Chains. They were everywhere, biting into his skin. Pushing into his muscle and his bone. Everything ached, and the struggle only made it worse.

But it was impossible to sit still and wait in such a place. In such darkness. He could only listen to them jingle and clink. But he had to move... to try and break loose. To writhe with every inch of his body.

"Agh. Aghhh."

He still remembered a time it had been worse. He remembered his first days here in this nightmare. Tormented and trapped by chains.

"Ghh. Ghhh."

They'd been bound so tight he couldn't breathe. He'd fought for this petty freedom. The groans proved he could exert his will, even a little. He'd earned that right.

Those days of excruciating numbness. This time, he'd left them behind of his own will. His very own competence.

"I broke them. And I'll break the rest, too."

###

Nero tore a chunk out with ease. Each bite distracting him further.

The tough meat was velvety, dry and burnt crisp. Hardly edible without teeth and a body like his. So then, how come it tasted so good?

With a hum, he ripped into another awful mouthful and threw himself back onto the grass. He was grateful to the flowers surrounding the boundary's edge. They'd made for a nice, warm bed this last week.

Not that he cared much for this zone. It was a reminder of the two years he'd spent dwelling. Besides, if he stuck around, he'd eventually run into them.

"Well, that would be awkward. But it turns out making a fire with all that snow is difficult."

Nero listened as the campfire spat its last embers and died with a fizzle. "Well. Alright then. It's now or never."

He climbed leisurely to his feet and stretched his legs. He shared a long last glance at the field and the trees before turning. As he stepped into the snowy world, the boundary accepted him with open arms. And the cold did, too.

"Time to get to work."

He strolled through the cushiony snow, crumpling with every step. The Devoured here were few. He'd found hardly any the past couple of weeks. It was nice. But it was also a problem.

"I thought we had it too easy, but I guess I was wrong. Sure, they're strong here, but there's hardly any amongst all this snow? No wonder Rowan made it to camp safely."

The snow was simple and boring. So he glanced up at the endearing mountain peaks. There was no saying whether he'd find the sustainment he needed there. Not without kindling for a fire.

"But there will be Devoured. Maybe this body can handle raw monster meat now. It's not like I've tried."

With a chuckle, he was struck by a gust of cold fog. He rolled his shoulders back and put a hand before his eyes. Cutting through it, he let the crunch beneath his feet guide him. The wind's whistle was a nice touch, too.

But not enough to drag him from his thoughts.

"Ah. This really is gonna be my last time being this clean. Isn't it"

He was going to miss that above all else. Taking a final bath at the waterfall had been risky but well worth it. He'd even had it to himself. Something he'd not managed once in the previous years.

Nero smiled and watched his feet plod forward. He couldn't see the way anymore in the fog. But that was ok. Anywhere else, but back there was fine, really.

"Garuda."

With a frown, Nero raised his head. "Huh? What?"

Peering into the grey veil. He could have sworn he'd heard a murmur. It was sometime before he saw a figure stumbling through the mist. They must have seen him long before he'd seen them.

"...Uh, hey?"

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

They tottered towards him without a reply.

"Hey. Are you lost? Camp is like way over that way."

Nero stopped. Sighing as they tripped and fell.

"You look pretty messed up. I'm not happy about it. But I guess I can show you the way back."

Nero approached. The cold was wearing on his skin. A gentle chill caressed his back as two stark blue eyes rose from the ground, piercing the grey fog. Each pooling with crashing waves. Those dual Defects found and caught him.

"Who? Are you?" Her voice was hoarse.

"Those eyes... Boss. That isn't you, is it?-"

"I'm. I'm asking. The questions." Between haggard breaths, her words reached him clearly this time. They were full of scorn and insistence.

"...I'm Nero. You're really not from camp, are you?"

Nero took a hesitant step back. There were all sorts of things he needed to be concerned about since setting off. Food? How to cook it? Water? Shelter?

The last thing he had expected or even wanted to find was someone. Some untouched corner of humanity in this alien world.

Nero pointed. "Hey, if you keep going that way, you'll find the boundary, so how about you just-"

"That voice. Then. You're really not her?"

Nero smiled. "I don't look like a her? Or do I?"

As she pushed through the fog, Nero saw those illuminated eyes better. They were smeared with blood and ice, squinting. Her clothes were deep black and shredded, resembling a familiar uniform. Beneath, there was no pale, feminine skin. Just patches of dark frostbite.

"I'm a Marshal of Montarc. This is our territory now. Surviving out here alone... what nation are you from?"

Nero groaned. The figure didn't seem to like that.

"What is your allegiance?"

Nero mused to himself. Montarc? My allegiance? So then she's part of our military. Great. The others were right about rescue being around the corner. Good for them.

He had a... history with military types.

But he had lived in Montarc for most of his life, sure. So, there was no reason to lie. Might as well play friendly.

"I'm from Montarc, too, actually. So how about-"

"Defect."

Those raspy words filled Nero with dread as he met her cold blue gaze. His hazel eyes widened, and he staggard back.

"You don't have one. Your Defectedless."

That old reminder again. The ways you were different were always a weakness. Only the most obedient, most compliant, got their way in the end. That was what it meant to live alongside people.

He snapped from stepping back to flying forward. Thrown to the snow. He caught himself with his hands, shocked. The slouching figure looked down on him.

