The weather is cold now that winter has arrived.
But at this moment, the sky was cloudless, and the sunlight shone on the Daichi, making Ceobe feel warm and sunny.
Stretching out like a wild beast, Ceobe shook his head to dispel sleepiness.
"Boss, boss, they seem to have disappeared."
"Yes, they've already escaped."
Looking at the scorched earth before him, melted by the dragonfire, Gregor nodded:
"It's a pity that we can't even remain acquaintances."
"Acquaintance?"
Gregor ruffled the puppy's hair, but didn't explain the other meaning of the word.
Reshiram bent down, and the group rose into the sky once more.
Pulling back the Ceobe who was recklessly peering downwards, Gregor asked the mace:
"Is it really okay for us to just swagger in like this? There are no defense forces on the Leithanien border?"
"... You expect the defense forces to stop this guy?"
He patted Reshiram beneath him and said calmly:
"The defense forces aren't stupid; they'll run away when they see Catastrophe coming."
Realizing that these words were a compliment, Reshiram excitedly breathed out a ball of fire, increasing its flight speed even further.
"I know, but what if someone actually launches an attack?"
Listening to Gregor's concerns, Jian was about to say that he was being overly pessimistic, but then he thought of the nobles within his territory...
Although he doesn't have much affection for this hometown, Jian believes it's still necessary to take precautions in advance.
"Perhaps. There's no shortage of brainless idiots in this world. If you're really worried... we can avoid the city's shipping lanes."
"Well, more than that, I'm worried about where Reshiram will stay next."
Having learned about the buyer during the interrogation of the slave-hunting team, Gregor, having made up his mind, had no intention of standing by.
But before entering the Mobile City called Utica, he needed to settle the large thing beneath him.
"Roar?"
Reshiram tilted his head, and the others quickly grabbed the scales around them.
"... That is indeed a problem."
Looking at this astonishingly large and powerful object, even Jian couldn't help but take it seriously.
"Leithanien has a long mountain range; we could try to get him to hide there."
Taking a map from his luggage, Jian quickly located his target.
"The Winter Spirit Mountains in the north, with the East Spirit Rift that is a thousand meters deep beside them, would be a decent hiding place."
After observing the location on the map, Gregor patted his scales.
What do you think?
"Roar..."
Reshiram had no objections; even though he was now over a hundred meters long, he was still that curious little dragon.
What is this unfamiliar world like?
Sensing Reshiram's feelings, Gregor no longer hesitated.
"Then let's go take a look."
The dragon's body continued to rise, surging into the clouds high in the sky.
"Go and truly understand this world."
"Roar--!"
"What's going on? Where did that scary sound come from?"
In the Black Forest camp, the Infected were thrown into chaos by the constant roars.
"Everyone, please calm down."
Alina stepped forward and comforted everyone.
"It's probably the Rift Beasts fighting over food. The Lord of the Forest is protecting the camp, so let's put the fertilization work on hold for today."
Upon hearing the name of the Lord of the Forest, the Infected immediately calmed down.
But thinking of their ongoing work, the Infected gritted their teeth and stepped forward.
"It's alright, Miss Alina, let us do this job."
Shouldering their share of fertilizer for the day, the Infected marched fearlessly into the forest.
The Lord of the Forest is benevolent, and those who are grateful will not fail to appreciate his kindness.
Such a comfortable life requires only meager labor. If they cannot even handle such work, what right do they have to stay in this paradise?
As for the Rift Beast...
Such comforting words are best taken with a grain of salt. What kind of Rift Beast's roar could be so loud as to shake the ice?
With the leader taking the lead, the other Infected who were initially hesitant also became determined.
"Don't rush off, let's go together!"
The group picked up the makeshift weapons they had created, and a large group of them charged toward the source of the sound.
"Everyone, please don't act rashly. We can wait for Mr. Patriot to return..."
Call--
A cold wind howled, and suddenly an ice wall rose up in front of the crowd.
"Yelena!"
Alina looked at the newcomer with surprise, while FrostNova glared at everyone with displeasure.
"Go back, everyone. The Yeti Squadron will find out the truth. Don't cause any more trouble here."
"Miss FrostNova, we can help too..."
"What kind of help are you offering? Have you mastered Originium Arts? Or are you more skilled than us?"
The Infected wanted to say something more, but they dispersed under the forceful shooing of the Yeti Squadron.
"Yelena..."
Alina stepped forward, but FrostNova quickly waved her hand.
"Don't lecture me. I know it might sound harsh, but that's the most effective way."
"That's not what I meant." Alina shook her head.
Everyone knows you mean well, but there's no need to be so serious, is there?
Feeling the worried yet kind gazes from afar, FrostNova awkwardly turned her head away.
She knew, of course, that the warm atmosphere of the Black Forest was something she had never experienced before.
