Grand Nord Tower.
A magnificent spire rose into the night sky like an ice spear piercing the heavens.
At its summit, two great kingdoms sat across from one another—discussing the southern territories that had never truly ceased to be contested. A disputed land, forever smoldering beneath the ashes.
The negotiations had dragged on for hours. At last, one of them shifted the subject.
"Oh, by the way," the princess said lightly, though her gaze was razor-sharp. "I hear there's been rebel activity in the southern Nord district. Is that true, Lord Kozack?"
"It is." Kozack leaned back in his chair with casual ease. "That group was formed five years ago. Why? Is there a problem, Princess Avra?"
"Of course there is." Avra exhaled softly. "Most of their members come from the Kingdom of Wolford." Her eyes locked onto his. "At the very least, clean up the vermin that originated from your territory. Or… have you been allowing them to operate on purpose?"
Kozack clicked his tongue. "So because they were born in Wolford, you immediately accuse us? How interesting." A faint smile curved his lips. "If anything, I suspect they're your brother's creation."
Avra's eyes sharpened, though her voice remained calm.
"So far, they've never acted as violently as the 'Black Robes.' And violence…" She crossed her legs gracefully, resting her cheek against her hand. "Isn't that your specialty?"
Kozack let out a low chuckle. "Bold words, Princess. The southern territory has long been disputed. But have we ever broken the treaty?"
"Have you?" Avra's smile widened. "Do you know why I chose this city for our meeting?"
Kozack fell silent.
"We anticipated their arrival. And once they're captured, we'll be able to extract the name of the one pulling the strings."
The room tightened with invisible tension.
"Rest assured," Avra continued gently. "As per the agreement, every rebel will be executed. Once interrogation is complete, they'll be disposed of immediately. You won't have to trouble yourselves."
Her smile was sweet. Her eyes were colder than the summit of Everest.
Kozack studied her for a long moment before letting out a quiet laugh.
"Remarkable. You truly deserve the title 'BlizzardPrincess'."
While cold words continued to clash within the negotiation chamber, someone else was already preparing to welcome the night in her own way.
—
The Summit of Grand Nord Tower.
A girl in white robes stood peacefully beneath the moonlight. The wind swept through her high-tied blonde hair. Her face was calm—almost bored.
"So that's the plan?" she murmured. "A diversion below. Then a small strike team to ambush the meeting point. Hm. Bold of them."
A notification chimed at the edge of her vision.
"Yes?"
"[Their movement has been detected, Miss Carina. We are in position.]"
"Good. Proceed as planned. Don't take the bait. Just follow their script. I'll handle the rest."
"[Understood!]"
The call ended. Carina stretched, brimming with anticipation.
"Ahh… It's been a while since I've fought. I suppose I'll have a little fun tonight."
—
In the distance, five figures in black robes leapt from rooftop to rooftop. Precise. Silent. Trained.
They exchanged updates through a closed channel.
"[Report your status!]" the Leader commanded.
"[No.118. Clear.]"
"[No.235. Clear.]"
"[No.179. Clear.]"
"[No.215. Clear.]"
"No.217. Clear."
"[My signal will cut off within a five-hundred-meter radius. Proceed according to plan!]"
"Roger!" (x5)
As predicted, the transmission severed the moment they entered the radius. The tower emitted detection waves designed to monitor intruder communications. From here on, they would rely solely on specialized devices concealed within their cloaks, with a maximum range of fifty meters.
"[By the way, why did the Leader send only the five of us from the Core Team?]" one of them, a girl, grumbled.
"[Elijah. Stop whining and focus on the mission,]" the Captain replied.
"[Tch. I'm just curious.]"
"[Now that I think about it, this is strange. The kingdom's ruler is quite powerful. Not to mention their guards,]" Petra added.
"[I heard it's not just the Princess who possesses an Ultimate Core. Two of her guards have them as well,]" Thomas said.
"[Just hearing that gives me chills. Good thing our diversion inside worked.]"
"[Yeah. Our mission is simply to seize one of their Ultimate Cores. If we're lucky, we might even take the Princess's. Right, Azca?]"
"…Yeah." Azca's voice sounded distant.
"[What's wrong? You don't seem very enthusiastic, Azca.]"
"[Isn't she always like that, Thomas?]"
"…Sorry. I'm in scouting mode," Azca replied flatly.
