Chapter 111: Return of the Birds

His expectations were not disappointing. The streets bore the scars of civilization's fall, with nature slowly but relentlessly creeping back to reclaim what was once theirs. Cars lay scattered and flipped over; vines wove their way through shattered windshields and twisted metal.

Concrete cracked under the pressure of emerging roots, which pushed up from beneath the surface, creating uneven terrain. Young saplings and bushes sprouted in the most unexpected places, their green leaves a stark contrast to the gray ruins. Patches of grass had taken root in the cracks of the pavement, spreading slowly but steadily.

The buildings, once towering symbols of human achievement, now stood as hollow, crumbling husks. Windows were broken, their frames partially obscured by creeping ivy that inched its way up the walls, gradually overtaking the structures. Moss clung to the damp, shaded areas, giving the human shelters a mottled, greenish hue.