Deep within the Great Northern Tundra, icy winds howled across the frozen plains.
To the south of the fortress city that marked the border of the northern tribes lay the faint traces of civilization, but to the north stretched a true no-man's-land.
This was a vast, snow-covered forest filled with towering ancient trees, some reaching nearly a hundred meters tall. Temperatures of minus fifty to sixty degrees Celsius were the norm here.
And yet, the freezing cold was only the most basic danger of this place.
Within the snow forest, ancient trees toppled in waves amidst the roaring of beasts. A massive dragon-shaped shadow glided across the sky, its fangs gleaming with a chilling light that could freeze the heart of any who saw it.
This was a forbidden land for humankind. Except for the time, a thousand years ago, when the Empire's first Emperor sent powerful warriors here to capture a Super-class Danger Beast, no one had dared to set foot here again.
But today...
A pack of wolves, each three to four meters tall, chased after a snow hare half a meter long, just as they did on any other day.
Suddenly—boom!
A thunderous explosion tore through the air as a massive shadow descended upon them.
Rumble!
A colossal white body crashed down from the heavens. Accompanied by the grotesque sound of twisting flesh, both hunter and prey were instantly crushed into pulp. The impact carved a vast crater into the frozen earth.
Permafrost shattered, and blizzards roared outward. For hundreds of meters in every direction, the ground cracked and sank, sending thick layers of snow cascading outward like a tidal wave of white fury, destroying everything in its path and shattering the eternal stillness.
"Dragon-type Super-class Danger Beast—Tyrant. Material for the Teigu Demon Armor · Incursio..."
Inside the crater, standing atop the fallen behemoth, was Sebas, clad in a black butler's uniform. Beneath his feet lay a monstrous creature with a hideous visage, six crimson eyes each marked with a cross, and a body covered in blue-white fur.
It was unmistakably the dragon-shaped Super-class Danger Beast—Tyrant.
"You've really made me work for it," Sebas said with a faint chuckle.
"ROAR!!" As if sensing his mockery, Tyrant opened its massive jaws and let out a furious bellow.
"Hm?" Sebas, his right hand poised like a blade, was about to deliver the finishing blow when he suddenly froze and looked up sharply.
"So this is your backup... beat the small one, and the old one shows up, huh? Perfect—buy one, get one free."
BOOM!
A far larger shadow plummeted from above. The impact sent soil and snow flying as a gigantic dragon, even more massive than the first, emerged from the blizzard.
Like the smaller one, it too had six crimson eyes marked with crosses. Its body stretched nearly a hundred meters long, armored in hard, gleaming scales. Four colossal, razor-tipped claws anchored its body, while two short but powerful wings folded tightly against its back.
Although Tyrants were incredibly strong, rare, and shrouded in mystery, they were not unique individuals. History had recorded several encounters with them.
Their defining trait—adaptability.
They could swiftly adapt to any environment, evolving continuously to survive under new conditions.
As for whether this evolution had any limit... no one knew.
Because of this extraordinary adaptability, no two Tyrants were ever identical. Some bore scales, others fur; some had wings, while others were encased in carapaces.
In fact, one historical record even described a Tyrant that had evolved into an aquatic form, developing webbed claws and a turtle-like shell. Truly indescribable.
The only consistent feature among them was their fearsome visage—and those blood-red eyes marked with crosses.
"Two specimens. Perfect. Twice the material for experimentation."
Purple light flickered across Sebas' body as he raised his hand. In an instant, his hand sliced cleanly through the air—
Slash!
Before the elder Tyrant's eyes, Sebas dismembered the smaller one with surgical precision.
A heartbeat later, his form blurred into a crimson beam, striking the elder Tyrant square in the chest.
Bang! The air trembled, snow scattering in all directions.
Clang! A harsh metallic echo rang out as Sebas' strike collided with the creature's hardened armor.
Seizing the brief moment of stiffness, Sebas followed up with a vicious kick, launching the dragon like a kicked boulder.
Crash!
The blow carried overwhelming force. The massive body of the Tyrant flew through the air, smashing through the ancient trees of the snow forest like a chain of falling dominos.
"ROOOOOAAAR!!"
But soon, the elder Tyrant rose into the air once more. Though the grief of losing its offspring drove it into a near-mad frenzy, its beastly instincts screamed a warning—if it fought recklessly, it would die.
"Rooaar...!"
Flapping its comparatively small wings against its massive frame, the elder Tyrant hovered in midair, glaring at Sebas with all six blood-red eyes marked with crosses. A low, guttural growl rumbled in its throat, filled with murderous intent.
"Unharmed? No... the wounds already healed. Incredible cellular vitality," Sebas muttered, narrowing his eyes. Even after such overwhelming attacks, the beast stood nearly unscathed. This was indeed the strongest Danger Beast he had ever faced.
"No wonder it's called a legendary Super-class Danger Beast. The power of a mature specimen... seems I'll have to get serious."
Boom!
...
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Thunderous detonations echoed endlessly throughout the frozen forest.
Suddenly—buzz... A strange vibration rippled through the air. Space itself twisted and shattered as a violet portal opened.
Selene stepped out of the shimmering gate. "Sebas, you... huh? Are you fist-fighting a Danger Beast?"
The sight before her made Selene's eyelid twitch.
Sebas still looked immaculate—his pristine black butler uniform remained perfectly neat, not a single wrinkle or speck of dirt in sight. Yet beneath his polished shoes lay a massive Tyrant, barely breathing. Its limbs were broken, wings torn clean off, its entire body covered in deep, lethal wounds as blood pooled beneath it.
And not far away lay another Tyrant—smaller, but completely dismembered.
The once-dense snow forest around them had been utterly obliterated, as if the earth itself had turned over. Craters of various sizes marred the landscape; the ground was uneven and torn apart as far as the eye could see.
"Milady," Sebas said with his usual serene smile, waving politely. "This old servant did not fail his duty. I have successfully captured two Tyrants. These should provide sufficient material for Dr. Stylish's future experiments."
Selene floated down lightly, eyeing him suspiciously. "You just wanted to stretch your fists, didn't you? How was it? Satisfying to punch a Tyrant?"
Sebas chuckled softly. "Haha... nothing escapes your eyes, Milady. Indeed, this old servant's hands had been itching lately. I merely used them as sandbags to test my form."
"Fine, fine..." Selene sighed. And you're the one always telling me to fight with grace and elegance... who knew you were this violent behind the scenes, Sebas.
"Enough, Sebas. Gather the Tyrant materials—we're returning." Her tone softened as she gazed toward the horizon. "The war against the northern tribes... is over."