Warlock of Oceans: My Poseidon System

And then they saw them.

Just beyond a thicket of trees stood several creatures—deer, but not like any Cyrus had ever seen. Their bodies were sleek and white, their fur shimmering like fresh snow. But what caught his attention immediately were the countless eyes crawling over their bodies, blinking and swiveling unnaturally. Their antlers twisted upward like gnarled branches, massive and sharp, with the tips glistening as though coated in frost. The deers' movements were graceful, almost ghostly as they grazed among the trees, completely undisturbed by the two intruders.

Athena gasped softly beside him. "Winter Deer," she whispered, her voice filled with a strange mixture of awe and unease.

Cyrus glanced at her, eyebrows raised. "Winter Deer?"

Athena nodded, keeping her voice low as they observed the strange creatures. "They're extremely rare. I've only read about them in old texts. They're not aggressive, but they're highly dangerous if provoked. The eyes covering their bodies... they see everything, every movement, every shift in the environment. Their antlers are said to freeze anything they pierce. And they're only ever found in dungeons connected to ancient winter magic."

Cyrus stepped closer, keeping his voice low as he continued to observe the eerie Winter Deer grazing beneath the shimmering trees. "It makes sense," he said, his brow furrowing in thought. "If the dungeon is adapting and evolving, then it would reflect the nature of the magic that now fills this place. The golems were merely the beginning of its transformation." He gestured towards the deer, his gaze focused. "These creatures... they're a product of whatever power this dungeon has absorbed. It's fascinating, yet unsettling."

Athena nodded, still captivated by the sight before them. "I wasn't expecting to see something like this," she admitted, her voice a mix of excitement and wariness. "The descriptions I read in the old texts barely did them justice. But if the Winter Deer are here now, it means the floor has definitely changed." She looked back at Cyrus, her eyes bright with the thrill of discovery. "And the previous monster in this floor was a Spring Moose—a creature known for its gentleness and connection to life. This is a complete shift in energy and atmosphere."

Cyrus turned his gaze back to the deer, his expression pensive. "A Spring Moose would have been a much softer encounter. I can't imagine how many lives it must have taken for the dungeon to shift to something so inherently dangerous. The Spring Moose symbolizes rebirth and renewal, while these Winter Deer... they embody the chill of death and the cold grip of winter. It feels like a foreboding omen."

Athena took a step forward, her curiosity urging her to get a closer look at the Winter Deer, but she hesitated, recalling the old tales that warned against disturbing such creatures. "They're said to be protectors of the forest. If the miasma had infused this place with dark magic, it's possible the Winter Deer have become the guardians of this new, twisted realm. We should tread carefully."

Cyrus agreed, his instincts sharp as he studied the creatures. "Right. We can observe them from a distance, but we shouldn't engage unless we have to. They may be more connected to the dungeon than we realize."

The two stood in silence for a moment, watching the Winter Deer as they moved gracefully through the underbrush, their bodies seemingly flowing with an elegance that belied their unsettling features. The soft lights that flickered between the trees cast an ethereal glow on their shimmering fur, making the entire scene feel surreal and dreamlike.

Athena finally broke the silence, her expression thoughtful. "If the dungeon is transforming, we need to prepare for whatever lies ahead. We can't assume the next floors will be any less dangerous than the last."

Cyrus nodded, determination glinting in his eyes. "Let's move cautiously and keep our wits about us. We need to scout out the rest of this floor and see if we can find any clues about what's changed since we last visited."

With that, the two of them continued their exploration, maintaining a safe distance from the Winter Deer while remaining ever vigilant for any other surprises the dungeon might have in store for them.

Cyrus narrowed his eyes, his curiosity getting the better of him as he studied the Winter Deer from afar. Its sleek, ghostly white fur shimmered beneath the dim light of the forest, the countless eyes covering its body blinking in an eerie, synchronized rhythm. Each eye seemed to move independently, scanning the environment with a strange intelligence that sent a shiver down his spine.

He turned to Athena, his voice low but steady. "Do I have a chance against one of these things?"

