Apocalypse: Reborn with a Soul Sync Farming Space System-Chapter 180 Going To Look For Them

In another part of the woods, Stefan paced back and forth, his steps restless as he moved across the same stretch of ground over and over again.

His gaze swept through the trees each time as if expecting someone to emerge at any moment, yet the forest remained quiet, the silence stretching longer with every passing second.

’It had already been more than five hours. Where are they?’

His brows drew together slightly as he stopped, his jaw tightening as his thoughts ran through every possible outcome, none of them settling well in his mind, as he glanced once more toward every direction they could emerge from, his fingers curling slightly at his side.

"They should have been back by now," he muttered under his breath, though the words did little to ease the unease building inside him.

’Did something bad happen to them?’ He shook his head at the thought.

A faint rustling sound came from behind him.

Stefan turned his head slightly as Ida approached, her steps careful and measured as if she did not want to startle him, though the worry on her face was clear enough to see even before she spoke. Her hands fidgeted together as she stopped a few steps away from him.

She hesitated for a moment before lifting her gaze.

"...They are not coming back yet, are they?" she asked quietly, her voice soft but steady.

Stefan looked at her for a moment before shaking his head slowly. "They will... maybe they just can’t find us."

Stefan had chosen the path they had taken before, and the soldiers would definitely take the path back if they were going back to the trucks.

His gaze drifted past her as he looked toward the children, his expression softening just slightly as he took in the sight of Tina and Jack sitting together, speaking in low voices as if trying to keep each other distracted from the growing tension around them.

"They must already be hungry... and thirsty," he said after a pause, his tone quieter this time.

Ida followed his gaze, her fingers tightening slightly as she looked at the children, the worry in her eyes deepening though she did not say anything.

Stefan’s thoughts shifted inward as he exhaled slowly, the weight of their situation pressing down on him.

If they did not find the others soon, they would have no supplies, and staying here any longer would only increase the risk of being discovered, and in a place like this, it would not take long before something found them.

"...We can’t keep waiting like this," he said under his breath, more to himself than to her.

Ida looked at him carefully, studying his expression for a moment before speaking again.

"You are going to look for them," she said, her voice calm, though there was no mistaking the certainty in it.

Stefan’s gaze shifted toward her, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. "You can tell?"

Ida gave a faint smile, though it did not reach her eyes. "A mother notices things," she replied softly. "Even when nothing is said."

Stefan let out a quiet breath as he looked away, his gaze returning to the trees as if searching for an answer he already knew.

"But I can’t leave you all alone," he said after a moment, his voice lower now. "If something happens while I’m gone, I won’t be here to protect you and I won’t be able to forgive myself."

His eyes moved back toward the children again, lingering there a little longer.

Ida followed his gaze before turning back to him, her expression gentler this time, though there was still firmness in her voice.

"We will be fine," she said quietly. "We have come this far already, and we will hold on as long as you come back to check on us."

There was a brief silence as Stefan studied her, weighing her words carefully as if trying to find a reason to refuse, yet none came.

"...You are sure?" he asked.

Ida nodded without hesitation. "Yes."

Stefan stood there for a moment longer before finally giving a slow nod, as if he had reached a decision he could no longer delay.

"...Alright."

He reached to his side and pulled out a gun, holding it out toward her as his expression turned serious.

"Take this," he said. "Keep it with you at all times, and if anything happens, do not hesitate to use it."

Ida hesitated for only a brief moment before reaching out to take it, her fingers wrapping around it carefully as she nodded. "I understand."

Stefan’s gaze lingered on her for a moment before shifting once more toward the children, watching them quietly as if committing the scene to memory.

"Stay here," he added. "No matter what happens, do not leave this spot unless I come back for you."

Ida tightened her grip on the gun slightly as she nodded again. "We will stay."

Stefan gave a final nod as his eyes moved between her and the children one last time, the weight of responsibility pressing heavily on him, before his figure blurred slightly, and in the next moment, he disappeared into thin air.

The space he left behind felt noticeably emptier.

Ida stood still for a moment, her gaze lingering on the spot where he had been, before she let out a quiet breath and turned, walking back toward the children with measured steps.

Tina looked up as she approached, her brows furrowing slightly.

"Where is Stefan?" she asked, her voice small but clear.

Ida crouched down slightly so she was at their level, her expression softening as she met Tina’s gaze. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"He will be back," she said gently. "He went to look for the others."

Tina nodded slowly, her hands resting in her lap as she looked down for a moment, her voice quieter when she spoke again.

"I miss Aunty Laurel... and Uncle Alexander," she said. "But they are busy, so I will be a good girl and wait for them."

Jack gave a small smile as he reached out and patted her back, his tone light but reassuring.

"They will come back," he said. "They always do, so you don’t have to worry too much."

Tina nodded again, though her fingers curled slightly against her clothes.

Ida watched them silently, her grip tightening briefly around the gun before she relaxed it, her gaze shifting toward the surrounding trees as if trying to listen for anything unusual.

The forest was quiet, and the burnt trees did little to conceal them.

Then... A sharp snapping sound echoed from a distance.

All three of them froze at the same time.

Their heads turned simultaneously toward the direction the sound had come from, their eyes locking onto the same spot as the silence of the forest shifted into something far more unsettling.