CHAPTER 313: INTO THE TEETH OF THE MOUNTAINS [ BONUS CHAPTER ]

Arthur’s footsteps echoed softly against the cold concrete floor as he ventured deeper into the warehouse, his coat trailing behind him like a dark shadow.

He paused beside towering crates stacked shoulder-high, their lids emblazoned with his sigil,a fierce wolf’s head etched in black against shimmering silver.

At his command, soldiers sprang into action, prying open the seals with precision.

Inside the crates lay gleaming equipment that promised adventure: advanced excavation drills, portable specially made resonance scanners that can stand the magnetic field for a few hours, and collapsible floodlights nestled in protective foam.

Smaller cases revealed coils of synthetic rope, plasma cutters tailored for fieldwork, and reinforced exo-harnesses capable of shifting tons of stone.

Arthur ran a hand lightly over the polished edge of one drill, his expression inscrutable.

This was no ordinary preparation; this was meticulous planning,the kind that set his family apart from the chaotic scramble of others.

Another crate opened to reveal scrolls wrapped in treated silk,ancient maps so fragile they seemed ready to crumble at a touch.

Each map was rumored to point toward the mysterious Ayzion Mountain Range. Arthur’s gaze lingered on them as he narrowed his eyes; these weren’t mere scribbles but coordinates steeped in history, drawn by hands long turned to dust, converging on a singular truth.

With a curt nod, he declared simply, "Good."

Turning to address his men with quiet authority, he commanded, "We move out."

Ethan stretched and smirked. "Finally! I thought we were going to stand around admiring crates all night."

His words elicited muted chuckles from nearby soldiers before they stiffened under Arthur’s piercing gaze,Ethan never seemed fazed by it.

As they organized into transport units outside the warehouse, Arthur’s ear twitched at the familiar voice crackling through his earpiece,smooth and mechanical yet laced with a human-like cadence: Evolon.

"Patriarch," Evolon said calmly, "a final operational notice: when you reach the Ayzion Mountain Range, my capabilities will be severely limited due to an anomalously strong geomagnetic field. Even at maximum capacity, I won’t be able to penetrate its interference. Tactical support or communication relays will be unavailable inside; you and your men will be on your own."

Arthur’s face remained stoic as he inclined his head slightly as if acknowledging Evolon could see him. "Understood. Keep an eye on the family while I’m gone,nothing goes wrong."

"As you command," Evolon replied.

He pocketed the earpiece without another word; sometimes silence spoke louder than any speech.

The convoy awaited them outside,a line of trucks with sleek matte armored plating designed for stealth rather than shine.

Engines growled low like distant thunder as soldiers boarded with practiced efficiency.

At the heart of the operation loomed a colossal armored carrier, a beast of a vehicle designed not just for transport but as a mobile command hub.

Its exterior was angular and imposing, clad in obsidian alloys that shimmered with faint blue lines of energy pulsing beneath the surface.

The wolf sigil on its front grille glowed softly, hinting at the power contained within.

Arthur, Ethan, Gunner, and the Seven Commanders were the first to step inside. The moment they crossed the threshold, it became clear that this was more than just a ride,it was a fortress on wheels.

Rows of reinforced seats lined the walls like sentinels guarding their secrets.

In the center lay an expansive command table, its surface alive with flickering holographic screens displaying terrain maps, scrolling data feeds, and real-time updates,all hovering in crisp blue projections against the dimly lit interior designed for function over comfort.

The archaeologists followed closely behind.

Leading them is Professor Adrian Veynar,a man in his early fifties whose sharp cheekbones and silver-streaked dark hair spoke of wisdom earned through years of study.

He moved with scholarly precision, adjusting his glasses as he entered. His voice carried an authoritative tone that echoed academia.

Beside him settled his assistant Clara Weiss, a twenty-something with an air of quiet confidence.

Her dark skirt was crisp; her glasses perched neatly on her nose framed eyes that sparkled with curiosity as they took in every detail of the carrier’s high-tech interior.

Trailing behind them was Lukas Dray,young and broad-shouldered,with hands still calloused from fieldwork.

He held himself with a humble demeanor, yet his eyes burned bright with eagerness to uncover hidden truths.

Five other experts rounded out their team: Dr. Helena Moritz,a stern woman in her forties; Professor Kaelen Rhys,a wiry linguist whose restless hands betrayed his excitement.

