Trap

"Mousse, how is the situation outside?"

Zzz... A 3D projection materialized in front of Varion, displaying a desert scene.

Two images were juxtaposed: one showed a convoy resting at what appeared to be a desert hotel, while the other depicted a woman in a scarf also taking a break in the desert.

"Is this the second-generation Alice?"

"Yes, sir. This clone has undergone an evolution and acquired an ability different from ordinary individuals. The powerful energy fluctuations observed earlier were emitted by this clone. It's difficult to believe that such a frail body can generate such a massive amount of energy."

"Do you find it unreasonable?"

"Yes, sir. From the perspective of her physical condition, it doesn't seem capable of sustaining such energy output. According to calculations, these recent energy fluctuations should have depleted her entire energy reserve, leading to her death."

Varion nodded. "Indeed, but she appears to be in perfect health now and has become more skilled at managing her energy. There are always exceptions, Mousse."

"Sir, I'll withhold my judgment."

"Aftr all Alice is the protagonist, so she must receive some preferential treatment." Varion mused.

"What about the other one?"

"It appears that the other group is a clone of Dr. Isaac, and they've been keeping a close eye on them, sir. Do you think we should take action?"

Varion contemplated for a moment. It seemed in his best interests to allow Alice to create a disturbance and attract worldwide attention to her, giving him more time to work undisturbed. This would divert attention away from his base.

"We should play along, but not just yet. Keep a close watch."

He turned around and re-entered the sub-base, where a group of young Kryptonians were eagerly awaiting him.

"Patriarch, why have you come to see us?" It was S1 Haer who spoke. By birth order, he was the eldest and a member of the warrior template. If he survived, he might become a general.

"Take good care of your younger siblings and don't be too playful. Have you all been studying diligently?"

Upon hearing this, S1 Haer immediately adopted a serious demeanor. Every Kryptonian child understood their current situation, and their loyalty to Varion was imprinted in their genes. Naturally, they wanted to contribute and aid Varion.

"Patriarch, we've all been working diligently, but when can we go outside? Everyone is eager to see the yellow sun."

"There will be opportunities, but it's currently not safe outside."

The yellow sun is crucial for Kryptonians, serving as the key to their evolution.

....

"Isaac remains as arrogant as ever. He underestimates Alice."

In the video feed, Isaac placed a container along the route taken by Alice and her group. The container was filled with carefully prepared enhanced zombies.

These were made from blood samples taken from Alice and were far more formidable than ordinary zombies.

"Sir, will these pose a threat to our base?" Carlos inquired, as he had fought against Alice, so she was his natural concern.

"Don't worry, they're still a long way from us!"

The convoy continued to march, and while they might not have been the largest group of survivors, their numbers were significant, comprising at least forty to fifty individuals, most of whom were children.

For a long journey like this, vehicles had a substantial demand for fuel. Even with a fuel tanker in tow, their reserves were limited. It was clear that they needed to refuel soon to continue their journey.

As they entered the city, the scene that unfolded before them left the survivors both perplexed and disconcerted. Many of the once towering high-rise buildings were gone, and there was no sign of zombies or human activity.

The city was now covered in yellow sand, desolate, decrepit, and eerily silent.

"How long has the city been taken over by the desert?" someone wondered aloud.

"The T virus not only infects humans but also disrupts the living environment for plants. It might be only a matter of time before there are no plants left on Earth," Alice commented with a sigh.

"Let's find fuel quickly. I don't like this place at all," someone urged.

"There's a casino over there, and they had a valet business with fuel tanks," another person suggested.

The driver was surprised, "How do you know?"

The person explained, "I lost $2,000 there."

"Seriously?" The man shrugged, as it was clearly not a fond memory.

Claire, the team leader, despite being a girl, exuded confidence and courage. She had initially set out to help more people but ended up forming a team in the process.

"Nothing, it looks like we're not the first ones here."

There wasn't a drop of fuel left in the gas pumps, dashing their hopes of refueling here. They would have to check other places for better results, but the nearest gas station was several kilometers away, not a promising prospect.

The past two days had been particularly challenging. They had been besieged by crows in the desert, and if Alice hadn't appeared and turned the tide, many might have perished.

"Wait...what's this?"

Ahead of them lay a massive shipping container. Being survivors in an apocalyptic world, they were on high alert. The container appeared to be relatively dust-free, as if it hadn't been there long. The question was, who had placed it here?

"Be careful. Let's open it and see."

With bolts drawn and everyone on guard, they approached the container cautiously.

"Quick, get back to the vehicles."

Having positioned everyone safely, Alice, Claire, and the others moved towards the container, their eyes scanning for any sign of danger. And then they heard it, a faint noise coming from inside, unmistakably the sound of a zombie.

"No, let's go back," Alice warned.

.....

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