Global Survival: I Have Endless Skeletons-Chapter 142: [Bonus - ] Meeting Darius Again.

[A Day Later]

Thoren had spent the entire day searching for any trace of the Slave Trade Guild or the Federation, but he had found nothing.

The Uncharted Territory was vast, far larger than he had initially anticipated.

Without precise directions or reliable intelligence, locating hidden strongholds within such an immense expanse was like searching for a single grain of sand in a desert.

All he knew was that their operations lay somewhere due west.

And so, he had continued moving west ever since he had eradicated the Beast God Sect’s sanctuary.

After resting through the night, he now stood atop the back of the undead Iron Roar Komodo.

The morning air was crisp, and a faint golden light stretched across the horizon.

His silver hair shifted slightly in the wind, and his blue eyes burned with firm determination.

"Today, I must find one of them... no matter the cost," he whispered.

He was running out of time.

If he wanted to clear the first floor of the Abyss and return to Earth in time to help his parents, he could not afford delays.

Every hour that passed tightened the pressure in his chest.

With a mental command, the undead Iron Roar Komodo lunged forward.

Its massive body surged across the terrain at breathtaking speed, tearing through the morning mist and leaving a blurred afterimage in its wake.

This was not the time to admire the scenery.

He needed to find those bastards before his time ran out.

For two hours straight, Thoren combed through the western region, scanning every stretch of land, every cluster of rocks, and every potential concealment point for signs of hidden activity.

But he found nothing.

Not a single trace of their presence.

He was neither discouraged nor anxious, but the absence of clues only sharpened his resolve.

Still, something troubled him.

"Why can’t I find any other Awakeners?" Thoren muttered under his breath.

Since yesterday, he had encountered no signs of human activity whatsoever. It was as though humanity had vanished entirely from the first floor.

There were no battle marks.

No scorched earth from elemental spells.

No bloodstains on the ground.

No broken weapons or shattered armor.

The silence was unnatural.

Even so, he did not give up. He continued searching relentlessly, refusing to slow down.

For a brief moment, he considered returning to town to interrogate a Federation Police officer, someone who might know the location of their hidden base.

But he quickly dismissed the idea.

What if no one outside their inner circle knew the location of the Federation’s or the Slave Trade Guild’s hideout?

He would waste valuable time traveling back and forth.

Time, he did not have.

While Thoren continued his relentless search, Riona had returned to the ruins of the Beast God Sect.

She stood amid the devastation, her fists clenched tightly at her sides.

Never in her wildest imagination had she believed their sanctuary could be destroyed so thoroughly.

The once-lush forest had been turned upside down. Broken trees lay scattered across the ground like fallen soldiers.

Massive fissures split the earth open, carving jagged scars into the land.

Mountains had crumbled.

Rivers had been split apart.

Nothing remained as it once had.

"No matter where you are... I will find you," she whispered, her voice dripping with hatred.

She turned away from the ruins and began her hunt.

As for Thoren, he had finally encountered the first humans he had seen since yesterday.

Silver hair.

Blue eyes.

The Grim Reaper.

A party of five stood frozen in place as they stared at him.

Their faces drained of color.

Their legs trembled as though they might give out at any moment.

Their hearts pounded violently in their chests.

Thoren noticed the fear in their expressions, but it did not concern him. He had no interest in intimidation for its own sake.

He got straight to the point.

"Which one of you knows the location of the Federation’s hideout?" he asked calmly.

The five Awakeners exchanged confused glances.

Why would the Federation need a hideout?

Yet when they met Thoren’s cold, piercing gaze, the captain of the party forced himself to step forward.

"S-Sir... we don’t know," he stammered.

Thoren nodded faintly.

He had not expected much from them.

Without another word, he turned away. His undead mount accelerated instantly, vanishing into the distance within seconds.

Only when he disappeared completely did the five Awakeners release the breaths they had been holding.

"H-He’s too terrifying..." a young Level 13 Warrior whispered, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.

"I felt like... like I was going to die just by looking at that undead beast," another muttered, his voice trembling.

"But why is he searching for the Federation’s hideout?" a third asked uneasily.

"That’s none of our concern," their captain said firmly. "Focus on our mission."

Speaking too much about the Grim Reaper felt like provoking fate itself.

As for Thoren, he had already forgotten about them. His mind was singularly focused on his objective.

Half an hour later, something caught his attention.

In the distance, near the bend of a river, he spotted dozens of makeshift tents.

Thoren narrowed his eyes.

Without hesitation, he urged his mount to increase its speed.

"Let’s hope they know something," he murmured.

Beside the river, a temporary camp had been set up.

Awakeners battered from prolonged battles dragged their exhausted bodies toward cooking fires.

Some were eating in silence, their faces pale and drawn.

Others had collapsed into deep, heavy sleep, too tired to remain conscious.

A few were tending to injuries.

"What is that?" a young woman suddenly asked, pointing toward the horizon.

Immediately, everyone lifted their heads.

In the distance, a massive shape was approaching at high speed.

The atmosphere in the camp shifted instantly.

Tension snapped into place like a drawn bowstring.

Everyone reached for their weapon.

Shields were raised.

They moved into formation.

"Why does that look familiar...?" someone muttered uncertainly.

Even so, no one relaxed their guard.

Within a minute, the approaching figure became clear.

An undead beast and standing atop it was a silver-haired young man with piercing blue eyes.

Thoren slowed his mount as he reached the edge of the camp.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"What a surprise," he said lightly.

Standing at the forefront of the camp was Darius.

"It truly is," Darius replied with a warm smile. "I didn’t expect to see you again so soon."

"Likewise," Thoren said.

His gaze swept across the camp, noting the exhausted and wounded members of the Knight Order. "It seems you’ve just returned from another battle."

"That is our duty," Darius answered firmly. "We will continue fighting."

His voice carried pride and unshakable determination.

Thoren gave a small nod of acknowledgment.

Then his expression turned serious.

"Darius, do you know the location of the Federation’s hideout or the Slave Trade Guild’s base?" he asked directly. "I need to find them immediately."

At his words, Darius blinked in surprise.

He had not expected that.

Still, he did not dwell on his confusion. He knew very well the atrocities committed by both the Federation’s corrupt officers and the Slave Trade Guild.

If not for the Knight Order being a bit weaker than them, they would have eliminated them long ago.

"Of course," Darius replied at last. "I know where their hideouts are."

*****

[AN: Thank you for the support and gift. This book is sponsored by Nooope]