On the snow-covered plain, the boy's hurried steps wobbled like a kite with a severed string.
The bandits' footsteps grew louder and louder, like the summons of the Grim Reaper.
He had already made a mistake the moment he ventured alone onto this chaotic, snow-covered land.
The rocks and ice cracks scattered across the snowfield created gently undulating terrain. Subtle differences cast faint shadows across the surface, revealing only hints of grayish white. The rocks were tough and sharp, each one taking a different shape, buried alone beneath the snow like works of art carved by nature. But to anyone who did not live here year-round, they were dangerously difficult obstacles to see.
At last, the boy's increasingly sluggish steps were tripped out from under him. Before he could get back up, several burly men had nearly caught him.
"Keep running, then?"
As the bandit's voice rose, a hand reached out to grab the boy. In an instant, a transparent barrier shimmering with silver-white light suddenly materialized in front of him. It was like a wall built from air, separating him from the bandits.
The bandits all stopped in their tracks at the sudden appearance of the barrier.
Facing it, their brief surprise was quickly replaced by a trace of mocking laughter.
The burliest bandit wore a savage grin as he smashed an iron weapon against the barrier. Sparks flew, accompanied by the clang of a forge.
"How long do you think this can keep us out?"
Greed and cruelty glittered in the bandit leader's eyes.
"This thing looks like it can only hold us back for a little while. Dismiss it yourself, and we'll treat you a little better afterward."
The other villains joined in the laughter, surrounding the barrier as if they were enjoying a game of "cat