"Give us Setsugen Seikan's report on the Northern Mountains."
"And also the harsh climate that have been tormenting us for years now."
Connor spoke with a low and grave tone.
In this apocalyptic world, monsters were never the only threat that humanity faced.
The head of the Setsugen Seikan stronghold, Ryuto Ryuzaki, stood up. Unlike Sophie, he didn't have any papers in his hands, as if whatever he will say will come directly from his heart.
He looked around and scanned his surroundings briefly, his eyes momentarily stopping on a white haired man who was continuously smirking throughout the meeting despite their grave situation, as if looking down on everyone present.
Ryuto frowned a bit but didn't say anything. It wasn't the time to have internal conflicts and in case the kid were to cross the line, there was a better person to do job.
He looked ahead and sharpened his gaze.
"I don't like to beat around the bush so I will be straightforward. Our situation is grave."
His voice was loud and confident, befitting his status of a General.
"Let me start by addressing the harsh weather conditions we've been facing, both in general and specifically in the northern regions."
"And frankly, if the monsters don't kill us first, the sheer cold and the weather will."
""Across the continent, the landscape has become a treacherous and unyielding enemy. We face not only extreme cold but also relentless storms and gale-force winds that tear through our makeshift shelters. Torrential rains cause landslides and floods, further hampering our movements and destroying what little infrastructure we manage to build. The darkness is unending, with no sunlight to pierce the eternal gloom. This perpetual night saps the morale and willpower of our people, leaving them in a constant state of despair."
Ryuto's expression grew darker as he elaborated. "The weather is unpredictable and violent, with sudden shifts that catch even our most prepared scouts off guard. One moment it might be calm, and the next, we're battling through ferocious windstorms that can tear the flesh from your bones. The rains are acid-laced, causing burns and contaminating our water supplies. Mudslides are common, burying entire groups alive in moments. Even our strongest structures are vulnerable to these ceaseless attacks from nature itself."
He paused briefly, letting everyone take in the information he has just provided. He might be exaggerating it a bit, but each and every word that came out of his mouth was true.
He shifted the focus of the report. "About the Northern mountains.....Don't even get me started.."
His tone was sarcastic but the gravity of his words was apparent.
He started speaking again. "In the northern mountains, which we are considering for new strongholds, the conditions are even more extreme. We've been pushed to the edge of the northern continent by these filthy beasts, and now we're forced to explore these desolate mountains for any potential resources or areas to establish new strongholds. Transporting thousands of people across this unforgiving terrain is not just impractical—it's bordering on suicidal. The geography alone is a nightmare: steep, icy slopes, treacherous ravines, and relentless blizzards that obscure visibility and halt progress. Every step is a battle against nature itself."
Ryuto's gaze hardened as he continued. "And it's not just the cold we have to contend with. The climate is so brutal that even the strongest among us find it challenging. We've recorded instances where Commander Ranks, individuals with considerable mana control and physical prowess, could barely move without collapsing from exhaustion and cold. The relentless snowstorms and sub-zero temperatures create an environment that is hostile to all forms of life. Surviving here is difficult enough, let alone moving a large population and setting up a new stronghold."
He leaned forward, his expression grim. "Then there are the ferocious beasts that lurk in those mountains. These aren't your average monsters; these are creatures evolved to thrive in the harshest conditions imaginable. I barely survived their onslaught myself, and I can tell you that our usual tactics and defenses are woefully inadequate. These beasts are faster, stronger, and more resilient than anything we've faced before. Their natural adaptations make them formidable opponents in this frozen wasteland."
Ryuto shook his head, his frustration evident. "We've tried every conceivable method to make progress, but the findings are uniformly negative. The cold saps our strength, the terrain breaks our bodies, and the beasts hunt us relentlessly. Establishing strongholds in the northern mountains seems like a distant dream. These lands are vast, extremely vast, in fact. But we've scouted the area extensively, looking for viable locations, but every potential site is fraught with peril. The idea of moving our population there is sheer folly without significant breakthroughs in our ability to withstand these conditions."
