Beneath the Mask

As time passed, The Vanguard squad pushed forward with their explorations, venturing further into unknown territories, covering more ground than ever before. 

The campfire cast long shadows over the rugged terrain of the surface settlement. Tobi, Matilda, and the rest of the Vanguard squad sat uneasily among Alfred's people, their alliance fragile at best. The survivors on the surface were wary of their underground counterparts, and every conversation felt like a dance over a minefield.

The tension had been building for weeks. Supplies were limited, and disagreements about priorities—defense versus exploration, preservation versus risk—had created a rift between the Vanguard and the surface dwellers.

Alfred, the leader of the settlement, sat across from Matilda, his weathered face illuminated by the flickering light. His tone was sharp, his words pointed.