SSS Frost Sovereign: Rewinding The Apocalypse!-Chapter 39: Hesitation

They headed out.

First were the three forward groups, moving out in their specified directions with two of Albert’s men leading each formation.

Icard and his group were headed south. Among the raid groups were smaller clusters of people who had come together beforehand, much like Icard, Reya, and the rest.

Just like Liam’s group, which was assigned to the southeast, and another group positioned at the center forward, they were required to move out earlier than the convoy.

Only after they had advanced far enough, would the empty supply trucks follow. Each truck was assigned a group of fifteen guards, with Albert, Luna, and Marcus each riding on separate vehicles.

The remaining rear groups moved out afterward, one heading northeast with Wester, and another northwest.

Their objectives were clear. Scout the area, map viable paths, and identify weak spawns that could be hunted efficiently.

And just like Katar had warned them, this could be dangerous.

As everyone passed through the gates and the mayor’s territory faded the farther they traveled, the difference became obvious.

It was far more noticeable than during the first raid. On foot, they could feel the pressure in the air, subtle but constant, as if the land itself was watching.

Every step forward sharpened their senses, and guards remained raised at all times.

"However, being discreet could help," Katar had said earlier. "Try not to attract attention if you don’t wish to be seen."

It was something most people already understood, so no one questioned it. They simply moved on.

Icard and his group advanced steadily.

They left the main roads behind, slipping into narrower paths that wound between desolate structures.

Collapsed buildings loomed on either side, their walls fractured and hollowed out, windows shattered long ago.

The silence between structures felt heavy, interrupted only by the wind slipping through exposed corridors and open doorways.

Each raid group had two of Albert’s men leading them. Their responsibilities were clear.

They were to map the area and deploy flare signals depending on what they encountered.

Red for extremely dangerous spawns that had already discovered them.

Blue for killable spawns that could be engaged safely.

Yellow if no enemies were present and they instead found malls, supply stores, or locations rich in recoverable materials.

This signaling system was still in its testing phase. It had not yet been refined, and many incarnations joining the raid believed this operation would be similar to the last one.

They thought they had simply been lucky before. That the spawns would be weaker, scattered, or slow to react.

To many, this raid seemed like an easy opportunity to grow stronger without much risk.

However, Icard did not share that optimism. The randomness beyond the Maire’s territory was still there.

They would be in luck not to come across something that could rip them apart in seconds.

He had studied his assigned raid group carefully.

Apart from his own team and Albert’s two men, there were three other groups moving with them.

The first consisted of six incarnations, three men and three women. They moved with measured steps, expressions composed, weapons held properly but not aggressively.

They did not look like the type to rush ahead blindly or break formation without reason.

The second group was smaller. Three lads accompanied by an Erwald. They stood out immediately.

Their clothing was rough, with coloured jackets more fitting of outlaws than organized raiders. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

One had bright red hair tied loosely behind his head. And another sported short blue hair with shaved sides.

The third had messy green hair that fell over sharp, restless eyes. Their posture was relaxed but dangerous, the kind of people who had survived enough fights to fear another.

And then there was the third group.

Icard glanced back over his shoulder.

They deliberately stayed behind the others, always a little too far, always just out of direct conversation range.

To most, they appeared cautious, perhaps inexperienced. But to Icard, the way they avoided eye contact, how their formation subtly shifted whenever he slowed down, stood out.

It was not enough to make others suspicious. But it was enough for him.

They had gone quite a distance now, and everything was quiet.

The area between buildings grew increasingly wrecked. Former homes lay demolished, their roofs collapsed inward, furniture exposed to the open air.

Cracks ran across the ground, splitting roads and sidewalks apart, forcing them to follow the few intact paths available.

Fences leaned at odd angles, and shattered storefronts revealed empty interiors long stripped of value.

Scattered throughout the area were large cratered mounds of earth, circular depressions as if something massive had struck the ground repeatedly.

Icard noticed them.

To the others, they seemed unremarkable, just another sign of destruction. So they ignored them and continued forward.

They had already gone far enough that turning back would feel unnatural.

"We haven’t seen anything," one of Albert’s men said. Both of them wore long coats, their collars raised slightly as they scanned the surroundings.

"No spawns, no malls, nothing useful," the other added, glancing around once more. "Do we push a bit further?"

The question was directed at everyone.

"You have gone quite far enough. I think we should head back now," the Erwald said.

The white and blue creature, large-tailed and plated like an armadillo, rested calmly atop the head of the boy standing at the center of the three-lad group.

"Yeah. We should head back before something dangerous comes for us," Alia muttered.

She tried not to show it in her posture, but she was afraid.

"Well, there is a mall down there," a man from the six-person group spoke up.

He looked a bit nerdy, wearing rectangular glasses that reflected the pale light, with his build telling a different story however.

Slim, lean, the kind of physique that came from someone who had recently started training seriously and was already seeing results.

"I’ve been to these parts before," he continued, pointing ahead. "There’s a mall out there."

Albert’s men exchanged glances for a brief moment.

"Well, this was supposed to be the limit," one of them said slowly, "but I guess we can check it out. Is it okay with everyone?"

Alia flinched slightly, her shoulders tightening before she forced herself to nod. She did not speak, but the hesitation was clear.