Chapter 1: A Meeting Beneath the Snow

The cold wind hit like a sharp blade, cutting into his skin with a stinging pain.

Before him stretched a dark, starless sky, the moon absent, hidden behind thick clouds that selfishly denied even the faintest hope of light. The fierce wind, like a cascading waterfall, swept in ruthlessly, carrying large swirls of snow with it.

Everywhere he looked, the world was covered in a vast expanse of white. It has been snowing for days, covering everything completely. The once black soil now slumbered beneath the heavy quilt of snow, as though even the earth was being crushed, unable to lift itself under the weight.

"Huff… huff…"

In this endless snowfield, a lone, thin figure stumbled forward, his steps heavy. He was draped only in a simple white linen robe, with no other garments to shield him from the biting cold. His frail form was visible beneath the robe as he struggled through the snow, clutching his arms tightly around himself. The wind and cold pierced him to the bone, causing him to shiver uncontrollably.

The figure was so fragile that it seemed he might break apart at any moment. It was a wonder he was still alive.

Behind him, there was nothing but a vast expanse of snowy wasteland. In front of him, only a relentless storm of wind and snow.

No one knew why he was here, walking alone in the middle of this deadly snowstorm, with no companions, no proper clothing, and no clear destination.

Step by step, his gait was slow and unsteady.

His breathing was heavy, and the freezing air burned his lungs. White clouds of breath escaped from his mouth in quick succession, freezing almost immediately in the frigid air.

The alternating sensations of hot and cold stimulated his senses, granting him moments of fleeting clarity.

He had long lost track of how long he had been walking through this snowfield.

He could only remember starting at dusk, entering this snow-covered world, and not stopping since. Now, it was deep into the night—perhaps even early morning—the temperature had dropped dangerously close to freezing.

The thin white robe flapped in the icy wind, sticking to his sickly pale skin.

He hugged his arms closer, rubbing them in a vain attempt to find some warmth. His face had already turned a ghastly shade of blue, and his body temperature had dropped so low that he was beginning to feel numb. He could hardly open his eyes, and yet, strangely, a faint warmth began to spread from deep within his bones.

Continuing like this would undoubtedly lead to his death, but there was nothing he could do.

He had been walking through this barren landscape for half a day, and in all that time, he had seen no signs of life—no villages, no towns, not even another person. There weren't even animals; not a single bird in the sky.

The only things that met his eyes were the occasional withered branches and scattered bones.

It was as if he was the only person left in the entire world, the overwhelming sense of solitude creeping up from the depths of his soul.

The realization hit him: this place was utterly devoid of life.

Faced with this stark truth, a deep sense of helplessness surged from within him.

There was no point in struggling anymore. It was futile to continue. Maybe the easier option was to just give up, to freeze to death here in this frozen wasteland.

Human nature tends to favor the path of least resistance, especially in such circumstances. No one would blame him; after all, everyone is like this at heart. Everyone would understand. Besides, there wasn't anyone here to judge him.

"Huff… huff…"

Though his pace grew increasingly sluggish, his consciousness hazy, and his body weakening, his footsteps never stopped.

No one knew where he was headed.

Just as no one knew why he was so insistent on moving forward.

"Roar!"

Suddenly, the air trembled with a powerful vibration, accompanied by a low, guttural growl that felt almost like a hallucination.

He stopped, his eyes widening slightly. Instinctual fear snapped him back to a fleeting moment of consciousness.

In the endless expanse of snow before him, a dark, ominous shape had appeared.

It was a beast.

No, it was more than just a beast. It had the appearance of a wolf but with a set of grotesquely twisted fangs more fitting for a zombie. Its size was larger than that of a lion, its muscular body tense and rippling beneath its fur. Its blood-red eyes gleamed with a predatory hunger. It crouched low to the ground, poised to strike, radiating an aura of raw, unbridled aggression.

This was no ordinary beast—it was a monster.

It seemed devoid of any rational thought, driven only by a primal instinct for blood and carnage.

The intense sense of danger rushed into his mind all at once, momentarily clearing his muddled thoughts. He wanted to assume a fighting stance, but his weakened body refused to cooperate.

He gritted his teeth unconsciously.

Was this the end?

He hadn't even begun to accomplish anything.

"Roar!!"

The monster, ravenous and eager for its prey, saw through his futile struggle. With a deafening roar, it charged at him, its massive paws digging into the ground as it propelled itself forward.

In the blink of an eye, the beast had crossed the distance between them at a speed no human could match.

He could see the gleam of bloodlust in its eyes, a twisted, primal joy.

He wanted to dodge, but it was too late. He could only stare helplessly as the monster's fangs loomed closer, growing larger with each passing second—closer, closer—

"Buzz—!"

Just then, a blinding light erupted before his eyes.

It was a brilliant, overpowering light that surged from the distance, filling his entire field of vision. It was so dazzling, so bright, it was like the long-lost sun.

When the light faded, the monster's fangs had vanished. All that remained was half of its body, lying lifeless in the snow, black blood seeping into the earth.

"Is it you?"

In his dazed state, a figure stepped into his line of sight.

It was a woman, her presence as commanding as a rose in full bloom. Her long crimson hair danced wildly in the snowstorm, and her fierce gaze locked onto the frail young man below, scrutinizing him from above.

But the boy could no longer respond to her.

Having just escaped death, his consciousness finally sank into darkness.

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