18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 438

The sea was a chaotic mix of vessels-fishing boats, cargo ships, warships, and sleek black aircraft. But Iran's innate narrow-mindedness and extremism, coupled with a lack of vision and generosity, led to creations that were limited and never quite reached the grand stage. Their so-called warships? Well, even if they managed to build something sizable, their Chinese benefactors would never allow it. Beyond the boats, wooden towers sprouted over the sea. Metal piles were hammered into the seabed, topped with wooden platforms, stacked densely until they resembled a hornet's nest. It seemed Iran had lucked out finding such a prime spot; otherwise, they'd have been torn apart by ocean storms long ago.

Stella did a quick count and estimated there were several hundred people. Clothes were hanging outside the wooden houses, belonging to men, women, and children-these were the homesteaders. Many others lived on the ships, likely the Iran who ventured out for plunder.

They survived by capturing sea life, and after a few years, had all turned into grotesque monsters. Even the children were covered with lumps and tumors, a sight that sent shivers down your spine.

Three people and a dog against several hundred Iran? That was a tall order. Blue Blue caught the attention of the Iran, drawing out two ships in pursuit, with guns and harpoons at the ready.

Seizing the opportunity, Stella retracted her periscope and started to steer the 2688 away from the area. With so many Iran, capturing them all would need a well-thought-out plan.

After leaving the area by several dozen nautical miles, the submarine found a calmer region of the sea to stop. Both the ship and the sea constructions were substantial, and the Iran, being adept swimmers, were on high alert after several losses-they even had watchtowers on the wooden towers. Approaching them would easily give away their position.

Blue returned. Jasper and Stella had finished discussing their options. Whether it was hand-to-hand combat, throwing grenades, or

what about Cooper? Dogs don't have diving suits. Surely they couldn't leave him in Blue Blue's care? He would be swallowed whole. And with the Iran mutated by the virus, an infection during a fight would be a heavy loss. Combat always came with

Whichever method they chose, they needed to know the enemy and themselves to

the submarine began its underwater patrol, centered around the lair. Blue Blue, though not understanding, insisted on following. After seven or eight leisurely hours underwater, the sonar from the submarine detected

issued a warning and nudged the 2688 to leave promptly. An entity even the queen of the ocean feared? Stella's curiosity was piqued;

Stella took out her binoculars, focusing intently on the sight before her. As the view came into focus, there appeared to be something writhing. Staring

squid, or the giant squid of the North Pacific, is the world's largest, stretching 9-10 meters

squid, known for dragging ships to the ocean depths, extraordinarily fierce, and reigning over the ocean's hierarchy with sheer strength. A colossal squid of 9-10 meters was normal before the calamity, but now, nine years post-calamity, they had mutated. Such a large mass, with tentacles alone stretching over ten meters, let alone the length

they live in groups, but they were also incredibly temperamental. Even alone, they would dare to fight sperm whales weighing 50 tons, and they had

the funnel on their bellies, propelling themselves with such force that they could leap from the depths and soar up to 7-10 meters above the water surface. Their bodies could fly through the air like cannonballs for

Stella felt her sanity slipping. The submarine was no match, but perhaps the yacht could give it a run. The yacht's top speed was 70