"Cassian Zane."

Evangeline repeated the name, her voice level. The corner of her lip curled.

Loras’s expression turned cold. He frowned and said, "He’s clearly a Snow Ferret Beastman. We saw him with our own eyes. But he’s a very strange one. He must have ulterior motives for telling you to go beyond the Triangle Sea."

Evangeline raised an eyebrow slightly. "You’ve seen what he looks like?"

Loras glanced up at her, a strange flicker in his deep violet eyes. Only after a moment did he respond with a quiet hum of assent.

"Was he dressed extravagantly? Very handsome?" Evangeline sat up straighter, a glint of interest in her eyes.

An unreadable emotion flickered deep in Loras’s eyes. He said in a low voice, "There’s just something... unsettling about him."

Evangeline chuckled, her tone knowing. She nodded. "That’s to be expected."

’After all, he’s the God of this little world. It would be stranger if there wasn’t something special about him.’

The dangerous theory she had been forming was finally taking shape.

’The Snow Ferret was very likely the Beast God.’

’The idea had seemed absurd at first. After all, as the deity who protected the continent, the Beast God was revered by all beastmen. He couldn’t possibly turn a blind eye to the calamities sweeping across the Beastman Continent. Unless, of course, the Beast God’s hands were tied.’

’This theory became even clearer after Lachlan had been pulled back from the brink of death.’

’In this little world, if anyone could defy the natural order and reverse life and death—besides an Otherworlder like her who was basically on a retirement trip with a cheat system—who could it be but the Beast God, the master of this world’s laws?’

’Not to mention the words left behind in Blackwater Swamp, which were imbued with traces of extraordinary power.’

’These were not feats an ordinary beastman could accomplish.’

"To be expected?" Loras was taken aback, looking at Evangeline in confusion.

Suddenly, his violet eyes narrowed. His voice dropped, his tone tentative as he asked, "Eva, do you know who he is? Don’t tell me you’re originally from beyond the Triangle Sea?"

’This question had been swirling in his mind for a long time. Evangeline was not the real "Evangeline"—so where had she come from?’

’Now, seeing her completely unsurprised by Cassian Zane’s identity, he instantly understood that she must have known the truth all along.’

Evangeline’s lashes fluttered, and a faint, almost imperceptible smile touched her lips. "Regarding Cassian Zane, you’ll find out when we get to the Triangle Sea. As for me, I’m not from there. But... perhaps you’ll know the truth one day."

Loras’s gaze was fixed on her, a pained look surfacing in his violet eyes.

’He didn’t know why, but a strange sense of unease began to spread through his chest.’

*

Danton led the Mer Clan in spreading the news far and wide: Norfell was plagued by constant disasters and was no longer habitable.

Of course, this was a truth everyone already knew perfectly well.

From the earthquakes to the mudslides of the rainy season and the onslaught of blizzards, every sign pointed to the fact that this land had been forsaken by the Beast God. The Mer Clan had merely torn away the thin veil of self-deception, forcing all the beastmen to face reality.

It made them understand that the Norfell Beastmen needed to find a new path forward, not just remain there to die.

The true dilemma was where to go after leaving.

Beyond Norfell lay the dreaded Triangle Sea.

And for the Norfell Beastmen, the world beyond the Triangle Sea remained a complete mystery.

But one thing was clear to everyone: the Triangle Abyss, lair of the Swarm, had a warm climate, like spring all year round. It was the ideal place to wait out the long Cold Season. Once this idea took root, it spread like wildfire among the tribes.

All they had to do was seize the Swarm’s territory, and once the snows passed, Norfell would be peaceful again, right?

In an instant, the entire Norfell Tribal Alliance was once again stirring with secret plots.

The leaders of several tribes began to meet with increasing frequency, once again plotting a joint expedition to the Triangle Abyss. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Traveling during the Cold Season, after all, presented daunting challenges for a long journey: biting winds, food shortages, and treacherous paths.

They had to prepare, or more than half of them would perish before they even reached the Triangle Abyss.

*

Meanwhile, Thorne returned to the Grymdale Tribe.

When the warriors on patrol saw Thorne, they thought their eyes were deceiving them and rubbed them in disbelief.

"Thorne?!" Gasps of surprise erupted, but they died down the instant everyone saw the Eight-star pattern on his forehead.

The gazes of his clansmen instantly blazed with awe, but a second later, their eyes began to shift, unable to hide their fear and shame.

They would never forget how wretched Thorne had been when he returned to the tribe, his power lost. Nor would they forget how he had plotted to slaughter the Oasis Tribe, and how they themselves had exiled him to the darkest, most remote cave. Now, bathed in the light of his dazzling Eight-star pattern, the memory of their past ridicule and humiliation crept back up their spines. The bitter taste of their actions coming back to haunt them was deeply unpleasant.

How times had changed. The once-powerless outcast was now dazzling once more.

Even their strongest leader, Elias Moretti, was still only a Seven-star Patterned Beastman.

Thorne’s indifferent gaze swept over the two guards. "Is Elias Moretti in the tribe?"

The two guards on patrol instinctively straightened their spines. After exchanging a glance, they hastily replied, "Yes! He is!"

It was the middle of the Cold Season. While other beastman races were struggling, it was an even harder time for the Snake Clan, who needed to hibernate.

Aside from the warriors who stood fast on patrol, braving the wind and snow to ensure the tribe’s safety, the rest of the clan was curled up deep within the caves, huddling together for warmth. As leader, Elias Moretti had even more responsibilities, including distributing food every day.

Thorne dispensed with any pleasantries. "Take me to Elias Moretti," he said, his voice crisp.

As if granted a pardon, the two warriors nodded immediately, bowing as they led Thorne into the tribe.

The companion they had grown up with had now become the most familiar of strangers.

The memory of the time when his Serpent Star Pattern had been shattered lay between them like an unthawable wall of ice, making their relationship incredibly awkward. Furthermore, he had been gone from the tribe for a long time and had returned as a revered powerhouse with eight stars. The guards deliberately kept half a step behind him—too far felt disrespectful, but any closer felt frightening.

This careful balancing act made the once-familiar path home feel exceptionally long.

As Thorne walked, his dark green eyes gazed through the swirling blizzard at the Grymdale Tribe.

A long time had passed since he had last left, when he and Elias Moretti had traveled to Blackwater Swamp in search of Evangeline. Now that he had returned, the Grymdale Tribe was no longer as he remembered it.

Now, with Elias Moretti as leader, the entire tribe had been transformed under his rule.

Thorne gazed at the caves scattered neatly across the cliff face and the well-ordered tribal camp, his eyes glinting.

’During his absence, Elias Moretti had indeed done an excellent job managing the Grymdale Tribe.’

Perhaps hearing the commotion, members of the Grymdale Tribe peeked their heads out of their caves. The faces of those who had once mocked and scorned him were now frozen in astonishment, as if they had never imagined they would one day see Thorne again.