It had ruled this frozen realm for god knows how long, using ice and cold as its weapons. Lightning was fire's opposite, heat and energy, and this creature might have never encountered an awakener with lightning affinity before.

It didn't understand the danger it was in.

The realisation made Moon incredibly happy.

"Selene," he said quietly, lightning already building in his hands to unprecedented levels. "Prepare your strongest attack. The moment my lightning hits, it's going to be stunned. We finish it then."

Selene's eyes widened as she understood. Fire began gathering around her, compressed and violent, ready to unleash the moment Moon created the opening.

[Time: 0:08]

The Heart of Winter stood in the water, apparently confident that whatever these humans tried would be futile as long as it dodged Moon's attack.

Moon released everything he had.

The lightning bolt that erupted from his hands was massive, crackling with blue-white fury. It struck the water inches away from him, travelling through the water particles at incredible speed.

The entire pool became a conductor, and the creature was immediately hit.

The lightning bolt struck the water with catastrophic force.

The electricity spread instantly through the conductive pool, following the path of least resistance—which meant through every inch of water touching the Heart of Winter's body. Blue-white energy enveloped the creature entirely, arcs of lightning dancing across its crimson armour, finding every gap, every weakness.

The Heart of Winter's scream was unlike anything Moon had heard before. It sent shivers down his spine.

It convulsed, its massive body jerking as hundreds of thousands of volts coursed through it. The armour that had seemed invincible cracked in places, the ice formations on its crown exploding from the heat generated by the electrical current.

[Time: 0:06]

"Don't stop!" Moon shouted, already gathering more lightning despite the massive drain on his mana.

Selene didn't need to be told twice. Fire erupted from her hands—massive fireballs that struck the creature while it was immobilised by the electrical current. Then more water, keeping it drenched, maintaining conductivity for Moon's attacks.

Lightning from the Moon keeps the creature stunned and unable to dodge. Fire from Selene, dealing massive burning damage to its heavily damaged armour. Water to reset the cycle, ensuring the next lightning strike would be just as devastating.

ZAP! BOOM! SPLASH!

ZAP! BOOM! SPLASH!

The Winter Beast tried to move, to break free, but the combination was overwhelming. Every time it started to recover from the electrical shock, another bolt hit. Every time it tried to counter the fire, more water drenched it for the next lightning strike.

Moon's mana reserves were dropping precipitously. Each lightning bolt cost far more than his fire attacks ever had. His hands shook from channelling so much power in rapid succession. But he didn't stop. Couldn't stop.

Not when they were winning.

[Time: 0:03]

[Time: 0:02]

[Time: 0:01]

[Time: 0:00]

[Trial of Winter's Death - Time Expired]

The creature's restrictions lifted. Moon could feel it as a sharp change in pressure descend. The beast was finally free to fight back.

But the damage had been done.

Where moments ago had stood a majestic, terrifying being, now stood something charred and broken.

Its crimson armour was cracked and blackened, pieces falling away to reveal burned flesh beneath. The ice crown had melted partially, dripping down its face. One arm hung useless, the muscles too damaged to respond.

It was still moving, still alive, but barely. It no longer looked mighty or invincible.

"Continue!" Moon shouted, gathering more lightning despite his exhaustion.

Finally able to retaliate, the Heart of Winter opened its mouth.

Then it attacked.

A massive icicle materialised before the creature, longer than a spear, thicker than Moon's torso. It launched toward him with speed that was comparable to his lightning.

Moon felt death approaching.

His body moved on pure instinct. Lightning crackled around him—not as an attack but as movement, his epic rank skill allowing him to channel the element through his own body. He moved, faster than he'd ever moved before, his form blurring as electricity enhanced his speed beyond human limits.

He was so fast that when he dodged, his feet couldn't keep up. He tripped, tumbling across the stone floor in an undignified heap.

CRASH!

The icicle struck where he'd been standing a fraction of a second earlier. It didn't just hit the door they'd entered through—it obliterated it. The ancient stone exploded into fragments, the entire doorway collapsing in a shower of rubble.

Moon gulped, his heart hammering against his ribs. His hissed from a sudden pain that erupted in his legs.

'Shit. It seems like conducting lightning through my legs has its own side effects.' Moon thought with growing worry.

The figure before him was devastatingly strong in offence. Even wounded, barely able to stand, it had nearly killed him with a single attack. He thanked whatever forces governed this realm that the creature had been unable to fight them for those crucial twelve seconds.

If it had been able to attack from the beginning, if it could have used its full power...

They would be dead. No question.

Then the beast swayed.

Its legs buckled. The massive form collapsed to one knee, then fell forward entirely, crashing face-first onto the charred stone.

"An...irregular..." it muttered, its voice barely a whisper. "You are... an irregular..."

Then it went still.

[You have killed level 20 Winter Beast]

[You have gained 1100 Lives]

[You have completed the hidden realm]

The number of lives was insane, especially considering the double reward bonus had ended with the completion of the trial. That Winter Beast would have killed him five times over—maybe ten—if conditions hadn't been so perfectly in his favour.

The inability to attack during the trial. No knowledge of how lightning and water are combined. Underestimating him based on his level, allowing him to evolve his skill to epic rank. All of it had created a perfect storm that allowed victory.

Remove any single one of those advantages, and Moon would be dead.

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