"Snow?" Shun asked himself, doubting his eyes.
In front of him floated snowflakes. They gradually moved upward to the sky as though the heavens had gravity.
Curious, Shun touched one, and his skin immediately shriveled from the immense heat of the snowflake. Like plastic being licked by flame, his skin suffered a third-degree burn.
He quickly retracted his hand, hissing in pain.
Taking a closer look at the wound, he saw pink tissue deep within the layers of skin. It looked as if a red, magma needle had pierced into him.
Shun shifted his eyes back to the snowflake and thought, If a single snowflake can cause this much damage, I can't imagine what will happen if the rest hit us.
"Do not touch the snowflake!" His voice was urgent.
"Alright!"
As soon as he yelled, he turned his gaze to Micchan.
Losing her canine nightmare, she began to run toward him. Her expression was filled with fright and despair—an expression Shun never thought he'd witness.
The distance between them was great, around three minutes' walk.
Back and forth would be six minutes in total, and Shun doubted his body could endure the snowflakes.
However, seeing her expression, he gritted his teeth and clenched his hands.
He thought to himself, We're going to get rid of her anyway, so this might be a good time to exterminate her. I don't even have to dirty my hands.
Then he paused and realized something.
"That's not me at all."
As soon as he uttered those words, he punched his own face so hard blood trickled down his nose. A dark shade over his face was also visible.
The punch echoed with a thud. Akira turned around, flabbergasted. "Shun, are you alright? Why did you punch yourself?"
"Just knocking my senses straight. I'm alright overall." Shun got up and stretched, rotating his neck. Then he got up and stared in one direction.
Akira frowned, realization striking as she slowly followed his line of sight. It ended with Micchan.
"Are you going to save her?"
But she was met with silence, yet she continued, "Stop it, idiot!"
"Aren't you going to kill her with your hands?" Shun vibrated the faint connection between him and Jade Blood. The claymore came from the north and halted before him.
"That's a different story. I thought we had no choice. But now! It's different."
"Akira." Shun's voice was calm and strangely magnetic. "I can't abandon her."
As he said those words, Shun cloaked his hand with aura and shaped it into something reminiscent of a blade's edge.
He cut the bedframe into a rectangle as tall and wide as himself. Of course, when he cut it, the snow slipped through the gaps, threatening his body and slowing his progress, but he completed it in the end.
He then embedded his arm into the middle and it now reminisced of a shield..
After that, he stood on Jade Blood, positioning the shield in front of him.
"Why?" Akira asked, her voice low and disappointed.
Shun turned his head to her and smiled faintly. "I don't need a reason."
With that, Jade Blood advanced at a terrifying speed, blurring his figure.
They barged into the snowflakes, but thanks to the bedframe, they bounced off.
Within a few seconds, he reached Micchan. She noticed and her eyes widened in surprise. Her lips opened and closed repeatedly, as though she wanted to say much, yet only one word escaped.
"Why?"
Her eyes filled with disbelief, but also a trace of gratitude.
Shun told Jade Blood to lower its altitude slightly and extended his hand.
"Grab it!"
Micchan didn't hesitate and stretched her arm. With a grip, they connected. Shun pulled her in and embraced her.
Following that, Jade Blood took a sharp turn and returned to camp.
On the way, Shun responded to her question. "You asked why, right? Honestly, I don't know. When I saw you falling into desperation like that, my body just moved on its own."
"... Thank you." She spoke after a brief pause.
As they reached camp, Shun threw the shield near the bedframe. They got off Jade Blood and stood on what was supposed to be a shield.
It seemed that as long as the ground was covered, the snowflakes wouldn't generate. Shun wasn't sure of the logic behind it, but that was the least of his worries.
"You're hurt." Micchan scrutinized his body and caught sight of third-degree burns.
"It's endurable." Shun gave a reassuring smile.
"That won't do. Is there something I can do?"
Shun was stunned for a moment, not expecting her eagerness to help.
"No, truly. I'm okay. Unlike ordinary humans, hunters' recovery rate is slightly faster. I'll be alright in a few days."
She still wanted to help him, but after hearing his words, she gave a simple nod. "Okay. Ask me anything, alright?"
Shun's eyes softened. "I will."
The snow lasted for a few minutes. During this time, Shun looked around for animals. They had all died of burns. Their bodies were charred black, exuding a smoky smell.
What are we going to do for food? Shun wondered, realizing they were back to zero.
Although the situation dejected him, he lifted his spirits by thinking positively.
"At least we're still alive."
"Yes, it is thanks to you."
Damn, I said that part out loud, he thought, embarrassed.
Then suddenly, a thought struck him as he kept staring at Micchan and remembered her ability to create living creatures from one's nightmares or anxieties.
Naturally, Shun wondered if they were consumable, but almost immediately refrained from asking.
For one, it didn't seem right. Second, they were born from unfavorable things. Only God knew what would happen if one consumed them.
As he fell into deep thought, Micchan spoke. "You shouldn't have saved me. My mission still hasn't changed."
Her words snapped Shun from his reverie. He thought for a moment, but only one answer came.
"So?"
This bewildered Micchan as she frowned slightly. She didn't say anything at first, then realization dawned.
"I see. You saved me because you still need me. I don't mind, actually, being treated like a pawn.
"I knew that from the very beginning."
If Shun wanted her dead, he could do so from the very beginning. His Living Alloy form can bridge the gap of their levels and strength.
Yet Shun didn't try to end her. He let her roam around.
Following this, it wouldn't be weird to think Shun kept her around for something, like a pawn that can die at any moment, but the player chose not to.
Shun chuckled ironically, "Pawn? Yeah right. I'm not that smart to be able to see things like they're chess pieces."