Interlude – Snow Goddess in a Collapsing World

Snow fell slowly amidst the ruins of the city. It was no ordinary snow—the air around it was frozen, anyone's breath that came close turned into a white mist that disappeared in seconds.

Amidst the devastation, a lone woman stood.

Aruna.

With her long, snow-white hair fluttering in the wind and her icy blue eyes radiating serenity, she looked like something from another world. Her body was wrapped in a black coat worn by travel, but there was no trace of weariness in her eyes.

Around her, bodies were frozen in various horrific positions—some still standing, their bodies covered in a thin layer of ice, their eyes wide in terror. Others lay on the ground, sharp ice spears piercing their hearts.

The five remaining men stood in fear a few meters away from her. They were bandits—men who thought they could easily win against a woman alone.

They were wrong.

"W-who are you…?" one of them whispered in fear, his hand trembling on his gun.

Aruna just glanced at him, then raised one hand. The air around her vibrated. In an instant, the snow on the ground began to rise slowly, forming sharp ice blades around them.

"You have disturbed my journey," she said, her voice as cold as the air around her. "Now, choose: leave and never show up again, or freeze to death."

The bandits exchanged glances. The first option was clearly not an option. They were savage men who lived by plundering and killing. There was no way they would accept threats from a woman.

They chose the second option.

Three of them raised their guns, pulling the triggers frantically. Bang! Bang! Bang!

However, their bullets did not even reach Aruna's body. Before they could get close to her, a layer of transparent ice appeared in the air, blocking every shot as if it were meaningless.

Aruna just stared at them with a cold expression.

Then, she moved her finger slightly.

Instantly, the ice spears floating in the air shot forward.

In a matter of seconds, screams filled the air, then only silence remained.

Aruna stared at the frozen bodies before her, her eyes still emotionless. She was used to this. The world was no place for the indecisive. If she wanted to survive, she would have to be more ruthless than the others.

She took a deep breath, then looked back, toward the small village beyond the ruins. It had been her home for months—a refuge for those left after the apocalypse began.

But now… everything had changed.

Supplies were running out.

The enemy was growing stronger.

She could no longer survive alone.

Aruna closed her eyes.

She needed allies.

Not just survivors—she needed someone strong enough to fight by her side, someone with a purpose greater than just surviving today.

Her eyes opened again. With light steps, she left the ruins that were now the bandits' graves.

Without looking back, Aruna walked toward the new destiny that awaited her—