Russia, on the outskirts of Norilsk, eight years ago.

A team of all men dressed in winter suits was moving forward in the ice and snow, and Norilsk had entered the polar night period, with no sun at all for nearly two months, and the temperature outside was as low as minus 50 °C, making it impossible to go out.

"Captain Berry, is that imp okay? I'm afraid he'll feel uncomfortable taking on such a serious task for the first time. The person in second place in the queue asked the leader.

Berry Frense put up his goggles, "He's been part of our Storm Force since he joined us, so don't keep thinking of him as a ghost, Jersey." ”

The man Jersey called the imp was Nicholas, who had only joined their unit for three months, and although his overall quality evaluation was very superior, because of his lack of actual combat experience, Berry only gave him a position as a medical soldier.

"That's it, Vice-Captain Jersey, don't keep treating me like a hairy boy!" yelled Nicholas behind Jersey, she didn't want to be seen as a casual imp.

"Imp. Jersey turned his head to look at him, "The environment of our mission is arguably the worst, and every year there are new people who go missing or die because of the mission, so you'd better be careful." ”

"Well, Jersey, you've got enough of that. Berry stopped abruptly, then looked around carefully. "If I'm correct, the mission location should be near here. Jersey, take out the map and tell me exactly where you are. ”

"Got it, got it. Jersey moved his already slightly stiff fingers, then pulled a map out of his backpack. "Nearly 300 meters to the northeast should be the town of Geer where we are going. ”

"I still have to walk 300 meters, how do I feel that it takes longer to walk than to complete the task?" Nicholas complained loudly.

"It's to sharpen your spirits, do it!" Jersey laughed, and when he saw Nicholas, he seemed to see himself again when he first joined the unit.

I think I complained like this at the beginning, and then I was punished after the mission was punished for wearing only a thin cotton coat in the snowy mountains to carry weights for 5 kilometers, and now I think about it, I really miss my fearless self at that time.

The procession headed northeast, and the snow was falling heavier, even to the point of obscuring everyone's view. "Looks like you've arrived at your destination, Captain. Jersey suddenly pointed to the faint shadow of the house in front of him.

"It's here. Berry didn't feel any joy, because for for them the real task had only begun now. "Everyone followed the plan and searched to find as many survivors as possible. ”

"Understood!" Berry gave the order, and everyone in the team immediately dispersed to conduct a carpet search from house to house.

Walking through the streets of Gehrtown, Berry's brow became more and more frowned. A few stiffened corpses could be seen on the streets, and their deaths were very hideous, and it seemed that they must have suffered very horrific things in their lives.

The holes in their necks are a clear indication of who killed them, undoubtedly the vampires who have long been targeted for escape.

The vampires here are a completely different species from the usual belief that the Bloods are cursed creatures that suck blood, but are relatively less harmful to humans, and would never be able to do such a blatant and vicious event.

The vampires here are only bloodsucking monsters in a certain way, they are so strong that it is almost impossible to kill them with weapons, and they resemble humans, and some people even speculate that they may be some kind of human variant.

But these creatures are even more terrifying than the legendary Bloodline, which terrifies people living in the Arctic Circle. Every year, as long as it is the polar night, these monsters will pour out their nests, and they slaughter human beings town after town, and there are dead corpses everywhere they pass, which has seriously endangered the safety of people in the Arctic Circle.

"It's miserable!" said Jersey as he came out of one of the houses and said to Berry, "and the old man and child have spared no one, and the methods are as cruel as ever. ”

"I've been looking into these things since I've been in Iceland, and there's no doubt that these monsters have only appeared in the last decade. Berry exhaled a chill breath. "It's not just that they commit such atrocious crimes because of their bestial nature, I prefer that there is someone behind it. ”

"Looks like you've got an idea. Jersey rubbed his fingers, "Because people like you never tell unfounded facts." ”

"I think there's a good chance I've already played against someone behind the scenes. "But I'm not sure yet, maybe this operation will allow me to confirm my suspicions." ”

"I hope so, or I wonder how many more people will lose their families!" replied Jersey, stomping his foot.

"Bang knock!" a loud thud caught the attention of both of them, and Nicholas stumbled over the door panel, pulled down his cold mask and retched on his knees on the snow.

