Chapter 2: The Pursuit

The wind in the northern frontier was like knives—sharp and merciless, laced with icy shards. Even the strongest warriors would frown in discomfort under this bitter wind. Darkness. Cold. Brutality. It was in such a snowstorm that a thunderous sound rolled through the distance. Faint flickers of green light danced like ghosts in the night, darting swiftly. Horse hooves shattered frozen snow with ease, and steaming breath burst from the nostrils of pitch-black steeds. A squad of black-clad riders galloped through the snow—but shadowy figures darting through the pine forest on either side were even faster. Fully armed pursuers in the dark. Mercenaries of the North—known as the [Night Owls]. They moved under cover of darkness, sharp and ruthless like crows pecking at flesh, ringing the death knell for their prey. “We’re catching up.” The leader of the black riders spoke with a grim voice. A sliver of red light leaked from the owl-shaped slit in his helmet, scanning the dark horizon like a beam made tangible. Talent: Bloodsense Vision. This ability detects unique fluctuations in blood—granting a tracking bonus against certain blood-based lifeforms. While originally a scouting ability, it worked just as well in a pursuit. The commander noticed that the darkness in the eastern sky had already begun to fade. “Day’s breaking soon. Brothers, let’s take that noble brat’s head before the wolf pups crawl back to their den!” RUMBLE! The charging black cavalry surged forward like screaming ravens in the night, chasing after the luxurious carriage that passed not long ago. After the upheaval at [Cainehurst], these blade-licking mercs naturally wanted a cut of the chaos. Gold coins, noble women, strong drink—take everything. Inside the carriage, Maria lay on the soft cushions, dressed in white silk nightwear, trying to ease the physical and mental exhaustion brought on by her [Weakened] state. If it weren’t for the slight rise and fall of her chest, one might’ve mistaken her for a porcelain doll placed there for display. Suddenly, Maria’s eyes snapped open! Her 2.1 Perception stat screamed danger—something hostile was closing in fast. “Maria, looks like we’ll have to change the plan.” Before she could even speak, a cold, annoyed voice came from the carriage’s front. The female knight had noticed it too. She was far stronger than Maria; there was no reason she'd be unaware of the approaching threat. The carriage slowed sharply, then——the door flung open. A gust of icy wind and snow forced Maria to squint. A slender, battle-hardened figure stood outside. By moonlight, Maria could see her clearly—black leather armor hugging her sculpted form, pale skin as bloodless as Maria’s own, short dark hair framing a sharp and noble face. A cold and beautiful knight. The one thing they had in common? Crimson eyes—bright as fresh blood. “Into the forest,” Maria said quickly, lifting her skirts and preparing to disembark. The knight, about to offer a formal suggestion, paused in surprise. Then she relaxed. Maria von Cainehurst wasn’t like the other brutal and arrogant nobles of her house—she was like a lily blooming in the frozen wilds: pure, tenacious, and quietly admirable. The knight’s silence made Maria anxious—had she said something wrong? “Your will, my lady.” The knight knelt in the snow without hesitation and extended her hand toward the young noble seated on the velvet cushions. Maria, startled but composed, offered her slender hand like porcelain into the knight’s glove. By the time the black cavalry reached the abandoned carriage, its passengers were long gone. The [Night Owls], leading oversized wolfhounds, circled the carriage. Soon they spotted two trails in the snow—one large, one small—heading straight into the thick pine forest. Not even trying to cover their tracks. “They’re in the woods. Keep chasing. They don’t have horses—they won’t get far.” The leader’s raspy voice growled from beneath his helm. After a short hesitation, the mounted mercenaries followed the wolves into the dense forest. Just one knight and a pampered noble girl? How bad could it be? It was true—the forest could negate the advantage of numbers. It was night. The wolves’ sense of smell became the lead tool for tracking. But even in bad situations, experienced fighters knew how to flip the script. Turning an enemy’s advantage against them? Classic low-tier tactics. Maria had been through all sorts of battles in [Fractured]. From petty squabbles between players over loot to national-scale wars between steam-powered armies and extradimensional horrors. Compared to those, this little chase? Barely a warm-up. As soon as they entered the forest, the riders noticed something was off. Their wolves began pulling in different directions—scattering their handlers. A warning sign. But greedy for the prize, the mercs let themselves be split up. “Step one is scattering. Step two, isolate and eliminate. Step three... let suspicion do the rest.” Just fifteen minutes earlier, as the knight carried her princess-style into the woods, Maria had whispered her plan. Cainehurst also raised wolves. From memory, Maria knew they were extremely sensitive to certain pungent herbs. The pursuers had been tracking them by scent. By burning bait with that same smell, they lured the wolves—and thus the mercs—off course. “For someone so young, you have astonishing talent.” The knight brushed aside her bangs. In her eyes, praise and affection now mixed with something deeper. “If not for you, none of this would work.” Maria lowered her gaze. Her skin, white as paper, shimmered beautifully beneath the moon. “Then... forgive me, my lady.” The knight gently set Maria down on the snow. Gazing at the doll-like girl, she felt a strange urge to protect, to cherish. Moments later, she scooped up a handful of snow—and pressed it roughly against Maria’s body. They needed to mask her scent. And there was no time to be gentle.