Ishiki stared at the disastrous scene unfolding before him, and despite being half starved, exhausted and getting crushed by the weight of impossible circumstances—a pale smile appeared on his face.

Those ice powers. He knew them, didn't he? Well, to even that, he knew that there were over 1900 people in this scenario, but how many of them could have skill related to ice and even then how many could freeze an entire section of the Crimson Canopy during the Crimson Night no less.

'Of course I do.'

He knew that the princess had a mythical Title as well, and that fact alone would make her far more stronger than others. And he had personally seen her use her ice manipulating prowess.

'When i mention that, damn... don't i have a mythical title as well. Screw that, I don't even know how to use mine.'

As the lonesome figure walked closer through the frozen corridor they had carved from horror, her image became progressively clearer through crimson twilight. Details resolved from silhouette into recognizable features.

The Princess. Limped closer to the clearing with each step, leaving a trail of golden and red blood mixed.

"What are the damn chances..."

His voice came out as whisper.

'In a Scenario with nearly two thousand Players scattered across who-knows-how-many kilometers, she shows up near me. The universe, or maybe this damned system has a sick sense of humor.'

Nonetheless, he was happy. Relief flooded through his exhausted frame despite his cynical thoughts.

'Its a good thing, Someone powerful whom i know, won't that make my survival easier..'

This changes everything. His chances of survival that were stuck at a merciless zero just went up, just a little bit though, he was still not sure of anything.

There were several questions. Where did she come from? Did she survive in the damn forest all alone for the last fifteen days? IF so, how powerful is she?

Then he saw something else.

Something that made his nascent smile transform into scowl that spoke of complications multiplying faster than he could process.

Not too far behind the princess, at a safe distance—a group emerged from the Crimson Canopy's interior.

Twelve human figures.

All battered and bloody. Some were still fighting off branches that broke free from ice and attacked from behind with wooden teeth and grasping limbs.

'Damn it.'

'Screw that, why can't she come alone. No, she has to come with a whole entourage of strangers who'll probably want to take over our clearing.'

Ishiki stayed frozen for a while. What the hell was he thinking? wasn't it a good thing that there were more people. More numbers would increase their rate of survival.

That... too had some loops.

Ishiki looked at the frozen forest again.

Every now and then, one or two branches would break free from their frozen imprisonment. The ice crackled with sounds like breaking bones and the wooden branches would run free and lunged toward the princess.

And ended up frozen again mid-strike.

Ishiki's eyes widened. That... wasn't that too fast, it was as if she didn't need to activate her skill. She was using her skill unconsciously.

The other Players maintained respectful distance behind her. By looking at how powerful the princess's power was, Ishiki understood why the players maintained such distance, even if it meant that they would have to fight the stray branches by themselves.

It was out of fear. If they got too close to the freezing monster, they too would end up frozen just like everything else that tried to attack the princess.

'Wonder how many of them she accidentally froze before they figured that out?'

Soon, the convoy reached the Crimson Canopy's edge and spilled into the clearing with urgency of finally meeting salvation.

By now, Ishiki was speeding his descent from the temple's heights.

'Got to get down before they see me up here and think I'm some kind of threat. Or worse, decide I'm scouting for ambush.'

Because that's exactly what he would think if their positions were reversed.

He reached ground level and ran out of the way he had cut through the thick vegetation. Jumping off the fallen metal gates, he immediately spotted Alex sitting on a rock nearby.

And Vomiting.

Ishiki rushed to his aid with a grim expression. It was not good to have his only ally die while a dozen of strangers were coming.

"What happened to you?"

Alex looked up with expression that transcended mere illness.

"I... I think I have food poisoning."

"You think? You're literally transparent at this point. I can see your skeleton." For some unknown reason, or maybe his corruption. Ishiki said that on Alex's face.

The pale man looked at him with twitching eyes.

Ishiki forced a smile and scratched the back of his head. "I... I mean, can't you use your healing on yourself?"

The pale man nodded painfully.

"I can't. I can only use it on others."

Ishiki's jaw clenched. What good was a healing skill if you can't even use it on oneself. A skill like that would make the user both valuable and a slave to someone stronger in return.

'Isn't worth it.'

"Damn it. Still, it's not time to worry about your illness." He looked towards the Crimson Canopy and then said in a bitter voice. "Things are going to take a turn, I don't know for better or worse, yet. We have visitors. Or more like... guests."

Alex looked at him with widening eyes.

"What... what do you mean? Have Demons or Withering Beasts made their way into the clearing?"

Ishiki's scowl deepened. "Something much worse. Humans, a dozen of them."

'Demons and beasts are somewhat manageable. But humans? Humans are unpredictable and desperate. Capable of justifying anything when survival's at stake.'

And they were like two starving nobodies occupying prime real estate, these battle-hardened survivors just fought through hell to reach.

With just that, Ishiki broke into sprint toward where the group had arrived. Alex followed behind, stumbling.

The twelve Players and the Princess had finally stopped their desperate flight. They all entered the boundary of the clearing rather safely and collapsed just inside the clearing's boundary as if they knew that they would be safe when they reach it.

Battered by days, or perhaps weeks of fighting through the dreadful forest. Exhausted beyond normal human endurance, and pushing solely on desperate will to survive.

Some were even crying.

Maybe from relief that they had finally reached safety, maybe from grief over losses experienced during their journey. And perhaps both, joy and suffering becoming indistinguishable when pushed past all reasonable limits.

None of them moved an inch, from where they were. They just laid down with their broken bodies.

When suddenly—

One of them spotted two mysterious figures approaching slowly from behind a wooden house positioned at distance from the clearing's edge.

The Player flinched violently and summoned a sword.

"S...stop right there!"

'And there it is. The fear-aggression response.'

The mood shifted instantly.

Everyone looked toward them with expressions carrying resentment, suspicion, and barely restrained hostility.

Somehow, Ishiki forced a smile that looked like a maniacs grin and then raised his hands in a symbol of surrender.

"What? What are you doing?" Alex whispered in his ear. Ishiki didn't reply, because his eyes were fixed on something more important.

The princess turned and narrowed her pink eyes upon spotting them.

What? She doesn't recognizes me? Am I that forgettable.?

She swayed as she stood, the left side of her armor was destroyed. Red blood dripped constantly from a ghastly wound.

Ishiki grimaced looking at the wound. 'What the hell did they fight through to get here?'

Well, anyways. Even after Ishiki's humble appearance. The other side didn't look much welcoming.

If they consider that it's its good to eliminate us for the resources than we are as good as dead. We're outnumbered thirteen to two. Alex can barely stand and I'm half-starved.

"Damn it." The words escaped as whisper.

There were two possible ways this could go from here. Either they would gain powerful allies, or get get murdered by desperate survivors.

The princess's jaw clenched and she took slow steps forward. He eyes were still narrowed and fixed on Ishiki and Alex.

'I... I have a bad feeling about this.'

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