In the past, when dealing with Infected rescued from the mine by Guerrillas, stern orders were more convincing than gentle guidance.
Over time, FrostNova also developed a military-style way of speaking and communicating.
Seemingly out of guilt for his daughter's lack of normal social interaction, Patriot attempts to change things by creating a positive atmosphere in the Black Forest.
Perhaps this is why they took Talulah on patrol while leaving FrostNova in the forest.
Feeling Alina's gentle gaze, FrostNova resigned herself to her fate:
"Okay, okay, I'm already fixing it."
FrostNova glared at the Yeti Squadron, who were trying not to laugh, and walked into the forest.
"Let's investigate. If it's Rift Beast... we can have a different meal at noon today."
"Take care on your journey."
Watching the Yeti Squadron disappear into the forest, Alina turned and jogged towards the cabin.
Although it had already been confirmed, I still wanted to see if Gorth would return.
If the Lord of the Forest hadn't left, the wild beasts wouldn't have dared to act so recklessly...
What Alina didn't know was that the beasts' docility had little to do with Gorth.
The self-proclaimed guardian of the Black Forest, the Mandrake Flower, has always protected the peace of this place, and all the wild beasts are within her jurisdiction.
But occasionally, there will be some creatures in the forest that are powerless to do so.
For example, the two dragon cubs from before, and the giant ape before us.
"Roar--!"
The King Snow Ape roared at the Mandrake Flower in front of him. This was the territory that Gorth had given him, so the guy in front of him was an intruder!
Mandrake Flower: "..."
This new guy is so rude! I'm the senior, you know that?!
That being said, the Mandrake Flower had no intention of displaying the majesty of its predecessor.
The Black Forest is so big, where can't you go? You might as well steal some fertilizer or pet the big Ursus hamsters.
The eerie flower bud burrowed into the ground, and the King Snow Ape pounded his chest, letting out a victorious roar.
"Shut up."
The Ape King fell silent, and the master of the forest rose from the shadows.
Annoyed that his research had been interrupted, Gorth looked around and became even more displeased after finding no enemy.
Crystal Giant Crabs and Golden Giant Crabs live underground, restoring the soil's fertility while creating mineral veins.
The Cave Ice Worms were dismissed by Gorth and headed towards several major mining areas following the intelligence.
So, what to do with the King Snow Ape, the only creature that didn't serve any practical purpose, became a problem.
"You're so useless."
"Roar..."
The King Snow Ape was struck dumb, his snow-white fur turned gray, and he sat there in a daze.
Its tall body was curled up into a ball, looking so pitiful that FrostNova and the others could not feel any fear when they saw it.
"Uncle Gorth."
Following the sound to investigate, they unexpectedly discovered the missing Gorth.
FrostNova greeted him cheerfully, but her eyes never left the Ape King.
"Where have you been lately? Eno and the others have been looking for you."
"It's nothing, just some new residents have come to the forest."
The two chatted casually about the recent developments of the Reunion Movement, listening to FrostNova complain about Patriots abandoning her at the camp.
Unlike others, despite the somewhat strange way he was addressed, FrostNova was not at all reserved when she was with him.
Gradually, Gorth's frustration over the lack of progress in his research subsided.
Seeing FrostNova's curiosity about the King Snow Ape, Gorth simply stepped aside.
"How does it feel? Doesn't it feel familiar?"
"Kind?"
Not understanding Gorth's meaning, the towering Behemoth in front of them suddenly lowered its head.
Undeterred by the enormous, ferocious beast face, FrostNova reached out and stroked its rough, bluish-black skin.
"It's so cold..."
She muttered something unconsciously, then FrostNova's eyes widened.
"Really? Even the boss can feel the cold?"
Several Yeti Squadron approached curiously, and the oppressive aura of the Behemoth silently dissipated with their friendly gestures.
"That's normal, after all, it's a real Yeti."
Gorth's words were startling, and the Yeti Squadron all turned their heads.
"Huh? The real Yeti? The one from the legends!?"
When the fake Yeti met the real Yeti, everyone excitedly surrounded Gorth, asking him for details.
Behind them, the King Snow Ape carefully crouched down.
I scratched the ground; it was solid frozen soil and thick snow.
Looking up, I saw not a pitch-black cave, but a clear blue sky.
Before them stood a little snow monster, unlike the dull, lifeless zombies, chattering away.
That's great...
My vision blurred, and salty tears streamed down my face.
"What's wrong, big guy?"
FrostNova noticed the Ape King's unusual behavior and had just reached out her hand when the King Snow Ape suddenly straightened up.
The swirling snowflakes crashed down, covering everyone completely.
Looking at the rows of tiny white snowmen, the King Snow Ape turned around, his back to the crowd.
"What happened? Why so suddenly?"
Brushing away the snow, the Big Bear stared blankly at the tall figure.
"What a weird temper! I thought the legendary Yeti would be even more ferocious... Ouch!"
