Though Metro Square was just a little over a mile away, the icy ground was treacherously slick. The anti-slip—so it claimed to be—snow boots she wore barely provided any traction. If she were being chased, not only would she struggle to run, but she'd also be at high risk of falling. Pretending to rummage through her backpack, Nadia discreetly pulled a pair of ice skates out of her domain and slipped them on. They were a bit oversized, but with a few pairs of socks, they fit snugly. She had learned how to skate before, but this was the south—not exactly prime territory for winter sports. Nadia wobbled awkwardly as she slid out of the community, her movements clumsy. Before she even made it to the gates, two men suddenly burst out from Building Seven, wielding wooden clubs as they charged toward her. It wasn't hard to figure out why. Her polar clothing, designed with bright colors for rescue visibility, made her stand out like a sore thumb even in the gray, foggy weather. The men had scarves wrapped around their heads and wore layers of mismatched clothes, exposing only their greed-filled eyes. Clearly, they had their sights set on Nadia's gear and intended to rob her. Unfortunately for them, the ice was unforgiving. Their shoes slipped, sending both of them sprawling face-first onto the ground. By the time they scrambled up, Nadia was already gone. Once outside the community, Nadia regained her rhythm, gliding more smoothly across the ice as she sped toward Metro Square. As she sped down the icy streets, she passed several groups of survivors. They watched her with envy, marveling at her speed and well-equipped appearance. Wow! Who's this pro? This is the South; where does someone even get that kind of gear?! Nadia's well-prepared survival gear stood in stark contrast to their sorry states, making them feel even more miserable. As Nadia grew more confident on the skates, she reached Metro Square in no time. Switching back to her snow boots, she released Colby from the backpack and headed for the top floor of the shopping center. Only a few months ago, this place had been vibrant and full of life. Now, it was eerily silent, with scattered debris everywhere and even bloodstains splattered across the walls. The unfamiliar surroundings put Colby on high alert. It trotted ahead cautiously, checking every corner before allowing Nadia to proceed. Only two floors of Metro Square remained above the waterline. On the top floor, Nadia found a spot that was both hidden and offered a good vantage point from which to survey the surroundings. The streets and nearby shops were submerged beneath the ice, with distant high-rises barely visible beyond the frosted horizon. Scanning the area with her binoculars, she found no immediate threats. The freezing temperature was brutal, especially when sitting still. Every breath felt like a threat to freeze her lungs, and her chest tingled with numbness. This cursed weather has to be at least -22°F! To stay warm, Nadia slapped body warmer patches onto her feet and hugged a hot water bottle to her chest. Meanwhile, she ordered Colby to keep watch while she focused on cultivation to conserve her strength. She wasn't in a rush; there was still quite some time before 3 p.m. Leaving early wasn't about eagerness but preparation—she wanted to see if whoever threatened her had brought backup or set up an ambush. Settling into a wind-sheltered spot, Nadia directed her consciousness into her domain. There, she busied herself digging the soil and planting peanuts, keeping her mind occupied. Colby, ever diligent, scanned the area like a seasoned soldier, ready to hunt down anyone who dared to mess with its food stash. When Nadia grew tired of working in her domain, she rested or used her binoculars to monitor the area. By 3 p.m., not a soul had shown up—not even a hint of movement. Nadia had patience, though, and didn't mind waiting. It wasn't until nearly 4 p.m. that Colby let out a low growl of warning. Looking through the binoculars, Nadia spotted a shadow slowly moving across the ice. The figure was bundled head to toe, making it impossible to determine their build, but from their approach, Nadia could already guess who it was. She checked her watch and motioned for Colby to hide. Even in hiding, they didn't slack off—Colby kept watch outside while Nadia focused on the figure. The shadow finally climbed to the top floor, looking around cautiously. Seeing the area empty, the person froze in confusion. From her hiding spot, Nadia chuckled silently. What, did you think I wouldn't know how to stand someone up? Let's see how long you can wait before you