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 quite

back home.

Point Naval Station couldn't salvage them, leaving them

a

half a day of fellowship, it

silent. Instead, they stood atop their sub, watching the

coordinates in his notebook. "Commander Xu, do

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

were personal, not about

Cole had chosen Griffith or they had chosen Willowbrook, being

...

sub in

to return, but now there was

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

taken aback. To

about it, feeling sympathy,

The mood became somber.

300 meters

decided to repeat an old

state, torn apart at

surface was calm now, but what level of tsunami could have torn the

shifts of hard work, they managed

the

it bore the

some parts were

took 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 food sacks and a

turning away, pleaded, "Stella, let's

new home in Australia, so the brave souls could return to

itched

body bags, and with Amelia and the

of heaviness,

his expression

she wasn't mistaken, these fire-seed planners were not just

also his beloved protégés.

somber for the next few

wasn't until Griffith Bay came into view that

dilute the grief.

had taken nearly

Bran, wrapped in a heavy military coat

shivering.

the morning, the sun blazed over the sea,

used to the erratic climate. Thankfully, they

gear and quickly donned their

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