Chapter Two: The Weight of Survival
The village square bustled with life despite the bitter chill in the air. Merchants shouted their prices, children chased each other between stalls, and farmers haggled over their goods. Jin stood out, dragging his massive tree trunk into the marketplace.
The crowd parted as he approached, their whispers a familiar echo.
"The useless one..."
"Why waste his strength carrying wood when he can't even form a mana core?"
Jin ignored them. Not today. Today, he had something to prove.
An old merchant, his beard dusted with frost, stepped forward, eyeing the massive trunk.
"Impressive haul." He tapped the wood with his knuckles. "This should fetch a decent price."
"Half in coin," Jin said. "And the rest in mana pellets."
The merchant raised an eyebrow. "Pellets? You'd be better off trading for food."
Jin's fists tightened. "Pellets."
The merchant chuckled but nodded, handing over a pouch of coins and a small cloth bundle. Jin snatched it up, feeling the tiny, smooth shapes through the fabric. Mana pellets. His first step toward power.
---
By the time Jin reached home, the sky was painted in streaks of orange and gold. The small cottage sat at the edge of the village, patched with wood and stone, barely holding back the cold.
Inside, a fire crackled weakly.
"Jin!"
His younger sister Zephyr raced toward him, her wild black hair bouncing. Her twin, Storm, followed close behind, grinning ear to ear. Faith, their elder sister, rose from her seat near the fire, her sharp eyes softening.
"You're back."
Jin forced a smile, setting the bag of coins and pellets on the table.
Zephyr's eyes lit up. "Is that food? Please say it's food!"
Storm peeked into the bag. "It's not food."
Faith crossed her arms. "Jin…"
Her voice carried the same quiet strength it always did—the voice that had held their family together since their parents died.
"There's no more meat in the house," she said, her gaze steady. "We need more."
Jin's heart sank. He had hoped to rest, even if only for a night. But Faith was right—they wouldn't last long without food.
He stood, brushing snow from his shoulders. "I'll get some."
Faith opened her mouth to protest, but Jin was already at the door.
---
The mountain paths were even darker than before, the storm having calmed but leaving behind an eerie stillness. Snow crunched under Jin's boots as he made his way deeper into the wilderness, his breath visible in the freezing air.
"Just a quick hunt," he muttered. "Then home."
But the silence tugged at his thoughts, pulling him deeper and deeper until he barely noticed how far he'd wandered. When he finally snapped back to his senses, he was surrounded by towering cliffs and jagged ice formations.
And then—
ROARS. CLASHES. SCREAMS.
Jin froze, peering through the trees.
Down in the valley below, wolves lunged and snapped, their silver fur streaked with blood. The Snow Wolf Escort was locked in battle, their warriors slashing at a swarm of creatures—Emperor Ants.
The beasts crawled like nightmares from the earth, their armored shells reflecting the pale moonlight. Each one was nearly as big as the wolves, their claws ripping into fur and flesh.
Jin's breath caught.
The ants didn't stop—they swarmed, overwhelming the escort's defenses. Wolves fell, warriors shouted orders, and blood painted the snow.
"They're losing…"
Jin clenched his fists. He should run—go back to the village and warn someone. But his legs wouldn't move.
And then—
"HAAAH!!!"
A new roar split the air as another group charged in from the shadows. Their armor gleamed with firelight, and their weapons cut through the ants with deadly precision.
Jin's heart pounded.
"Who…?"