Chapter 84: Fortress of Alathoor

Vincious Gerald had maintained constant contact with the military along the entire length of the migration. After receiving formal confirmation that the high command had established a secure headquarters inside the Alathoor caves, he immediately rerouted the massive civilian convoy toward the mountain range.

The Alathoor mountain range was widely known as the wildest and most rugged terrain in the entire country.

Unlike the towering, snow-capped peaks found in the northern provinces, the mountains of Alathoor were relatively low in elevation, featuring dense rock formations, winding ravines, and a uniquely pleasant climate that remained remarkably mild all year round.

The expansive Alathoor caves provided an almost perfect natural fortress for a long-term human settlement, shielding survivors from the harsh desert winds and roaming zombie hordes, provided the enclave possessed enough rations to sustain its population.

Fortunately, the convoy had spent the past several weeks systematically looting abandoned supply depots, gas stations, and grocery warehouses along the highway, accumulating ton upon ton of non-perishable canned food, medical supplies, and purified drinking water.

Vincious was thoroughly satisfied with their logistical surplus. At the very least, when they integrated with the military authorities, his people would not be viewed as useless cheapskates begging for handouts without bringing any valuable assets to the table.

After several more hours of heavy driving across the rocky foothills, the lead command vehicle finally rumbled to a stop before a massive, heavily fortified military barricade constructed from stacked shipping containers, razor wire, and reinforced steel plates. Standing directly beside the primary checkpoint gates was Derrick, accompanied by a small squad of Rogues, quietly waiting for the convoy’s arrival.

"Leader, everything has been fully settled with the military high command. We will be sharing the eastern section of the cave network," Derrick reported smoothly as he approached the vehicle, bowing his head slightly to Salma as the heavy steel barricades were pulled open to allow the endless line of transport trucks to pass through.

"Hm," Salma nodded in quiet approval. She gestured for Derrick to join them, and he opened the door, slipping into the passenger seat of the armored vehicle as it began moving smoothly down the main subterranean access road.

"What about that matter?" Salma asked calmly as the vehicle descended deeper into the shadow of the mountain cliffs.

Derrick cast a subtle glance over his shoulder toward the back seat. Summer was sitting there with her head tilted down, carefully inspecting her golden metal gauntlets, acting as if she did not care about their conversation in the slightest while blatantly eavesdropping on every single word they uttered.

A faint smile touched Derrick’s lips. "Here," he said simply. Reaching into his inner coat pocket, Derrick pulled out a small, inconspicuous dark leather pouch tied with a silk cord and handed it directly back to Summer.

Summer furrowed her dark eyebrows, staring suspiciously down at the plain pouch resting in her palm.

[A Space pouch,] the system muttered softly inside her mind.

’Space pouch?’ Summer asked mentally, poking the soft leather with her index finger.

’People who choose the space element can choose to augment their specific chosen property of that element,’ Shadow explained, its fat chicken form hovering inside her mental realm. ’Augmentation is a special, high-tier ability that anyone reaching the Apprentice rank and beyond can master if they put in the effort.’

’What is an augmentation?’ Summer questioned further, her curiosity piqued by the new concept.

[It is essentially creating a localized domain infused entirely with the unique properties of your chosen element,] the system chimed in to clarify. [Your Shadow element’s chosen property, for instance, is your Chaotic Wings. With enough practice, you can eventually develop a full domain centered around that chaotic property. It is a highly complex, demanding process, which is why we have not formally taught you how to execute it yet. You can begin learning the fundamentals after we settle down properly inside the caves.]

Summer nodded inwardly, accepting the explanation for now, and focused her full attention back onto the small dark pouch resting in her lap.

"You just have to pull the top cord open," Derrick instructed gently, motioning with his fingers to demonstrate opening the top of the leather pouch. "Just remember, the spatial enchantment on that specific pouch has only enough stored energy to open and close a hundred times before the structure collapses."

’He probably assumes you don’t possess mana to properly bind your soul with the item,’ Shadow noted with a quiet chuckle. ’Well, it is far better to keep things that way for now. There is no need to share every single one of your secrets with external observers.’

Summer silently agreed with Shadow’s logic. After all, her mother was practically a living archive of hidden secrets and covert schemes. It was only fair that she kept a few powerful tricks hidden up her own sleeve as well.

Without saying a word, Summer pulled the silk cord loose, opening the mouth of the pouch, and plunged her hand inside. Her fingers brushed against a dense cluster of hard, icy objects resting within an expanded spatial pocket. Selecting one, she pulled her pale hand back out into the open air, holding a dark, shimmering crystal that radiated a heavy density of corrupted energy.

It was a high-grade Elite zombie core!

Summer’s crimson eyes instantly lit up with pure childish delight. Without a single second of hesitation, she popped the hard crystalline core straight into her mouth.

CRUNCH!

The crystal shattered cleanly between her teeth, releasing a rich, concentrated burst of cold, sweet energy that washed down her throat like chilled berry juice.

"Mmm... these tastes so much better than regular candy!" Her eyes brightened dramatically as her chubby cheeks puffed out while chewing the treat.

"Of course," Derrick boasted with a quiet grin, straightening his posture proudly in the front seat. "That core did not come from an ordinary, pathetic human zombie. Our shadows hunted down specialized mutated creatures deep in the wild mountain passes to harvest those specific drops."

"So that’s why they taste so much better!" Summer muttered under her breath, a scheming light flickering in her crimson eyes as she began planning how to hunt down those exact wild creatures for herself the moment they settled into the new base.

"What are you planning?" Salma reached over and pinched Summer’s chubby cheek lovingly, a soft laugh escaping her lips as she looked down at the little girl. The mischievous motives driving her daughter’s mind were practically written all over her face.

"Nothing," Summer lied instantly. She pulled her face out of her mother’s reach and scooted further down the leather bench, pressing herself against the heavy armored window to put some distance between them.

Salma chuckled warmly as she watched her daughter’s annoyed expression, thoroughly enjoying the small act of defiance.

’Are there only Elite cores inside that pouch?’ Salma asked Derrick silently across their shadow link, her playful mood instantly dissolving into concern.

’Unfortunately, yes, Leader,’ Derrick answered with a slight, solemn nod. ’Harvesting unpurified Lord-tier cores in this lower world proved nearly impossible.’

’That is not going to be enough,’ Salma muttered mentally, her dark green eyes lingering on the back of Summer’s head as the little girl stared out at the passing military outposts. ’Her hunger is growing exponentially larger with each passing day. At this rate, standard Elite cores are not going to satisfy her appetite for much longer.’

’Then what is the plan, Leader?’ Derrick questioned, his tone disciplined and attentive.

’We return...’ Salma transmitted smoothly.

Derrick’s rigid composure almost broke completely right there in the passenger seat upon hearing those two words. A subtle flicker of genuine shock flashed across his eyes as he gripped the dashboard tightly.

’But taking her back there will instantly alert the family,’ Derrick warned hastily across the mental connection. ’If the elders discover her existence and the true nature of her altered foundation, they will mobilize everything to seize her.’

’She’s not coming,’ Salma replied. ’Only us, after we settle the matter of that Supreme Bastard and his disgusting son.’