As the group followed Sampo through the icy wasteland, the howling winds and crunch of snow beneath their feet made the journey eerily silent. March shivered, pulling her scarf tighter around her neck.
"I don't get it," she said, breaking the quiet. "Why would anyone choose to live on a frozen planet like this? It's so... cold and lifeless."
Sampo chuckled, glancing over his shoulder. "Ah, but appearances can be deceiving, my pink-haired friend. Jarilo-6 may seem desolate, but it's got its charms. Hidden treasures, forgotten secrets... you never know what you'll find here."
Dan Heng, walking a few paces behind, eyed Sampo suspiciously. "You talk as though you know this place well. What exactly brings you here?"
Sampo smirked, spinning a small blade in his hand like a toy. "Let's just say I'm a man of opportunity. Jarilo-6 is full of... unique opportunities for someone with my skillset."
"Opportunities to scam people, you mean," Caelus muttered under his breath, earning a laugh from March.
"Now, now," Sampo said, wagging a finger at Caelus. "No need to be so harsh. I'm just a humble entrepreneur trying to make a living in this vast, uncaring universe."
Before Caelus could retort, the group reached a ridge overlooking a massive, ruined city blanketed in snow and ice. Towering skyscrapers jutted out of the ground like jagged teeth, their once-glass windows shattered and covered in frost. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the distant howl of the wind.
"Welcome to Belobog," Sampo said, gesturing grandly at the ruins below. "Or what's left of it. This is where your distress call originated."
March peered down at the city, her expression grim. "This place looks abandoned. Are you sure anyone's still alive down there?"
Sampo nodded, his tone unusually serious. "Positive. The Silvermane Guards might still be active. They're the ones trying to keep the peace in this frozen wasteland."
Dan Heng scanned the ruins with his device. "I'm picking up faint life signs, but they're scattered. Whoever's down there, they're not centralized."
Caelus frowned. "Then we split up. We need to cover more ground if we're going to find out what's going on."
"Split up? In this frozen nightmare?" March shook her head. "That sounds like a terrible idea."
"She's got a point," Sampo added, leaning against a frost-covered rock. "This place is dangerous. Between the cold, the ruins, and the occasional monsters, you'll want to stick together."
Dan Heng considered for a moment before speaking. "Then we move as a unit. Caution is better than speed in unfamiliar terrain."
With that decided, the group descended into the city. As they walked through the crumbling streets, they noticed signs of recent activity—discarded supplies, footprints in the snow, and the faint glow of a fire in the distance.
"Looks like someone's been here recently," Caelus observed.
"Good," March said, her voice tinged with hope. "Maybe we're not too late to help."
Suddenly, a distant growl echoed through the city, sending a chill down their spines. The group froze, scanning their surroundings.
"Uh, what was that?" March whispered.
Sampo's smirk faltered for the first time. "That, my friends, is what I was warning you about. Welcome to the fun part."
From the shadows of the ruined buildings, glowing eyes began to appear, accompanied by the sound of claws scraping against ice. Large, wolf-like creatures with frost-covered fur and jagged teeth emerged, their breath visible in the frigid air.
"Great," Caelus muttered, drawing his weapon. "Monsters. Just what we needed."
Dan Heng stepped forward, his spear at the ready. "Stay focused. These creatures look hostile."
March readied her bow, aiming at the closest wolf. "Let's show them what we've got!"
As the monsters charged, the group sprang into action, their weapons gleaming in the dim light. Sampo hung back, tossing a smoke bomb into the fray to confuse the wolves.
"Good luck, heroes!" he called, a sly grin returning to his face.
Caelus sighed, focusing on the fight ahead. "This guy better be worth the trouble."
Caelus then blocked another attack by another monster. "Ok this one is different".
He looked at the monster, this one seemed to be made out of ice, as he looked at him, he then kicked away as he hit with his bat, as then he tryed to use star minuplation as his hand get covered by a glow as it hit the monster sending back and hitting and old building
[ Star punch actived: a smaller use of star minuplation the host cover's his hand in star enegry to enhance there hits, they can also shoot blast a like a certain captain ]
The moment Caelus's fist connected with the monster, a resounding shockwave echoed through the snowy ruins. The ice wolf flew backward, slamming into the side of an old, decrepit building, which groaned under the force of the impact before partially collapsing.
March froze mid-attack, gawking at Caelus. "Whoa! Did you just punch it with... stars?"
Dan Heng dispatched another wolf with a precise spear thrust, turning his attention to Caelus. "That power... it's getting stronger. You're not fully in control yet, are you?"
Caelus flexed his glowing hand, watching the energy dissipate. "Nope. But it's working, so I'm not complaining."
