Claire Chapman and Paige Summers exchanged a look. Instead of relaxing, their expressions grew even more serious.

The Foundry, which could house thousands, and the nearby military base... and all they had were the Zombies at the entrance? What a joke! Even if they had dwindled from fighting each other, the survivors should have become High-level Zombies by now. And yet, all they had seen were mere grunts.

This lack of logic usually meant a bigger trap was waiting.

For a moment, Claire Chapman considered taking another route, but she immediately dismissed the idea.

This was the most direct path to the warehouse district. Taking a detour would likely mean encountering more Zombies. Besides, who could guarantee other routes wouldn’t have the same problem?

"Probably a big one."

Paige Summers said softly, a faint, almost imperceptible excitement in her voice.

Advancing her superpower after reaching the Eighth Rank would require more and higher-level Crystal Cores.

’A High-level Zombie meant a High-level Crystal Core. The Zombie might see her as prey, but in her heart, she knew she was the hunter!’

Claire Chapman nodded.

Under her command, the team resumed its advance.

Just as they expected, the empty path was devoid of a single Zombie. The mountain wind was cool, and as it blew past, it only stirred up the thick dust on the ground. The squads moved forward, swift yet cautious.

Paige Summers scanned the area, but there wasn’t a sound.

At the end of the road, near a half-collapsed wall, a large tree stood lush and green. Its swaying branches only served to make the scene feel all the more desolate.

The base’s interior was dilapidated beyond recognition. After countless battles and the long passage of time, the massive factory buildings had all collapsed. Rubble was scattered everywhere. Beneath the ruins, machinery could be faintly seen, its original form obscured by dust and rust. The only thing still standing was the tall steelmaking furnace, but its exterior was also mottled and decrepit.

Paige Summers let out a soft breath, her eyes scanning her surroundings with even greater focus as she walked.

’Where could it be hiding?’

They were more than halfway down the road, and still, nothing had happened.

The Superpower User scouting ahead reached the end of the path and signaled that a group of Zombies was gathered around the corner to the left. The tension that had gripped many of them finally eased.

’So they were over there!’

Humans are clearly more afraid of the unknown than of any danger they can see.

But Paige Summers felt no sense of relief.

Although there was nothing outwardly wrong with the area, she had a bad feeling. It was as if... a pair of eyes were constantly watching from some hidden corner, yet even she couldn’t pinpoint their location!

"Pick up the pace!" Claire Chapman commanded.

’Paige Summers agreed. If she couldn’t find it, they should just push past it!’

She was about to break into a full sprint when she suddenly stopped in her tracks. She looked back. Ben was gone! No, not just Ben! The members of the two squads behind them had all vanished!

And in the instant she turned back around, the squad ahead, led by Claire Chapman, had already gotten far into the distance! Their speed was barely any slower than her own.

Panic seized her.

But then, a second thought made her shake her head internally. ’No, this is all wrong. Ben wouldn’t just leave without a sound, and Claire Chapman would never be this reckless.’

’It must be an illusion.’

She decided to stand her ground and wait for the illusion to reveal its flaws.

Figures began to emerge from the nearby ruins, walking toward her.

Closer and closer they came.

Paige Summers slowly narrowed her eyes, a smirk playing on her lips.

’Nora Lowell?’

’Sheldon Reid?’

’Those two are here? How is that possible!’

’Is the plan to make me fight non-existent people until I’m exhausted?’

Just as she was thinking this, two more figures appeared.

Paige Summers suddenly bit her lower lip.

’Grandpa... Marcus Monroe...’

Even though she knew it was an illusion—that her grandfather, who had passed away and now existed on another plane, could never appear before her again—her heart still skipped a beat when she saw that familiar, wrinkled face.

And she found herself missing Marcus Monroe’s serious face as well.

She hadn’t realized it when they were together, but now that they were apart, she found him weighing on her mind more and more.

She worried about his safety, worried he’d run into problems he couldn’t solve, worried that he’d get so busy he’d forget to eat... Her feelings weren’t a fiery passion, but a gentle warmth that flowed steadily through her heart.

She gazed at the two of them, almost greedily, but didn’t take a step forward.

Nora Lowell and Sheldon Reid, who had appeared earlier, didn’t approach her either. Instead, just as she was lost in thought, they suddenly spun around. Long knives had appeared in their hands, and in the blink of an eye, they were fighting her grandfather and Marcus Monroe.

Marcus Monroe countered with ease, but her grandfather was no match for them. Soon, he was in mortal danger!