Athena hesitated, her gaze flicking between the deer and Cyrus. "That depends... Do you have good mental strength?"

Cyrus nodded without hesitation. "Yeah, I'd say I've got pretty solid mental fortitude."

Athena sighed, her reluctance evident. "Well... in that case, you might have a chance. But I have to ask, are you sure you want to do this? These creatures aren't just dangerous—they're deadly."

Cyrus gave her a lopsided grin, his hand already beginning to pulse with aetheric energy. "Come on, you know I can't pass this up. Just give me the rundown. I'll take it slow."

Athena frowned, clearly torn between her desire to protect him and her knowledge that Cyrus wasn't the type to back down once he made up his mind. "Cyrus, seriously. This is super dangerous. I know you're confident, but these things aren't like anything we've faced before."

"Relax," he said, flashing a reassuring smile before turning his attention back to the deer. "I'll be careful. Now, tell me—what am I up against?"

Athena exhaled sharply, giving in. She kept her voice hushed but urgent as she explained. "The eyes. Those hundreds of eyes all over its body... they're not just for sight. They're vessels for mental attacks. When those eyes fixate on you, they begin eroding your mind. It's slow at first, almost imperceptible, but if you don't resist—"

She paused, biting her lip, and glanced at the Winter Deer again. "—it'll break you down until you can't move, can't think, can't do anything but lie there, paralyzed. And once you're helpless, the deer calls its friends. They devour you alive, piece by piece, until all that's left is blood soaking the ground."

Cyrus' grin faltered slightly, but his resolve remained. "So, avoid the eyes and stay focused. Got it."

Athena's brow furrowed in worry. "Cyrus, this isn't a game. Are you sure—"

Before she could finish, Cyrus had already conjured his aether blade, its gleaming bluish-golden light illuminating the forest floor. His movements were careful, deliberate. He stalked the creature from a distance, weaving between the trees and staying out of its immediate line of sight. The deer continued grazing, its eyes scanning the surroundings, but it hadn't noticed him—yet.

Athena watched anxiously, her heart racing. She knew Cyrus was skilled, but this was a different kind of battle. "Cyrus..." she whispered, her grip tightening around her staff. "Don't let your guard down. One wrong move, and you're—"

"I know," Cyrus replied under his breath, keeping his focus sharp. His body was tense, each step measured. He couldn't afford to be reckless, not with this kind of opponent. The Winter Deer was graceful, almost serene in its movements, but its stillness belied the deadly power that lay beneath its tranquil appearance.

As he closed the distance, Cyrus took a deep breath, bracing himself for whatever mental onslaught might come next. Athena's warnings echoed in his mind, but his grip on the aether blade tightened. This wasn't just about testing his strength—it was about pushing his limits, seeing if he could overcome a foe that preyed on the mind, not just the body.

Athena watched Cyrus in silence, her heart pounding in her chest. As much as she wanted to stop him, to pull him back from what she knew could be a fatal decision, she saw the determination in his eyes. There was no stopping him, no convincing him otherwise. With a sigh of defeat, she finally admitted to herself that he wasn't going to turn back.

"Alright, fine," she muttered under her breath, gripping her staff tightly. "I'll help you."

But just as she took a step forward to offer her support, Cyrus raised a hand, stopping her in her tracks. "No," he said firmly, without turning to look at her. "I've got this. Stay back."

Athena froze, her protest dying in her throat. She clenched her fists, frustrated but unable to ignore the confidence in his voice. Cyrus was focused, in his element. She could feel the intensity of his presence, the aura of resolve that surrounded him as he crept closer to the deer.

She reluctantly stepped back, her eyes locked on him as he closed in on the creature.

Cyrus moved like a shadow through the frost-laden trees, his body blending with the eerie light filtering through the leaves. His predatory gaze sharpened with each step, and the aura around him darkened, thickening with palpable bloodlust. It was as though the very air around him was growing heavier, charged with his intent to strike. The Winter Deer, still grazing peacefully just moments ago, suddenly twitched.