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If they didn’t consume food to maintain their energy, they would need to rely on crystal cores, which were easier to gather in the zombie-infested world.

These cores could sustain their energy for a longer period.

However, consuming crystal cores had its drawbacks.

As they used the cores to maintain their energy, their experience levels would also increase.

This meant they might level up sooner, but without ensuring their foundations were steady and well-built, they risked advancing with a weak foundation.

They were like building a paper castle. Kisha learned this the hard way when she first discovered the function of the crystal cores.

Initially, she was ecstatic because food was scarce, and the crystal cores seemed like a great alternative.

However, after leveling up a few times, she realized her power, though impressive on the surface, lacked true strength.

It couldn’t compare to those who leveled up with a solid foundation. Even though they took longer to level up, their firepower was far greater than hers even though those people are lower than her in terms of level. That’s when she understood the drawback of relying solely on crystal cores.

To avoid repeating the same mistake, Kisha ensured that she and her team stabilized their foundations before focusing on leveling up.

She believed it wasn’t an issue to level up later; as long as their foundations were sturdy and well-managed, the benefits would be greater when they eventually advanced.

Additionally, she was eager to experiment with the Scarlet Honey.

Kisha wanted everyone to experience its potential multiplier effect and understand its impact on the body when used to its maximum potential if that was even possible.

After the food was served, Aston and his men eagerly dug into their meals, barely taking time to chew as they savored the taste of the food.

Despite their desire to fully enjoy the meal, their hunger for rice overpowered any intention of savoring the flavors.

For them, this meal represented a rare opportunity to feel satiated and content after a long while.

Meanwhile, Kisha, Duke, Sparrow, and Vulture allowed them to indulge in their food frenzy, opting to eat at a more leisurely pace themselves to prevent any potential discomfort from indigestion.

After finishing their meal, they didn’t rush to depart.

Having already spent six hours outdoors, Aston’s men considered this pace brisk.

Typically, reaching the two sites for investigation would demand a full day’s journey, especially given the formidable challenge posed by the zombie horde on the road.

They anticipated potential delays, such as periodic halts to clear the path or the necessity to choose alternative routes in the face of overwhelming numbers of zombies blocking the road ahead. These logistical hurdles were all too familiar to the soldiers assigned to supply runs.

Gathering even a small amount of supplies often consumed days, barely filling a quarter of the truck’s cargo space, and constrained to sourcing from a single location.

Now nourished and with a moment to pause, they seized the opportunity to reflect.

Surprisingly, their journey had been far smoother than the tales recounted by fellow soldiers who frequently embarked on supply runs.

These soldiers typically opted for nearby supply sources, ensuring a quick retreat to safety in case of mishaps or selecting relatively secure locations for their endeavors.

Now they marveled at Kisha’s team’s adept navigation skills and felt fortunate that the zombie population seemed to be steering clear of their route. As they speculated various theories about their stroke of luck, Kisha and her team remained unfazed by the wandering minds of their companions.

Kisha’s sole focus remained on ensuring that no zombies ventured too close, while she delegated Bell and the Scarlet Bees to collect the remaining crystal cores scattered on the ground and search for any survivors among Coltons’ men who might have fortuitously survived beneath the rubble.

The Scarlet Bees diligently scoured the sewers and rubble crevices in search of survivors, while Kisha employed the same method to detect any evolved zombies lurking nearby, possibly awaiting an opportune moment to strike.

Fortunately, no signs of evolved zombies encircled them, providing a momentary relief.

The absence of these evolved threats was a stroke of luck, as confronting them would necessarily need revealing their awakened abilities, this would present a challenge in determining the best course of action based on the specific capabilities and evolution of each encountered zombie.

It’s similar to the evolved zombie Sparrow encountered—a zombie showcasing agility, others might have tank-like resilience, or formidable strength, or perhaps even a stealthy stalker.

Just as numerous doors opened for awakened superhumans, the same holds true for zombies, presenting myriad possibilities for their evolution.

This diversity can pose a challenge; an evolved zombie not only surpasses a superhuman in power but if its abilities are particularly tricky, it becomes even deadlier.

That’s precisely why Kisha remained on extremely high alert after leaving the shelter, continuously dispatching the Bees to scout their surroundings. However, amidst this vigilance, she also prioritized ongoing training for her team, particularly focusing on enhancing their awareness.

This emphasis on awareness was crucial, ensuring they remained vigilant and never allowed complacency to leave them vulnerable to potential threats resulting from even the simplest mishaps.

Despite their outward appearance of being laid back, Kisha’s team remained in a constant state of high alert, poised to act swiftly on Kisha’s commands.

Duke, in particular, never strayed from Kisha’s side, serving as her steadfast protector.

In any eventuality, he stood prepared to be her sword and shield, ensuring her safety at all times.

While Aston’s team remained vigilant, they couldn’t match the hyper-awareness and readiness of Kisha’s team. Their vigilance resembled a sleeping tiger, primed to pounce at the slightest hint of danger in their surroundings.

Following their rest, they all geared up to search for an alternative route leading to the northern side of the western district.

This area held particular significance for Sparrow, as it was where he witnessed the entire vicinity crumble to the ground in a series of bomb explosions he strategically placed.

Despite its distance from the shelter, this location boasted a potential exit, prompting Sparrow’s keen focus. Additionally, it served as a strategic vantage point for him to survey other areas before reuniting with his team.

Their team retraced their route for a few more blocks, aiming to navigate towards the outer perimeter of the district to continue their journey forward. Sparrow skillfully maneuvered the truck, disregarding the horde of zombies converging towards them.

With precision, he plowed through them, sending zombies flying through the air and colliding with the vehicle, causing a sharp crack to spiderweb across the windshield.

"Hey, ease up, man. We don’t need brains and black blood splattered all over us, not to mention the stench, if that windshield breaks," Vulture chided Sparrow with a hint of resentment.

He gripped the overhead handle in the truck, feeling the jolts as it rolled over the zombies strewn across the ground, crushing their skulls and limbs, and rendering them immobile.

With the spiderweb crack marring the windshield of the truck, Sparrow’s visibility was severely compromised.

"This truck’s nowhere near as sturdy as our armored car.

Useless," Sparrow grumbled in disdain, his thoughts drifting to their trusty armored vehicle, which had proven almost indestructible even after he led the entire convoy, plowing through hordes of zombies.

"Well, what did you expect? Our armored cars were top-notch, made with the best resources, materials, and engines money could buy, far superior to the military-manufactured ones.

It’s all thanks to our master’s means and connections that made it possible," Vulture remarked, his pride and happiness evident as he highlighted their master’s significant contribution to improving their lives, especially in such dire times.