18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 572

Stella stayed quiet, her mind racing with thoughts.

Sure, everything seemed fine on the surface. Willowbrook's leadership still sending out search parties for survivors showed their commitment hadn't wavered, but how do you put it?

The bigwigs are often too wrapped up in their own affairs, overlooking the needs of those at the bottom. It's not intentional neglect, but for kids without a powerful patron, it's tough to avoid getting the short end of the stick.

The military personnel from South Base had been scattered across various teams. These 'orphaned' kids were naturally sensitive, and, well, let's just say not all maternal instincts are created equal.

Especially among the lower ranks, these behaviors became more pronounced, and over time, conflicts inevitably arose.

When there's not enough to go around, you can't compete if you don't have the clout.

Coming from the same base, there was a natural camaraderie, so they asked Jake and the others, "How's it been for you guys?"

"It was rough at the start. We only had transport ships, destroyers, and submarines. If the land hadn't risen when it did, who knows if we'd have made it.

There's only about ten thousand of us, but the land Griffith has secured is massive. We've already found several Kindle Chests, and we've been united in scavenging for supplies. We can make paper, bricks, and lime, and we've even discovered coal mines..."

Jake laid out their vision before asking, "How many fire-seed subs made it to Willowbrook?"

"Quite a few, a couple of hundred, but only some brought Kindle Chests with them. Many supplies were salvageable."

A couple of hundred subs?

Amelia and the others gasped in shock.

Blood was thicker than water, sure, but envy is a natural reaction.

Stella's heart skipped a beat, "With so many fire-seed subs arriving, do any of you know Cody Lukas, Angela, or Kitty?"

The others thought for a moment before shaking their heads. "We were all dispersed across different platforms. It's not easy to meet up; a lot of us are strangers. We haven't heard the names you mentioned."

Stella's spirits dampened. Less than a fifth of the 3000 subs had been found. Where had the rest gone?

The news was equally hard on the others. "Willowbrook has had a number of subs out and about. We've discovered... dozens of wrecks."

The group went quiet, not having anticipated the disaster's ferocity.

Even the specially designed subs...

These were the cream of the crop from the South Base fire-seed program, the best of the best in both body and mind.

But the harsh reality was bloody and brutal. The disaster spared no one.

After regaining their composure, Jake asked, “What about your subs? Did they all carry Kindle Chests?"

"No, most got disconnected."

He followed up, "Where did they end up?"

they were

from back home. What's there

salvage them, leaving

they got a

a day of fellowship, it was time to

staying silent. Instead, they stood atop their sub,

coordinates in his notebook. "Commander Xu, do you think they wanted to

said matter-of-factly, "Whether it's Willowbrook or

personal, not about right or

Cole had chosen Griffith or they had chosen Willowbrook,

...

to find the sub in a hover

eager to return, but now there was no

looked solemn, "Stella, we've found a sunken sub,

To

hear about it, feeling

The mood became somber.

over 300 meters deep, beyond the reach

Stella decided to repeat an old trick:

apart at the seams.

but what level of tsunami could have torn the sub

hard work, they managed to retrieve both the sub and the Kindle

for the Kindle Chest, so Stella only retrieved

materials, it bore the scars

was ruptured, some parts

great effort to pry open the hatch. Inside were 15 skeletons clad in military uniforms, decayed down to the bone. The cramped room held only empty

pleaded, "Stella, let's take them

in Australia, so the

throat itched

and the others' help, they carefully placed

a time of heaviness,

remained silent, his

fire-seed planners were not just

also his beloved protégés.

somber for the next

Griffith Bay came into view that

dilute the grief.

had taken

them was still Bran, wrapped

shivering.

blazed over the sea, but by evening, Griffith was blanketed

to the erratic climate.

full gear and quickly donned their winter

Stella aside, "Sis, you were injured and unconscious at sea, just