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

home. What's there

Naval Station couldn't salvage them, leaving them at the bottom of the sea

got a few

of fellowship, it

but ultimately staying silent. Instead, they stood atop their sub, watching

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

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

understood. Choices were personal, not about right or

or they had chosen Willowbrook, being at peace was all that

...

find the sub in a hover

was eager to return, but now there was

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

To actually come

thing to hear about it, feeling sympathy, but quite another to face

The mood became somber.

300 meters deep, beyond the reach of

some discussion, Stella decided to repeat an old trick:

found the sub in a tragic state, torn apart at the

what level of tsunami could have torn

work, they managed to retrieve both the

room on the transport for the Kindle Chest, so Stella only retrieved

made of special materials, it bore the scars

was ruptured, some parts were even

took great effort to pry open the hatch. Inside were 15 skeletons clad in military uniforms, decayed down to

away, pleaded, "Stella, let's

in Australia, so

throat itched

body bags, and with Amelia and

was a time of heaviness, reverence,

remained silent, his

mistaken, these fire-seed planners were not

also his beloved protégés.

somber for the next

Griffith Bay came into view that the joy of returning home began

dilute the grief.

home had

still Bran, wrapped in

shivering.

the sea, but by evening, Griffith was blanketed in heavy

and the others were used to

and quickly donned

you were injured and unconscious at sea,