Actually, it had been a frantic day. They ate, drank, and relieved themselves on the move, continuing their journey even after nightfall.

Late at night, Paige Summers only managed a short nap before waking, staying alert to any sounds from outside. She was exhausted, but it was still far better than the situation for those behind them, who were traveling on foot.

According to Claire Chapman, Samuel Hughes hadn’t been entirely neglectful of his duties.

In the end, he had sent The Guard to rendezvous with the people from the base, organizing them into groups to help everyone catch up.

’The human heart truly is a complex thing.’

’Take Samuel Hughes, for instance. He’s shown so many different sides.’

But Paige Summers didn’t think he was rotten to the core.

’Just... selfish, perhaps...’

’But who isn’t selfish?’

’Truly selfless people are incredibly rare.’

’But for someone in a high position, that kind of selfishness can harm many people. It’s not like an ordinary person, where any harm they cause is on a much smaller scale.’

As her thoughts wandered, a commotion erupted outside.

She got up and jumped out of the vehicle.

Marcus Monroe and the others were awake too, standing by the vehicle and ready to start the engine at a moment’s notice.

She was the only Speed Superpower User in their group, so catching up to the vehicles wouldn’t be a problem. ’Oh well,’ she thought, ’The able do the most work. I’ll just count it as gaining experience.’

It wasn’t a Mutant Beast blocking their path, but a mutated shrub.

Its once-hard, straight branches now had long, flexible ends that could stretch over ten meters, capable of snatching a vehicle and tossing it aside!

Two vehicles from the Hunting Parties ahead were caught in this exact predicament, dangling in the air like toys.

The branches were wrapped so tightly around them that the people inside were trapped.

Fortunately, members of the base’s Guard arrived, and other Superpower Users who knew each other also stopped to help.

Paige Summers sized up the situation as she ran toward the commotion.

The shrub had an abundance of branches, and it had effortlessly used a few to ensnare the vehicles. It seemed that two wasn’t enough; it was greedily reaching for other cars, but they were just out of reach. Frustrated, it vented its fury on the Superpower Users trying to get closer.

In the darkness, Paige Summers could clearly see it brandishing countless jagged, bare branches. They danced wildly in the air, periodically lashing out viciously at anyone who drew near.

It was a terrifying sight!

"Don’t get too close! Stay at least ten meters back!"

The Guard Captain shouted a warning to the Superpower Users from the Hunting Parties. One of his Guards had already been struck and sent flying, breaking his ribs on impact...

If close combat was out, they’d have to fight from a distance.

The Guard Captain quickly assembled several Fire Ability Users and one Gold Ability User to attack the mutated shrub.

The Fire Ability Users struck first. Fireballs and fiery dragons flew toward the shrub, momentarily lighting up the sky. Their goal was to draw the plant’s attention, giving the Gold Ability User a chance to sever the branches and rescue the trapped vehicles and people.

They had used this tactic before, and it seemed the most suitable for the current situation.

The plan was sound, but its execution went unexpectedly wrong.

The shrub’s branches were exceptionally tough. The Fire Ability Users successfully enraged the giant plant, but the Gold Ability User failed to sever its branches at the critical moment.

Several long knives slashed horizontally at the branches beneath the two vehicles. However, the plant dodged some, and the others only managed to create small gashes.

Scorched by the flames, the shrub would have undoubtedly roared in fury and pain if it could make a sound. Instead, it could only flail its body more violently. All its branches seemed to lose control, either thrashing about wildly or curling up tight... Then, as a wave of pain shot through it, the branches wrapped around one of the vehicles suddenly constricted with immense force...

Paige Summers saw what was happening, and her pupils constricted.

Before she could even make a sound, a hand yanked her away.

When she regained her footing, a gruesome rain fell from the sky before her: a mixture of metal shards, dismembered human bodies, and a torrent of blood.

Amid the bloody shower, the sickening thud of things hitting the ground followed...

When a severed head rolled to a stop at her feet, Paige Summers had already bitten through her lower lip.

After a long moment, she slowly tore her gaze away from the head and looked back at the shrub, her brow deeply furrowed. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Behind her, Marcus Monroe thought she was frozen in terror. He sighed to himself. Even he found the scene hard to stomach, let alone her. While Paige Summers was calmer and bolder than most women, she still hadn’t seen much. It was no wonder she’d react this way.

He took her arm, intending to lead her back to the car.

Just then, a low, angry curse came from nearby.

Seeing Paige Summers and Marcus Monroe looking at him, Claire Chapman took a ragged breath. His face twisted into an ugly expression as he pointed upward. "Old Man Townsend is in there... along with a few good men..."

He was pointing at the second vehicle, the luckier of the two. Though its frame was bent out of shape, the people inside were likely still alive; everyone could hear their trembling cries for help.

But under these circumstances, no one dared to make a rash move.

Sean Raines walked over as well.

Claire Chapman looked at him with a sliver of hope. "Master Raines, can you..."

Sean Raines shook his head before Claire could finish. "It’s too large. My talismans won’t have much effect. Besides, we can’t afford to provoke it any further. Otherwise... you saw what happens."

Claire Chapman clenched his fists, tilting his head back and asking no one in particular, "Are we just going to let them die?!"

That was exactly what the Guard over there was thinking. They had done their best. Since they couldn’t save them, they couldn’t afford to delay any longer. They were already preparing to retreat.

Paige Summers, who had been silent all this time, was thinking that perhaps they were using the wrong method. ’I remember my grandfather used to grow bonsai trees,’ she recalled. ’To shape them, he’d wrap ropes around the middle of some of the plants to make them grow more compactly.’

’Could that be adapted?’

’Of course, that’s easier said than done. A bonsai tree and this mutated shrub are practically from different worlds! Trying to tie this thing up would be anything but easy.’

’But I have to at least try!’

At this thought, she lifted her head. "I have an idea. Should we give it a try?"