"So in the end, what happened to the place?"
Nathan Yang raised a brow at Lilian Mo. "Isn't that obvious?"
"Was the base destroyed? Or was it occupied by self-appointed tyrants?"
"Self-appointed tyrants..haha." Nathan Yang rubbed his chin and found the term very appropriate.
"Huh. Well. It was in fact overrun by 'self-appointed tyrants' but then the 'Scavengers' came and everyone died. The end."
"What? What scavengers?" Fu Yangzhu was a little puzzled. "I don't get it! Talk some sense, Uncle!"
"Uncle, you really suck at storytelling." Mizuki Rei gazed at him filled with judgment.
"You kids... I'm not that old to be called Uncle." Seeing that they did not believe him, Nathan Yang gave up. Anyway, they could think whatever they want. It wasn't like he was vain or something.
"About those scavengers. Well, you know what a Cinereous Vulture looks like?"
"What's a bird has to do with this..." Mu Qianmo's eyes widened a little as he said this. "Wait... Don't tell me."
Nathan Yang's eyes twinkled. "Yes, those carnivorous little things flew down on the mainland and became hunters that hunted humans. Interestingly enough, their mutation was centered on their size and speed. There weren't that many massive mutations but see this, a ten-meter bird is enough to scare the shxt out of some people. It doesn't help that their feathers are thick and hardened. Bullets won't even work in most mutants anymore." The others could tell that Nathan Yang was troubled when he said that.
"It's a good thing that human skin is soft. Otherwise, I would really feel very distressed."
"Hey, hey, Uncle, don't say such creepy things. You sound like a maniac." Fu Yangzhu was a bit disgusted.
"....."
The rest of the team took the time to digest the information that was given to them. Apparently, only less than 1,000 people from the base up north were saved by the military so whatever happened to the other survivors... it most certainly would not have been good.
"How does the military base deal with these things?" Lilian Mo asked. She knew of these 'Scavengers.' They were simply a term that most people used for giant birds of prey that would swoop down on both mutants or humans on land. They ate whatever meat they could see so they also ate fellow mutants. What's more problematic was that they were extremely territorial and would often travel in groups.
"Hmmm.. You don't have to worry. The military base we're heading to was reinforced to deal with those things. It is shaped like a dome so that those things won't be able to come in."
"And the military was able to do this in less than four months?"
Nathan Yang lazily glanced at Lilian Mo due to her question. "And I thought you were smart, Lilian Mo. There are earth and metal ability users in the base so expanding the shelter isn't a problem anymore. The real problem is food and water. Water ability users are really few and wood ability users are often weak which is why there aren't many of them who survived out there. Currently, the military base has about a population of 5,000 people or so.."
"5,000!" Mizuki Rei exclaimed. "Didn't you say that it could accommodate up to 15,000 people?"
"Ah, you little fool. I did say that but it's not like many people survived, with or without an ability! Five thousand people is already a lot." Nathan Yang's tone became much harsher.
"And not everyone is as stupid and naive. Not everyone would place their hopes in the government or in the army. There are other human settlements here. Most of them are underground and they live depraved lives. If you want that kind of shxt, then feel free to get off to find them. Five thousand people...out of two million. This is way better than none."
Five thousand out of two million people... This was a huge hit on humanity. So few people have survived and not even a year in the apocalypse has passed. Many lives were taken, families destroyed and society trampled on.
The group felt a sense of crisis as they heard this.
Lilian Mo closed her eyes. This was not news to her. On some bases, there was even a population of fewer than 2,000 people and they hardly have any food left to eat. They did not have any help from the military or government because even those people were struggling on their own to survive.
Less than four months into the apocalypse, but so many people have been lost already.
Indeed, if you want to stay alive, you can only rely on yourself because not only are your enemies flesh-eating monsters but even your fellow humans would target you.
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