That night, Nic was strolling casually when he suddenly realized his crow, Noctis, still hadn't come back.
"Hm, did he go to the high castes? Or got caught in the blizzard?" Nic wondered to himself.
[ You don't need to worry, Master Nic. Noctis is a smart crow—he's definitely still out there scouting. ]
"Yeah, I hope so," Nic sighed.
He kept walking through the even colder night until he stopped short, noticing a bunch of footprints scattered across the snow.
"Zeta, activate God of Tracker. Trace whose footprints these are and where they're headed."
[ Activated. ]
[ These footprints belong to ordinary bandits. Looks like they're heading toward the nearby city. ]
"Guess they've got the same destination as me. Alright, let's tail them."
Nic immediately kicked on God of Speed so he wouldn't waste any time.
---
Meanwhile, just outside the city called Iskarn…
A guy was kneeling on the ground, wearing deer antler accessories on his head.
"Whoa, one at a time, guys…" he said with a friendly smile, eyes closed as always.
The bandits had him surrounded, each gripping sharp weapons.
"Haha, you're screwed! You can't even get back into your own city… time to die, you dumb deer!" one bandit snarled.
But right as the bandit swung, he suddenly froze, then slowly collapsed.
The rest panicked. The antler guy just kept smiling.
"Heeeey, why'd you fall asleep? Come on, you said you were gonna kill me…" he said kindly.
Half the bandits got pissed and charged to finish him off—but just like the first one, they all stiffened and dropped like they'd been hit by something invisible.
The remaining half bolted, realizing someone was attacking from a distance.
But then the antler guy stood up and chased after them at insane speed.
"Huh? Now I'm the one chasing you guys?" he said, then kicked one bandit square in the head, knocking him flat.
The last few bandits, fed up, attacked him full force—but they couldn't land a single hit. Instead, their own heads got kicked in.
"Phew… that's the last of them. Eh? One's still running."
He spotted the final bandit sprinting away alone. He didn't chase this time—like he already knew what was coming.
The bandit kept running, relieved. "Damn, why are they so strong?! Are they from a faction?!"
Suddenly his leg cramped and he collapsed.
"Ugh… what the— a needle?"
He looked down—there was a needle stuck in his thigh.
Then he saw feet in front of him. A woman stood there, staring coldly. She drew twin snow daggers and finished him without a word.
"Harm must be eliminated," she said icily before walking away.
She was Veyra, the ptarmigan—former Defense faction member.
Veyra approached the antler guy, who was also ex-Defense faction: Aivar the Reindeer.
"As usual, you killed them," Aivar said.
"Let's head back," Veyra said, grabbing his hand.
But Aivar paused. "Wait, Vey… feels like someone's coming."
Veyra instantly readied her needles.
Something approached from the distance.
Without waiting to see who it was, Veyra hurled a needle straight at it.
Turned out to be Nic.
"Huh? What kind of needle is this?" Nic casually pulled the tiny thing out of his leg.
For a normal person, that would've been game over—poison on the tip, plus tiny barbs that tear skin if you yank it out roughly.
But Nic just pulled it free like it was nothing and healed the small tear instantly.
He looked at the two of them and smiled. "Finally found the last ones."
Aivar tilted his head. "Doesn't seem dangerous, right, Vey?"
"Don't jump to conclusions. Better we retreat for now… he didn't even flinch after getting hit by my needle." Veyra tugged Aivar along, and this time he followed without protest.
They just left Nic standing there.
"Seriously? What did I do wrong?" Nic thought.
[ You're way too suspicious and anomalous, Master Nic. ]
"Zeta, come on, show yourself. I miss you."
[ … ]
[ No. ]
"Why not…? Fine, whatever haha."
Nic continued toward the city gates and was genuinely impressed. This place wasn't small like the others—it was actually pretty big and sprawling.
"Wow, damn… this might be the only advanced city in the whole region," he thought.
Inside, people's outfits and accessories were super varied, and they all looked strong.
Aivar approached him. "If you're a visitor, please—no violence here," he said with his usual closed-eye friendly smile.
Nic raised an eyebrow. "Wasn't your friend the one using violence?"
Aivar looked surprised—they weren't supposed to have been noticed that much.
"Haha, sorry about that… she's a bit sensitive toward uninvited guests," Aivar said, scratching his head.
Right on cue, Veyra appeared behind Nic and pressed her twin daggers right against his throat.
"Sorry, but who the hell are you?" she asked coldly.
"No point beating around the bush. I'm the newest member of the Defense faction. Are you guys still in it?" Nic said casually.
"Huh? Fang recruited someone new after splitting from us?" Veyra thought.
Aivar shook his head. "Shouldn't be. He promised not to recruit anymore… right?"
Hearing that, Veyra pressed the dagger closer until it touched skin.
