Victor and Robin, noticing Jon had stopped, followed suit without question. Jon scanned his group, taking in their bloodstained weapons, sweat-drenched clothes, and the wear on their gear. It was clear they had pushed themselves to the limit and that was how he wanted them to be portrayed moving on.
"Let's lower our levels and move in," Jon instructed.
They nodded, adjusting their presence accordingly, and continued forward.
After covering another 400 meters, they finally reached the line of defense. They had seen it from a distance, so it wasn't surprising, but up close, the sight was even more imposing.
The Military Presence
A towering makeshift wall stood ahead, reinforced with stationed soldiers in full uniform, their weapons at the ready. Beyond the barricade, armored vehicles, tankers, and ground-breaking machinery lined the perimeter. The sheer scale of military personnel present was unlike anything Jon and his group had encountered before. This was more than a battalion.
