In A middle school playground.
Students gathered in silence, staring up at the black-and-gold winged figure hovering in the sky.
"Sonia, are we going to do something?"
Natalya, once a refined noblewoman, was now caked in dust, her face weary and worn.
They had endured days of chaos, fear, and desperation in this very school.
The Reunion Movement had locked everyone inside. Supplies had dwindled, and soon violence broke out.
A place meant for learning had become a cage filled with bloodthirsty predators.
The granaries had been set ablaze. Hunger turned maddening. No one knew how they were still alive.
Now that the Reunion Movement had withdrawn, the question remained: what next?
Natalya looked at the fierce girl in front of her, gripping a war hammer—Sonya, or rather, General Winter, the leader of the Ursus Student Union.
"Tch. I'm going to check it out. If you've got the guts, follow me."
Without hesitation, Sonya stepped forward.
Her bold move stirred others to follow. Some were inspired. Others, too afraid, simply saw an opportunity to escape.
Sonya glanced back. She felt a flicker of disappointment for those who stayed behind—but warmth, too, for the friends who stayed with her.
"The natural disaster... disappeared?"
Dobermann stood in disbelief. It was unheard of.
Moments ago, a man named Nanashi had flown into the sky.
Within less than a minute, a disaster that could have wiped the City of Chernobog off the map was... gone.
The sky was bright again. It felt almost like a dream.
"Is this... the power of faith?"
Nanashi was just as surprised. As the calamity faded, the Wings of Redemption absorbed a surge of faith energy.
He descended slowly, retracting the Chaos Wings—less intimidating now, more approachable.
No one dared speak lightly.
How could they, after seeing someone erase a natural disaster with a wave of his hand?
Caution replaced awe.
But then, one stepped forward—Amiya, the young leader of Rhodes Island.
She looked much stronger than she had at thirteen.
"Mr. Nanashi, I'm Amiya. On behalf of Rhodes Island, thank you for your help. You saved us—and Chernobog."
"I'll take that as gratitude," Nanashi replied casually. "But I'm also expecting my reward."
He wasn't one for empty thanks.
Still, he found the little rabbit rather endearing. "For someone so young, you're quite the impressive leader, Amiya."
"No, not at all! It's only thanks to the efforts of everyone on Rhodes Island!"
She was modest, but her twitching ears betrayed her joy at the compliment.
Nearby, Croissant nudged Lemuel and whispered:
"Lemuel, is he really the one who wiped out that disaster? He seems... chill."
"Nanashi is easy to talk to," Lemuel smiled.
Lemuel herself walked up, slinging an arm around Nanashi's shoulder. "Well? What do you think?"
"Tch. Not impressed. You've gotten cheeky."
Nanashi clicked his tongue and squeezed her cheeks, kneading them like dough.
The lighthearted exchange eased the tension around them.
Penguin Logistics, reassured by Lemuel's trust in Nanashi, lowered their guard.
"This is Texas," Lemuel said, introducing her friends. "And that's Croissant."
Texas's eyes flickered with quiet observation.
Lemuel had been acting oddly lately—locking herself in her room for thirty minutes, emerging only to take a long bath.
And now she was this close to someone?
She'd never seen Lemuel so emotionally open. Despite seeming friendly with everyone, Lemuel was hard to truly get close to.
It was only now, seeing her with Nanashi that Texas understood—these two weren't just acquaintances. They were real friends.
That, in itself, was intriguing.
After all, who was Nanashi, really? What kind of being could so easily erase a catastrophe?
"Mr. Nanashi," Amiya asked, blinking her wide eyes. "What... race are you?"
Ace looked over with Doberman and Ceobe, puzzled by the sudden shift from fear to friendliness.
Dobermann and Ceobe exchanged confused glances. They had no idea either.
"Me?" Nanashi replied smoothly. "I'm human."
"Human? But... aren't we all?" Amiya tilted her head in confusion.
Nanashi pointed at a nearby hooded figure. "He might be more like me."
"Me?"
The Doctor—hooded, anonymous—pointed at themselves, surprised.
