Apocalyptic Rebirth: With a repairman system space, she rises again.-Chapter 522: The smoothest entry.

As they neared Ferry Island, the mood shifted, because they could now see it_ the permanent mist. It had truly moved just slightly outside the confines of the town, like it was rumored. The drones they had sent out had brushed past it from above and continued on without making a stop.

It was darker, thicker and vast than regular mist standing in the distance like a living wall, patient and hungry. The wind traveled through it and mournful sounds came from the inside. The mist shifted slightly in the wind, almost as if it knew they were coming and was welcoming them.

"What do you think is inside it?" Nimo asked quietly, breaking the silence.

Sunshine sighed, long and tired. "Nothing good," she said. While it did have some things inside that were good for superhumans and humans, it was dangerous. Too dangerous to be considered a good thing.

She wondered if the watchers were in there, amused by her journey to the town. Maybe they were watching and waiting to enjoy the chaos.

"It almost looks like a painting of a nimbus cloud." Nimo stated. "It is kind of like a fluffy cloud. Hauntingly beautiful, almost makes me wish I could stop and go inside."

Sunshine blinked. A thought occurred to her that maybe Nimo was not the only one entertaining such thoughts. Perhaps, one of her people would be stupid enough to walk into the mist, thinking they could float on a cloud or something silly like that.

She opened the comms and ordered the convoy to stop, then ordered the medics to hand out Reddix tablets, explaining_ again_ what they did, and why this was not the time to test their luck with the mist.

One soldier asked if it was necessary, after all, they were all in masks. "Besides," he added, "There are people that have lived here for over a year and they are just fine."

"Yeah, and it is said that that mist has not shifted once since it settled there." Another mentioned, like it was something Sunshine did not know.

Sunshine deadpanned, "It is better to be safe than sorry, who knows maybe today is the day that it decides to move. If anyone is stupid enough to walk into it like you are taking one of Tracy Kingsley’s tours, you have my support. Just don’t count on us to come and rescue you."

Nervous laughter rippled through the group, thin but real, and it helped, just a little to relieve the tension.

She ordered the convoy to move again and glanced once more at the sleeping child. He had already swallowed a reddix pill in the presence of his grandmother. It was one of the assurances she had given the old woman before they were allowed to leave with Oliver.

The engines roared and soon they reached the entrance to the town. The pitiful wall surrounding the town of Ferry Island barely deserved to be called a wall at all. More like a half-hearted suggestion of someone that once thought about safety and then got distracted halfway through.

It was uneven, patched with mismatched metal sheets and concrete slabs, and Sunshine eyed it with open judgment as the convoy approached. "Wow," she muttered, leaning forward slightly. "I’ve seen garden fences with more ambition than that."

Nimo hummed. "I guess they really think that they have nothing to be afraid of. Think about it, who wants to settle in a town with the mist? The people that live here are either really brave or really stupid."

The truth was obvious_ no one bothered fortifying Ferry Island because neither people nor mutated animals dared dwell arrogantly in the area, not with the permanent mist looming nearby like an ever-watchful predator.

To a ridiculous extent, Ferry Island had become a green zone simply because fear of the mist did all the guarding for them.

The abandoned security checkpoint made that even clearer; the barrier arm was permanently raised, the booth empty, windows cracked, a faded sign reading CHECKPOINT in peeling paint that fooled absolutely no one.

"So, it’s just... free entry and free exit?" Hadrian asked over the radio.

"That’s comforting, the leader seems to be the nonchalant type about protecting his territory." Sunshine replied dryly.

"They might as well roll out the red carpet for Lord Sunshine Quinn of the Quinn seat." Warren’s voice came over the radio and then he chuckled. "Or is it Quinn house? Quinn..."

"Knock it off." Hades’ voice also came in, warning his cousin.

The convoy rolled into the town, engines powerful, armor gleaming, and heads turned immediately. People froze mid-step, mid-conversation, mid-argument, staring at the formidable vehicles as if they’d driven straight out of a sci-fi nightmare.

What terrified them most wasn’t even the vehicles themselves_ it was the open roofs, revealing soldiers in full robotic exo suits, weapons unfamiliar and sharp-edged, humming faintly with energy.

Someone dropped a basket of mushrooms and turned to run. Someone else crossed themselves. Somewhere, a man whispered, "Aliens," with his entire chest.

Among the watchers were Vicente’s men, lounging too casually near a storefront, eyes sharp as knives as they followed the convoy’s path toward the edges of the town, near the mist.

Renzo frowned, squinting. "It’s the people from fortress four but why are they heading that way?" he asked, his voice rising with each word. "Are they... are they here to steal the boss’s secret stash?"

Stefano didn’t answer fast enough for Renzo’s liking, but rather he swore loudly, bolting for the nearest car. "I’m not waiting to find out," he snapped, piling in with a few others."

"Go and bring Vicente. Now." Stefano barked, jumping onto the back of a motorcycle.

By the time Renzo spun around, Stefano was already peeling off after the convoy.

Inside Sunshine’s vehicle, the mood shifted instantly. "We’re being followed," she said calmly, because panic never helped and she refused to give it the satisfaction.

Hadrian confirmed it over the radio. "Well, whoever tailing us is terrible at it," he said, "or they want us to know they’re there."

Nimo snorted. "Bold strategy. I respect the confidence."

"We expected company," Sunshine replied. "Let them come."

At the next intersection, the road split, one path curving away toward clustered buildings, the other leading straight toward the mist like an accusation.

"Which way?" Nimo asked, glancing back. Oliver, who had been shaken awake seconds ago lifted his hand slowly and pointed directly into the mist.

"That way."

Nimo raised an eyebrow. "You sure?"

Oliver didn’t speak, just shook his head slightly_ no, not sure_ but his finger didn’t waver.

Nimo exhaled, popped another Reddix pill into her mouth, swallowed, and muttered, "Well. Guess we’re doing this." She slammed the gas pedal down, and the engine roared.

Trey’s voice crackled through the open channel, strained and very human. "Ma’am... are we actually entering the mist?"

No one had time to answer because the lead vehicle suddenly swerved and stopped, parking sharply in front of a weathered building with a crooked sign that read ORPHANAGE in faded blue letters.

The mist was right there, five meters away, thick and rolling, hissing softly like something alive, breathing, listening.

"That’s... close," Nimo said, patting her chest. "Uncomfortably close."

"We were kept here," Oliver whispered, eyes wide.

"This place looks terrible." Sunshine’s heart clenched, anger flaring hot and fast, but before she could say anything, a battered vehicle screeched in front of the lead car, blocking it completely.