"It looks like the imp can't stand it anymore. Jersey smiled at Berry, "It's probably hard for a team member who has just joined us to accept such an exciting scene." ”

Berry walked straight to Nicholas, who was still retching, tears mixed with sweat running down his face.

"Take a few more deep breaths, and when you react, wipe it with a piece of paper. Berry didn't blame him in the slightest, but took a few tissues from his waist and handed them to Nicholas.

"Did you find any survivors?" asked Jersey as he slowly gathered his teammates.

"No, nothing was found except for the body. "I haven't found anything here either, except dead people and dead people. "As before, there was no one left. ”...... Almost everyone spoke in unison about the fact that there was not even a single living person left in this group of monsters.

"Let's rest here. "After all, we've been walking for too long, and we need to take a break here." ”

Soon, a warm bonfire was raised in an empty house, and everyone gathered around the campfire to enjoy a rare rest. They took out the cans, which had been frozen hard, and unsealed them with the heat of the flame, which was undoubtedly the most extravagant thing they had in this cold weather.

Nicholas didn't sit around the campfire like everyone else, he was always ashamed of his gaffe. Damn, damn it! I would tremble and even vomit uncontrollably at the sight of the dead body, I was the most useless person in the group.

"The little ghost doesn't seem to be in high spirits. Jersey whispered to Berry. "Wouldn't you still feel unhappy because of what happened just now?"

Berry silently put down the can in his hand and stood up and walked towards Nicholas, who kept his eyes on Berry when he walked up to him.

"Hey, come out with me. "There's something I want to tell you." With that, he walked out the door without saying a word.

Nicholas stood up tremblingly, although the captain had always taken good care of him, but this time his performance was so bad that I am afraid that even the captain could not stand it, and in the worst case he should be expelled from the team.

When Nicholas walked out of the room, he found the captain already sitting on the steps outside the house, admiring the snow outside.

"Sit down. Berry told him that the soft voice made Nicholas feel extra warm.

"Yes, yes. Nicholas felt like he was about to stutter, but he ended up sitting next to Berry.

"I think I'm embarrassed by my performance today, don't you?" Berry said with a smile, "I don't have to hide anything from me, as your captain, don't I know about you?"

"I, I think today's performance was too bad. Nicholas hesitated for a moment, but finally spoke his heart under Berry's sincere gaze.

"Do you know why that's happening?" asked Berry.

"Because, because the room is full of people who have lost their lives!" Nicholas trembled uncontrollably. "There are children, there are pregnant women, and all kinds of people, they were all living beings!"

"I don't know why, but just the sight of their empty eyes makes me feel my heart beat faster, as if their souls are not far away, as if I can vaguely hear their cries of pain as they die. ”

"That's right, Nicholas!" Berry said suddenly, startling Nicholas, who had expected the captain to rebuke him.

"Listen to me, Nicholas. Berry looked into his eyes and said, word by word, "The name of that feeling is pity, and because you have compassion for those who have lost their lives, that's why you become like that." ”

"But it's not a shame!" he raised his voice, "because we are human beings, pity is our proper emotion, and those who have lost their feelings are not worthy of the word human at all!

Am I like this because I am human?, Nicholas seemed to suddenly see a light fall from the sky, and then the souls of those who had passed away sang loudly and followed the dazzling light into the eternal and beautiful heaven.

"Turn that emotion into your fighting power!" Berry stood up, "It is with these feelings that we can fight, because with these feelings we will keep moving forward, and this is the proof that we are born as human beings." ”

"I see, Captain. Nicholas also stood up, and the loss in his eyes was swept away. "I'm going to fight as a real human, thank you, Captain, for letting me know what to do!"

"The knot in my heart is untied, so let's go in and get warm. Berry kicked Nicholas in the ass, "Get some rest, our fight has just begun!"

"Yes. Nicholas walked into the room with a smile on his face for the first time in a long time, and the atmosphere inside became more enthusiastic.

"Maybe this time I can complete the obsession I've been carrying for so many years once and for all. Berry reached out and caught a crystal snowflake, feeling the ice crystals melt in his hands.

The snow began to get heavier and heavier, and Berry seemed to see a pair of blood-red eyes in the distance in a trance, but when he rubbed his eyes and looked again, he found nothing.

"Looks like I'm going to have to rest, too. Berry stretched. "Otherwise, I'm afraid I'm going to hallucinate. ”

He entered the house and closed the door, and the outside was once again a pure white world.