Far away on that side of the world.
There existed a vast continent of ice.
Compared to Izumi's original world, the continent was nearly the size of the sun in her world.
Across that endless expanse of ice, snowstorms raged without end.
Gigantic ice mountains towered into the sky.
Frozen oceans stretched as far as the eye could see.
In a place that was difficult for most living creatures to inhabit, one race dominated the entire region.
The Leviathan Race.
Among the endless snowfields, a gigantic Leviathan was moving at high speed.
Its height exceeded two hundred meters.
Its body resembled a giant sea serpent covered in thick dark-blue scales.
Despite its enormous size, its movements were incredibly fast.
Its long body glided across the snow like a shadow.
However, while heading toward its kingdom, it noticed something.
On a freezing ice plain, several magic monsters were wandering around.
The monsters were covered in white fur.
Their bodies were massive.
Their eyes glowed bright red.
Psycho Yettis.
Brutal monsters known for being extremely aggressive.
Even many adventurers would choose to run away if they encountered a single one.
Yet the Leviathan showed no fear whatsoever.
Instead, it changed direction and moved toward the group of monsters.
The Leviathan's name was Attla.
A Player.
Attla smiled faintly.
"Perfect."
He pulled a magic scroll from his inventory.
"Scroll of Speed."
The scroll immediately shattered into particles of light.
Attla's body was instantly enveloped in blue energy.
BOOOM!
His gigantic body shot forward.
His speed increased several times over.
The Psycho Yettis didn't even have time to react.
BRAKKK!
One of the monsters was instantly crushed beneath Attla's body.
BRAKK!
BRAKK!
BRAKK!
Within seconds, every Psycho Yetti disappeared.
A notification appeared before him.
[System Level Up 21 -> 22]
Attla looked at the notification for a moment.
"Hmm..."
"How many weeks has it been since my level last increased?"
He tried to remember.
But he still couldn't.
Attla was a Player of the Leviathan race.
3 Stars.
Level 22.
Although still young by the standards of his race, his strength was already terrifying.
"My teacher said that if I want to level up, I need to kill lots of monsters."
Attla sighed.
"But none of the monsters around here are strong."
He thought for a moment.
"Oh."
"Wait."
"There is one strong monster."
Attla remembered a certain monster.
"Death Frozen Unicorn."
A territory-type monster.
A monster far stronger than ordinary monsters.
However, Attla rarely encountered it.
"The last time I fought it was almost two years ago."
"Or maybe longer."
"I don't know. I forgot."
Attla shrugged.
"In this world, monsters can appear endlessly."
"No matter how many times they're killed, they always come back."
"It's as if the System gives Players an endless source of power."
After saying that, Attla resumed his journey toward his kingdom.
Several hours later.
The Leviathan Kingdom finally came into view.
Its kingdom was far more normal compared to Attla's size.
The buildings were certainly large.
But they were still not large enough to accommodate a Leviathan in its original form.
Attla stopped walking.
Then raised one hand.
"ShapeShift."
A blue light instantly enveloped his body.
His gigantic form, standing over two hundred meters tall, began to shrink.
Smaller.
And smaller.
And smaller.
Until he finally transformed into a figure nearly the size of a human.
Yet he still retained the distinctive traits of a Leviathan.
Crown-like horns.
Spiked scales covering parts of his body.
A long tail.
And bright blue reptilian eyes.
Attla rolled his shoulders.
"Hmm."
"Yep."
"This form is definitely the most comfortable when I want to relax."
He then walked into the city.
Not long afterward, someone noticed him.
"Hey!"
"That's King Attla!"
Instantly, all the citizens turned toward him.
The moment they realized who had arrived, they immediately knelt on one knee and bowed.
"Your Majesty!"
"Welcome back!"
"Our respects to the King!"
Attla simply smiled and waved.
He was already used to such a sight.
Throughout the entire journey toward the palace, the same thing kept happening.
Everyone paid their respects.
Everyone showed genuine reverence.
Because to the Leviathan race, a king was not someone who lived in luxury.
A king was a protector.
A king was a hunter.
