Nic was still being bitten and not released.
"Sorry to tell you, but my meat doesn't taste good!" Nic pushed her lightly until the figure was flung backward.
When he pushed her, he realized it was a woman — but at the exact moment he shoved her away, he couldn't see where she went.
"She disappeared? Where?" Nic immediately looked around, searching for her.
There was no movement at all.
Then Nic realized he hadn't checked below.
The snow shifted — something burst out from underneath and lunged at him.
Nic reacted instantly, dodging and grabbing her arm, locking her movement.
"Hold on, agile girl."
It was indeed a woman. She struggled wildly and bit Nic's hand.
"Uh, so you like biting, huh… Can you talk? Why are you attacking me?" Nic asked calmly, letting her bite his hand.
She released her bite.
"Please… just capture me. Don't take the others…"
Nic blinked in confusion. "I'm not a hunter or anything like that." He released his hold, and the girl sat down quietly.
"Why did you let me go? You don't need to pretend. Just capture me. I won't resist this time." She held out her hands.
Nic scratched his head silently, then took out a Golden Eagle feather from his pocket and handed it to her.
The girl was still looking down when she felt something placed in her hand.
"Huh?"
She looked at it — then immediately threw it away.
"WHAT IS THAT?! ARE YOU GOING TO CAPTURE ME AND OFFER ME AS PREY TO THE GOLDEN EAGLE?!"
Nic crouched in front of her. "If you don't want that, then calm down first."
Terrified at the mention of the Golden Eagle, she tried to compose herself.
"So… what do you want?"
"Introduce yourself. And are you from the Defense Faction?" Nic asked gently.
She played with her hair nervously. "My name is Hermyra… Yes, I used to be part of the Defense Faction. I left because I didn't want anyone else getting hurt."
"Hurt? Aren't you the Defense Faction? You only protect, right? It should be safer together," Nic said, confused.
"It's… complicated to explain. But before that — are you from the Predator Faction?" she asked suspiciously.
"Would someone from the Predator Faction be as polite as me? And would they act this calm?" Nic replied with a sincere smile.
Hermyra blushed slightly and stood up, realizing Nic wasn't dangerous.
"Come with me. It's cold here, and your clothes are too thin."
"Oh… sure."
Nic followed her. She was surprisingly considerate toward a stranger.
---
On the Way to Zhatick
"Factions usually have animal identities, right? Do you have one too?" Nic asked.
Hermyra looked back at him. "What do you think I look like?"
"Hm… biting necks… vampire?" Nic guessed randomly.
[ Master Nic, idiot. She is identified with an Ermine. ]
Nic frowned slightly — he knew he was joking.
Hermyra laughed. "Haha, you're not wrong. I can be like a vampire sometimes. But I resemble a small animal — an ermine."
"O-Oh… ermine, yeah. Totally fits," Nic said awkwardly.
They soon arrived at the small town of Zhatick — unlike other towns Nic had visited, this one wasn't cheerful at all.
There were no heaters anywhere.
Nic entered Hermyra's small and simple resting place.
"Um… sorry it's tiny. I rarely dare to sneak into the high caste to steal things. And I'm still too confused to leave Northern," she said with a stiff smile.
"Why not ask help from other former Defense Faction members?" Nic asked.
Hermyra shook her head. "I don't want to owe anyone… Besides, we're used to the cold. We don't really need heaters or luxury. We just need food — that's enough."
"If I asked you to rejoin the Defense Faction, would you?" Nic asked seriously.
Hermyra immediately shook her head. "I'll only rejoin when this town is truly safe."
"Is Zhatick not safe?"
She shook her head again.
"Snow Sniper is always around here. She shoots my people. I tried fighting her, but it's impossible — she's too far away and invisible."
"She doesn't discriminate… I hate her. I can't leave this place. If I'm even a little late bringing my people indoors, they get shot."
She bit her lip in frustration.
Nic stood up, staring at her sharply.
"If I defeat Snow Sniper, will you return to the Defense Faction?"
Hermyra's eyes widened. "Y-You mean… you'll defeat Snow Sniper so she stops attacking Zhatick?"
Nic nodded. "Of course. I can handle her."
Hermyra grabbed Nic's hand tightly. "Please stop her… I'll rejoin the Defense Faction."
Nic smiled. "Good."
They immediately discussed strategy.
"Before that — does she really come here often?" Nic asked.
Hermyra nodded. "I've observed her patterns. Zhatick always seems to be her first route, no matter where she goes."
"I see. That's perfect — it means she'll come here soon."
Hermyra panicked. "Are you serious? Why would she come here?"
"Someone hired her to kill me. And the predator assigned is Snow Sniper. So this works out perfectly."
Hermyra grew more curious, but Nic didn't elaborate.
