The morning light was cold. A frigid wind blew in from the north, carrying fine snow and ice crystals as it swept over the dense forest, producing a spine-chilling wail that made this already gloomy and solemn land seem even more ghostly and sinister.
On the forest floor, layers upon layers of rotting leaves covered almost everything.
A pitch-black crow folded its wings and landed on a dead branch. Its glossy black eyes turned alertly, quickly locking onto a pale severed finger that jutted conspicuously from the fallen leaves.
A meal delivered by heaven! Overjoyed, the crow immediately spread its wings, swooped down, and dove.
Just then, a dazzling silver light suddenly blossomed in the air.
The diving crow was startled by the silver light. Forgetting the unexpected feast beneath the leaves, it frantically flapped its wings and steadied itself.
But before it could shoot upward, the swirling snow around it wrapped around it like living creatures, transforming into invisible ropes that tightly bound its wings.
The surrounding snow entwined around it like ropes, binding its body.
It flapped and struggled desperately, trying to break free from the ice and snow.
But in the end, trapped by the ever-tightening shackles of ice and snow, it still fell uncontrollably, bound by the fine snow as it dropped into a large, powerful hand.
The scene shifted. A handsome young man in a golden robe had appeared in the forest at some point. Stepping on decaying leaves, he looked calmly and cautiously at the black bird in his hand.
"Little Phoenix."
"I'm here!"
A slightly excited voice came from the young man's wrist. Then golden light burst forth, weaving itself into the figure of a valiant youth at his side.
The young man glanced at him and said softly, "Scan the surroundings and