Killing & Looting

The heavy rain poured relentlessly throughout the night, gradually easing up as dawn approached. As Dan ventured outside, he found the surroundings transformed into a muddy quagmire. Few dared to venture out, especially given the sorry state of most people's footwear – simple straw sandals or makeshift leather wraps were the norm. Military boots with non-slip soles, like the ones Dan had, were an exceptional rarity, offering precious protection in the treacherous terrain.

Equipped with a military backpack crafted from robust nylon, Dan felt a sense of security he had never experienced before. He also discovered a rubber raincoat tucked away in the duty room. Donning it, he stayed dry and warm, shielded from both rain and the threat of jagged stones. This newfound protection meant he didn't have to worry about hypothermia despite the chilly weather.

In this post-apocalyptic wasteland, weather played a crucial role in the survivors' lives. Unpredictable storms could bring not only rain but also increased radiation levels, making it imperative to seek shelter during such times. The harsh climate had forced people to adapt, creating a world where even the simplest rain could be both a blessing and a curse.

Taking a moment to appreciate his well-protected state, Dan opened the System's map, his eyes scanning the barren landscape before him. It was a stark reminder of the challenges he faced, but also a testament to his determination to navigate this perilous new world.

After the system aided him in finding the base and gathering essential supplies, Dan's life underwent a profound transformation.

Descending the mountain, Dan made his way to the spot where the two bandits had taken refuge. As he reached the yard, he discovered the pair huddled under a large jar, seeking shelter from the rain. It appeared they had collected rainwater in their makeshift "home."

The bandits, soaked to the bone, seemed to be suffering from radiation sickness. Without a shred of compassion, Dan swiftly ended their lives with a well-aimed stone. He knew he could afford no mercy for such ruthless individuals.

Upon inspecting their bodies, Dan found no food. However, he did come across a knife fashioned from sheet metal and a homemade pistol crafted from iron wire and steel pipe, both of dubious quality. The pistol had an extremely limited range and effectiveness, and it contained only five bullets. Dan couldn't help but wonder: were these bandits really that destitute?

Shrugging off his surprise, Dan paid little attention to the bandits' corpses. Finding dead bodies in the wilderness was a common occurrence.

Equipped with the bandits' weapons, Dan resumed his hunt for looters in the back mountain. Now that he had a secure base, he was immune to sickness, unlike the predators. The predators, too, must have scattered to escape the rain. Even if they gathered, they needed time to dry off during the noon sun before they could pose a threat. Dan suspected that many of them had perished the previous night. He intended to seize this opportunity and make significant gains.

With determination in his eyes, Dan stealthily made his way back up the mountain. The rain-soaked hillsides made it difficult for the looters to move around. Furthermore, after enduring a night of heavy rain, even if the looters survived, they were likely suffering from acute radiation sickness, rendering them vulnerable.

Radiation sickness started with weakness and dizziness. In severe cases, the joints became painfully stiff, rendering movement impossible. Respiratory failure was a common outcome in severe cases, leading to death. Few managed to survive into the middle or late stages of the illness, especially in the absence of medical equipment in the wasteland. Early-stage severity often proved fatal, underscoring the harsh reality of their existence.

Only a select few, those with either mutated genes or exceptional health, stood a chance of surviving. But for the less fortunate, a night of rain spelled near-certain doom. So, this was a unique window of opportunity, a moment of respite when Dan could confidently search for the elusive looters in the back mountains.

Dan's hunch proved accurate as he used the bandit's knife to carve a path and followed their trail. Beneath the shelter of a rocky overhang in the back mountains, he discovered a small group of looters. They were sodden and gasping for breath, their rain-soaked bonfire extinguished. As Dan approached, a marauder with a skull-painted face locked eyes with him.

Recognizing him as the very predator who had previously injured him, Dan and the man engaged in a tense standoff. The predator immediately reached for his spear, and Dan swiftly drew his musket.

With only one bullet remaining, Dan took his shot. A well-aimed round struck the man's leg, causing him to instinctively clutch the wound. Dan rushed forward and pressed the gun against the man's head.

Boom!

The final shot ended the predator's life, leaving his lifeless body sprawled at Dan's feet. Another looter, severely wounded and gasping for breath, locked eyes with Dan, his gaze filled with anger.

Without hesitation, Dan used his last bullet to silence him.

With two kills in quick succession, the bullets had been depleted. Dan discarded the gun without a second thought and proceeded to scavenge for supplies. There were seven or eight looters on the ground, some in agony but incapable of moving. To avoid jeopardizing his own safety, Dan unflinchingly eliminated them all.

