Chapter Five Hundred and Forty-Seven: "It's so cold.

The Black Wall extended indefinitely, like a pitch-black serpent crawling along the ground.

Because the Black Wall had shattered, a thin layer of ice had formed around it, with frost covering the still bus stops, collapsed houses, and piles of stone rubble... all eerily merging with the sunshine from the outside world.

It was as if the entire history and civilization of this modern city were mercilessly frozen in a moment from the past.

Xiber slowly, ever so slowly, lifted her foot, taking steps, tentatively trying to approach the city she had longed for, walking towards the light and freedom she desired.

"Crack, crack, crack."

Several crisp sounds rang out, as if the air, like papier-mâché, was being torn apart; she couldn't tell if it was the sound of ice cracking or bones breaking.

She just moved slowly, stiffly, like a machine taking steps forward, her hand reaching out, trying to touch that ray of sunlight projected from the outside.