swallow the light in the room.
The blade was jet black, made of a metal so dark it looked like a void. Running down the center, pulsing like a heartbeat, was a jagged vein of glowing blue energy—the essence of the Winter King. The hilt was wrapped in silver dragon-leather, and the guard was shaped like jagged ice shards.
It was terrifying. It was beautiful.
The room went silent. Even Caelum opened his eyes to look at the mana density.
Elian stared at it for a long moment. He looked at the jagged edges, the menacing aura, and the pulsating blue vein.
He looked up at Kael, who was practically vibrating with anticipation, waiting for praise.
Elian tilted his head, a mischievous smirk touching his lips.
"Kael..." Elian said slowly. "It looks like a burnt popsicle."
Kael's smile dropped instantly. "What?"
"I mean," Elian gestured vaguely at the legendary weapon. "It's all... black and jagged. It looks like you left it in the oven too long and then tried to scrape the burnt parts off with a rock. Did you forge this, or did you just pull a piece of charcoal out of the fire and put a handle on it?"
The room erupted.
Roger choked on his water. Titan slapped his knee, his booming laughter shaking the walls. Isara covered her mouth, her shoulders shaking. Even Caelum let out a short, sharp exhale of amusement.
Kael's face turned bright red, matching the heat of his forge.
"You ungrateful little...!" Kael spluttered, pointing a calloused finger at Elian. "A burnt popsicle?! That is Condensed Abyss Steel! That is the heart of a King! I should have made you a wooden spoon! That's all you deserve! A wooden spoon to eat your gruel!"
"It's very... edgy," Elian continued, poking the blade with his finger. "Did you design this during a teenage rebellious phase? 'Oh look at me, I'm a sword of darkness'."
"I quit!" Kael threw his hands in the air, storming toward the door. "I'm melting it down! I'm turning it into horseshoes for the twins!"
Part 4: The Masterpiece
"Kael, wait."
Elian's voice changed. The teasing tone vanished, replaced by a quiet, commanding softness.
Kael stopped at the door, turning back, still fuming.
Elian reached out and gripped the hilt.
The moment his skin touched the leather, the sword sang. A harmonic resonance filled the room. The blue vein flared bright, recognizing its master. It felt heavy, yet weightless. Cold, yet burning.
And deep inside the metal, Elian felt a familiar presence. The "Growth Sword" he had carried since Floor 1—his old partner—was alive inside this new shell, stronger and hungrier than ever.
[Weapon: Winter's Eclipse]
[Grade: Legendary (Growth)]
[Damage: ???]
Elian slowly drew the blade. The air in the room dropped ten degrees.
He looked at the dwarf. Elian didn't smile. He bowed—a deep, formal bow of absolute respect, lowering his head to the craftsman.
"I can feel my old blade inside it," Elian whispered, looking up. "And I can feel the strength of the Yeti. You didn't just make a weapon, Kael. You gave me a partner."
Elian looked Kael in the eye.
"It is a masterpiece. Thank you, brother."
The room went quiet again.
Kael stood by the door. The red on his face deepened, but this time it wasn't from anger. He cleared his throat loudly, awkwardly tugging at his beard and looking at the floor.
"Hmph," Kael grunted, turning his face away to hide the pleased flush on his cheeks. "Well... obviously. I am the best blacksmith in the Tower. Just... try not to break this one, you reckless brat."
Part 5: The Waypoint Upgrade
An hour later, they packed up the shelter and moved to the edge of the island where the Obsidian Leviathan was still docked, its hull encased in a thin layer of frost.
Near the dock, Luna was kneeling on the ground, finishing a complex array of runes on a black obsidian slab.
"It's ready," Luna announced, wiping her hands.
Jax looked at the glowing violet circle. "I thought you said we couldn't transport people? That it would turn us inside out?"
Luna smirked, holding up a glowing blue crystal shard.
"That was before we owned a dungeon," she explained. "I used the Boreal Crystals from the cavern walls as stabilizers. Their mana density is high enough to anchor biological signatures. The signal is clean now. We can transport the crew, the loot, and even the twins safely back to the Sapphire Crag instantly."
"So we teleport home?" Roger asked, eager to leave the cold.
Elian looked at the portal, then at the ship.
"We send the heavy loot through the portal," Elian decided. "But we take the ship back."
"Why?" Titan asked.
"Because we need to test the ship's upstream capabilities with the new engine tweaks Kael made," Elian lied smoothly. In reality, he just wanted to feel the wind on his face after being in a coma for ten days. "And we need to survey the route for future mining operations."
Part 6: The Shadow
They boarded the Obsidian Leviathan. Orion's avatar greeted them with a hum of delight as the engines roared to life, breaking the ice around the hull.
The ship drifted away from the Glacial Spire, turning back toward the Sapphire Crag.
The team relaxed. Roger leaned against the railing, cleaning his rifle. Isara sat on the rigging, watching the sunset. It was peaceful.
Elian stood at the helm, Winter's Eclipse strapped to his back. He looked out over the sea of clouds, feeling the wind in his hair.
"Caelum," Elian asked. "How are the mana readings?"
Caelum didn't answer immediately.
The High Elf was standing at the bow, staring east. His eyes were narrowed, zooming in on something miles away.
"Captain," Caelum's voice was tight. "I detect a disturbance."
"A monster?" Elian asked, resting his hand on his new sword.
"No," Caelum whispered. "Organization."
Elian pulled out a spyglass. He looked where Caelum was pointing.
Far away, hidden deep within a massive thunderhead cloud about five kilometers from the ship, something moved.
It wasn't a bird. It was too large.
It was a silhouette. Massive wings. A long, serpentine tail.
And on the back of the beast... a rider.
The shadow dove into the clouds and vanished, but the intent was clear. It wasn't hunting food. It was watching them.
"They found us," Elian lowered the glass, his grip tightening until the brass creaked.
"The Sky-Kin."
A sudden flash of lightning illuminated the distant cloud, and for a split second, they saw not one, but five massive shadows circling in formation, tracking the ship's path.