"?"
There was a collective pause. Something was… off.
Why did this figure speak with a female voice?
"Wait... are you a man or a woman?" Nanashi asked bluntly.
In this world of anime and dimensional chaos, sometimes girls looked like boys—and vice versa. Some men had soft voices. Some girls disguised themselves.
The Doctor touched the back of her head, visibly shy despite her face being hidden.
"I'm a girl."
"…"
"A race similar to the Doctor..."
Amiya thought aloud. She knew the Doctor had no clear racial traits, but… what did it mean to be "human"?
Before she could think or ask more questions—
New trouble arrived.
People began to gather at the surrounding intersections.
From two directions came waves of scorching heat and bitter cold.
From the other two, people flooded in.
One side marched in organized military formation.
The other stumbled forward in chaotic disorder.
"The Reunion Movement is pursuing us! Everyone, stay alert!"
It was indeed the Reunion Movement.
Nanashi gave the situation a quick glance.
Well, this is getting lively.
There was the dragon girl Tallulah, her body burning with fierce heat.
Opposite her, the FrostNova and her Snow Monster Squad, radiating icy cold.
The imposing Patriot, leading his disciplined Shield Guards.
Even a ragtag student force, seemingly led by Zima, had shown up.
[Note: Sonya codename.]
Everyone was here.
But Nanashi's attention was fixed on one figure—the dragon girl, Tallulah.
Or more accurately, the spirit inside her: the will of the Deathless Black Snake.
He had always been curious about the gods and monsters of this land.
The Deathless Black Snake, often referred to as the Will of Ursus—or, in darker corners, the Evil God.
As Nanashi studied Tallulah, she was watching him just as intently.
She had recognized him immediately—the one who had obliterated the natural disaster in the sky.
"Who are you? An immortal? A god? Or perhaps..."
Tallulah's voice was steady, but it wasn't only her speaking—the Deathless Black Snake was speaking through her, probing.
But before she could finish, Nanashi replied with ease:
"I'm human."
"…"
Tallulah narrowed her eyes.
Human?
It sounded like a joke.
The kind of joke that wasn't funny.
No human should be able to erase a natural disaster.
It wasn't amusing—it was absurd.
"Mr. Nanashi, be careful! She's the leader of the Reunion Movement—Tallulah!"
That was Amiya, issuing a warning.
"Thanks for the heads-up," Nanashi replied with a chuckle, ruffling Amiya's hair.
She didn't shy away. In fact, she leaned into his hand, smiling slightly.
She had already felt it—the warmth from his golden light.
Nanashi wasn't a threat. He was a gentle presence, one who embraced the world.
That was what her instincts told her.
Seeing this, Dobermann and the others finally relaxed.
This unknown force, this Angel, had chosen to protect Amiya.
Not an enemy, but an ally.
And one so powerful that resistance seemed meaningless.
At least, for now, they were safe.
FrostNova and Patriot watched the scene unfold but said nothing.
The leaders of the Reunion Movement were still speaking. It wasn't their place to interrupt yet.
Sonya scanned the area with a cold gaze.
The Reunion Movement's symbols were unmistakable.
And those facing them were clearly opposing forces.
But now wasn't the time to strike.
"I'm curious," Nanashi said, eyes gleaming with intrigue. "You've seen what I can do—so why come here?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"Do you think I won't kill you, Tallulah?"
Then, with a smile: "No—should I call you the Deathless Black Snake, Kashchey?"
The temperature spiked.
Flames surged in response.
He had said it out loud.
Tallulah's eyes blazed with fury, her gaze fixed on Nanashi.
He laughed, unbothered. "You're showing me killing intent? That's bold. Come on, then."
"???"
Tallulah began walking toward him.
FrostNova turned to Patriot—his face hidden behind his pitch-black deer-head helmet.
"What should we do, Old stubborn man?" she muttered.
She wasn't sure what to make of the situation. The natural disaster had vanished. Strange corpses in Integration uniforms littered the area—Mephisto's doing.