Though it was his first time taking a life, survival in the wilderness offered no alternative. Failure to eliminate them would mean relentless pursuit by the remaining survivors. The base would be discovered sooner or later.

In the aftermath, Dan rummaged through their belongings. Among their meager provisions, he found some jerky that closely resembled marmot meat.

As he pondered the act of taking lives, Dan couldn't help but feel apathetic. It was a stark departure from the morality of the 21st century, but in this unforgiving world, such concerns held little weight. The act had become a matter of necessity, devoid of remorse or sentiment.

His musings transitioned to the jerky in his hand. It was flavorless, much like the tastelessness he now associated with the depths of his own psyche.

After stashing away the flavorless jerky, Dan's curiosity led him to a leather bag hanging from the attacker's waist. The bag contained an assortment of seeds, their origins a mystery, and a key with a peculiar inscription: "Master Control Room."

"What on earth is this control room?" Dan pondered, studying the key, convinced it held significant importance given the way the attacker had guarded it. The mere presence of the key around the man's neck piqued Dan's interest, emphasizing its value.

Taking possession of the seeds, Dan continued his search but found little else of value among the now-very-dead predators. These people had regressed to primitive ways, devoid of modern civilization's meaning. Survival had reduced them to the most basic and barbaric existence, allowing them to endure amidst the harsh wilderness.

Descending the mountain, Dan encountered numerous corpses, their belongings mostly meager. Apart from a few fruits he could salvage, there was little worth taking. Gathering what he could, he hastened back before the sun could dry the earth, potentially luring out the attackers' companions. A confrontation with them would undoubtedly spell his demise.

Although the spoils were modest, Dan considered it a significant harvest, especially since it marked the first time he had managed to outwit the predators. The existence of the base had shifted the balance in his favor. Without it, he and Anna would have perished long before.

Dan returned leisurely, washing the fruits with care. With the aid of collected rags, he prepared a meager broth for Anna. Though the concoction exuded a strong earthy aroma, it offered more sustenance than the grass roots they had subsisted on previously.

Sipping the broth, Dan was reminded of the stark contrast between this meager sustenance and the flavorful meals of his past. Nevertheless, it provided better nourishment than anything they had consumed in recent memory.

Unlike her father, Anna devoured the broth eagerly, a testament to her prolonged deprivation of meat-based sustenance. The rare indulgence seemed to invigorate her, offering a small respite from their harsh reality.

As Dan sat down to eat with Anna, he couldn't help but reflect on how surprisingly easy his first experience with looting and killing had been. The predators, once fierce adversaries, had fallen before him without much struggle. The act of taking a life had come more naturally than he had anticipated, a testament to the brutal reality of their existence.

In the quiet aftermath, Dan found himself wearing a wry smile, almost amused at his own desensitization. He had entered this post-apocalyptic world as a regular person of the 21st century, with all the moral complexities that entailed. Yet, here he was, embracing the ruthless pragmatism required for survival in this new, unforgiving world.

His laugh, though tinged with self-deprecation, held a hint of bitterness. The innocence he once knew had been irrevocably shattered, replaced by a cold resolve born of necessity. As he glanced at his daughter, he felt a mixture of gratitude for their continued survival and a pang of sorrow for the innocence she had lost alongside him. Yet, in this world where the strong prevailed, he knew he had little choice but to adapt – no matter how unsettling it might be.

After ensuring that Anna had eaten her fill, Dan wore a warm smile as he addressed her, his tone gentle yet firm: "Today, I'll continue cleaning and check if there are any undiscovered materials in the house. You, my dear, need to be careful and not wander off. We'll focus on learning right here at home."

With a smile, Dan produced the seeds he had acquired. Anna peered at them, her eyes wide with curiosity. "Dad, what are these?" she inquired.

"These are seeds, sweetheart. They can be planted to grow something, though I'm not sure what exactly," Dan explained patiently. "We need to find a suitable place where we can cultivate these plants. If we manage to grow them, we'll have a renewable food source. We won't have to worry about starvation anymore."

"Really?" Anna's eyes lit up with hope. She gazed at Dan, her expression earnest, and her small hands eagerly reached out to touch the seeds. "Dad, can I plant them? I promise to take good care of them."

Dan nodded, his smile growing wider. He gently patted Anna's head, his heart swelling with pride and affection. "Of course, sweetheart. These plants will be our family's responsibility from now on. When they bear fruit, Dad will get to enjoy the food that Anna cultivated."

"Yay! Thank you, Dad! I'll make sure they grow big and strong!" Anna exclaimed, her enthusiasm infectious, filling the room with a newfound sense of hope.