"Can you fight? I want you to confront her first. I believe you can."
Hermyra shook her head rapidly. "Impossible! I'm too weak! Snow Sniper can blow my head off!"
"Relax. I have something for you."
Nic turned his back and quickly crafted something.
Hermyra just stared blankly.
After finishing, Nic handed her several potions.
"Drink these. Your speed and strength will increase dramatically. Take them all."
"Are you sure? Is it safe?" she asked hesitantly.
Nic nodded. "Trust me. You can fight her by closing the distance."
Hermyra nodded, believing him.
---
Meanwhile — Snow Sniper
Snow Sniper returned to the high-caste black market rental room.
"Codename Snow Sniper. Here's your target. The payment is large — he must be dangerous," the receptionist said.
Snow Sniper looked at the photo.
"…Seriously? That idiot from the ship? Are you sure this is my target?"
The receptionist nodded.
"Ugh. Fine."
She walked out, still staring at Nic's irritating photo.
"Who the hell wastes this much money on that unclear bastard…?"
She remembered Nic descending to the lower caste and immediately went searching there.
As usual, she passed by Zhatick.
From a distance, she lowered herself, camouflaged perfectly, and aimed her sniper at the town.
"Let's see if that idiot is here."
Through her scope, she saw Hermyra casually walking and scanning the area.
For a brief second, Hermyra's eyes locked onto her position.
Snow Sniper was slightly startled.
But Hermyra walked away.
"Seems he's not here."
Snow Sniper was about to reposition—
Suddenly.
She felt something.
Instantly, she turned and fired behind her.
Nothing.
"What was that…? I definitely sensed something."
She attempted to relocate.
But suddenly—
Hermyra appeared in front of her and tried to punch her.
"Suddenly?!"
Snow Sniper reacted and dodged.
She fired again — but Hermyra was too fast.
"GET OVER HERE, BASTARD! I WON'T FORGIVE YOU!!" Hermyra charged.
Snow Sniper blocked and punched her in the face.
"I have no business with you. Move."
Hermyra was thrown back but stood again.
"You're here to kill again! I won't allow it!"
Snow Sniper grew irritated. Long-range combat was impossible now — it became close combat.
Snow Sniper was skilled, overwhelming Hermyra despite her enhanced speed.
Hermyra fell.
Snow Sniper grabbed her rifle and pressed the barrel to Hermyra's head.
"Weak idiot. Don't act strong in front of me. DIE."
She pulled the trigger—
Hermyra suddenly smiled.
With quick reflexes, she grabbed the rifle and pushed it upward.
The bullet shot into the snow.
Snow Sniper froze for a second.
Hermyra kicked her, grabbed the sniper, and fired — but only hit Snow Sniper's leg.
"AGH!! DAMN IT!!"
Snow Sniper fell in pain.
Hermyra approached, aiming again.
"That's nothing compared to what my people felt…"
Snow Sniper stayed silent, searching for escape.
Hermyra, consumed by anger, pulled the trigger again.
BANG.
"Did… I kill her…?"
The snow cleared.
Snow Sniper was gone.
Nic stood beside her — holding Snow Sniper.
"W-Why did you save her?! I was going to kill her!" Hermyra shouted.
"You don't need to kill for revenge," Nic replied calmly.
Snow Sniper regained consciousness — and saw him.
"Target?!"
She tried to react, but Hermyra held her sniper.
Nic curiously told Hermyra to return the rifle.
"Are you crazy?! She'll attack us!"
"Didn't you say you trusted me?"
Hermyra pouted — then handed it over.
Snow Sniper immediately stood and aimed at Nic—
But within a split second—
Nic smashed the rifle with his bare hand and kicked Snow Sniper's injured leg.
She screamed in pain.
"Sorry. Your mind doesn't match your current condition. You're thinking too primitively," Nic said coldly.
Hermyra was stunned — that heavy sniper was destroyed with bare hands?
Snow Sniper had lost too much blood.
Combined with pain and cold—
She finally collapsed unconscious.
Nic carried her.
"Hermyra. Listen. Drink another enhancement potion before heading to Fang's place to rejoin the Defense Faction. I'll take Snow Sniper. I guarantee she won't kill anyone again."
Nic left.
Hermyra stood there, confused.
---
Meanwhile — The Predator Faction
The remaining Predator members gathered beneath the highest snow mountain — home of the Lady Golden Eagle.
They stared upward.
White Wolf stretched his body.
"Up there, it's life or death. We go all out — and bring Lady Golden Eagle's body before the damned high caste so they truly know who we are."
Orca grinned wildly.
"HAHAHA! AFTER THAT, WE DESTROY THEM FROM THE INSIDE!"
They immediately spread out and began ascending from different directions to attack the Lady Golden Eagle.
To be continued…