Even though Nadia was focused on cutting bamboo, she kept a cautious eye on her surroundings. She trusted Colby as a reliable partner but wasn't about to leave her back entirely exposed. Every now and then, she turned to check for potential threats—after all, theft was always a risk. One such glance caught Lily pulling a machete out of her backpack. Wait, when did this little one learn how to handle a knife? Nadia instinctively looked at Harrison. "Did you teach her that?" Harrison didn't deny it. "Is that a problem?" "No… No, it's great." In the apocalypse, even kids had to grow up fast. Between typhoons, floods, and now extreme cold, plenty of once-innocent children had learned to wield a blade. Lily wasn't going to fall behind. Losing this race meant a visit from the Grim Reaper's scythe. Brutal but effective.The bamboo-cutting went smoothly. Nadia sawed the stalks into even lengths and tied them together with rope. Lily eagerly volunteered to drag some of the bamboos back home. Harrison indulged her enthusiasm by tying together a few light sections. "No complaining halfway, okay?" "I'll drag it all the way home," Lily declared confidently. She was determined not to lag behind. Seeing other kids on the mountain, dressed in tattered clothes and hacking at wood with all their strength, only fueled her resolve. Compared to them, she was well-fed and warmly dressed. She had to work harder. When the bamboo was ready, Harrison turned to Nadia. "Do you need firewood?" She had plenty of firewood stored in her domain, but she couldn't exactly pull it out in public. "What about you?" "I could use a little," he said. They decided to cut down a pine tree and split it between them. Dragging more than that back would be impossible.The Hadids each felled a pine tree of their own. Even so, hauling them back was a monumental task for two office workers who weren't used to physical labor. Climbing up the mountain had been tough. Getting back down was even tougher. The snow had hardened into icy rubble, and one slip could send a person and their load tumbling uncontrollably. If luck wasn't on their side, it could be fatal. The group moved slowly and carefully, helping each other when needed. Progress was slow, but they worked together to make it down safely. Lily took the lead, clearing the path with her machete. Colby stayed at the rear, his sharp eyes watching for potential ambushes. Their teamwork was seamless. Nadia felt a pang of both amusement and sorrow. This apocalypse has turned even the youngest into little survivors. When they finally reached the base of the mountain without incident, Colby immediately ran to grab the sled and dragged it over. Come on, load it up!His swagger and self-confidence made Nadia chuckle. She didn't hold back, stacking a large log on the sled before piling the bamboo on top. Alright, off you go! Colby crouched, ready to pull—but the sled wouldn't budge. It turned back with an accusatory bark. Human, you've overloaded it! But it'd already bragged. Even if it had to crawl, it was going to prove itself. Lily, meanwhile, grabbed her rope and started dragging three bamboo sections. The icy ground made it slippery, but she managed. Harrison carried his load of firewood effortlessly on one shoulder while his other hand held a large bundle of bamboo. He walked with steady, unbothered steps, his posture as straight as ever. Watching him, George and Austin exchanged glances, their expressions filled with both awe and self-doubt. This young man was a powerhouse—whatever he did, he excelled at it.Colby, with renewed determination, finally got the sled moving. But when it glanced back, it saw Nadia pushing from behind. The sight filled it with a rush of energy, and it threw itself into pulling harder. With Colby pulling and Nadia pushing, they worked together, earning jealous and envious stares from others. "That dog is amazing," someone muttered. "Way more useful than a kid." Others glanced down at their own children, wasting food and barely contributing. Compared to Nadia's dog, their kids weren't even close. The trek from Firridge back to the complex was several miles, so the group took frequent breaks to conserve their energy. Along the way, they paused to eat, resting for about ten minutes before resuming their journey. At one point, Lily lost her footing and slipped, landing hard on the icy ground. Harrison immediately set down his load and bent down to help his sister stand. Meanwhile, Nadia continued pushing the sled from up ahead. Suddenly, three men hauling firewood behind them launched an attack. Two wielded knives, while the third carried a brick. One of the men with a knife rushed at Harrison, while the man with the brick charged toward Nadia. The attackers moved fast—Harrison and Nadia were about five or six yards apart. Sensing danger without turning around, Harrison reacted instinctively. He lashed out with a powerful kick, sending the first attacker flying backward. Then, he spun around and, with lethal precision, snapped the second man's neck. Nadia, meanwhile, felt the rush of air from behind and instinctively drew her saber, thrusting it backward in one swift motion. A sickening squelch followed as the blade sank deep into the attacker's torso. But the brick came down hard toward her head. She dodged with a sharp sidestep, narrowly avoiding the blow, though the sound of the brick shattering filled the air.The impact didn't hit her—it struck Harrison instead. He'd intercepted the blow with his shoulder, leaving Nadia momentarily stunned. Hearing the commotion, George and Austin rushed over, knives in hand. "Are you okay?" George asked, breathless. Harrison grunted, "I'm fine." Nadia turned to him, her expression sharp. "Are you really okay?" "I'm wearing thick layers. No bones broken," he replied calmly. With two attackers already dead, the man Harrison had kicked stumbled to his feet, his face pale with terror. Without hesitation, he turned and bolted. A woman nearby, clearly part of the group, also fled. Nadia took off after the man. As she ran, she reached into her bag, using the motion to discreetly pull a boning knife from her domain. With a swift throw, she struck him in the back, sending him sprawling to the ground. Catching up, Nadia loomed over him, her cold eyes fixed on his panicked face. "W-Wait, this is all a misunderstanding!" the man stammered, trembling. "We didn't mean it!" They only wanted to rob but didn't expect their target to be so skilled—or rather, ruthless. "You didn't mean it? You did it on purpose, then?" "Miss, please! I was wrong, okay? I've got a wife and kids at home. I—" Before he could finish, Nadia silenced him with a single, decisive thrust of her blade. Wife and kids? Who doesn't have loved ones to care for? If I'd died here today, what would've happened to Colby? Nearby, the woman screamed as she saw the man collapse. She rushed over, clutching his lifeless body and sobbing uncontrollably. "You monster! You heartless devil! Don't you have any regard for the law? He's my husband! Wake up, honey, don't die!" She sobbed uncontrollably, clutching the corpse as if her grief could bring him back."The law?" Nadia said with a laugh, finding the accusation absurd. "If you cared about the law, why did you ambush us then?" "He didn't even hurt you! You're all fine—was it really necessary to kill him?" "Oh, so because you failed to kill us, it's our fault? What kind of twisted logic is that?" The woman opened her mouth to argue, but Nadia didn't give her the chance. If they were a couple, they could reunite in death. Nadia stabbed her without hesitation. The woman's eyes widened in shock as if she couldn't believe someone would actually dare to kill her. Her lips parted, but only cold air filled her lungs. Within moments, her body went stiff. The sudden violence left the onlookers stunned. Others on the road, who had paused to watch, were visibly shaken by Nadia's merciless actions. One bold elderly woman, perhaps thinking herself wise, decided to speak up. "Young lady, I know they attacked you, but wasn't killing them all a bit much? The man who ambushed you is dead already, and this woman didn't even have a weapon. They have children and elderly parents. You didn't have to be so cruel!" Though the rest of the onlookers said nothing, their expressions showed agreement. "These four were working together," Nadia replied coldly. "Do you think they wouldn't have killed us for our supplies?" "But still… you could've let the woman go. Did you have to wipe them all out?" "Of course, you'd say that. The knife wasn't aimed at you, so you have no idea what it feels like." Nadia smirked, turning her icy gaze on the old woman. "You look like you've got family depending on you. Is that why you're sticking your nose where it doesn't belong? Do you want to die? I'd be happy to help."