The minimap updated. A new line appeared, dotted and pre-war, cutting through the ridge at lower elevation.
[ ESTIMATED TRAVEL TIME — 1.5 DAYS ]
[ WARNING — STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY — 71% ]
"There's a maintenance tunnel," Eloy said, turning back. "Point eight kilometers east. Pre-war. Cuts through the ridge lower than the surface trail. Travel time is a day and a half."
Maya's fan snapped open. "The network mapped the terrain."
"The network mapped everything. It just needed a query."
Valen looked at the minimap over Eloy's shoulder. "Those tunnels haven't been maintained in four hundred years. Seventy-one percent means one in three sections has collapsed."
"The alternative is three days with Inquisition checkpoints."
Valen was quiet for a long moment. Then: "I'll take point. Four years of scouting experience. The debuff is stamina, not judgment."
[ ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: SHORTCUT DISCOVERED ]
[ PRE-WAR NETWORK — TERRAIN QUERY — SUCCESSFUL ]
[ REWARD: +1 PERCEPTION ]
