Crunch. Crunch. Crunch-crunch-crunch. Crunch-crunch-crunch-crunch...
“What are you doing?”
The bizarre noise permeated the silent snowfield. It was such a strangely meticulous sound that I could hardly believe anyone was making it on purpose.
Startled by the sudden noise tickling her ears, Anis turned to Neon with a frown.
“I just love the sound snow makes when you step on it. I’m mimicking it!”
“Ah, so it’s your first time seeing real snow?”
“I’ve seen artificial snow a few times. But the real thing is definitely different, isn’t it?”
Anis nodded in agreement and pressed her foot lightly into the snow. There truly was a clear difference between man-made flakes and those shaped by nature.
“Come to think of it, Commander, this is your first time too, right? How does it feel?”
Anis shot Ethan a playful look, though her eyes held a hint of genuine curiosity.
“Hmm? Uh... it’s cold and fluffy. Feels good.”
“See? That’s why being above ground isn’t so bad sometimes.”
Ethan answered absently, staring down at the snow. The texture, the scent, even the air felt oddly familiar.
In a way, it made sense—snow wasn’t new to him. In his past life, winter brought it every year like clockwork. On mission-free days, he’d stare out at the first flakes or wander the snowy streets with comrades.
But now he was Commander Ethan, born in The Ark. It was only natural he’d never seen real snow—at least that’s what everyone assumed.
He wanted to say, “It’s not my first time,” but that single statement would raise too many questions.
Not wanting needless attention, he settled for a safe reply.
“People back then all got to enjoy this, right?”
“I guess so.”
“It’s a shame for people now.”
Neon muttered, sighing. Born in The Ark, they’d never experienced genuine snowfall.
She seemed to pity those prevented by the Rapture from ever seeing real snow—even if they’d wanted to.
“That’s why we exist. To give humanity back its past.”
“Wow. That was a nice line. I’ll have to use that next time someone asks.”
Neon snapped back into her usual scatterbrained self. Rapi let out a quiet sigh as she looked at Ethan.
“Commander. How are your legs holding up?”
“They’re fine. This exoskeleton is better than I expected.”
Ethan flexed his legs to demonstrate how lightly they moved. It was hard to believe he was supposed to be injured.
“It’s a custom exoskeleton crafted by Elysion. It’s the dream device that lets you stay in a cast while remaining mobile,” Shifty’s voice crackled over the comms.
“It seems effective, but why was production halted?” Anis asked.
“Originally, it was designed for Nikke. Rather than waiting for their bones to heal, it’s simply more efficient to build a new leg,” Shifty replied.
“Seriously?” Anis raised an eyebrow.
“Yes. Nikke manufacturing technology has reached a singularity. They can mass-produce them with minimal resources and at maximum speed.”
Shifty delivered that cold truth matter-of-factly, but the weight of her words hung heavy.
“Shifty.”
“Ah—s-sorry. I didn’t mean to say something so… pointless.”
“Carry on with the mission. Relay any anomalies.”
“Understood.”
A brief mechanical chirp signaled the comms closed. The awkward silence lingered until Ethan spoke softly to the Counters.
“Don’t dwell on it. Shifty spoke without thinking.”
“No—it’s fine. I’m just relieved there are so many alternatives.”
The expressions of Rapi, Anis, and Neon looked strangely forlorn. To live as Nikke, it seemed, was to live as something replaceable.
It was a cruel fate for those who devoted themselves to humanity, yet it was the undeniable reality of how society viewed them.
Ethan and the Counters trudged through the snowy plains in uncomfortable silence. After some time, Shifty’s voice crackled through the comms.
“Rapi, the signal is weakening. Any anomalies?”
“The blizzard’s gotten worse. Visibility is terrible.”
“There should be a bunker nearby. On the map it looked visible to the naked eye. Can you see it?”
Rapi scanned the swirling snow but saw nothing.
“No. I don’t see it.”
“Okay, I’ll guide you. Head north-northwest.”
“Roger that.”
The comms clicked off. As they prepared to move NNW, Anis stopped Ethan.
“Commander, are you okay?”
“Yeah. I’m holding up.”
“...Commander, your lips are turning blue. You don’t look okay.”
“I’m really fine. Let’s keep moving.”
He’d thought the extra energy boost would help—but that was arrogance. His weakened body couldn’t handle even this level of cold.
He’d survived worse on the surface, so this was a blow to his pride.
“This won’t do. Neon.”
“Yes?”
“Take off your coat and hold the Commander close.”
“What?”
“…What?”
With frostbite a real threat, Anis made what she thought was the best choice—by her standards, at least.
“Rub your body against his to warm him up.”
“That’s... quite an image...”
“No, what are you thinking?”
“Ah, Anis should do it! You’re bigger than me, so you’d cover more area!”
Neon waved her hands in disbelief.
The mood was going bizarrely sideways. Anis, who’d suggested the idea half in jest, froze under Neon’s blunt reaction.
“Do I look like I’m not embarrassed?”
“Then say no if you don’t want to do it!”
“How could I ever say no to my mentor? Isn’t it you who hates this idea?”
“Hey! How much do you like—!”
Realizing what she’d said, Anis stopped mid-sentence as if time had paused.
Her lips closed, her body stiffened, and her expression froze in that moment.
“…Let’s not argue. Keep moving.”
“Moving quickly.”
Ethan stepped in to defuse the situation. Rapi agreed, and before the tension could worsen, they hurried on.
After what felt like ages, the group finally spotted the bunker.
“Bunker in sight. Moving inside. Shifty, do you read?”
They tried to contact Shifty, but the signal was dead.
“Comm cut out. Commander, let’s get inside and wait out the blizzard.”
“I’ll check inside first.”
“Hmm? It doesn’t look big enough for a Rapture to enter, though?”
“We’re doing this just in case there’s something else. I can’t let the Commander see it.”
Anis’s reasoning made sense—there could be something more horrifying than a Rapture.
And Ethan knew exactly what she was sparing him from. That was the simple truth.
“...I’ll go check. Wait here—huh?”
Anis halted mid-step, eyes widening as she spotted something.
Moments later, she shouted urgently.
“Up ahead! Rapture sighted!”
“...What?”
“Damn, this cursed blizzard! I can only see them now...!”
“Engage!”
The Counters swiftly reloaded their weapons and opened fire into the swirling storm.
A short while later.
The Raptures they faced were low-grade. With Ethan’s quick, precise orders, the Counters executed flawlessly.
Any outsider could predict their smooth victory.
But variables always arrive when least expected.
“One drone left!”
“Fall back! It’s powering up to self-destruct!”
Kraaaang!!!
The last Rapture activated its self-destruct mode. The explosion shook the snowfield with a deafening shockwave.
“Ugh…!”
“What the hell was that sound?!”
“Rapi! Anis! What… was that?!”
They followed Ethan’s pointing gaze. After the ominous bang came the worst revelation.
Rumble…!
“...Goddamn it!”
Ethan cursed in horror. A massive wall of snow was hurtling toward them.
“Avalanche!”
“Everyone, inside the bunker! Hurry!”
“No! It’s too far!”
“Commander!!”
Rapi lunged toward him, fear in her eyes. Ethan wanted to use [Psychokinesis] to stop the avalanche.
But that would have revealed his power to the Counters and forced an explanation.
More importantly, he wasn’t sure he could withstand that mass.
Even without trying, the outcome was obvious. The avalanche’s sheer size and breadth made it impossible to stop or dodge.
“...Rapi, take care of things behind me.”
In a voice only she could hear, Ethan spoke. The next moment, the towering wall of snow engulfed him.
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