"[O-Oh. Sorry.]"
"[See? You distracted her!]"
"[You started it, Elijah!]"
"[Both of you, shut up!]"
Silence returned after the Captain's sharp rebuke.
They were enjoying this mission. The target—and the reward—would be extraordinary if they succeeded.
Unfortunately, the obstacle ahead was far from simple.
Roughly two hundred meters before the Tower, a white figure stood calmly in their path. Silent. Waiting.
They stopped at once.
"[Who is that?]" Thomas asked.
"[Not sure. Judging from the build… probably a woman,]" Petra replied.
"Azca. Can you check?" the Captain asked.
Azca narrowed her eyes. "No. She's not emitting any signal on my radar."
"[So she's using equipment like ours, huh?]" the Captain muttered. "[Petra, Thomas, Azca. You move ahead. Elijah and I will handle her.]"
"[Hahaha! Finally! Time to shine!]"
Elijah eagerly drew and twirled his daggers from beneath his cloak.
"Been a while since I've bathed my blades in blood," he muttered lightly.
The girl in white did not move. Instead, she smiled—as if welcoming them.
"[Everyone! Spread out!]" the Captain ordered.
"[Roger!]" (x3)
Three members moved past her. The remaining two advanced to attack.
The girl sighed softly.
"I thought they'd send experienced fighters. They don't even recognize who I am."
She opened her right hand. A small crystal at the nape of her neck began to glow, channeling energy that converged between her fingers. A silver hilt materialized—followed by a razor-thin yet broad crimson blade of light.
"Very well. I suppose I'll take this a little more seriously."
The Captain's eyes widened.
"That weapon… Could it be—?!" he whispered. "Elijah! Don't rush her! She's a Core user!"
But Elijah didn't hear.
"Yeehaaa!" He lunged straight for Carina's head. "Got you!"
Effortlessly, she sidestepped. Elijah flew past as though striking empty air.
"To slow," Carina murmured.
He spun around, bewildered.
"What was that? Reflexes?"
Carina smiled. "What's wrong, little girl? Come at me."
"Tch! Fine!"
Elijah flung open his cloak, revealing dozens of daggers strapped within. He drew them in rapid succession and hurled them at her.
A storm of steel shot toward Carina.
She remained calm.
"
'Clank! Clank! Clank!'
In an instant, sparks burst through the air. Every dagger deflected by her blade.
"Impossible! What kind of speed is that?!"
"Elijah! Watch out!"
The Captain's shout came too late.
'Crack!'
"Wh… what—?!"
'Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!'
Elijah's body was torn apart by his own daggers—now reversed mid-flight.
"Elijah! You bastard!"
"His fault for failing to dodge his own weapon."
The Captain's grip tightened. "You… damn you!"
"Why so angry? You came here to kill our Princess, didn't you? It's only natural I protect her."
His eyes burned red. "You demon!"
Carina flicked her blade, ready again.
"Defeat me quickly. Otherwise, your three friends won't reach their destination alive."
The Captain's shock deepened. Fury surged as he charged.
—
Far ahead—
"Eh?"
"What is it, Azca?" Petra asked.
"…Nothing. I just felt something."
"Worried about them?" Thomas asked.
Azca nodded.
"Relax. They'll be fine. We're Genesta—evolved humans of the Apocalypse generation. They won't fall that easily."
"…Yeah. You're right."
She tried to steady herself, but unease lingered.
Their team had existed since the founding of the Black Robes. They came from the same brutal southern lands. Blood and hardship were nothing new to them.
But this was their first mission of this scale.
Azca stopped when they were one hundred meters from the Tower.
"All right. We move from here. Petra, Thomas. Prepare the… cannons—"
She turned.
They were gone.
"Petra? Thomas?"
No response through the comms.
Then the world fell silent. Even the wind seemed to vanish. The stillness was suffocating—so quiet she could almost hear water dripping somewhere.
"If you're looking for your two friends… they're in my hands."
Azca froze.
She located the voice—atop a massive water tank on the building.
The figure stood against the moonlight, face obscured.
But Azca's eyes widened in horror at what she held.
Hair gripped tightly.
A face twisted in despair.
Eyes still open.
Fresh blood dripping.
A cheerful smile spread across the white-clad girl's lips.
"Oops. Sorry. Only their heads."
※ ※ ※ (CHAPTER 01A) ※ ※ ※