Dr. Ren a structural archaeologist, Marta Sorel,a preservationist with intense pale eyes and Josef Brandt,a heavyset man whose calm exterior belied a razor-sharp analytical mind.

Together, they formed a vibrant mosaic of knowledge ready to tackle whatever challenges lay ahead.

As the doors sealed shut with a hiss and the hum of engines deepened around them, Gunner rose from his seat like a mountain coming to life.

His massive frame commanded attention as he spoke in gravelly tones that resonated through the cabin.

"Listen up," he said firmly while gesturing toward the table where a projection materialized,an intricate rotating topographic model of the Ayzion Mountain Range appeared before them.

Jagged peaks rose majestically in frozen light, their serrated spines capped with shimmering snow.

"This is our destination: The Ayzion Mountain Range is no walk in the park,the weather alone can be deadly, blizzards, avalanches... storms that last for weeks but worse compared to the weather is the field."

He tapped the projection, and static crackled across the hologram like a storm brewing on the horizon.

"The magnetic field here is unlike anything we’ve encountered before. It shuts down drones, communications, sensors, everything. Once we step into the Range, forget satellites or digital maps. All we’ll have are ourselves, our tools, and whatever we can carry."

A wave of unease rippled through the archaeologists.

Gunner’s voice remained steady and unyielding. "But we do have one advantage: these maps."

He gestured to a separate case displayed prominently on the table,the ancient scrolls Arthur had examined earlier. "Copied, printed, reinforced. We will rely on them,and this."

From the case, he lifted a sleek black compass adorned with faint red etchings that pulsed like a heartbeat along its edge.

"This is a custom-built magnetic stabilizer. It’ll last us about nine hours before the field devours it whole.

That means we need to move quickly,find the tomb’s entrance before our compass fails us. If not... well, we’ll be wandering blind in hostile territory.

We also have a few specially made tools that can withstand the magnetic field for a few hours as well"

Ethan leaned back in his chair and whistled softly. "Nice sales pitch there, Gunner! You really know how to boost morale."

Ignoring him completely, Gunner pressed on.

But Ethan wasn’t finished yet; he leaned forward with elbows propped on the table as if sharing an inside joke.

"Let me add some spice to this adventure." The hologram shifted again to reveal routes etched in red across ominous mountain peaks.

"The Ayzion Mountain Range isn’t exactly deserted either,mercenaries roam it like wolves hunting prey. Bandits,scavengers, serial killers?! You name it! Every kind of rat crawls around where no one dares tread because of what lies beneath those mountains: treasure hunters vanish up there, all too often."

Clara raised her hand hesitantly, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Why would bandits and mercenaries choose such a deadly place?"

Ethan’s grin widened mischievously as he leaned closer to her with playful confidence. "Why do moths love fire? Because it draws them in... even if it burns them slowly."

His gaze flicked over Clara teasingly. "Though I’d say you’re far too bright to get singed so easily."

A faint flush crept up Clara’s cheeks despite her best efforts to maintain composure. "That doesn’t really answer my question."

"Oh, but it does," Ethan replied with a smooth smile.

"The Ayzion Range holds tales older than any of us could imagine. People swear there are treasures buried deep within those mountains,ancient vaults, lost civilizations.

Some fools dig and meet their doom, while others... well, they get lucky. Think about it: archaeological finds, rare metals, forgotten artifacts,it’s like a magnet for treasure hunters!

But where there are hunters, predators lurk in the shadows, ready to pounce."

He leaned back in his chair, arms spread wide as if embracing the danger. "Bandits,M

Mercenaries,killers. The Range is their paradise; they don’t even have to chase their victims,the victims come gift-wrapped."

A heavy silence hung in the air after his words, thick with tension.

Sergeant Lyra broke the stillness first, her voice steady and cold as ice. "Then we cut through them,simple."

At the head of the table, Arthur had remained silent until now. When he finally spoke, his voice was low but carried an undeniable authority that silenced any lingering doubts.

"Whatever waits in those mountains is irrelevant to us. Our path is forward no hesitation and no waste. We go in, find the entrance, and claim what is ours."

His gaze swept across the room,from Gunner’s steely stare to Ethan’s lazy grin; from the archaeologists’ nervous glances to the unwavering resolve of his commanders. In his presence, doubt shrank away like shadows at dawn.

With engines roaring to life, the convoy surged forward into the night.