She detested how he turned allies into monsters.
What was he thinking?
What is he doing now?
"Just observe. Don't act recklessly," came Patriot's low voice.
His tone was calm, but his scarlet eyes gleamed with thought.
Was it true—was this really the Deathless Black Snake?
Regardless, he would make his own judgment.
That man—the one who destroyed a natural disaster like it was nothing—was invincible.
"..."
Rhodes Island remained on guard as Tallulah stopped a few steps in front of Nanashi.
To the others, she appeared fearless.
In truth—
Her expression twisted with rage.
Teeth clenched, she growled, her voice hoarse with suppressed fury:
"What did you do to my body?!"
"Your body?" Nanashi raised an eyebrow, amused. "Bold words, considering you're just squatting in someone else's flesh."
He turned to Ace. "Got a dagger? Hand it over."
Without hesitation, Ace handed him a weaponized dagger.
Nanashi tested its weight, nodded. "Nice. Thanks."
"What are you planning?" Tallulah's eyes locked onto him, flames flickering dangerously.
"I want to kill you—just not with my own hands."
He spun the dagger in his palm, smirking.
"Not you, Tallulah. I mean you—Kashchey."
"Hah..."
Tallulah—or perhaps Kashchey—started to laugh, mocking his ignorance.
But then—
Those ice-blue eyes stared into her.
They weren't looking at Tallulah.
They were looking through her.
Straight at the Deathless Black Snake.
He sees me.
He's going to kill me!
He actually could!
Nanashi raised the dagger.
"Careful!"
Screech!
A massive halberd hurtled through the air.
Nanashi looked up casually.
The halberd, on course to strike, suddenly veered and slammed into the ground beside him.
BOOM!
The earth shook from the impact—but no one was harmed.
"What?! How is that possible?!" Ceobe cried out.
The weapon had carried enough force to pierce a city wall.
Yet somehow—it had swerved, mid-flight, and buried itself harmlessly in the ground?!
How did that even happen?
Nanashi turned his head and spotted Patriot, still poised in a throwing stance.
"?!"
Even FrostNova flinched at the sudden attack.
"Leader, you must not die. If you fall, I will march!"
The deep voice thundered across the battlefield, echoing for hundreds of meters.
"HAH!"
The Shieldguards responded in unison—raising their shields, stomping the ground, and shouting in fury.
At that moment, Patriot was no longer just a symbol. He was a warrior, fearless and resolute.
Tallulah was the leader of the Reunion Movement.
Patriot couldn't allow her to be killed.
Nanashi, however, didn't seem offended by this kind of loyalty. Instead, he grinned.
"Calm down, big guy. I'm not interested in killing Tallulah—yet."
He casually flipped the dagger in his hand. "It's the Black Snake I want. You understand, don't you? That thing inside her... it's not her. It's the last pure-blooded Wendigo."
"..."
Patriot was silent for a long while.
Eventually, he lowered his hand. The red gleam in his eyes dimmed.
He saw it—the truth behind those calm, golden eyes.
Clang!
"Again?" Nanashi muttered, annoyed. "Can't you people stop interrupting me for five minutes?"
A black mist swirled behind him. A figure cloaked in shadow lunged out—dagger in hand.
The Crownslayer.
Nanashi rolled his eyes and caught her wrist effortlessly with his left hand.
"Crownslayer, huh? Sneak attack? Really?"
Then, in the same breath, he drove the dagger in his right hand straight into Tallulah's skull.
"Tallulah! Run!" Crownslayer shouted, her voice strained with panic.
But Tallulah didn't move.
Nanashi, irritated by the noise, pulled Crownslayer closer, pinning her arms and covering her mouth.
"Mmph!"
Her muffled screams died out, replaced by silence.
Everyone around stared, confused, uncertain.
The dagger slid in cleanly.
No blood.
No explosion of brain matter.
Nothing.
"No!" Crownslayer screamed again, this time more from helplessness than shock.
But Tallulah stood there. Her eyes widened—then dimmed.
Empty.
Lifeless.