Chapter 167: Scenes of A Dying World!

Chapter 167: Scenes Of A Dying World!

The world had known peace for decades, its continents thriving in their own unique ways. However, that peace began to unravel when whispers of famine crept across the lands.

At first, it was dismissed as a natural disaster, a bad harvest or an unfortunate drought. But soon, it became evident that something far more sinister was at play.

Across the globe, famine was taking its toll. The lands were afflicted by a devastating formula unleashed by Rhemon's pawns. This formula, developed in secret by Rhemon's scientists after months of trial and error, ensured that no soil, no matter how fertile, could sustain life.

The formula triggered the creation of parasitic worms that infiltrated plant roots, disrupting their essential functions. Photosynthesis was halted, and the vascular tissues—responsible for transporting water and nutrients—were blocked. The result was catastrophic: crops withered and died, leading to widespread starvation among animals and, ultimately, humans.

Desperation quickly turned to chaos. Storehouses became frequent targets of raids and vandalism as hunger drove people to violence. Within two months, the death toll had soared.

Faced with unrelenting hunger and fear, many sought refuge in Rhemon's bases scattered across the world. They joined his ranks, driven by the promise of food and protection. In their despair, they abandoned their faith in the Moon Goddess, declaring her dead. Prayers and pleas fell silent, replaced by bitter resignation.

Human loyalty, as fragile as ever, proved conditional. Devotion endured only as long as it yielded results. Once the Moon Goddess seemed to have forsaken them, they turned away without hesitation, questioning neither her absence nor the reasons behind their suffering.

Yet, amid the mass defection to Rhemon's side—the very architect of the world's plight—there remained a steadfast few who wouldn't buy Rhemon's schemes. They clung stubbornly to their belief that Tessa would return, bringing salvation to a dying world.

In this world, there were four vast continents, each housing its own unique cultures, landscapes, and histories. The world was as diverse as it was expansive, with each continent shaping its people in distinct ways.

The Eastern, Western, southern and the northern continent. Riverdale for instance is in Grinwall country which is in the northern continent, while Ocean Roar city where Rhemon's headquarters is, is located in the Acrid country which is in the southern. Continent.

The Northern Continent

The Northern Continent was known for its temperate climate and rolling hills. Within its borders lay Grinwall Country, a land of quiet towns and bustling cities. One of its most notable locations was Riverdale, a serene town with a reputation for academic excellence. It was here that Riverdale Academy stood, an institution renowned for molding the brightest minds of the continent.

The Southern Continent

Far to the south, with its sprawling deserts and jagged coastlines, was the Southern Continent. Here lay Acrid Country, a land of unrelenting heat and relentless ambition. In the heart of Acrid Country was Ocean Roar City, a metropolis built on the edge of the vast Cerulean Sea. It was a city of innovation and power, home to Rhemon's headquarters, an organization shrouded in mystery and influence.

The Eastern Continent

The Eastern Continent, known for its lush forests and ancient traditions, remained a land of intrigue. Though its territories and cities were yet to be fully explored, whispers of its deep connection to the world's mystical forces often spread to the far reaches of the other continents.

The Western Continent

In contrast, the Western Continent stood as a testament to resilience. Its rugged terrain and stormy coasts bred a people known for their tenacity and strength. Like the East, its lands held secrets waiting to be unveiled.

Each continent was a world of its own, yet they were all interconnected, their destinies entwined. Grinwall's quiet Riverdale and Acrid's bustling Ocean Roar City were just two pieces of a grander puzzle, where stories of ambition, power, and legacy were yet to unfold.

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Southern Continent — Acrid Country — Ocean Roar City

Carlos Nunez, a retired war hero, sat silently by the bedside of his sick daughter. The flickering lights of electricity, surged in a rythnmical manner, adding a strange atmosphere to the already dejected one.

Outside, the once-thriving streets of Ocean Roar City lay eerily silent, a testament to the famine that gripped the entire region. It had been three days since either he—Carlos Nunez or his daughter had eaten. Hunger gnawed at his stomach, but his concern was solely for the frail girl beside him.

His mind drifted back to the days of war. He had fought in the devastating conflicts that marked the nation's history: the Wars of '96, '98, and '01. Each war's name was a grim tally of lives lost—960,000 in '96, —980,000 in '98, and a staggering 1,000,000 in '01.

The name was so given based on the number of lives lost during the war, a testament to its devastating aftermath. These wars had ravaged the land, leaving deep scars on both its people and its soil. But they had also birthed a new nation.

Acrid Country, once a fragmented colony under the iron rule of the Bayleaf Union, had clawed its way to freedom. Acrid Country was formerly called Conglomerate 1, The tyrant— Bayleaf, whose name still inspired fear, had ruled the entire Bayleaf Union with an unforgiving hand—but under Carlos Nunez's leadership and unyielding spirit during the war against the Bayleaf union and Master Bayleaf himself, the oppressed people had fought back. They had won—barely. The victories were pyrrhic, but they marked the end of Baylead's dominion.

Carlos was more than a soldier; he was a symbol of hope and resilience. His name was etched in the annals of Acrid's history, his face a fixture on national broadcasts on National television, serving as an example to other people and even those outside the continent. Even in the bleakest times, people looked up to him, calling him a hero, a savior. But now, as hunger and despair closed in, he felt anything but heroic.

The city's food stores had long been exhausted, either emptied by desperate crowds or ransacked by opportunistic thieves and restless mobs who could no longer suppress their hunger.

Aid was a distant dream, and the famine showed no signs of abating. Carlos knew there was one way out: the Rhemon Synchronization Program. It promised food, shelter, and resources in exchange for loyalty. But Rhemon was no ordinary man. Rumors swirled that he was an alien, a powerful being from the distant planet Kaelria. His methods were ruthless, his influence growing with each passing day.

Carlos hated Rhemon with every fiber of his being. The man—if he could even be called that—represented everything he had fought against. Yet, the thought of his daughter wasting away was unbearable. If he were to join the program, it would send shockwaves through the nation. A figure as prominent as Carlos Nunez, a war hero, a veteran, a respected superstar soldier, aligning with Rhemon would be seen as a betrayal, a sign that even the strongest had fallen. It could shatter the fragile morale of a starving population.

But what choice did he have? His daughter's fever had worsened overnight, her small body wracked with shivers. Her malnourishment was evident in her sunken cheeks and hollow eyes. Carlos clenched his fists, his mind torn between pride and desperation.

He had once led armies against impossible odds, faced death countless times, and stood unshaken before tyrants. Now, the weight of a single decision threatened to break him. Could he sacrifice his dignity, his reputation, for the sake of his child?

He stared out of the window, where the dark silhouette of Rhemon's base loomed in the distance. The answer lay within those fortified walls, but so did the risk of losing everything he stood for. The secrets he carried about Rhemon's true nature—the alien origin, the whispered tales of Kaelria—only deepened his dread. Few in Acrid knew the truth, and Carlos had vowed to keep it that way. Yet, he knew that stepping into Rhemon's domain could force his hand in ways he wasn't ready for.

For now, all he could do was wait and hope. But time was a luxury neither he nor his daughter could afford.