He concluded, his voice a mix of anger and resignation. "In summary, the northern mountains and, indeed, the entire apocalyptic landscape, present insurmountable challenges. The weather, the geography, the monsters—everything is working against us. Our efforts to find new resources and areas for strongholds have been met with failure after failure. Unless we find some miraculous solution, our chances for long-term survival are meager."
Ryuto sat down, his report complete. The room was silent, each general absorbing the bleakness of his words.
Each of them were more or less aware of everything he said, but hearing it directly from Ryuto with him being this blunt, it was like a wake-up call for them, about their reality and the kind of era they are living in.
Connor moved his gaze again and turned his gaze towards his right.
Ria, who the gaze was directed towards, looked back.
Connor spoke first. "We will like to hear the Anveshan stronghold's and your own findings on top of Ryuto's."
"Yes" Ria replied and quickly stood up. She looked at everyone present and started giving her report.
She began speaking, her voice was steady and calm like others but it was also more light and casual. "We at Anveshan, are primarily concerned with exploration and I have to say, Ryuto's observations about the climate are rather accurate."
She affirmed Ryuto's words and continued with her own report. "Now for Anveshan stronghold, our primary task is to explore and find potential stronghold locations, as well as sources of vital resources like water and minerals. However, the harsh conditions have made this incredibly difficult. Our teams face relentless storms, freezing temperatures, and constant darkness. These elements make thorough exploration nearly impossible."
Ria's expression hardened as she continued. "We've scouted extensively, yet every potential stronghold site we've identified is already occupied by monsters. These creatures are highly territorial, attacking fiercely whenever we approach. The idea of reclaiming these areas is daunting, given our current resources and manpower."
She paused, allowing her words to sink in. "Our search for resources has been equally challenging. We've found rivers and mineral deposits, but accessing them is another matter entirely. The terrain is treacherous, and monsters guard these resources fiercely. Attempts to secure water supplies or mining sites are met with immediate and violent opposition."
Ria took a deep breath, her tone becoming more analytical. "The landscape itself poses significant challenges. Beyond the extreme cold, we face gale-force winds, acid rain, and unending darkness. The lack of sunlight affects both our physical and mental health, leading to fatigue and despair among our people. Navigating through mudslides, floods, and sudden shifts in weather makes every mission a gamble."
"And I don't think I need to say anything about the Northen Mountains.... Those lands were extremely vast, and at the same, extremely treacherous. It was too much for a single stronghold to explore both the landscape and the Northern Mountains at the same time.... And that's also the reason we tasked it's exploration to a different stronghold entirely.... "
She reflected back on some of the events of the past.
Her expression grew a mix of frustration and determination as she concluded her report. "In essence, our exploration efforts have yielded little success. The climate, terrain, and monsters create a trifecta of obstacles that are nearly insurmountable. We have identified some potential sites and resources, but securing them would require more strength and numbers than we currently have."
"We will have to find a way to go around these barriers if we are to continue with our exploration efforts. Our current strategy is not sustainable, and without significant breakthroughs, our future remains uncertain."
Ria sat down back again after completing her report.
Ron's eyes were still closed, his face impassive. Even after all the distressing news and reports one after another, he still seemed calm and collected, not letting anguish and despair took over him.
Nothing will be achieved by lamenting over things that are out of one's control. It will only cause more unrest and apprehension about the unknown, imparing one's ability to make sound judgement.
For what it's worth, he knew about more or less everything that was being told here and also that the series of distressing news were still far from stopping. Rather, they will only increase from here.
The only reason he was going through the established procedures was so that everyone was on the same page before he get to the 'main topic'.
At this point, Connor, realizing Ron has no intention of speaking anything, sighed inwardly.
'Sigh, I hope there's some positive news going forward.'
He looked back up and met eyes with a man with light green eyes.