---o---
The biting wind rushing past reddened March 7th's cheeks. The scenery blurring past at high speed made her let out an involuntary shriek, but she quickly grew accustomed to the velocity. Her initial panic turned into exhilaration. She threw one arm high into the air, wrapped the other around Caelus's waist, and started cheering with wild abandon.
Sampo and Dan Heng followed closely behind.
What the four of them didn't know, however, was that across the nearby snowfield, the Fragmentum creatures that had been frozen solid within the ice layers by the cold snap had regained their mobility now that the snow was gone.
They scanned their surroundings in a daze. A whoosh sound accompanied two wooden boats flying past them. Though they didn't know what had just passed, they caught the scent of living beings and began to lumber after the two speeding vessels.
Caelus noticed the red dots that occasionally flickered on his minimap. Although they didn't last long, he could still clearly see the name tagged to them.
[Fragmentum Creature]
On his second day on Jarilo-VI, he was finally seeing some 'locals'.
Caelus slowed down a bit, waiting for Dan Heng and Sampo to pull up alongside him. He turned to Dan Heng and said, "Dan Heng, I just saw some Fragmentum creatures on the road."
Dan Heng wasn't surprised. Since Sampo had said the cold snap lasted for a century, it was hardly strange for some Fragmentum creatures to have been trapped in the snow.
Still, he offered a reminder.
"We should probably speed up. It'll be troublesome if we get surrounded."
"Got it."
Caelus nodded, then asked Sampo, "How much further?"
Sampo didn't stop rowing as he jerked his chin towards the path ahead. "Not far! You'll be able to see the outer wall of Belobog soon!"
Caelus and the others looked forward. Sure enough, a towering wall was gradually appearing on the distant horizon. The four of them immediately picked up the pace.
---o---
Meanwhile, on the other side.
At the outer wall of Belobog, Captain Gepard was leading a small squad of Silvermane Guards to investigate the sudden disappearance of the snow.
Not long ago, the snow that had covered the land for over a century had collectively 'evaporated'. It was roughly estimated that several dozen kilometers of snow had vanished for no apparent reason.
Although the cause was still undetermined, Gepard suspected that this event was likely related to those troublesome Fragmentum creatures. For them to suddenly destroy the snow like this, Gepard had every reason to suspect they were organizing a large-scale invasion.
"Don't miss a single detail. Find out the Fragmentum creatures' intentions as quickly as possible. We cannot allow Belobog to be invaded."
As Gepard directed his men, he kept a vigilant watch on their surroundings. With the snow gone, the Fragmentum creatures trapped within it had been freed and were instinctively heading towards Belobog.
Just a short while ago, they had encountered several waves of attacks right after leaving the city gates. Fortunately, the creatures had been frozen for a century, and their combat prowess was a far cry from what it used to be. That was the only reason his squad had suffered no casualties.
As Gepard scanned the area, hoping to spot any stragglers, he noticed two small black dots on the horizon, rapidly growing larger.
Gepard squinted in their direction. After a moment of observation, he was shocked to realize it was four people sitting on what looked like two beds!
Such fast boats!
In just over ten seconds, the two boats were extremely close. Gepard could even see the faces of the four people on board clearly, and one of them looked rather familiar.
Gepard immediately raised his hand and shouted at the two approaching vessels, "Stop immediately! Submit to an inspection!"
Caelus executed a clean drift, coming to a steady stop right beside Gepard. He looked up at him with a surprised expression.
"It's the end of the world, and there are still traffic cops?"
Sampo, who had copied Caelus's maneuver to stop, immediately ducked his head down the moment he saw Gepard.
I'm so screwed! Why did we have to run into Gepard? And I can't even get off the boat right now!
Sampo cursed his luck internally.
Hearing Caelus's words, Gepard's face darkened several shades. He let out a few coughs to break the awkward silence.
---o---
"I am Gepard, Captain of the Belobog Silvermane Guards. For the safety of Belobog, I must ask you to disembark for inspection. Furthermore, I must inform you that leaving Belobog without authorization is a violation of the law!"
Caelus hopped out of the boat. He turned and threw two punches, shattering both wooden boats and collecting the materials. March 7th and Dan Heng came over as well. The three of them were about to explain the situation to Gepard when his gaze shifted to Sampo, who was hunched over and trying to sneak away.
"Halt!"
A jolt went through Sampo, and he broke into a run. He had only taken a few steps when a fish hook suddenly snagged the collar of his coat. A familiar feeling of weightlessness followed as Caelus reeled him back with a fishing rod, causing him to stumble and fall in the space between Caelus and Gepard.
"Oof... My dear Big Bro, why this trick again?"
Gepard took the opportunity to get a clear look at Sampo's face and recognized him instantly.
"You're that smuggler, Sampo, aren't you? Men, arrest him!"
Two Silvermane Guards immediately surrounded Sampo and restrained him.
Seeing that escape was futile, Sampo heaved a long sigh. Still, he thought, it could be worse.
Being captured by the Silvermane Guards was far better than being held captive by Caelus. To him, the Belobog prison was no different from a public toilet—he could come and go as he pleased.
After Sampo was apprehended, Gepard squinted at the other three. He had seen it clearly just moments ago: these three had arrived on the same boat as the smuggler.
---o---
"You three are..."
Before he could finish, Caelus, March, and Dan Heng all shook their heads in unison.
"We're not with him. We are the Nameless of the Astral Express."
"Astral... Express?"
The unfamiliar terms left Gepard puzzled. He had never heard of any "Astral Express," nor had he heard of any other human city existing out in the snowscape beyond Belobog.
Just as Gepard was about to ask for more details, a panicked Silvermane Guard ran up to him.
"Reporting, Captain Gepard! A large number of Fragmentum creatures are approaching from 800 meters out! Their target is clearly our position!"
Although the creatures were still some distance away, they were only a few dozen meters from the city wall.
Gepard's expression grew tense. He immediately gave the order, "Let's go, back inside the wall! Bring these three with us, take them somewhere safe!"
Even though he hadn't yet confirmed the trio's identity, as a Captain, it was his duty to protect everyone.
However, as everyone prepared to head back into the city, March 7th and Dan Heng noticed that Caelus hadn't moved. Instead, he had placed a crafting table on the ground and was continuously stuffing it with cobblestone blocks.
March 7th asked in confusion, "Caelus, what are you doing? Let's go!"
"Don't worry, just making some tools."
A moment later, Caelus pulled two stacks of slabs from the crafting table. Without bothering to pick the table back up, he ran with March 7th and the others toward the city.
Next up, it's time for Steve to take the stage in his pedicure form!
---o---