"Wait-"

His neck was yanked next as two clasping hands received him. Those feminine pale fingers were wracked with blisters and frigid to the touch. They reached around his throat and tightened.

"Disguised as a human. A clever one."

He felt her clawing at his skin and wringing him. Nero paled as he grabbed the hands around his neck. With all his strength, he pulled. Wrestled.

He fought an inch free. Gasp. But then they strangled him again.

Tighter. The oxygen was cut from his brain. He grabbed her hands. Yanking. Pulling. She was strong. His body was going numb. Like an animal, he thrashed. And his fist found her face.

He was dropped. Spluttering on the snow, his mouth begged for air. The girl. No, the lunatic standing before him. Looking down with wide blue eyes. A drop of blood leaked from her lip as she cupped her face.

His fist had found its mark. So how come his hand hurt so bad?

"Strong, too. A Brute?" She cursed.

Nero climbed to his feet, watching her. He could still feel the cold mark of her fingers on his neck.

Two Defects. Even if it's the eyes, she's strong. But he'd spent years honing himself. And his fist had never hurt like that, regardless of which Devoured he hit.

"Look, stop. Just wait. We can still talk this through."

Nero's lips twisted as he examined her. Defects were an inevitable advantage. It didn't matter how much he built up his strength when there were people who could yank him with telekinesis. Or rip apart the world with black holes. Bending it to their will.

He had to work harder than them. To find their weaknesses. What did they exchange for their power?

He'd figured out what those limiting factors were for most of the camp, even if he didn't remember their names. Studying them took time. But her?

"Devoured. When they pretend to be human. They don't have a Defect."

Nero blinked. "Is that so? I can promise you, though... I am human."

"Promises. Vows. The conversations always drag on exactly like that. You must be at least a Vile to be this convincing."

He listened closely to her whispers. Followed the movement of her cracked lips. And found himself drawn in by the endless depths of her eyes. They weren't as dark as the Boss's. They were murkier, more twisted like the swirls of blue whirlpools.

"I just... want to feel warm."

The burden of her Defect was obvious. No studying needed.

It was madness.

His body lurched forward. And a fist struck his face. He backed up, guard raised, but was pulled again. An elbow smashed his left eye. As his head reeled back. Then it froze. Allowing another hand to strike his nose.

'Unfair.'

Every time, his head rocketed back. Reeling. It was flung into another devastating blow. Like a punching back, his head swung back and forth all at her will. Blood went flying from his mouth.

'Taking everything out on me.'

His feet were stumbling to stay upright. It's not like he could flee. The bloodied knuckles were all he could see as he was clobbered over and over. Ringing pounded in his ears.

'I won't let you. Again.'

Nero crumpled and fell back. The morning warm pink rays descended on the cold world. Everything hurt. Even with all this sudden light, the world was twisted. His vision spinning so hard he thought he would vomit.

A face stricken with grief and misery appeared above. That curdled mad scowl. How lucky was he to see it again.

As her face leaned in, she raised her fist.

Nero's hands thrust up. Gripping her head and pulling at her hair, his thumbs found them. There was a horrid squeal as Nero plunged his fingers in.

Blood ran down his hands, but he kept pushing.

"Haha."

Squishy and soft. Defects were supposed to be the strongest part of their bodies. Supposed to be.

She broke free from his grasp and stumbled back, clawing at her face. She didn't seem to understand what had happened. He watched her sway back and forth as he rose to his feet.

More memories flooded his head.

His face was swollen, and his eyes blackened. But he approached her anyway, driving his powerful shoulder into her side. The force sent her flying. And he followed.

"You could have just left me alone."

Nero approached. She tried to scuttle to her feet, so he kicked her. The force flipped her onto her back.

"But it's too late for that now."

His whole body hurt. But that didn't stop him from leaning in and hitting her.

"I did want to avoid it at first. I just wanted to run. But there are some people who aren't satisfied with even that."

She was wailing and curling into a ball. Muttering some name. Her deep black uniform was even more tattered, revealing her wounded body beneath.

"You must have fought a lot of battles. For Garuda, was it? Whoever that is, you're not absolved. Good intentions don't really matter when it comes down to it."

His knees fell on her. Pinning her arms to her sides. His fingers clasped around her neck. But then she spoke.

"Garuda."

Nero frowned. He stared at her face. Her long blue hair and crude, crooked smile were an unpleasant, ugly sight.

"But, no. You're not her. You don't look anything alike."

Nero's hands were on her neck, but there was no pressure. Eventually, he surrendered and reached for her eyes. He gently pulled her eyelids up.

"The tissue is still intact. I'm not so nice or stupid as to help you. But maybe you'll make it."

Nero sighed and staggered to his feet. His legs were shaking as he turned to the mountain peaks.

"Not today. But next time."

Nero smiled.

He heard a cough. Spluttering, the girl was on all fours now. Crawling towards Nero. Her eyes were sealed shut.

"Stop already. It's over."

She was shaking. Nero looked at his hands to see them trembling, too. His eyes drifted to the snow and widened. It was the ground that was shaking.

As if they'd disturbed something below.

"What?"

He heard a laugh. There was an uncanny sentience plastered across her face now.

"You got this far. Yet you didn't know what kind of place this is?"