Chapter 295:Green Zones.

Chapter 295: 295:Green Zones.

Shortly after leaving, the traffic had begun to thin, although calling the roads empty would have been impossible. Vehicles continued moving in every direction, and even after they passed beyond the main checkpoint area,

Ravenna could still see long lines of cars and transport trucks travelling along the major roads that connected the various settlements within the Green Zone.

For the first time in several days, she found herself sitting comfortably in the passenger seat without constantly watching the grass for signs of movement.

The landscape had changed too. The harshness of the deeper territories had gradually disappeared, replaced by wide fields of green grass, scattered trees, shallow rivers, and patches of dense vegetation that stretched toward the horizon.

It was beautiful.

Ravenna rested her head against the window and watched the scenery pass by.

"We’re really in the Green Zone now," she murmured. "It feels kind of strange with everything that has been happening."

Antony, who was driving, nodded.

"Have you only just realized?"

"I knew before."

"Then why are you saying it now?"

Ravenna ignored him.

She had spent so long moving through the Yellow and Red Zones that she had almost forgotten what a relatively peaceful landscape looked like.

There were no enormous dry riverbeds cutting through the terrain, no towering cliffs looming over their path, and no strange sounds coming from the darkness beyond their camp.

There were simply peaceful nature. It almost felt like another world.

However, the illusion of complete safety didn’t last very long. Something suddenly burst out of the grass several hundred meters ahead.

Ravenna immediately straightened.

A large animal charged across the road. It looked somewhat similar to a wild boar, except that it was almost twice the size of an ordinary one. Its body was covered in thick dark fur, and two enormous tusks curved upward from either side of its mouth.

"Beast," Ravenna said.

Antony glanced at it.

"Yeah, It seems even this rich sanctuary can’t control it’s own zones. I actually thought ghis area would be beastless."

"Obviously because the checkpoint only guards a smaller percentage the rest is empty fenceless land."

The creature turned toward the convoy.

It had apparently noticed the vehicles and decided that there were too many potential targets to ignore.

Ravenna’s hand instinctively moved toward her sword.

Before she could even open the door, a figure stepped down from one of the vehicles ahead. The Contractor raised his hand, and a burst of energy struck the beast. The massive animal rolled across the road and came to a stop, dead.

Ravenna stared.

Antony continued driving.

"That was quick."

Ravenna slowly lowered her hand from her sword.

"They didn’t even give it a chance."

"It’s a Green Zone, this things just take a flick of a finger and they’re dead."

"Yes, but I kind of want to fight them?"

Antony glanced at her.

"You really want to, now?"

Ravenna thought about it.

"No."

"Then we’re fine."

She couldn’t argue with that.

The convoy continued.

A few minutes later, they encountered another group of beasts. This time, there were several creatures moving through the trees beside the road. They looked like oversized antelope, except their horns were unusually long and their bodies were covered in faint patterns that seemed to glow beneath their fur.

They watched the convoy carefully. One of them stepped onto the road, then another. Ravenna expected the creatures to attack; instead, they simply stood there.

The convoy slowed.

The animals stared at them and Ravenna stared back. Nobody moved, then one of the Contractors shouted something from a vehicle.

The animals immediately scattered.

Antony chuckled.

"Even the beasts know better."

Ravenna smiled faintly.

"Maybe they’re smarter than people."

"Don’t let the Contractors hear that."

She laughed quietly.

It felt strange. She hadn’t realized how badly she needed something normal. For the next few hours, the convoy continued through the Green Zone.

They did encounter beasts occasionally: some were harmless, others were territorial,and a few actually attempted to attack. But none of them posed any real threat to the subjugation team.

The strongest beasts they encountered were quickly eliminated by the Rank Five Contractors accompanying the convoy, while the weaker ones were dealt with by the Rank Fours.

Ravenna and Antony barely had to lift a finger. At one point, Ravenna saw a large feline creature watching them from a hill. Its body was covered in pale yellow fur, and its eyes followed the convoy carefully.

She could sense the beast’s presence. It was stronger than the ordinary creatures they had encountered.

Ravenna rested her hand on her sword.

The beast crouched in preparation. For a moment, she thought it was going to attack, then one of the Rank Four Contractors stepped out of a vehicle. The beast immediately turned around and disappeared into the vegetation.

Ravenna watched it leave.

"They’re afraid of them."

Antony nodded.

"Rank Four Contractors are a big deal in these zones."

Ravenna didn’t respond.

Her thoughts drifted back to Silver. He had only recently reached Rank Two, yet he had fought beasts much stronger than himself.

She remembered the battles they had fought together: the coordination between them, his spatial abilities, and the way he would move without hesitation whenever she was in danger.

Her chest tightened.

She looked down at the tracker, her thumb moving across the screen. She switched it off again.

Antony glanced at her but said nothing. Ravenna returned her gaze to the window. The scenery continued changing; the grass became thicker, trees became more frequent, and eventually, they passed a river.

It wasn’t particularly wide, but it was large enough that a bridge had been constructed across it. Several vehicles were parked near the water, and a group of Contractors were apparently taking a short break.

Ravenna saw people fishing, actual people fishing. She stared at them.

Antony noticed.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You’ve been staring at them for thirty seconds."

"They’re fishing."

"Yes."

"With everything we’ve seen, that’s what surprises you?"

Ravenna nodded.

"Yes."

Antony laughed.

"You really have been in the wilderness too long."