The ice wolf, battered but not defeated, staggered back to its feet. Its body shimmered as more ice formed over its injuries, reinforcing it. It snarled, baring razor-sharp teeth, and charged again, faster this time.
Sampo, still lingering near the edge of the battlefield, whistled low. "Looks like you've made it mad. I'd hurry up and finish it off before it brings more friends."
Caelus narrowed his eyes. "Easier said than done." He sidestepped the wolf's lunge, his bat glowing faintly with energy. "Let's see how tough you are."
He swung the bat in a wide arc, connecting with the wolf's side. This time, the impact wasn't just physical—the star energy exploded outward, creating a blast of light that sent the creature skidding across the icy ground. The glow around Caelus's weapon grew brighter, pulsating with each swing.
[ Star Strike Combo Activated: Continuous hits increase the star energy stored in the weapon, amplifying damage with each successive attack. Warning: Overuse may destabilize control. ]
"Yeah, that's what I'm talking about!" Caelus grinned, readying himself for another strike.
"Careful!" Dan Heng called out, his tone urgent. "You're putting out a lot of energy. If you lose control, it could backfire."
Caelus didn't have time to respond as the ice wolf lunged again, but this time, March intervened. Her arrow, glowing with frosty energy, struck the wolf square in the chest, freezing its legs to the ground.
"Gotcha!" March cheered, nocking another arrow. "Caelus, finish it off!"
Taking a deep breath, Caelus summoned the remaining star energy in his hand. The glow intensified, wrapping around his fist like a miniature sun. With a burst of speed, he closed the distance and delivered a devastating uppercut to the wolf's jaw.
The creature shattered into a cloud of ice shards, its growls silenced.
The battlefield grew quiet as the remaining wolves, seeing their leader destroyed, retreated into the shadows, their glowing eyes disappearing one by one.
Caelus lowered his hand, the glow fading. "Well, that was... intense."
March clapped him on the back, grinning. "Intense? That was awesome! You're like a walking fireworks show."
Dan Heng approached, his expression serious. "It was impressive, but you need to be careful. That power is unpredictable. If you lose control, you could endanger everyone, including yourself."
Caelus nodded, his excitement dimming slightly. "I get it. I'll work on it."
Sampo sauntered over, his usual smirk back in place. "Well, that was quite the performance. I'm starting to think you're more useful than I thought."
"Gee, thanks," Caelus muttered.
As they headed deeper into the ruins, Caelus couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something much larger. His newfound power was growing, but so were the dangers surrounding them.
"you stop there, your under arrest".
The group of four stopped, as they saw people holding weapon, they looked like soldier or the knight of this place, they seeemed to be led by a man, as he looked at them, is a tall, well-built man with fair skin, blue eyes and blond hair.
He is dressed in thick white clothing with blue and gold trimmings and gold garments, alongside a breastplate and armor for his right hand which appears to have a blue, crystalline design. He wears tall black boots with gold buttons extending up to his knees. He also appears to have a fur accessory hanging at his side.
[ Insert Image of Gepard here ]
Gepard looked at Sampo. "I should knew that you would back, coming to runes to steal thing, and it looks like you have company".
March then spoke. "Hey waith, we are not bad guys right sa-".
She looked back only to find, Sampo no longer they, he ran away, as Caelus sighed reading his bat as he looked at Gepard.
Caelus then looked at March and Dan Heng. "I knew he was going to be trouble, but really it looks like we have to fight or try convince them".
Gepard's stern gaze didn't waver as he raised his hand, signaling the soldiers to prepare their weapons. "You're trespassing in restricted territory, and aiding a known criminal. I won't ask twice—surrender peacefully, or face the consequences."
March quickly stepped forward, waving her hands. "Wait, wait, wait! There's been a huge misunderstanding. We're not with that guy! He's—" She gestured to the empty space where Sampo had been moments ago. "Well... you know how Sampo is. He just ran off! Typical, right?"
Gepard's eyes narrowed. "Your excuses won't work. Harboring a fugitive is a crime in Belobog, and you're caught red-handed."
Caelus tightened his grip on his bat, glancing at Dan Heng and March. "I don't think he's in the mood to listen."
Dan Heng stepped forward, his spear ready but held low in a non-threatening posture. "We mean no harm. We were investigating the ruins after responding to a distress signal. We're travelers—not enemies."
Gepard's soldiers murmured among themselves, unsure of the group's intent. Gepard, however, remained resolute. "If what you're saying is true, you'll come with us to the Silvermane Guard headquarters to explain yourselves."
March huffed, crossing her arms. "That sounds like we're getting arrested anyway!"
