Chapter 499

Captain Baldred, his face grim and etched with fatigue, led the remaining warriors and workers through the treacherous Tekarr Mountains. The trail was a chaotic mess of blood, broken equipment, and discarded supplies.

The once-strong contingent was now a ragged, depleted band. Their initial strength, a formidable force of warriors and skilled workers, had been whittled down relentlessly.

The sun beat down relentlessly on their backs, the air thick with the cloying smell of sweat, blood, and decay. The mountain's rocky terrain forced them into a slow, agonizing pace.

Every stumble was a risk, every shadow a potential threat. The constant threat of death hung heavy in the air, a palpable weight that seemed to press down on them with each labored breath.