A king was the one who ensured that his people survived.
When he arrived at the palace gate.
The two guards immediately stood at attention.
"Your Majesty!"
They quickly opened the gate while bowing.
Attla entered.
He had barely walked very far when a voice called out to him.
"Big Brother..."
Attla turned around.
A young Leviathan girl ran toward him.
Attermi.
His only younger sibling.
"Big Brother, you're finally back?"
"Yeah."
Attermi immediately hugged him.
"You haven't come home for a whole week."
"I missed you so much."
Attla laughed softly.
"Hahaha."
"Did you really miss me that much?"
"Of course."
"If you don't believe me, ask Jiya."
Standing nearby was an adult woman.
Jiya.
The head maid and royal advisor.
The woman who had faithfully served the royal family for many years.
Jiya bowed respectfully.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Lady Attermi was always worried."
"She asked about you every single day."
Attermi immediately smiled proudly.
"See?"
Attla laughed again.
"Haha."
"Is that so?"
"Well, it can't be helped."
"I'm the king now."
The culture of the Leviathan race was different from that of other races.
A king was required to gather food for the people.
A king was also required to protect the kingdom.
That was why the position of king was so highly respected.
There were no nobles.
There was no royal family above the people.
Everyone was equal.
Only the strongest would become king.
If the previous king retired or died, the next strongest Leviathan would become the successor.
Attla himself had only become king about twenty years ago.
At the time, he was six hundred and forty years old.
That sounded ancient by human standards.
But for a Leviathan, that age was equivalent to a fourteen-year-old human child.
Because Leviathans could live for up to four thousand years.
"That's because you're strong."
Attermi smiled.
"And amazing."
"And cool."
Attla laughed awkwardly.
"Hahaha."
"I'm just lucky."
He then patted Attermi's head.
"I'll come see you later."
"Wait for me in my room."
"Okay, Big Brother."
Attermi smiled brightly.
Attla then turned toward Jiya.
"Jiya."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Come with me."
"I caught quite a lot of monsters this week."
Jiya smiled.
"You always do that, Your Majesty."
"That's why you keep getting stronger."
"Not really."
Jiya simply smiled inwardly.
What an incredible king.
He's always so humble.
The two of them then walked toward the food distribution area.
When they arrived.
Eight Leviathans were already there cutting and preparing meat.
Attla smiled.
"I think today's hunt was bigger than usual."
He then opened his status window.
"Open Status."
[PLAYER]
Race : Leviathan
Name : Attla
Stars : 3
Level : 22
Skill : 4 Detected
Recovery [Active Skill]
Wind Breath [Active Skill]
ShapeShift [Active Skill]
Frostbreaker [Passive Skill]
Stats :
Star Effect (3) All Stats Multiplied By (x8)
STR : 225 (×8) : 1,800
HP : 455 (×8) : 3,640
Mana : 185 (×8) : 1,480
Speed : 155 (×8) : 1,240
DEF : 705 (×8) : 5,640
Player Token : 14,280
Loot Drop : 241
[SHOP]
[CLOSE]
...
Back to Izumi.
At that moment, Izumi was fast asleep in her room.
Meanwhile, Welly and Nera remained seated quietly at the table.
They intended to return to their room.
However, their mind stopped when they know Izumi in room.
"What should we do..."
Nera also looked hesitant.
"Should we just pretend nothing happened?"
Suddenly.
Creak...
The door behind them opened.
"Pretend about what?"
The voice startled both of them.
"Liliy!"
Nera held her chest.
"You scared us."
Liliy tilted her head.
"Why are you all gathered here?"
"Don't tell me Uncle Zix is holding another eating contest?"
Berin, who was standing nearby, immediately shook her head.
"Eh, no."
"It's not that."
"Then what is it?"
Nera, Berin, and Welly exchanged glances.
They looked hesitant.
But eventually, they decided to tell her everything.
About the ice cream.
About the stat increase.
And about their suspicions regarding Izumi's true identity.
Meanwhile, inside the room.
Izumi remained asleep, completely unaware that her secret was slowly beginning to be exposed.