Free Web NovelChapter 83: Chapter 83 Marking territories.
"In fact... there’s no better time than now," Ivy finally voiced out as she rose to her feet, little Hope still cradled carefully in her arms. A determined look flashed across her face as her fingers tightened slightly around the baby’s blanket. "It’s not like I haven’t practiced all the combat skills I’m supposed to. If I want to improve even further, then I should test my abilities against those monsters."
"What’s wrong, Mommy?" Aria was the first to ask the moment her gaze landed on Ivy’s unusually serious expression.
"Oh, sweetie, it’s nothing." Ivy immediately forced a warm smile onto her face, softening her tone so the children wouldn’t worry. "Mommy just needs to go out for a while. You girls will have to stay inside with little Hope while Sunny and I leave for a bit."
"You’re taking the dog with you too?" Lila asked with a sad pout, her brows furrowing in disappointment. "Why, Mommy?"
Ivy chuckled softly before crouching slightly so she could look directly at the little girl. "Because Sunny isn’t just an ordinary pet dog," she explained patiently while rubbing Sunny’s furry head. "She’s a trained military dog, remember? She has things she can help Mommy with out there. Don’t worry though we’ll both come back soon."
Sunny barked proudly as if agreeing with Ivy’s words, her tail wagging excitedly behind her.
Although Aria and Lila still looked reluctant, they eventually nodded and followed Ivy toward the shelter’s entrance. Sadness lingered in their eyes, but deep down they trusted their mother completely. If Ivy said Sunny could help her, then they believed it.
The moment they stepped back inside the shelter, Lila turned around again, unable to hide the worry on her face.
"Please come back quickly, Mommy," she pleaded softly, clutching the hem of her dress. "We’re going to miss Sunny too."
"I’ll come back in time, darling," Ivy assured her gently. She walked toward Hope’s small cot and carefully laid the sleeping baby down before pulling the blanket up to her chest. "You girls just stay indoors and take care of yourselves, alright? Mommy promises she’ll return soon."
After saying that, Ivy leaned down and planted a soft kiss on Hope’s chubby cheeks. Then she turned toward Sunny, kneeling slightly to kiss the dog on the head as well.
Sunny immediately let out another happy bark.
"And you should be careful too, Mom," Aria added quietly, trying her best to sound mature despite the worry evident in her eyes.
A faint smile appeared on Ivy’s lips. She stepped closer and pressed a gentle kiss against Aria’s forehead.
"I will," she replied softly. "You’re the older sister now while I’m away, so look after Lila and Hope for me."
Aria nodded firmly, straightening her shoulders as though accepting an important mission.
"I will."
Satisfied, Ivy finally turned around and walked out of the shelter.
The instant she stepped outside, her expression changed completely. The warmth in her eyes faded, replaced by sharp focus and determination.
Just then, the armored vehicle materialized before her, appearing out of nowhere after she summoned it mentally through the system.
Without hesitation, Ivy climbed into the driver’s seat while Sunny quickly jumped in beside her.
"Bark! Bark!"
Sunny barked excitedly, her tail wagging nonstop as she settled near the passenger side.
A small smile tugged at Ivy’s lips as she started the engine. The low growl of the armored vehicle echoed through the area, sounding powerful and dangerous.
Then, without wasting another second, Ivy drove out of the territory.
The heavy gates slowly shut behind her, and immediately afterward, the system activated the shelter’s protective shield. A transparent barrier spread around the territory sealing the children safely inside.
Inside the moving armored vehicle, Ivy tightened her grip on the steering wheel while staring ahead at the ruined world before her.
{Ding!}
{Territory available for acquisition detected.}
"Oh, cool!" Ivy exclaimed in surprise as she immediately stepped out of the armored vehicle.
She hadn’t even been driving for up to thirty minutes yet. In fact, she hadn’t even reached the ruined city where monsters were supposedly swarming in massive numbers, and yet here she was already standing before a territory the system had marked for her.
The location was interesting.
It wasn’t too close to her shelter, yet it also wasn’t directly inside the dangerous city. Instead, it lay between both places like a midpoint connecting them together. Strategically, it was the perfect location.
Ivy slowly lifted her gaze toward the mountain towering before her.
The territory itself was situated on elevated land, making it naturally difficult for enemies to climb, let alone launch a direct attack. Sharp rocky paths stretched upward while thick trees and uneven terrain surrounded the mountain like natural defenses.
At the top of the mountain, she could make out several scattered houses hidden between the trees. Some looked abandoned while others still appeared strangely intact despite the apocalypse.
"There might still be people living there..." Ivy murmured under her breath before narrowing her eyes thoughtfully. "Or maybe not."
Since the system had referred to the place as an obtainable territory, Ivy doubted normal survivors still controlled it. Most likely, monsters had already taken over the area completely. freeweɓnovel.cøm
Even so, the strategic value of the mountain alone made her interested in claiming it.
The spot where she parked the armored vehicle wasn’t yet part of the mountain itself, but Ivy already knew she would have to climb upward if she truly wanted to secure the territory.
