Chapter 250:Finally there.
The convoy started moving shortly afterward. The landscape looked different in the morning. The golden sunlight revealed details that darkness had hidden.
The dry riverbeds were more numerous than Silver had realized. Some stretched across the plains for hundreds of meters, others were narrow channels winding between rocky hills.
The grass was sparse around them. Occasionally, they passed the remains of old structures, broken signs, abandoned road markers, and pieces of concrete.
Evidence that people had once tried to expand the road farther into the Yellow Zone. Eventually, the wilderness had reclaimed most of it.
The convoy traveled for several hours without incident. The peacefulness returned, but it felt different now. Nobody relaxed completely.
Every few minutes, someone scanned the horizon. Silver did the same. He occasionally used his spacial sense to examine the surrounding area. Nothing unusual appeared.
Antony eventually broke the silence.
"So."
Silver glanced at the mirror.
"So?"
"How far until we reach the valley?"
"Not too far."
"That’s vague."
"It’s intentionally vague."
Antony sighed.
"You two are terrible at answering questions."
Ravenna smiled.
"You’re just impatient."
"We’ve never been to the valley before, we can only estimate the distance. You can look on the map, I think it’s around here somewhere."
"No thanks, I think I’ll wait."
Silver laughed. Ravenna leaned over and threw a paper map at him.
"I said no."
The road eventually narrowed and the convoy slowed. The terrain became rockier. Large hills appeared on both sides, and the grass became thicker in the lower areas, creating natural hiding places.
Silver immediately understood why the convoy was slowing. A beast wouldn’t need to be particularly intelligent to hide here. The terrain itself did the work.
Larry’s vehicle stopped briefly and the others followed. He stepped out and spoke to the group.
"We’re close."
Silver looked toward the horizon. The landscape ahead was dominated by a series of rocky formations.
Between them was a large depression in the earth. It was impossible to see the bottom from their current position.
Larry pointed toward it.
"That’s the outer valley."
Silver’s expression became serious.
Death Row Valley.
Even from here, he could feel something different about the place. Perhaps it was only his imagination or perhaps it was because he knew what was supposed to happen here, but the valley seemed strangely quiet. The wind itself seemed weaker.
Ravenna stepped beside him.
"Is that it?"
Silver nodded.
"Yes."
She stared at the valley.
"So this is where the stone was found."
"According to the story let’s just hope we don’t have an earthquake."
"I hope."
Antony looked between them.
"You two are being strangely serious."
Silver turned toward him.
"We’re close to the destination."
Antony looked ahead.
He smiled.
"Then let’s see what all the excitement is about."
Larry called everyone back toward the vehicles.
"We’re moving."
Everyone climbed inside.
The convoy started forward again. The road descended gradually. The rocky walls on either side became taller.
Silver could see the valley opening ahead. He tightened his grip on the steering wheel, his heart was beating slightly faster. Not because he was afraid but because he knew what might be waiting down there.
Something that could potentially change everything, and now Silver had a chance to obtain it before Dillain ever reached it.
But there was another problem. The story had never explained exactly where the stone was. It had only described the circumstances surrounding its discovery.
Dillain’s convoy had entered Death Row Valley and had lost several people. They had encountered a powerful beast, and eventually, during a desperate retreat, Dillain had discovered the stone hidden beneath a collapsed section of rock.
Silver didn’t know whether the same sequence would happen now. The future had already changed too much. He couldn’t simply assume the stone would be waiting in the exact same location.
Ravenna seemed to understand what he was thinking.
"You’re scared it won’t be exactly where to estimated."
Silver shook his head.
"Yes, the land might have shifted during that time."
"Then we’ll search."
"Hope it’s successful."
She smiled.
"It will be."
Silver glanced at her.
"You’re my lucky charm, so I’ll believe it."
The convoy descended farther. The road became rougher, and the surrounding rock formations grew larger. The main road eventually split into two.
Larry’s vehicle took the narrower path and Silver followed. The others followed behind as the valley swallowed them. There was no sign of civilization anywhere around them.
Only rocks, dry grass, dust, and the distant sound of something moving deep within the valley. Silver immediately noticed it.
He slowed.
Ravenna turned toward him.
"What?"
"Something moved."
Antony sat up.
"Where?"
Silver pointed toward the rocks.
"I don’t know."
Larry’s vehicle continued ahead. Silver followed. A few seconds passed, nothing happened.
The convoy continued deeper. Silver relaxed slightly, then his System suddenly flickered.
[Environmental Analysis.]
[Unusual fluctuation detected.]
Silver’s eyes narrowed.
The notification disappeared almost immediately. He didn’t say anything.
Ravenna noticed his expression.
"What is it?"
"I’m not sure."
"System?"
"Yes."
"What did it say?"
"An environmental fluctuation."
Ravenna’s expression became serious.
"That’s not normal."
"No, it’s never happened."
Silver looked ahead. The valley was silent but this time, he wasn’t going to let the silence make him reckless. Larry had already warned them not to investigate unusual things. For now, Silver would follow that instruction.
The convoy continued. The road narrowed between two large rock formations and the vehicles were forced to move slowly.
Everyone was watching the surroundings. Silver kept his weapon within reach and Ravenna did the same. Antony had stopped joking. That alone told Silver how serious the atmosphere had become.
They were finally entering Death Row Valley, and somewhere beneath the rocks and soil ahead of them was the opportunity Silver had crossed the Yellow Zone to find.
He didn’t know whether they would find the Awakening Stone or whether the story would cooperate, and he certainly didn’t know whether the valley would allow them to leave easily.
But one thing was certain, the real expedition had finally begun.