crack. The freezing cold was relentless, piercing through even the thickest layers of clothing. The icy air felt like invisible needles stabbing into the skin, chilling straight to the bone.Maya, the shadowy figure, was on the verge of collapse. Her body was trembling uncontrollably, and she nearly fainted from the cold. But she couldn't bring herself to leave. This can't be right, she thought bitterly. If Nadia isn't worried about her domain being exposed, she wouldn't have come out so early. The thought of Nadia living so comfortably while she herself had to trade her body just to survive filled Maya with rage. If only she'd gotten hold of the jade pendant, she wouldn't have ended up like this. Life had become unbearable for Maya. Wayne was nothing more than a spineless freeloader who relied on women to support him. Despite having her as his girlfriend, he still slept with Eva just to get food. Not only that, but he had the audacity to pimp Eva out to other men in exchange for supplies. Just the day before, he forced Eva to accompany Hunter on a job in exchange for five pounds of food. Eva came back bruised and battered, her body covered in injuries. And what did Wayne do? He ate the food Eva had sacrificed her dignity to obtain without the slightest hint of guilt. Instead, he started brainwashing her, preparing her for the next time. And Maya knew, without a doubt, that she'd be next. If she refused, Wayne wouldn't hesitate to drug her the same way he had done to Eva. There was no escaping it. Maya hated him with every fiber of her being, but deep down, she also knew that without Wayne and his gang, her fate would be even worse. This kind of life—if it could even be called that—was impossible to endure. She didn't want to play this game anymore. She really didn't. She just wanted to go home, sleep in a warm bed, eat delicious food, and have endless new dresses to wear. She wanted to wake up and find that this nightmare of an apocalypse had all been just a bad dream. But it wasn't a dream, and there was no waking up. Tears welled up in Maya's eyes, but she held them back, fearing they'd freeze and damage her skin. With no better options, she stubbornly stayed put, desperately waiting for Nadia to show herself.Maya's eyes lit up at the sight of her. "Nadia," she called out, her voice trembling but triumphant. She had been certain Nadia would fear her secret being exposed. Maya's gaze flicked to Nadia's pristine clothes and confident demeanor, then back to her own patched-together outfit, scavenged from the homes of the dead. Just thinking about it made her stomach churn with disgust—she often dreamed of those frozen corpses haunting her. Jealousy consumed her. If she had the domain instead of Nadia, she thought bitterly, Nadia's life would rightfully belong to her. She had deliberately come without Wayne and the others. No matter what, she had to succeed this time. Speaking with the casual tone of an old friend, Maya greeted Nadia like nothing was wrong. Her audacity was almost laughable. "What do you want?" Nadia asked flatly. Dropping the pretense, Maya got straight to the point. "I know about your domain." "Oh?" Nadia quirked a brow in response, feigning curiosity. "And how exactly do you know that?" "That's not important. What matters is that I know." Since Maya had already played her hand, Nadia didn't bother denying it. "Alright, I do have a domain. So what?" "If other people found out you had a domain," Maya said, her voice turning threatening, "and that it's full of supplies—enough for them to live like it's not the apocalypse anymore—what do you think would happen?" "And?" "Nadia, I'm not your enemy. I just want to be your friend. Let me move into the 18th floor, and I'll keep your secret safe." "That's it? Just moving into the 18th floor?" Maya nodded, confident in her proposal. "Your domain has so many supplies. As friends, it wouldn't be unreasonable to share a little with me, would it?" "How much are we talking?"Maya played it smart, acting modestly to lower Nadia's defenses. "I'm not greedy. Just enough to keep me fed and warm." Her plan was simple: move into the 18th floor, gain Harrison's favor and protection, and secure her safety. Once she was in a stable position, she'd find a way to take the domain for herself. With Harrison's gun skills, his good looks, and her control of the domain, she'd thrive in this brutal world. And once she was on top, every person who had ever humiliated her would pay dearly. But Nadia had no idea about the grandiose fantasies playing out in Maya's mind. Her response was as cold as the air around them. "And what if I say no?"