Chapter 1495: Doppelganger

Silence descended upon the core zone, broken only by the soft crackling of the encroaching frost. The battle was over, the first obstacle in Maria's path vanquished.

First one down, time to move to the second one. Maria steeled herself, her ice-blue eyes hardening with renewed determination. With a purposeful stride, she pushed forward, delving deeper into the heart of the infestation.

The air grew colder, a natural byproduct of her presence, but here, within the core zone, it was different. It was a cold that held a malicious intent, a tangible presence that pressed against her defenses. The buildings, once mere husks, seemed to warp and twist in the fetid air, their jagged shadows reaching out like grasping claws. An oppressive darkness emanated from within a half-broken city wall, an ominous maw promising only oblivion.