The deserted wastend that was Antarctica was an inhospitable pce for any creature. The cold, regardless of species, was an enemy to which multiple species had to adapt in order to avoid death. Despite this, a rge part of human society had managed to establish itself on this continent.

  Hundreds of years ago, the number of humans living in that pce could be counted on one hand; yesterday, they numbered in the millions; while today, that number had fallen to a tenth. One wondered how long it would take for the next nightmare gate to open at the most unfortunate time and pce. How long would it take for another corrupted deity to cross into our world?

  Would they have a chance? Did it even make sense to ask such questions?

  Ha—” The soldier chuckled, tightening his grip on the thick military coat he was wearing. Beside him, his companion, an awakened man like him, looked at him with annoyance. “What are you ughing at? Have you gone crazy yet?”

  His smile widened, though it wasn't visible beneath the yers of clothing.

  “I wish, if I finally lost my mind, maybe I wouldn't realize how deep the fuck up we're in.”

  His companion just shook his head. Gripping the steering wheel of his vehicle even tighter, he mumbled a reply.

  “We'll make it…”

  “What?!”

  “I said we'll make it!” The soldier rapped on the vehicle's panel, bending the metal slightly. A few moments ter, the man sighed wearily. His lifeless eyes stared out at the snow-filled wastend with a bnk expression. “I just think things could get better.”

  His companion stared at him bnkly for a few moments, but then a sinister smile began to form on his lips. He spoke, but without any warmth.

  “Yes, and how else would I know? Let’s review the facts. Three category-four gates have opened, letting corrupt demigods out into the world. A bunch of the world’s greatest saints died like flies, including Weake of the Ruin. The great cns are in a panic, and even our brightest fme, Shifting Star, is now lost in who knows where. Oh, and let’s not forget that we’re escaping a damn monster capable of taking the skin of the dead… here, in a damn graveyard of millions. Isn’t that enough for you?”

  His companion said nothing. He didn’t need to; they both already knew those things. They knew that everyone on the continent was already dead. The fact that they were able to escape the city before the others’ infestation could consume everything was nothing short of a miracle.

  But how long would such luck st? Where could they even flee without a ship?

  When panic gripped them, they had only one pce to run: to the frozen territory of the winter beast. Switching from one horror to another didn't seem like a good idea at first, but the presence of such a powerful titan had wiped out most of the nightmare creatures, while keeping the most powerful ones away... besides, the greatest horrors still headed for the main cities. So while the corrupted gods gorged themselves on the souls of the innocent, they could try to find something useful to escape to in the middle of the frozen city. That is, as long as nothing found them.

  Ha—the soldier ughed again.

  That's what they had become: simple insects, running from the light to avoid being seen and crushed. At the beginning of this campaign, while they hadn't had the mindset of heroes who could save the world, they were still eager to defend their home and preserve as many lives as possible... but now they were running away like the rats they were.

  Even though this was their home, even though his wife was one of the many civilians he was tasked with saving. None of it made sense, because everything had already been destroyed. The beast of winter had wiped out his city, and his wife had died when their ship sank at sea.

  So, why continue? Why prolong the inevitable?

  Just as those thoughts screamed through his mind, his truck flipped over. Spinning, the vehicle flew for a few moments in the air before hitting the ground.

  The soldier slowly crawled out of the vehicle, coughing at the dust and smoke that rose.

  "Are you okay?"

  "...No."

  "Haha."

  "What are you ughing at now, you crazy bastard?"

  “Don't you see? We're in a nd filled with Lovecraftian horrors, yet we died in a car accident because we didn't watch the road. It's really hirious.”

  “You're looking more and more like the old man from Jest every day.”

  At her words, the soldier fell silent for a moment, before smiling maliciously at his companion. “Would it be so bad?”

  Before his companion could respond, movement caught his attention. From the snow, a figure rose, blocking out the sun above them.

  Instantly, the color drained from their faces, while their bodies were paralyzed by the presence of the being before them. An aura of absolute obedience settled over the clearing, with no possibility of challenging its will.

  She wasn't like the other nightmare creatures, but she wasn't human either. She felt not just strong, but absolute—it was like standing before Morgan of Valor herself, or perhaps, like Changing Star.

  The being, a woman in armor as dark as an abyss, taller even than Athena, and carrying a broken stone sword, emerged from the snow like a specter emerging from the underworld.

  But what made them tremble was the fearsome demonic mask she wore. That of a demon with three horns and bck hair that fell in cascades of silk. It was a sight as fearsome as it was shocking.

  The being, the creature, the woman, or whatever that figure was, turned toward them for a few moments, observing them with silent curiosity.

  A moment ter, from the shadows, a snake shot out toward the fearsome demon.

  The words of warning died before they were born for those men, for they cked the strength even to speak. But any desire to act proved completely futile, as the creature didn't attack the imposing knight. Instead, it climbed up his leg, scaling his torso until it coiled around his neck.

  The snake looked at them for only a second before hissing at them with its fangs extended. Both men jumped back, clutching each other in fear.

  For a few moments, the creature watched them, as if contempting something, before it turned and disappeared into the shadows... right in the direction they had fled.

  Had the few survivors been doomed? Or had a new horde arrived to fight for dominion over the continent?

  Neither of them knew, but they hoped they would never find it again.