Frozen Flame of Dawn - Chapter 104

Chapter 104: Chapter 51: A Looming Confrontation_1

Tommy let out a heavy sigh, his usual playful demeanor fading into something more serious.

“Let leave this discussion after we arrive their, but I have to say even though we saved a lot of people today, we took half a day doing it otherwise we’d already be inside the basin by now.”

Aiden nodded, but his gaze remained fixed outside. “No worries. At least we saved lives.”

He went quiet for a moment, then added in a lower tone: “But tonight is going to be dangerous.”

Tommy’s posture straightened. “You think we’re getting attacked?”

Aiden didn’t hesitate. “I know we are.”

Tommy swore under his breath. “Alright, where do you think they will?”

Aiden closed his eyes, mapping out the terrain in his mind. “Two possibilities. First—tonight, at midnight. Most of our people will be exhausted, half-asleep, making us an easy target.”

Tommy nodded, taking mental notes. “Second?”

“Tomorrow morning, just before we reach the Basin.” Aiden’s eyes opened, sharp and focused “There’s a turning point on the road—a small intersection just before the approach to Icelorn, theirs shops and buildings on both sides which becomes the perfect vantage point for an ambush.”

Tommy cursed under his breath. “That’s… yeah, that’s an ideal kill zone.”

Aiden nodded. “We need to be prepared. Double the watch rotations tonight. I want our best shooters on high alert. And tomorrow, we slow down before we reach that intersection. We bait them out—make them think we don’t know, then strike first.”

Tommy let out a low laugh. “Man, you really don’t give them a chance, do you?”

Aiden’s expression was unreadable. “They’re coming for us no matter what. so we either wait and let them take the shot…”

His grip tightened on the steering wheel. “…or we make sure they never get the chance.”

Tommy simply nodded, respect and trust clear in his eyes. “Alright then, let’s get to work.”

As the convoy rumbled forward under the deepening hues of dusk, the golden light of the setting sun stretching long shadows over the cracked highway. Inside the lead vehicle, Aiden and Tommy continued their discussion, the tension between them laced with unspoken understanding.

Just as Tommy reached for his radio to relay the necessary commands, a static-laced transmission crackled through their comms.

“This is Scout Team One. We’re approaching the village site now—should be arriving in a few minutes. But, uh… Captain? You’re gonna want to see this.”

Aiden and Tommy exchanged a glance.

“What is it?” Aiden asked, his voice sharp with curiosity.

“You’ll see soon, sir. We can spot the village from here… and it’s, uh, not exactly ordinary.” The voice came from other side.

Aiden’s gaze flicked to the windshield, and when the village finally came into view, his breath hitched for a split second.

Towering in the distance, an enormous wall of solid ice enclosed the entire village square. The crystalline structure shimmered under the evening light, its jagged edges reflecting the dying sun in fractured blues and silvers.

Tommy, sitting beside him, blinked in dumbfounded disbelief. “Uh… what the actual hell?”

Aiden exhaled sharply through his nose, a ghost of a smile tugging at his lips. “Only one person could’ve done this.”

Tommy turned to him, his expression still caught between shock and amazement. “You mean—”

“Amira.” Aiden’s voice was certain. There was no doubt in his mind. The scale, the strength, the sheer control it would take to erect a barrier of this magnitude—it had to be her.

“Damn…” Tommy murmured, still staring. “I can’t even create something like this with my power. And you? You think you could pull this off?”

Aiden considered for a moment before shaking his head. “No. Not like this. Not at my current energy reserves.”

“Then that means—” Tommy said with his expression doubtfully.

“She’s stronger than before.” Aiden finished.

As they pulled into the village, their convoy coming to a halt outside the massive ice barrier, Aiden’s lips curled into an unreadable smile.

While Aiden and his people found an unexpected haven, elsewhere, a trap was being laid.

……

Grant and his platoon had already reached their designated ambush point—the intersection Aiden had predicted. Shops and abandoned buildings flanked both sides of the road, their shattered windows and blood-streaked walls standing as remnants of past horrors.

The scent of dried blood and rot clung to the air as Grant surveyed the area.

“This place is perfect,” he muttered, standing amidst the remnants of what was once a bustling roadside town. “A complete kill zone.”

His soldiers had already swept the area, eliminating the few mutated beasts that lingered among the debris. Now, all that was left was to wait.

“Make sure everyone gets rest,” Grant commanded. “Tomorrow, we finish this.”

…….

Meanwhile, in Icelorn Basin, Amira was already several steps ahead.

As the meeting hall, casting long shadows over the map spread out before Amira. The weight of the night pressed against her shoulders, but her expression remained composed—calculated.

She had just dismissed the meeting after gathering updates from her team. Everyone was exhausted, and left early as rest was a necessity. But Amira… she had no time for rest.

Elias, seated across from her, gave her a knowing look before breaking the silence. “Captain, you wanted an update on the route between the safe house and here.”

Amira nodded, leaning back slightly in her chair, her fingers idly tracing the edge of the map. “What did we find?”

“The team we stationed at the safehouse for surveillance has confirmed movement.” Elias exhaled sharply, his eyes flicking down to his notes. “Two convoys are moving in our direction. The first is a military unit, estimated at around 2,500 soldiers—perhaps slightly less, but it’s definitely above 2,000 though.”

A tense silence settled over the room. They had been expecting this.

Amira’s expression remained unreadable as she asked, “And the second convoy?”

Elias hesitated only a fraction before answering. “The second convoy is carrying mostly civilians, but there are some soldiers among them—likely acting as their protection detail. From our estimations, their numbers are nearly the same as the military unit, but more than half of them are ordinary civilians.”

A flicker of something passed over Amira’s face—relief, maybe. But it was gone in an instant.