Survival Queen of the Frozen Wastes novel Chapter 398

Chapter 398 The Cost Of Survival

Chapter 398 The Cost Of Survival

Moments earlier, trapped in an inescapable dead end, everyone had flailed their weapons mindlessly. slashing and striking on autopilot-too overwhelmed to even feel fear or sorrow.

Now that survival was finally within reach, the taut tension holding them together snapped completely.

An indescribable wave of sorrow crashed over every soul like a rising tide.

Riley lifted her gaze and scanned her surroundings.

Once a bustling camp, the grounds lay reduced to charred wasteland. As far as the eye could see, only crumbled ruins littered with broken gear remained-equipment bearing the marks of WarWolf Guild, th Icefield Drifters Alliance, and Hope Guild alike.

If the game system didn’t trigger an automatic fade-away mechanic for fallen survivors, the scene across the snowscape would have been far more harrowing.

Blood stained the entire frozen plains, quickly freezing into a dull, dark crimson beneath the bitter wind.

Barely hours ago, nearly 300 survivors had gathered here.

They were flawed, ruled by ambition and secret schemes, yet they were all just survivors clinging to life in this broken world.

And now…

Riley’s gaze swept over the survivors leaning on one another, their eyes hollow and empty.

Copen

pillar,

Hanna was covered head to toe in blood. Bruce lay crumpled on the ground, a gaping wound in his chest, gasping shallow breaths as life slipped away. ToxicReaper leaned against a broken stone staring numbly at his staff, snapped clean in two.

Including the native reinforcements and Neeko, only a little over 50 people left alive.

were

This was the unvarnished truth of the apocalypse.

There were no fairy-tale victories. Every chance to live was carved out with countless lost lives, forged from the blood and bones of fallen comrades.

Frigid winds howled across the ice plains once more, stirring embers smoldering atop monster corpses into flickering half-light.

No one spoke. Even the mutated fire wolf lay quiet atop distant ruins, letting out low, mournful whimpers. They had beaten the monsters, but they had lost too many things that mattered.

Ten seconds before the giant monster’s core

shattered

apart.

1/3

Chapter 398 The Cost Of Survival

SouthWind slipped unhindered deep into the colossal monster’s gaping maw, coming face-to-face wit massive pulsing red orb.

It throbbed like a living heart, glowing with crimson light that washed over him with searing warmth.

Behind him, the monster’s jaws clamped shut. Countless jagged ground teeth grated wildly just inches away, snapping to tear him apart-yet SouthWind had already pressed deeper into the cavity

He swayed unsteadily as the creature’s inner muscles constricted and flexed around him, yet his expression remained unshakably resolute.

His spare stockpile of oil barrels now served its purpose.

SouthWind pulled them free with casual ease, tapped its metal surface, then flicked open a windproof lighter in his other hand and held the flame to the barrel.

“I can’t save the whole world, but I want to save you! A guild leader ought to act like one!”

The instant the lighter’s orange flame touched the oil barrel, a wall of fire erupted violently before him.

Bright sunlight spilled down, carried by soft summer breezes that brought a gentle coolness.

This was the narrow alley tucked behind the downtown food strip. Towering high-rises split the sunlight into streaks of gold, falling across discarded cigarette butts and greasy pavement stains.

For food delivery riders, this hidden lane was their quiet refuge.

Every afternoon at half-past three, after the lunch rush faded and the evening surge had yet to begin, dozens of riders clad in yellow and blue uniforms gathered here like migrating birds returning to their

nest.

Leaning against their electric bikes by the alley wall, two riders chatted idly. A young newcomer held out cigarette toward the older man beside him.

“Eric, here-grab a smoke.”

The man known as Eric wore a faded yellow delivery jacket, his helmet tucked under one arm. His skin was tanned dark from hours under the sun, yet his face always bore an easy, carefree grin.

He waved a hand, turning down the offer.

“Save it. I quit smoking ages ago. Besides, you chain-smoke nonstop-your body won’t hold up like this.”

Eric’s voice boomed warmly as he went on. “Adam, can’t you stay out of bad habits? Listen, smoke all you want on your own time, but don’t drag others into it. Leila will be back soon, and she hates the smell of cigarette smoke.”

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