Chương 442: Chapter : 442

Ken caught the bag clumsily. He hugged it to his chest. He looked at the carriages. He let out one final, lazy groan.

"I am officially protesting this road trip," Ken mumbled to himself. He slouched his shoulders and walked toward the gates.

"But at least I have my cookies. Hopefully, the monsters like chocolate chip." The 13th Unit stood together in the bright courtyard. Their bags were packed. Their weapons were ready. They waited for the final signal to board the transport. The mission was officially set, and the lazy slacker was ready to enjoy the bumpy ride.

The wooden wheels of the transport carriage clattered loudly against the rocky mountain path. The ride was incredibly bumpy. The road twisted and turned along the edge of a massive cliff. Tall gray rocks rose on one side of the carriage. A steep drop into a deep green valley sat on the other side. Ken Eliot sat in the back corner of the carriage. He bounced up and down with every single bump in the road. He grabbed the wooden window frame to steady himself. He let out a long, dramatic sigh.

"This road is a complete disaster," Ken complained loudly. He rubbed his lower back.

"My spine is absorbing all the impact. We need to install thick cushions on these wooden seats. I am going to need a full week of rest after this trip. My bones are practically rattling." Naomi sat across from him. She did not scowl. She did not yell at him. She smiled a warm, friendly smile. She leaned forward and playfully kicked his shoe with her combat boot.

"Stop whining, Ken," Naomi teased gently. Her green eyes sparkled with amusement.

"We are traveling through a mountain pass. It is supposed to be bumpy. You can survive a little bit of discomfort. You just slept for three hours straight."

"I was not sleeping," Ken argued lazily. He slouched his shoulders. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bag of candy.

"I was resting my eyes. The sunlight up here is very bright. It is bad for my vision. Also, the bumps are ruining my snacking experience. I almost bit my tongue." Laxmi sat next to Naomi. The fire user rolled her eyes and laughed.

"You are always eating, Ken. How do you never get full?"

"I have a very fast metabolism," Ken replied. He popped a red candy into his mouth. He chewed it happily.

"My brain burns a massive amount of calories. I have to stay fueled for the journey." Zinia sat near the front of the carriage. The strong earth mage crossed her muscular arms. She looked out the window.

"We are getting close to the designated border mission zone. The terrain is getting steeper. Everyone needs to stay alert." Luna rested her head on Zinia's shoulder. The lightning user was fast asleep. She snored very quietly. A small knitted blanket covered her lap. Risa sat on the floor of the carriage. The sweet pink-haired healer held her stuffed teddy bear. She looked out the window with wide, curious eyes. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

"The mountains are very pretty," Risa said softly.

"The rocks look like giant stairs." Ira sat perfectly still on the opposite bench. Her pale face showed zero emotion. Her posture was completely straight. She stared blankly at the carriage wall.

"Statistically speaking, mountain routes pose a significant tactical disadvantage," Ira stated in her flat, robotic voice.

"The narrow path restricts evasive movements. Ambush probability increases by sixty-five percent in this specific geographical area." Sayma pushed her thick glasses up the bridge of her nose. The intelligent Vice-Captain held a detailed map on her lap. She nodded in agreement with Ira.

"Ira is correct," Sayma noted politely. She traced a path on the paper with her pen.

"The Upper Council sent us to secure this border zone. The rogue forces are very active in these mountains. We must keep our guard up. Princess Iris, we will reach the checkpoint in twenty minutes." Princess Iris sat beside Sayma. The violet-eyed Royal wore her dark blue uniform. She looked completely calm and focused. She trusted her team entirely.

"Thank you, Sayma," Princess Iris said softly. She looked around the carriage. She offered her friends a brave smile.

"Stay prepared, everyone. We do not know what kind of enemies are hiding in these rocks." Ken swallowed his candy. He slouched even lower in his seat. He shoved his hands deep into his pockets.

"I hope the enemies are taking a nap," Ken mumbled lazily.

"Fighting in the mountains sounds like a massive amount of cardio. The air is very thin up here. Running will make me completely exhausted. I vote we just turn the carriage around and go get some lunch."

"We are not turning around," Naomi chuckled. She patted his knee.

"You can hide behind me if you get scared. I will protect your precious snacks."

"You are the absolute best coworker, Naomi," Ken smiled a goofy grin. Suddenly, a massive, deafening explosion rocked the entire mountain pass. BOOM! The blast hit the ground right in front of the carriage. The carriage lurched violently. The wooden wheels lifted off the dirt. The horses shrieked in panic. The carriage almost flipped completely over.

"Hold on!" Zinia shouted loudly. Zinia slammed her strong hands against the wooden floor of the carriage. She used her earth magic instantly. Thick pillars of solid rock shot out of the mountain path. The rocks gripped the wooden wheels. The stone anchored the carriage safely to the ground. The carriage crashed back down onto the dirt with a loud thud. The violent motion threw everyone out of their seats. Ken tumbled onto the floor. He bumped his head against a wooden crate. He let out a loud groan.

"Ow!" Ken yelled. He rubbed his forehead.

"That was incredibly rude! Somebody just ruined my candy!" Luna woke up immediately. Her sleepy eyes snapped open.

"What is happening? Was that thunder?"

"It was an attack!" Naomi commanded fiercely. She kicked the carriage door open.

"Everyone out! Get into a defensive formation!" The 13th Unit scrambled out of the carriage. They stepped onto the rocky mountain path. The air was filled with thick gray smoke and dust from the explosion. The horses broke free from their harnesses and ran away down the path. Princess Iris drew her silver rapier. She stepped to the center of the road. Her violet eyes scanned the steep cliffs above them.

"Vanguard, form up!" Princess Iris ordered smoothly.

"Protect the perimeter!" Naomi pulled her twin silver daggers from her belt. The metal blades clicked sharply. She stood on the left side of the carriage. Laxmi slammed her fists together. Bright orange flames roared to life around her knuckles. She stood on the right side. Zinia planted her boots firmly on the dirt. Sayma pushed her glasses up and readied her hands. Ira summoned two long, high-pressure water whips. They stood in a perfect circle. They were totally prepared for a massive fight.

But the mountain pass was completely empty. There were no enemies in sight. There were no rogue soldiers standing on the cliffs. There were no monsters running down the road. The dust slowly cleared away. The area looked entirely deserted.