Shadow Slave

The coastal highway... that damned thing.

Sunny was, of course, aware that traveling by means of the highway was an option. An incredible option, even, considering that the highway was wide, flat, kept in good condition, and stretched most of the way to the very northern edge of the Antarctic Center as it skirted the whole landmass between the mountains and the ocean.

But that was exactly the problem with it. Built along the coast, it was both awfully close to the water and utterly exposed. Here in the mountains, they were hidden from most of the prowling Nightmare Creatures by the terrain, and could use it to their advantage. Out there on the coast, nothing would be protecting them from the hordes of abominations, both those on land and those hiding beneath the waves.

Sergeant Gere and the other survivors of the initial, much larger convoy could attest to the horrors of the coastal highway. They had barely escaped it once, losing most of the transports and every member of their Awakened escort in the process.

Indeed, the soldier looked incredibly tense at Luster's suggestion.

"With all due respect, you don't know what you are talking about. That place... it's a death trap. A handful of us managed to survive a shorter journey across the highway than what you are proposing, and even that was by some miracle."

Luster scratched the back of his head.

"Yeah, but your situation back then was different."

Gere frowned.

"How so?"

The young man looked at him with surprise.

"I mean, isn't it obvious? You didn't have the Captain with you!"

'...What?'

Sunny stared at Luster for a few moments, dumbfounded. Did the fool finally lose his mind?

However, Sergeant Gere reaction to the ridiculous response was out of his expectation. Instead of mocking Luster, the soldier looked down and cleared his throat in embarrassment. "Well... that is true, indeed..."

a

not a miracle worker. I am afraid of the

all. Even if the highway offered a convenient path to their destination, it held a much higher risk of running into something that none of them was prepared to handle. From hordes of Nightmare Creatures

the question. The Winter Beast was being contained somewhere in the north by Saint Tyris, but the location of the

However-

much more dangerous than Sunny had anticipated, despite his habit of always expecting the worst. By now, he had successfully managed to lead the convoy into pretty much every possible terrible situation that they had been supposed to avoid by

on the steep, unreliable mountain roads... the more

Kim sighed.

If we have to maneuver through the mountains and circle around them in search of passable roads,

sighed, then threw a tentative glance at

speed... we can cover these six hundred kilometers in a matter of hours. Of course, this is a huge risk, b-but... isn't it an even bigger risk to stubbornly push forward through the mountains, if it means

Sunny winced.

was dangerous, but so were the mountains. They were teeming with Nightmare Creatures of all sorts, and were too hard

perhaps Professor Obel - seemed to be aware of, since they were not

First Army was not earning any victories against the tide of abominations... instead, its position was gradually worsening. Those additional days and weeks Kim had mentioned were much more important than she knew,

Sunny sighed.

end, both choices were terrible. Remaining in the mountains was a bit safer, but also a bit hopeless. Trying to charge the coastal highway was much more dangerous, but also offered a much

was like rolling a

I feel lucky

at the people gathered in the

rubbed

vehicles to go all out. I want them to be able to keep their top speed for at least six hours without ever slowing down... do everything you can. I don't care if the transports completely

suddenly extremely busy. Getting the convoy ready for a high-speed charge across the coastal highway was not

was one of the few soldiers that had nothing much to do, so he simply went outside and stared at the night sky, with a full moon

Black Venom to

called out to

What do you