The next morning, everyone finished breakfast and began preparing to depart. All twenty horse-drawn vehicles lined up one after another, ready to move at any moment. Horses stamped the ground impatiently while adventurers adjusted their armor and checked their weapons. The caravan slowly settled into its usual traveling formation.

  Helena stood a little to the side, focused on her chopper. The machine had been running on an old mutant core for the past few days. Because the chopper had stayed inside her ring for nearly a decade, the core was almost completely drained. It still worked for now, but she had no idea when it might suddenly give out.

  She opened the tank compartment and glanced inside. A palm-sized crystal core sat there, its color faded until it was almost completely white.

  Helena clicked her tongue softly.

  “As I thought. It’s almost empty.”

  She reached into her ring and pulled out a replacement core. This one glowed faintly with a deep crimson light.

  At that moment, footsteps approached from behind her.

  “Morning,” Jinn said.

  Jeji stretched lazily beside him. “Feels like a good day.”

  Helena glanced back. “Morning. Are we heading out already?”

  “Not yet,” Jinn replied with a small laugh. “Still a few things to sort out. Where’s Laysandra?”

  “She’s helping Rob with something,” Helena answered.

  Jinn nodded, then looked back at the chopper.

  “Doing some work on your Iron Horse?”

  “Just checking it over,” Helena said casually.

  Jeji leaned closer, curiosity lighting up his eyes.

  “So… is that thing powered by magic?”

  Helena nodded. “Yeah. The core was almost drained, so I’m swapping it out.”

  Jeji’s eyes widened, but before he could bombard her with questions, Jinn pointed at the crimson core in her hand.

  “What kind of core is that?”

  The answer slipped out before Helena could stop herself.

  “A mutant zombie core.”

  She immediately regretted it. She waited for surprise, confusion—anything.

  Instead, Jinn just gave a thoughtful hum.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  “Zombies, huh… those things really don’t go down easily.”

  Helena blinked.

  Only then did she remember. Zombies existed in this world too, just not the virus-driven horrors from Earth. Their bites didn’t infect others, and they weren’t the end of the world here.

  Still, the word stirred something unpleasant inside her.

  For a brief moment, a thought crossed her mind.

  Maybe one day, I’ll wipe them out too.

  “Helena?”

  Jinn’s voice snapped her out of it.

  She shook her head lightly. “Sorry. Got lost in thought.”

  She pulled the exhausted core free. Jeji immediately reached out.

  “Can I see it?”

  Helena tossed it over. Jeji caught it carefully and lifted it up, inspecting it from different angles. Even drained of energy, it still looked like a finely cut gem.

  He muttered in awe,

  “Whoever made this machine… they really knew what they were doing. Using a core this efficiently isn’t easy.”

  Helena slid the new core into place.

  “Yeah. He was amazing.”

  A soft click echoed as the core locked in. Helena activated the chopper, and crimson energy flowed through its inner channels, pulsing gently before stabilizing.

  “All set,” she said, closing the tank.

  Jinn and Krome both nodded as the engine emitted a smooth, steady sound. The chopper didn’t actually need to make noise, but Helena had asked her friend long ago to install an artificial sound system. She liked the familiarity of it.

  Laysandra and Rob returned shortly after. Rob looked tired.

  “Rough morning?” Helena asked.

  Rob let out a yawn. “Something like that. Had to deal with a few annoying matters.”

  Before Helena could reply, she noticed Jeji suddenly bowing deeply in front of her.

  Jinn frowned. “Jeji, what are you doing?”

  Jeji straightened slightly but kept his head lowered.

  “Helena… can I try riding your Iron Horse?”

  Jinn gave Helena an apologetic look, already reaching out as if to drag Jeji away.

  But Helena just smiled.

  “I don’t mind. But do you actually know how to ride it?”

  Jeji looked up, eyes serious.

  “I’ve been watching you. I think I understand.”

  “And if you damage it?” Helena asked.

  Jeji answered without hesitation.

  “Then I’ll pay you back. However I have to.”

  Helena laughed. “Relax. I’m joking.”

  She pointed at different parts of the chopper.

  “This is the clutch. This is the brake. Twist this for speed. Got it?”

  Jeji nodded repeatedly. “Got it.”

  Helena paused, then frowned slightly.

  “Wait a second.”

  She crouched beside the chopper and made a few quick adjustments. Jinn, Krome, and Jeji leaned in, watching closely.

  After a moment, Helena stood up.

  “Okay. I switched it to automatic. No need to worry about gears.”

  Jeji blinked. “You can do that?”

  “Just twist the throttle,” Helena said.

  Jeji climbed on carefully.

  “It feels… surprisingly comfortable.”

  The others watched nervously as he eased the throttle. The chopper rolled forward smoothly.

  “Don’t forget the brakes!” Helena called out.

  “I know!” Jeji shouted back, looping around and returning moments later.

  His face was glowing.

  “Boss! This thing’s insane. It feels like riding on clouds!”

  Helena smiled.

  “You can use it until we reach the capital. Just don’t get carried away.”

  Jeji froze. “Wait… really?”

  Everyone else stared at her.

  Rob watched from the side, silent regret flashing across his face.

  I should’ve asked first…

  A caravan member approached Rob.

  “Sir, we’re ready to depart.”

  Laysandra walked over and tugged lightly on Helena’s sleeve, asking her to join their group. Jinn added that she could ride a horse if she preferred.

  Helena waved them off.

  “No need. Oh—almost forgot.”

  She reached into her ring again.

  Another motorcycle emerged.

  A sleek sports bike.

  Everyone shouted at once.

  “Another one?!”

  Jeji stared, awestruck.

  “This one looks like it was built to cut through the wind.”

  “Give me a minute,” Helena said calmly. “I need to change its core too.”

  Once that was done, the caravan finally began moving, leaving Mistwood Town behind.