Caelus sighed, muttering under his breath. "So it's either we go quietly or we fight."
[ Choice Activated: Respond to Gepard's demand.
Option 1: Try to negotiate further.
Option 2: Fight and escape. ]
Before Caelus could decide, his system chimed in his head:
[ Host Recommendation: Attempt negotiation first. Combat may escalate the situation unnecessarily. ]
Caelus raised his free hand cautiously, signaling he wasn't looking for a fight. "Alright, fine. We'll go with you. But let's clear one thing up: we're not criminals, and we're definitely not on Sampo's side."
Gepard studied him for a moment before nodding sharply. "Good. Soldiers, lower your weapons but remain on guard."
The tension eased slightly as the soldiers relaxed, though their weapons stayed within easy reach. March leaned toward Caelus, whispering, "I hope you know what you're doing."
"I don't," Caelus muttered back. "But I really don't want to fight a whole platoon right now."
Dan Heng gave a slight nod of approval. "This is the better choice. For now."
Gepard motioned for the group to follow him. "You'll be escorted to Belobog. Any attempt to resist or flee, and we won't hesitate to use force."
As they began walking, March muttered under her breath. "Great. First frozen wasteland, then crazy wolves, now we're under arrest. Just another day on the Astral Express, huh?"
Caelus chuckled lightly, despite the situation. "At least it's never boring."
As they marched toward the city, Caelus couldn't shake the feeling that this encounter with the Silvermane Guard was only the start of a much larger challenge.
They started to walk, as they left the ancient ruins, as Caelus looked at Gepard as they both looked at eachother
Gepard looked at him. "Any problems".
Caelus just looked at him. "No just wondering where do you guys leave".
Gepard looked at Belobog. "You Belobog, that is old Belobog the ones from the older day".
Caelus then sigehd as he spoken to him self then anything. "Damm you Sampo, it like he planned all of this".
Gepard raised an eyebrow, noticing Caelus' mumbling. "Did you say something?" he asked, his voice slightly stern but curious.
Caelus quickly snapped out of his thoughts and gave a half-smile, shaking his head. "Ah, nothing important. Just... thinking about things."
March, walking slightly ahead, glanced back at the exchange and then at the towering structures of Belobog. "This place sure looks... grand," she said, trying to change the subject. "So, what's the deal with Belobog? You mentioned it was from the old days?"
Gepard's expression softened slightly, and he looked out toward the city. "Yes. Belobog has been through a lot. It's the heart of our people, and it stands as a symbol of our survival in the face of the eternal winter. We pride ourselves on our strength, and as the Silvermane Guards, it's our duty to protect it."
Dan Heng remained silent, but his sharp eyes were taking in the surroundings, studying the area and the people they passed by. It was clear that Belobog had a long and turbulent history—its snow-covered buildings and protective walls hinted at a harsh reality where the people had to fight to survive.
Caelus, still trying to shake off the feeling that Sampo had manipulated them into this mess, looked back at Gepard. "I'm guessing you don't trust outsiders much? Or is it just... people like Sampo?"
Gepard's eyes hardened for a moment. "Sampo is a known troublemaker and a thief. He's done damage to our city before, and we've been cleaning up after him for too long. As for outsiders, trust is earned, not given. In a place like Belobog, that's how we've survived."
"Fair enough," Caelus muttered. He wasn't in the mood to argue. "I just hope we can clear up this misunderstanding without causing more trouble."
Gepard didn't respond immediately but glanced back at the group, his eyes lingering on Caelus for a moment longer than necessary. "We'll see about that. I've got my orders, and they come first."
As they continued walking, the snowstorm intensified slightly, adding to the eerie atmosphere of the cold, isolated city. The soldiers flanked them, keeping a close eye on the group but not showing any overt hostility, just cautious vigilance.
Eventually, they reached the gates of Belobog, where the massive city walls loomed over them like ancient sentinels. The gates were opened, and they were ushered through, stepping into the sprawling city that looked both ancient and fortified against the harsh elements.
"Welcome to Belobog," Gepard said, his tone less guarded but still firm. "Now, let's get you to the headquarters so you can explain yourselves."
As the group entered, Caelus couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking into something much bigger than just a simple misunderstanding. The city felt like it was holding its breath, and something ominous was lurking beneath the surface.
March leaned toward Caelus again and whispered, "Do you think they'll believe us? Or is it all going to go south from here?"
Caelus looked ahead, his eyes scanning the towering buildings of Belobog. "I'm not sure. But I have a feeling we haven't seen the last of Sampo's mess."
To be continued
Hope people like this Ch and give me power stones