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?"

were

like meeting folks from back home. What's there

Station couldn't salvage them, leaving them at the bottom

they got a few more

a day of fellowship, it

to say more but ultimately staying silent. Instead, they stood atop their sub, watching the nuclear sub disappear

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

"Whether it's Willowbrook or

personal,

or they had chosen Willowbrook,

...

in a hover state. "What's

return, but now there

"Stella, we've found a sunken

was taken aback. To actually come across

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

The mood became somber.

was over 300 meters deep, beyond

Stella decided to repeat an old trick: hook the sub first, then haul it

sub in a tragic state, torn apart at the

was calm now, but what level of tsunami

of hard work, they managed to

the Kindle Chest, so Stella

made of special materials, it bore the scars

was ruptured, some

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

turning away, pleaded, "Stella,

bring them to their new home in Australia, so the brave

itched uncomfortably,

with Amelia and the others'

of

silent, his expression

planners were not

also his beloved protégés.

for the next

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

dilute the grief.

journey home had

one to greet them was still Bran, wrapped in a heavy

shivering.

the sea, but

used to the

full gear and quickly

"Sis, you were injured and unconscious