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

like meeting folks from back home. What's there to

salvage them, leaving them at the bottom of

they got a few more

fellowship, it was time to

others seemed to hesitate, wanting to say more but ultimately staying silent. Instead, they stood atop

down the coordinates in his notebook. "Commander Xu,

it's Willowbrook or Griffith, we're

personal, not about right or

or they had chosen Willowbrook, being at peace was all

...

sub in a

return, but now there was

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

To

feeling sympathy,

The mood became somber.

over 300 meters

repeat an old trick: hook the sub first, then haul

state, torn apart at the seams. The sub and the Kindle Chest were

what level of tsunami could have torn the sub

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

was no room on the transport for the Kindle

materials, it bore the scars

ruptured, some parts were

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

red-eyed and turning away, pleaded, "Stella, let's take them

in Australia, so the brave souls could return

throat itched

and with Amelia and the others' help, they carefully placed

was a time of heaviness, reverence, and

his expression

fire-seed planners were not

also his beloved protégés.

mood was somber for the next few

came into view that the joy of returning

dilute the grief.

had taken nearly two

greet them was still Bran, wrapped in a heavy military

shivering.

the sea, but by

others were used to the erratic climate. Thankfully, they

full gear and quickly donned

you were injured and unconscious