"Don't lie if you don't want your throat sliced. I'm not playing around… you're way too unfamiliar," she said firmly.
"You know… this position is kinda uncomfortable," Nic said, looking annoyed.
Aivar told Veyra to calm down and let go, but she refused and demanded Nic explain who he really was.
"No wonder you guys never beat the Predator faction," Nic said coldly.
Veyra snapped. She went to slash his throat—but Nic moved faster, slamming her to the ground.
Aivar, usually so chill, suddenly stepped forward, eyes wide open and furious. He kicked Nic in the face, shoving him back a bit.
Nic rubbed his cheek. "Okay, playing rough now, huh…"
Veyra bombarded him with needles from afar while Aivar unleashed a flurry of rapid kicks.
But Nic dodged everything effortlessly and countered with a kick that sent Aivar flying into a tree.
While Aivar was airborne, Veyra charged with her twin snow daggers, moving with crazy agility.
Nic grabbed a tree branch and turned it into his weapon.
One swing—and her daggers snapped the branch in half.
"Die, Predator scum," Veyra said as she stabbed both daggers into Nic's stomach.
She yanked them out. Nic collapsed.
"Weak," Veyra muttered, then carried the weakened Aivar away, leaving Nic behind just like she'd left the bandits.
Meanwhile, Nic healed his wounds and stood back up. "She's brutal… if she wasn't Defense faction—nah, forget it. Time to set things straight."
[ Master Nic, I'm disappointed if you let yourself get humiliated like that… ]
"Overdramatic, Zeta. I've been looked down on forever… but that's what makes it fun haha."
Nic transformed into Death Raven mode.
"Let's play," he said in that cold, echoing Death Raven voice.
He moved fast, entering full predator mode.
Everyone who saw him freaked out, but Nic didn't care. The panic grew until Veyra and Aivar had to come back to fight.
"WHAT THE HELL?! WHY DO PEOPLE KEEP SHOWING UP TONIGHT?!" Veyra yelled, ready to kill whoever was barging in.
Then she saw the Death Raven figure in a black parka jacket—matching their own style.
"Faction…?" she muttered curiously.
Aivar patted her shoulder. "Hey, careful—he's wearing a mask. Probably not normal…"
"I know. Let's just finish this. I'm sick of it." Veyra readied herself.
But… Nic made sure they knew exactly who he was.
Death Raven blitzed forward, punching Veyra so hard she flew back, coughing blood. Without pause, he kicked Aivar—same result, blood and collapse.
Both of them were down, unable to stand. The hits felt different—way more painful than anything they'd ever taken.
Death Raven crouched in front of them. "I know life's been rough for you two. I get why you do what you do to survive. What you're doing is right in its own way… it's good. Just never underestimate anyone. Because that can get you killed anytime."
"W-what do you mean… ugh…" Veyra couldn't even sit up, completely drained.
Aivar couldn't speak at all—just heavy breathing.
Then, as usual, Nic healed their wounds and pumped energy back into them.
They both jolted—fully healed.
"What… how?" Aivar said, touching his body in disbelief.
Veyra stared at her hands, stunned. "What did you just do? Why heal us?"
"Because you're both going to be my allies," Nic said, removing his raven mask.
"Y-you…?! You're not dead… I stabbed deep and tore it open…" Veyra said, confused.
"Your stab missed any vital organs, so it was safe. Bottom line: I came here with zero threat. I know everyone from the old Defense faction, and I'm telling them all to reunite—for something big."
Aivar stood up, curious. "What is it? I'm ready to hear you out!"
Veyra sighed. Aivar always got excited around strong people who weren't enemies.
"I'll explain everything once we're all together. So… will you guys rejoin?" Nic asked firmly.
Aivar said he'd follow whatever Veyra decided. Veyra was still hesitant.
"Why, Veyra? He clearly knows Fang for real," Aivar said.
Veyra bowed her head. "Sorry for attacking you earlier. I regret it… as long as the goal is right, I'm in. I'll rejoin."
Nic smiled. "No need to apologize Just don't underestimate it. The important thing is you're back in. I'll come pick you up when it's time to gather everyone."
Then he just left them there.
"Hey, Aivar… think that guy could take on Lady Golden Eagle?" Veyra asked teasingly.
"Haha, probably—after that insane attack we just took, you're asking that? Who knows… we still don't even know how strong he really is. Wait! What's his name??"
"Oh yeah… we never got introduced. Whatever, let it be," Veyra said as they headed home.
Meanwhile, Nic was walking away, scratching his head in annoyance. "Damn it, I forgot to tell them my name."
[ Why so upset? They'll find out eventually, right? ]
"Oh yeah, true. Whatever, I'll pick them up later anyway."
Nic laughed and headed back toward the small village where Fang and Bunny were waiting.
To be continued…