More snow had fallen down but the winch was able to get him out.

He saw from above that the opening that led into the room was a trapdoor. He reached for it, hooking his foot under the metal handle and slammed it shut. The sled was frozen in the snow and it had enough support to pull him up. Part of the sled was near the surface. By going along his sled with his hand Iota was able to break through the surface. The clouds responsible for the snow had disappeared. The setting dusk sun glowed auburn overlooking the earth.

He had to make a hard choice and leave the sled.

Without it he would die, but with it he would die much sooner.

He ditched it.

The snow had frozen over and solidified he walked up the side briskly. It’s too steep for a run. The giant anima smashed through the hole and snapped the sled in its mighty jaws. The sled splintered and broke on either side of the creature’s menacing jaws. It spotted him and followed but the ground under it broke. The snow hadn’t solidified fully, It was only the top layer that had actually frozen which allowed for Iota to make it out safely but not something much heavier and definitely not a creature weighing as much as that.

Unable to follow him, The giant anima roars. He can feel it despite being more than 50 meters away. He hadn’t gotten a good look at it before but after glancing back he could see it clearly. It was unlike any other anima he had seen before. Even the Fant-anima didn’t even come close to this one in size and they were the largest known variant. It walked on four clawed feet and its muscular tail slid after it.

It’s mouth spanned a fourth of its entire body. was made from 2 solid pieces with serrated edges. Its mouth suddenly opens and a contraption goes out. A humming is heard and a red light but nothing emerges. It grows fainter again before disappearing. It’s eyes then glow brighter and a light from its eyes washes over him a couple of times. Scanning him.

It continued to struggle to no avail in fact it sank it further back underneath the surface. He made it out. He is leaning heavily on his left leg, almost dragging his right.

He runs for a while just getting distance between himself and the giant anima.

The snow is turning to slush and mud. It coats everything in mud and water. He nears a hot spring that was in the distance.

A metal contraption buried is iron hot and boils water there, occasionally shooting it up. It draws power from deep down.

He takes off his jacket. It's too warm for him and it slows down his movements. The air is warm as well, just a little bit more he says to himself frustrated. He rolls up his right pant leg exposing his leg. It’s metal. He pushed the heavy clingy mud of his leg in big clumps. To loosen up the joints.

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I just have to make distance was the only thought going through his head.

He sees a moving light in the distance. That can only be marauders. They look for anyone to capture and sent to the city. Almuth both the name of the city and name of the kingdom.

He hides behind a rock protruding from the ground.

His parents were long dead but there is one indiscriminate rule followed by all. Don’t trust anybody.

A roar penetrated the air. his eyes full of adrenaline and fear. Iota scrambled out, right into something.

“Well, look who we have here.” Said a grizzled voice. “What a nice little surprise.”

Iota stared up at a tall, orange bearded man. He is wearing a blue coat, has 2 golden earrings in his left ear and binoculars around his neck. The man smiled menacingly, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

He grabbed him easily and took him into the giant truck. Thick segmented tires have many spindly legs in front of the vehicle. Instead of wheels. It hoists him up and drops him into a massive cell with other people. Huddled together for warmth.

“People will come after me!” Shouted Iota. “My crew has 10 crucks as big as this. If you don’t let me out, there won’t be any going back.”

“Is that why you were out there, with no belongings, drenched and soaked in mud like a sewer rat!” It looks to me like you were left there by your crew. Most likely after trying to double cross them.”

The guards erupted with laughter. Some of the slaves joined in.

“I’ll kill you!” Shouted Iota, his face red with anger.

He was met with silence.

He sat down defeated. He felt a hand on the side of his pants. He reached it and twisted it viciously. “Get away, thief!” Shouted Iota. The hand belonged to a scrawny person, their face so covered in dirt and much that only their mouth could be seen clearly. The person shrieked in agony. “You’re breaking it! You’re breaking it!” Iota stood up

“If any one of you tries anything I'll do more than break your wrist.”

Iota let go staring daggers at everyone.Guards stared down lazily at them. One of them sighed. After some time had passed. A man looked at him.

“Are you from around here?” Asked the man with a smile. He was old, and had graying hair. His body was skinny but not unhealthily so. “You were by yourself,” He went on. “Does that mean that you have been by yourself for a while?”

Iota didn’t respond.

The man laughed. “My name is Noire, I’m surprised anyone could be able to survive at all, especially as a kid. You must be quite the warrior”

“You saw what happened to the last guy”

The man held up his hands.

“I would never.You know..” He said, itching his nose before leaning back.

“In times like this it’s better to just sit back and relax. There’s nothing you can do in this situation.Even if you somehow managed to escape there wouldn’t be anywhere for you to go.”

Noire put his hand on One's shoulder. Iota reached up and squeezed it but he stopped.

Noire laughed. “Hey, out here in the wilderness, do you know how to read?”

Iota glared at him.

Iota opened his hand. There was a crinkled up piece of paper inside of it.

He unfurled it.

On it in crude letters it said

In 3 days - escape.