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"Should we take a break for now? The engine’s too hot," Kisha suggested, slowing the armored car and pulling it to the side of the road.

Duke nodded, adjusting himself in his seat as he took out the map once more. Handing it to Kisha, he glanced out the window.

The road was shrouded in darkness, the faint glow from the reddish moon offering barely enough light to make out the path ahead.

Kisha took the map from Duke, and they switched on the small overhead light. Together, they began tracing the map, trying to get their bearings. "I think we’re here," Kisha said, pointing to a spot on the map.

Duke raised an eyebrow, his tone more curious than skeptical. "Can you tell for sure?" His question was understandable—out here, in the eerie darkness, the road ahead was completely invisible, and everything around them seemed to blend into the night.

It was nearly impossible to make out any landmarks.

Kisha nodded confidently. With 008’s radar-like map, she didn’t need to see the entire area to get a sense of where they were.

The map on hand’s details, though partial, provided enough of an outline to match with the road ahead.

Even though the official map didn’t show every little path, it had been updated to include the unofficial dirt road they were on, especially since City B had been expanding and the animal farm had become a popular tourist spot.

The new map had replaced the old one, making it easier to match the limited information she had with the reality on the ground. With that, Kisha was able to piece together their location with remarkable precision.

Though Kisha didn’t explain this detail, Duke didn’t press her for answers. He knew that Kisha operated in ways and had layers of knowledge that he couldn’t quite grasp yet, and he wasn’t in a rush to uncover every part of her.

After all, Kisha was gradually opening up to him on her own, revealing pieces of herself without needing to be asked.

Duke trusted that, in time, the things he didn’t understand would fall into place.

When the time came for Kisha to share her secrets fully with him, it would be a sign that her heart was completely open to him, and he would be ready for that moment.

The thought of it made Duke feel a surge of happiness and excitement, but on the outside, he remained calm and impassive, his expression cool as he listened intently to Kisha.

At the moment, Kisha was still relying on 008’s radar map, opting not to send the Scarlet Bees out just yet.

She didn’t want to exhaust them prematurely, especially since they didn’t have a specific location to target.

The bees would need to conserve their energy for when the time came to search for even the smallest clue, so they needed all the rest they could get.

Duke understood this, realizing that Kisha wasn’t depending on the Scarlet Bees to pinpoint their location just yet. Regardless of how she managed it, he trusted her completely, nodding in quiet agreement.

Kisha noticed the trust in Duke’s eyes gleaming in the darkness, a warmth spreading in her chest as she nodded in appreciation.

Without a word, she reached into her inventory and pulled out a plate of cooked food, offering it to both Duke and Vulture.

The Mexican tacos, accompanied by spicy soup and chilled Coca-Cola, were a welcome sight. Duke even helped by chilling the cans of Coke, making them perfectly cold with a hint of ice inside.

The humid night air made the simple treat feel even more refreshing. To conserve fuel, Kisha had turned off the engine, relying on a small battery-powered lamp to provide a dim light, leaving the window slightly open to let in a breeze.

But the heat lingered, and the cold Coke offered a much-needed relief, cooling their throats as they settled in for a brief rest.

After finishing the tacos, Kisha reached into her inventory again, this time pulling out some spiritual fruits and offering them to Duke and Vulture.

The fruits were vibrant, exuding a faint glow, and they seemed to revitalize them with every bite.

Meanwhile, Zeus, content and unbothered, was happily devouring a large roasted T-bone steak.

If any outsider were to witness Zeus eating, they’d likely envy the luxurious meal, wishing they could be Kisha’s pet instead.

The huge beast, with its massive appetite, was eating better than most survivors who struggled to find even a single packet of noodles.

But no one could fault Kisha for pampering her pets. After all, Zeus and Bell were both far stronger than a typical superhuman, and treating them well was more of an investment than anything else.

Not to mention, they were both incredibly cute and easy to get along with, making them a joy to care for.

In this harsh world, where survival was a constant battle, having powerful, loyal companions like them was an invaluable asset.

Duke and Vulture didn’t question Zeus’s feast, fully understanding that whatever Kisha did was always with purpose, and they had no reason to doubt her decisions.

Once they finished their meal, Kisha, Duke, and Vulture were all battle-ready, their focus sharp as they prepared to continue their journey.

As they neared the location where Vulture had pointed out the attack by the mutated cow happened, Kisha slowly rolled down the window of the armored car.

Her eyes scanned the area, but all that met her gaze was an eerie silence. The only sounds were the whispering wind and the occasional chirp of distant insects.

The calmness of the scene belied the danger they had faced earlier, but Kisha’s instincts remained on high alert as she surveyed the surroundings, her senses attuned to every movement in the stillness.

For the first time, Kisha took out the Erebus cloak and draped it over herself, its dark fabric blending seamlessly with the night.

Duke, already prepared, had donned his Kratos’ cloak before leaving the base.

Meanwhile, Vulture, true to his usual style, wore his combat attire: a long, fitted turtleneck that accentuated his well-defined muscles, paired with black cargo pants secured by straps that held his massive hammer and other tools.

His small tactical belt bag and holstered guns were at the ready, and his combat boots completed the look.

Unlike Kisha and Duke, Vulture didn’t wear additional protective armor or a cloak, but that didn’t matter.

His defensive talent was enough to keep him safe, and he was more than capable of handling whatever came his way.

Kisha, Duke, Vulture, and Zeus stepped out of the armored car, the dirt road beneath their boots still soft underfoot.

With a swift motion, Kisha stored the vehicle back in her inventory. All of them were dressed in black, blending almost seamlessly with the shadows, and Zeus, too, seemed to merge with the surrounding darkness, making it difficult to spot any of them.

With Kisha leading the way, her heightened senses allowed her to navigate the terrain with ease.

Her eyes, glowing faintly like a cat’s, scanned the outlines of trees and bushes, guiding them through the night.

Duke and Vulture, thanks to their physical conditioning, training, and awakened abilities, also had impressive vision in the dark. However, Kisha wasn’t willing to take any chances.

Before they fully entered the forest, Kisha reached into her inventory and pulled out night-vision goggles, handing a pair to both Duke and Vulture.

The outside world was already dark, but inside the forest, it would be near impossible to discern anything without proper equipment.

Even with her heightened senses, Kisha wasn’t about to gamble with their safety, so she slipped on a pair herself, ensuring they were fully prepared for the darkness that lay ahead.

Kisha then applied a special sticker to the front and back of Duke and Vulture’s chests, as well as on either side of Zeus.

To the naked eye, the stickers appeared to be ordinary, but under the night-vision goggles, they emitted a soft, glowing light.

This glow would allow the team to easily identify each other in the dark, preventing any potential confusion or accidental crossfire.

The glowing markers would make it easier to track each member’s position, ensuring they remained in sync throughout their mission.

Those without night-vision goggles, however, would see nothing in the pitch-black environment, keeping the markers discreet to anyone outside their group.

Vulture, noticing the thoughtful preparation, gave Kisha a thumbs up. Despite the dire nature of their situation, she never failed to ensure that her team was fully equipped and coordinated for the mission.

He couldn’t help but smile, thinking how the woman who had always shown such admirable qualities was now his master’s wife.

Even Duke looked at Kisha with a look of contentment and love, as if he had just struck gold.

Kisha, however, rolled her eyes playfully at Duke, but the moment of lightheartedness quickly faded, and everyone’s demeanor shifted back to seriousness as they ventured deeper into the forest.

With no knowledge of what dangers might lie ahead, they proceeded with caution, their senses heightened and their every step deliberate.