"Hoo..."
Zhu Yuan exhaled a warm breath into her hands. Although she had put on her newly issued sheriff's uniform, it wasn't designed for warmth—ease of movement took priority.
If she weren't in good health and used to physical activity, she'd probably have been creeping along in the cold by now.
After just two days of clear skies, the snow began falling again. Snowflakes landed on her slightly flushed cheeks, their chill seeping into her skin.
She made her way into the old site of Dead End Hollow. Since she had been visiting frequently these past days, most of the Defense Force stationed here recognized her, letting her pass without issue.
Before long, she reached the core area of Dead End Hollow.
The massive Ether Crystal still stood there, its endless streams of light flowing like a never-ending current, captivating to look at.
"Is Zane really in there...? But if Senior is so certain, then it must be true. It's been ages since I last saw him..."
Zhu Yuan shook her head lightly, scanning the area for Qingyi's figure.
The Defense Force only guarded the site; they didn't bother clearing the snow—especially here in the core area, where few people came and went.
Fresh snow blanketed the old layer, leaving only faint traces of vehicle tracks. All around stretched a white expanse, the ruins in the distance reduced to vague silhouettes.
"Where is Senior...?"
After a fruitless search, she took another careful look—still no sign of anyone.
That's strange. Wasn't Senior always right next to the Ether Crystal? Could she be around the back...?
It had been five or six days since Zhu Yuan last came here to see Qingyi. Today, she had finally found the time to check in on her.
The snow was so deep it swallowed her boots. She lifted her legs with effort, trudging toward the cordon, and called out:
"Senior, are you there?"
No answer.
Could she have left?
Just then, the sound of a car engine came from afar, growing steadily louder. Zhu Yuan turned her head and spotted a military armored vehicle heading her way.
Within seconds, it pulled to a stop nearby, and two people stepped out—Shin and Yeyan.
"Zhu Yuan, you're here too."
Shin looked up, spotted her, and greeted her first. Over the past days, they had grown at least somewhat familiar.
Or rather, Zhu Yuan had taken the initiative to get closer to anyone connected to Zane. She still had plenty of matters ahead... building good relations and showing friendliness was only practical.
Her thoughts weren't just about cooperating with Zane. After the Falkenhayn Mercenary Troupe incident, their connection had become... complicated. They felt close, yet strangely distant.
In her ideal scenario, cooperation would be supported by genuine rapport—and maintained through friendship.
"Mm, I came to check on Senior."
Zhu Yuan nodded. Qingyi might be an Advanced Automaton, but in this kind of heavy snowfall, she still felt concerned.
Hearing that, Shin noticed Qingyi wasn't with her and instinctively glanced toward the Ether Crystal, raising an eyebrow.
Where was she?
So... they hadn't seen her either?
That didn't make sense—Qingyi was always stationed by the Ether Crystal, never leaving.
As Shin frowned in puzzlement and Zhu Yuan's worry deepened, a faint rustling broke the quiet of the snowy day, drawing their attention.
Beside the Ether Crystal, a small snow mound shifted. Snow tumbled away, revealing a flash of bright green.
The green moved again, dislodging more snow, until Qingyi's figure emerged.
She sat on the ground, blinking at Zhu Yuan, then at Shin, her eyes filled with dazed confusion.
Freshly awakened, she looked groggy.
A faint discomfort passed over her, and Qingyi raised a hand to lightly pat her head. Gradually, her senses cleared, though the confusion lingered.
What... happened?
Had she powered down from low energy, or actually fallen asleep?
Advanced Automatons didn't enter sleep mode unless specifically programmed to do so...
As she puzzled over it, Zhu Yuan called out from a distance. Hearing her, Qingyi lifted her head and replied.
Feeling her body was still functioning fine, she carefully got to her feet—thankfully, she hadn't frozen.
She glanced at the Ether Crystal. It was the same as before, which made her purse her lips in quiet worry.
Turning, Qingyi started toward Zhu Yuan, just as her voice carried over.
"Senior, how did you end up buried in snow?"
It had been several days since the last snowfall, which meant the only way she could be in this state was if she hadn't moved at all since Zhu Yuan's last visit—allowing the snow to pile over her.
As Qingyi drew closer, Zhu Yuan spoke again:
"Senior, it wouldn't take long to walk around or clear the snow. You were stiff just now—you must be frozen. Don't you have a heating mode...?"
Listening to the stream of concern, Qingyi gave a helpless smile.
"If I turn on the heating, the snow melts... and turns into water, which flows into my body. It's too cold outside—if the heating isn't strong enough, that water will freeze again."
"Then it's not just cold outside."
"It's cold inside too."
Her voice was soft, with an undertone Zhu Yuan didn't catch. Qingyi just smiled faintly.
Truthfully, she didn't even know how she'd ended up asleep and unmoving, letting the snow bury her. Normally, that would never happen—being covered in snow wasn't pleasant, even for an Advanced Automaton.
Just then, Shin stepped closer, ready to say something—when a faint cracking noise broke out.
Crack... crack...
Like shattering glass, the sound grew louder and sharper, demanding attention.
All eyes turned toward its source—the Ether Crystal. Before anyone else could react, Qingyi's pupils narrowed.
Boom!
A thunderous detonation ripped through the air as the Ether Crystal suddenly exploded, shards scattering in every direction. It looked deadly—but in the blink of an eye, the fragments dissolved into streaks of light and vanished.
By the time the shockwave reached them, it was only a flurry of faint light brushing their faces before dispersing.
The force of it kicked up the snow, filling the air with thick white powder that blocked their vision—until it quickly settled back down.
And there, revealed before them, stood a black-and-gold figure radiating an oppressive presence.
Qingyi and Shin recognized it instantly as Zane's Ethereal form. Zhu Yuan froze for a heartbeat—then her eyes widened in realization.