Chapter 203:Entering.
The convoy entered the narrow section and almost immediately, the atmosphere changed.
The towering cliff walls seemed to close in around the vehicles until the strip of sky above became nothing more than a ribbon of pale blue. Sunlight struggled to reach the bottom of the ravine, leaving long shadows stretching across the uneven road.
Silver instinctively eased off the accelerator further, not enough to slow the convoy but just enough to react if something suddenly emerged.
Ahead, the lead trucks disappeared around another bend. Behind them, the rest of the convoy remained tightly packed, every driver carefully maintaining their position.
No one wanted to become isolated, not here. The only sounds were engines, shifting gravel, and the occasional crack of falling pebbles from the cliffs overhead.
It was almost too quiet, then the silence broke. A thunderous roar echoed through the ravine.
The ground shook violently. Before anyone could react, a massive creature burst through a wall of loose stone. Rock fragments rained across the road.
The beast resembled an enormous mountain ram nearly three meters tall, its body protected by thick layers of jagged stone that blended perfectly with the surrounding cliffs.
Its curved horns looked more like sharpened boulders than bone.
"Tier Four!"
It charged directly into the convoy.
"Brake!" Someone shouted.
The truck in front barely avoided a collision. The ram slammed into the side of another transport vehicle instead.
Metal screamed as it curved inwards. The entire truck tilted dangerously before crashing back onto all four wheels. Contractors inside were thrown violently against the doors.
The convoy’s orderly formation instantly fractured. More roars answered the first; another ram, then another. Three of them burst from hidden caves simultaneously.
Silver cursed under his breath.
"They planned this."
Ravenna was already aiming through the open passenger window.
"They’re separating us."
"They’re trying to, but I hope they don’t succeed."
The first ram lowered its head again.
Silver swerved sharply. The beast’s horn scraped along the side of their vehicle with an earsplitting screech, tearing the steel. Paint vanished beneath deep grooves.
The entire car shuddered. Ravenna steadied herself against the dashboard before firing.
Boom!
Her sniper round struck the beast squarely in the shoulder. The impact staggered it, but the thick rocky armor absorbed most of the force.
"It barely slowed!"
Silver wasn’t surprised.
"Tier Four, they’re tougher."
The convoy accelerated again. Several contractors jumped from their vehicles to intercept the charging beasts. Ice exploded across the road, walls of earth rose from beneath the gravel, and wind blades carved through the dust-filled air.
For several seconds, the entire ravine became complete chaos. Silver kept driving, because stopping now would be suicide.
A movement flashed across his peripheral vision. It was coming from above. Half a dozen Rock Climbers launched themselves from the cliffs at once.
Unlike before, they ignored the front vehicles entirely; instead, they targeted the middle of the convoy.
Silver drew his pistol.
[Phantom Draw Lv3 Activated.]
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Three rapid shots. One beast spun backward before crashing into the cliff wall, a second twisted in midair, and the third ducked beneath the bullets entirely, landing directly on the roof of a nearby truck. Its claws punched through reinforced steel as though it were paper.
People screamed.
The contractor inside slammed on the brakes instinctively, and that single mistake created a gap.
The convoy split.
Silver gritted his teeth.
"Damn it. Are they stupid? Why can’t people follow instructions?"
The truck ahead accelerated around another bend, and the damaged vehicle behind slowed.
Suddenly, their own car occupied the space between both groups, exactly where the beasts wanted them.
"They’re isolating us."
Ravenna’s voice remained calm despite the danger. Silver nodded.
"I know."
Another impact came.
Boom!
Something enormous landed behind their vehicle. Silver glanced through the rearview mirror, his eyes narrowing.
It was a Boulder Lizard, except... Much larger. It was nearly four meters long, with dark grey scales. Its rocky hide bore numerous scars.
Tier Four.
It sprinted after them using all four limbs with frightening speed.
"It’s catching us."
Ravenna twisted around.
"I’ll slow it."
Flames ignited around her left hand. She thrust it backward.
Fire Lance
A spear of compressed flame shot toward the pursuing beast. The attack exploded against its chest, and the creature hissed angrily. Its scales blackened, but it kept running.
Silver exhaled slowly.
"So much for that."
The lizard leapt, its claws reaching toward the rear of their vehicle. Without thinking, Silver jerked the steering wheel sharply. The beast missed by centimeters before crashing heavily onto the road. The impact sent rocks flying in every direction.
Their car fishtailed violently. Ravenna grabbed the dashboard.
"Careful!"
"I am."
Silver corrected the slide before accelerating again. Another beast appeared, then another. This time from the cliffs above.
The convoy had become completely stretched apart. Some vehicles were nearly fifty meters ahead, and others had disappeared behind clouds of dust.
Silver realized something.
"...I can’t keep shooting and driving."
Ravenna already understood.
"I’ll drive."
Silver looked at her.
"You sure?"
She answered by reaching across and placing one hand on the steering wheel.
"When?"
"...Now."
The exchange happened almost instinctively. Silver slid sideways while maintaining control of the wheel, while Ravenna moved smoothly into the driver’s position as he climbed partially through the passenger side. Within seconds, she controlled the vehicle.
Silver stood balanced against the open doorframe, one hand gripping the roof rack. The rushing wind whipped through his hair.
Below, the rocky road blurred beneath them; ahead, another Rock Climber bounded toward the vehicle.
Silver smiled coldly.
"Bad choice."
His pistol flashed.
[Phantom Draw Lv3 Activated.]
Bang!
The first bullet entered the beast’s throat before its body even began falling...
Bang!
The second shattered its skull. The corpse crashed harmlessly against the roadside. Another leapt.
Silver didn’t hesitate.
Bang!
Bang!
This time two precise shots pierced both eyes. The creature collapsed before reaching them.
Ravenna glanced upward briefly.
"You’ve got this."
"Just keep driving."
She smiled.
"I planned to."
The convoy continued winding through the ravine. More contractors had begun fighting from outside their vehicles as well. Several sprinted alongside moving trucks, others climbed onto rooftops to fend off attackers.
The entire battle had transformed into a moving fortress desperately forcing its way through hostile territory.
Silver fired again, each shot finding its target. His movements had become almost mechanical.
Draw.
Aim.
Fire.
Holster.
Repeat.
The System responded.
[Phantom Draw Lv3]
{Proficiency Increased.}
Silver barely noticed; there was no time.
Another Boulder Lizard detached itself from the cliff and landed directly in front of them.
Ravenna swore softly.
"It’s blocking us!"
Silver holstered the pistol.
"...Don’t stop."
"What?"
"Don’t stop!"
He drew his sword. As the distance rapidly closed, Silver activated Short-Step.
[Short-Step Lv2 Activated. ]
His body vanished. For an instant, he seemed to blur through space itself; the next moment, he appeared directly beside the beast.
His sword flashed.
[Space Slash Lv2 Activated.]
The invisible blade carved diagonally across the Boulder Lizard’s neck as blood erupted. The beast stumbled sideways in confusion.
Silver landed lightly before using Short-Step again. He reappeared beside the moving vehicle just as Ravenna drove past.
She opened the passenger door without slowing, and Silver grabbed it and swung himself back inside. The wounded lizard collapsed behind them.
Ravenna let out a long breath.
"...That was reckless."
Silver shut the door.
"It worked."
She shook her head.
"You worry me sometimes."
He laughed quietly despite the chaos.
"I’ll take that as a compliment."
Another roar echoed somewhere ahead. The battle was far from over.
The convoy continued pushing deeper through the endless maze of cliffs, every kilometer paid for with bullets, blood, and exhaustion.