Sitting beside Su Han made Wen Lan much more tense than usual. She couldn’t casually take snacks out of her space to eat anymore and could only stare out the window at the passing scenery.
The truck jolted every so often.
The government’s safe zone had originally been a top—secret military base. Now, all such bases had been converted into safe zones.
This place had once been the Canglang Military Base. It was now known as the Canglang Safe Zone.
Military bases already had communication towers, supplies, and solid infrastructure, making them ideal locations. Construction and expansion were now underway at full speed.
Everyone entering the safe zone had to undergo a full—body inspection and register their information before they were allowed inside.
The most important check was for wounds. Anyone with injuries would be placed in the quarantine zone outside the safe zone.
That area was also the most chaotic part of the entire safe zone.
Ability users and Evolvers were registered separately.
Based on the current classification system, abilities were ranked from A to C.
It had to be said that the official response of the Dragon Nation to this disaster had been remarkably swift.
Unlike neighboring India, which had nearly fallen completely.
Several of the Dragon Nation’s secret military bases had emerged from the shadows and been transformed into safe zones to protect civilians.
Even so, the nation could only provide large protected areas to ensure the survival of the majority.
The population was now an unpredictable mix of people from every background. If you wanted to live well—comfortably—you had to rely on yourself.
Your former status no longer meant anything.
Whether you had once been a CEO or a high—ranking executive, everyone had been reset to zero.
Everyone had to start over.
No one would respect or flatter you because of who you used to be.
Unless you had awakened an ability and become an Ability User.
Or your body had evolved, making you an Evolver.
Survival of the fittest.
A world where the strong ruled had officially begun.
There was still a considerable distance before they reached the safe zone.
Their truck slowly merged onto the main highway.
People lined both sides of the road. Most sat quietly by the roadside, waiting in orderly lines.
Ability Users and Evolvers were given priority.
It was no longer the elderly, the weak, the sick, and children who came first.
The rules of the world had changed overnight.
Wen Lan looked outside, her heart aching.
These people looked like refugees.
Cold, hungry, and living in constant fear.
The safe zone was their last hope for survival.
The cities were filled with zombies.
Outside the cities roamed mutated beasts.
For ordinary people, the only way to find protection was to reach a safe zone.
Even Ability Users with weak, newly awakened powers could only receive proper recognition after arriving there.
The reality of the safe zone was far harsher than Wen Lan had imagined.
Now she understood why her brother had been so worried.
There were simply too many abandoned children along the road.
Some had lost both parents.
Others had been cast aside.
They wandered through the crowds, begging or stealing—doing whatever they could just to survive.
Suddenly, several children ran into the road and knelt in front of their truck.
Su Han reacted instantly and slammed on the brakes. Fortunately, traffic was already moving slowly.
“Please! Kind brothers and sisters, please give us just a little food!”
The children knocked their heads against the ground over and over.
They refused to move unless someone gave them food.
Otherwise…
The vehicle would have to drive right over them.
They were gambling with their lives.
How desperate did someone have to be to make that choice?
Without food, they would die anyway.
If they risked their lives, there was at least a chance they might live.
Then a sedan behind them accelerated straight toward the children.
Those quick enough to dodge survived.
Those who couldn’t…
Were struck and sent flying several meters through the air.
They crashed into the crowd as people instinctively scattered.
Blood spread across the dirt.
The little girl groaned weakly as she gazed up at the sky.
In her fading consciousness…
It seemed as though her mother had come to take her home.
Not a single person stepped forward to help.
Were they heartless?
No.
They simply had no ability to help.
In this apocalypse, most people couldn’t even take care of themselves.
How could they save someone else?
Their eyes held sympathy…
Sadness…
And fear.
Perhaps one day, they would die the same way.
Death was no longer some distant possibility.
It was right here.
It could come at any moment.
From hunger.
From thirst.
From illness.
From violence.
Worst of all…
From being bitten by zombies and turning into one of them.
Or being torn apart alive by mutated beasts.
When their own lives were at stake…
Most people could only choose self—preservation.
There were still kind people, though.
A middle—aged woman picked up a discarded piece of cardboard from the roadside and gently covered the little girl’s body with it.
It was only a small gesture.
But it was all she could do.
Meanwhile, the sedan that had hit the child never slowed down.
It sped through the crowd as people scrambled out of its way.
The driver was actually smiling.
Not the slightest trace of guilt showed on his face.
“So what if I killed someone?”
“Let the police come arrest me!” the man laughed arrogantly.
Who even knew how many people had already died outside…
Wen Lan frowned as she watched.
Her hand unconsciously rested on her stomach.
No matter what…
She would never allow her children to live such a miserable, wandering life.
Everyone else, however, barely reacted.
Scenes like this had become all too common.
The police were long gone.
Only inside the safe zone was there still official protection.
Though somewhat chaotic, the military maintained order there.
If you killed someone inside the safe zone, you paid with your life.
Rules still protected the vast majority of people.
The children who had escaped being hit immediately ran back out to block the truck again.
To them…
Starving to death was no different from being run over.
“Hey, you little brats! Come here! Have some roasted sweet potatoes!”
Zhang Ye leaned out from the truck behind them, split several roasted sweet potatoes in half, and tossed them toward the children.
The children fought over them desperately, stuffing them into their mouths as fast as they could instead of hiding them.
Once they had food…
They immediately moved aside.
The truck slowly continued forward.
Through the rearview mirror, Wen Lan watched the children cramming the sweet potatoes into their mouths so quickly that their cheeks bulged.
They didn’t even bother brushing off the dirt.
At that point…
No one cared how they tasted anymore.
As long as it filled their stomachs…
It was the greatest delicacy in the world.
They knew that if they didn’t eat immediately…
Someone else would steal it.
So they devoured every bite.
Back when the apocalypse had first begun, cities had been dangerous because of the zombies.
But food hadn’t been scarce yet.
As time passed…
Food became harder and harder to find.
Eventually, the truck stopped before a massive gate.
Wen Che climbed down first and verified their identities with a facial scan.
Canglang Safe Zone.
Frost Squad.
As one of the safe zone’s special teams, they were allowed to use a priority entrance.
The side gate opened.
The agricultural equipment they had transported was brought inside as well.
Upon returning, everyone still had to undergo a full—body examination.
The primary purpose was to check for wounds…
To prevent infected individuals from entering and turning into zombies inside the safe zone.
Their processing moved quickly.
“Captain Su! You’re finally back!”
“The mission went exceptionally well! Your team returned faster than anyone else!”
“Captain Su, thanks to your team’s discovery of the Energy Beads…”
“The higher—ups have decided to reward your entire squad. Each member will receive one thousand contribution points!”