Right now, Group 4 was just pretending to follow Gerhard to deceive him.
"You don't mean...?"
"I was faster, Gerhard."
This time, he wouldn't concede the first place.
***
"Stop."
At the quiet murmur, all members of Group 3 halted at once. Gerhard unfolded the map to check their current location.
Group 1's base was midway up a mountain covered with dense trees—ancient oaks and towering pines whose branches intertwined to form a natural ceiling that obscured much of the sky. The undergrowth was thick with ferns and wild shrubs, providing countless hiding spots for defenders. Moss-covered rocks jutted from the soil at unpredictable intervals, creating natural obstacles that would slow any direct assault. It was exceptionally good for ambushes and traps, a fortress enhanced by nature itself rather than constructed by human hands.
The other groups weren't much different, as such locations were deliberately assigned.
"Why? We still have to go further to reach the meeting place."
