Survival Queen of the Frozen Wastes novel Chapter 523

Chapter 523 Deliberate Blockade

Chapter 523 Deliberate Blockade

The truth was plain and simple,

Leaving early came with its own risks. Waiting till the end had its own dangers too.

+10 Free Coins

When the countdown neared zero, every survivor in the hall would be forced down to the next floor. The crowd would be packed tight. Enemies, random strangers, and temporary allies would all mix together. No one could predict where anyone would spawn after teleporting.

By leaving early, Hope Guild kept the initiative in their own hands.

Riley swept her gaze over every member of her team.

Not a single person stepped back.

She stopped trying to persuade them.

“Twenty–minute rest and resupply window. Stock up on consumables. Check all your gear. We move through the gate once the time’s up.”

RedBean stood up at once.

“I’ll take a few people to buy potions and bandages from the NPC merchants.”

Bruce said, “I’ll restock crossbow bolts and torches.”

Hanna spent the remaining time double–checking everyone’s injuries. She confirmed who was fit to advance, sorted everyone’s potion reserves, and assigned battle roles for ambushes.

Riley walked over to one of the wandering NPC merchants.

The merchant carried a wooden chest. Inside, potions, rations, bolts, bandages, and small light crystals were neatly sorted into sections. The prices were steep, but Hope Guild could afford them.

The only downside was this merchant didn’t accept loot trades for Frost Tokens, unlike the Wandering Merchants from before.

Riley bought a batch of low–grade recovery potions, hemostatic bandages, and light crystals.

The merchant’s eyes crinkled into a smile.

“You’re a quick buyer. The next floor’s far tougher than this one. Better to stock up plenty while you can.”

“What can we expect down there?” Riley asked.

The merchant’s smile never faltered.

“I’m just a small–time seller. I trade goods, not information.”

Riley stared at him for a second, then dropped the question.

The rules for these NPCs were crystal clear.

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12:26 pm PTM

Chapter 523 Deliberate Blockade

+10 Free Coins

Anything they were allowed to sell sat out on display.

Anything they weren’t allowed to say would never leave their mouths.

The team finished resupplying quickly.

RedBean redistributed the new potions based on everyone’s combat role. Frontline fighters got extra recovery potions, crossbow users took more bolts, and injured members received additional bandages.

Hanna passed out the newly acquired whetstones to all melee fighters, letting them sharpen their weapons and fix their durability in the final minutes.

Plenty of nearby survivors noticed Hope Guild’s preparations.

Whispers broke out across the hall.

“They’re heading to the next floor already?”

“We still have 13 hours left on the countdown.”

“That’s crazy. Why leave the safe zone early?”

“Word’s going around they’re looking for missing teammates.”

Some people watched Riley with complicated expressions.

The survivors she’d saved wanted her to stay longer. Her presence had given ordinary players a sense of security.

But they also understood. Hope Guild had its own goals. No one could blame them for refusing to guard strangers forever.

The woman who’d given Riley the whetstone walked over and spoke in a quiet voice.

“You’re leaving?”

Riley nodded. “We’re heading to find our people.”

The woman hesitated, then simply said, “Stay safe out there.”

Riley glanced at her and her group.

“You too. Don’t wait till the last second to go. The crowd rush will cause chaos. Move a little early so you don’t get split up.”

The woman nodded seriously. “We will.”

Ten minutes later, Hope Guild regrouped.

Riley stood and walked toward the central gate.

Every eye in the hall followed her movement.

Figures stirred in the corners of the major guild camps.

Especially the two guilds whose checkpoint Riley had crushed earlier.

2/4

12:26 pm P M

Chapter 523 Deliberate Blockade

+10 Free Coins

More than a dozen men stood up from their resting spots on the west side. They moved to block the direct path leading to the central gate.

None of them drew their weapons

Fighting was forbidden in the safe zone, so weapons were useless here.

Still, they formed a tight line with hostile faces. Their intent to block the path was obvious.

The beast–hide man stood among them.

His chest was still wrapped in bandages. Riley’s previous strike had left him with a severe wound.

He stared at her approaching figure, suppressed fury burning in his eyes, and sneered.

“In such a hurry to get to Floor 9?”

Riley didn’t slow down.

One of the men beside him stepped forward, planting himself firmly in the middle of the path.

“He asked you a question.”

Riley acted like she hadn’t heard a word.

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