Clutching his head where he'd been hit, Big Bear looked at FrostNova with a wronged expression.
"What's wrong, boss?"
"... If you can't speak, you don't have to."
Without explaining why, FrostNova looked at the Ape King's back.
For some reason, she suddenly felt that this scene was somewhat familiar, as if she had seen it in many places.
"Hey, big guy, do you hate us?"
The Ape King did not respond; the snow in Ursus was so heavy that it had already covered him with a white blanket.
Seeing the Ape King suddenly become quiet, Gorth guessed what was going on.
"He probably misses his people."
The Yeti Squadron looked at him with a puzzled expression, Gorth shook his head:
"What you see before you is the only, and only, remaining Yeti in the world."
"What happened to the other yetis?"
One of the Yeti members asked an inopportune question, and this time, the Big Bear smacked him on the head.
The cheerful atmosphere fell silent. FrostNova looked at the lonely snowman and suddenly started running around it.
Upon reaching the front of the Ape King and meeting its gaze, the Ape King awkwardly turned away, becoming withdrawn.
But FrostNova, relentlessly following behind, ran after her.
"Boss..."
The Yeti Squadron watched with complicated expressions. Big Bear slapped his face hard, then ran over laughing.
"Boss, count me in!"
Once they realized what was happening, the Yetis swarmed around the Ape King and began circling him.
Now, no matter how the King Snow Ape tries to escape, there's always a little snow monster watching him.
"Want to join the Yeti Squadron, everyone?"
[Wang... want to play together?]
Before my eyes, the yeti's figure overlapped with the yeti's.
As if a reenactment of the past, the King Snow Ape remained motionless.
He is the king! How could a dignified king indulge in the foolishness of his subjects?
The Ape King did not move, and a chilling mist dripped from its fur, making the yeti shiver.
Leave. The king doesn't need weak companionship.
"Hiss—this feeling reminds me of the past."
The Yetis didn't go far; they rubbed their shoulders and chatted.
"Back then, every time our leader used magic, we'd be frozen like this for ages."
"What? You're just too weak, I don't feel cold at all!"
"[Ursus profanity!] It's all because you poked a hole in my protective suit!"
The Yetis chattered away, never leaving even as the King Snow Ape accelerated the formation of ice mist.
The Yeti Squadron was small, scattered around the Behemoth.
But this seemingly insignificant encirclement of people managed to trap the King Snow Ape firmly in place.
Why?
The King Snow Ape looked at these tiny figures and gradually dispersed the mist.
Why don't I want to leave?
This tiny creature looked just like a cub in its pack.
Even if I just lift my foot, these guys will be overturned.
As the cold mist dissipated, the Ape King, suppressing its chill, cautiously extended its hand.
The Yeti Squadron quieted down, smiled, and watched the giant hand slowly approach FrostNova.
Just as it was about to touch FrostNova, the giant hand suddenly froze, then tried to withdraw.
But a hand grasped it.
"You impolite fellow, you've already stretched out your hand, how can you possibly take it back?"
Staring blankly at the stunned King Snow Ape, FrostNova hugged the enormous finger.
[Wang... really not going to play together?]
Once is enough, just ask me again...
"Let me make this clear beforehand, I'm not the type to pester people relentlessly."
Strangely, FrostNova and the Ape King stared at each other, wondering why the terrifyingly low temperature had disappeared.
"Want to join the Yeti Squadron?"
"..."
Without a word, FrostNova released her hand in disappointment.
The next moment, shadows fell.
Boom--!
The King Snow Ape suddenly crouched down, spread his broad arms, and embraced the Yetis along with the snow on the ground.
The Yetis screamed and scattered in chaos. FrostNova struggled to emerge from the snowdrift, glaring at the large creature before her with gritted teeth.
"Yeti Squadron Rule Number One: No disrespect to the captain!"
"Roar--!"
The snowball, squeezed into a ball, was thrown high into the air and, amidst screams from the crowd, was picked up by the Ape King once again.
"Wow! Stop it, you bastard! It's dangerous!"
"My head is spinning... Can someone change my direction? I'm still in the snow."
"Hey? Wait, Petrova, I'm still down there!"
"Roar--!"
Amidst the Yetis' shouts and curses, the Ape King once again tossed the snowball high into the air.
In the shadow of the snowball, Gorth slowly sank.
"That's good. It's perfectly normal for a Yeti to join the Yeti Squadron."
Without Gorth's restraint, the King Snow Ape became even more unruly.
That ferocious beast face was now laughing wildly.
The Ape King did not claim to have joined the Yeti Squadron, and the latter did not know whether the former agreed.
However, it is foreseeable that the Yeti Squadron will face formidable enemies in the future.
The Yeti Squadron's Demise? Such an ominous title can be buried in the ground.
Because this time...
The king vowed to protect his people with his life.