In the apocalypse, is humanity even a luxury? The government leaves the dead to rot on the road—so what's the difference between them and the Mutated Beasts?
Elara Voss scoffed, cold and sharp—exactly the dry, decisive tone of someone who'd seen apocalypse twice.
Beyond the man she'd spotted earlier, two others huddled. Maybe siblings, maybe lovers. The chaos of the crowd had torn them apart.
The guy was barely in his twenties, soft-spoken and frail-looking. But his eyes blazed with unshakable resolve, a Tang sword in his grip that moved with practiced grace.
The girl, around Elara's age, wielded two steel chains. They clanged and rattled, a deadly rhythm that matched her fiery spirit.
Gunfire roared on.
When the first wolf fell to a hail of bullets, the pack howled in rage. Some lunged for the military trucks, others for the three SUVs. The rest swarmed the fighting trio—two men, one woman. And two broke through, charging straight into the crowd behind them!
"Ah! Help! Someone help!"
"Mom! Mom! Please!"
"My son! Save him! Hurry!"
Silas Thorne's face drained of color, his steps unsteady. He swung his sword with all his might at the mutated wolf before him, slashing again. He started to close in—then a hand grabbed his coat from behind, yanking hard.
He stumbled, nearly falling. Whirling around, he found a woman clinging to his sleeve, trembling like a leaf.
"Save my son! Please, save my son!"
Silas glanced up. A mutated wolf had cornered a young man, jaws gaping to strike.
And the wolf he'd been fighting? It was mere feet away.
"Let go! Can't you see I'm fighting for my life here?" Silas's face paled further. Shit—these people hid behind him, offered no help. And now, in the middle of a death match, they were dragging him down? It was a death sentence.
"No! Save my son! Save him!" The woman clung tighter, yanking him backward with all her strength.
Silas had already taken down three Mutated Beasts. This one was stronger, and he was running on fumes. Trapped by her grip, he stumbled backward, his heart turning to ice.
So this is what it meant—those hiding behind him didn't care if he lived or died. They thought his protection, even his death, was their due.
The wolf's jaws snapped shut—then a whoosh!
Piper Thorne's chains swept in, slamming the beast back two steps.
"What the hell are you doing? Let go of my brother!" Piper seethed. They were fighting Mutated Beasts tooth and nail. These people didn't lift a finger—now they wanted to get her brother killed!
Her chains clanged again, slamming into the woman's chest.
"You have hands and feet—go save your own son! Why drag mine down? Can't you see that wolf? You're trying to murder him!" Piper's eyes blazed, ready to strike again.
The woman crumpled to the ground, scrambling to her feet. Her son lay nearby, throat torn out, blood pooling. She stared, then screamed.
"My son! My baby!"
She shot to her feet, pointing frantically at Silas and Piper.
"It's your fault! You killed him! You owe me my son!"
Piper laughed, bitter and sharp.
"Are you blind? That wolf tore his throat out—not us! We're out here bleeding for you, and you hide behind us, dragging us down. Have you no shame?"
"You're strong—you should protect the weak!" someone shouted.
"Yeah! It's your duty!"
"You failed us! How dare you blame us? Cowards!"
Silas's face went paler still. He said nothing, gripping his sword, his gaze cold as he stared down the wolf. He might as well have not heard them—quiet, resolute, just as he'd been through every fight.
Piper's face turned livid. Gods—these people hiding behind their protection, spouting such nonsense like it was their right!
Before she could snap back, the quiet man spoke up.
"Save your breath. They have no honor. Dying for them isn't worth it. I'm leaving soon—will you two come?"
Elara's eyes flickered, surprise flitting across her face. He looked familiar. Then it clicked—Elias Voss, the lawyer!
And to her shock, Elias, the guy, and the girl—they were all capable fighters. She hadn't planned to intervene, but a thought stirred. These were exactly the kind of reliable allies they'd need in the apocalypse.
"Get closer," Elara tapped her fingers, her voice cool and commanding.
"Huh? Oh, right!" Jaxon Hale's face lit up. He slammed his foot on the gas, the SUV surging forward.
Elara knew Jaxon still cared about the innocent. She said no more—some lessons had to be learned the hard way.
"Hell yeah! The military won't protect us—we'll just be cannon fodder. Let's go!" Piper nodded sharply, her decision quick and unhesitating.
Silas said nothing. When Piper glanced at him, he gave a small, firm nod—quiet agreement, true to his character.
"No! You can't leave! Who'll protect us if you go?"
"Cowards! You're so irresponsible!"
The survivors erupted in chaos, shouting over each other.
Elias and the others ignored them, focusing all their energy on the wolves—no time for petty complaints when death lurked.
Elara and Jaxon stopped thirty meters from the military vehicles. Jaxon jumped out first, eager to help.
Elara stayed put, watching the eight remaining wolves, deep in thought—assessing their strength, calculating the fastest way to take them down.
Jaxon rushed to help Piper take down her attacker. She then ran to aid Silas, her chains whirling.
Jaxon turned to assist Elias, his movements growing sharper with each fight.
Three wolves fell in quick succession, their Beast Cores glinting faintly in the chaos.
Chen Jinge watched, a faint glint in his eyes—assessing, calculating, just like any leader would.
The two wolves attacking the crowd were also taken down, thanks to Jaxon's group working together.
But by then, Piper, Silas, and Elias were spent. Exhausted and starved, they could barely lift their arms—fight after fight had drained them dry.
Jaxon hesitated, glancing back at the Land Rover. He trusted Elara, but he hated leaving allies stranded.
Elara rolled down the window, gesturing to him—calm, unhurried, like she had all the time in the world.
Jaxon's face brightened. "Would you three like to rest in our car for a bit?"
Elias and the others exchanged looks, then nodded. But before they could move, a group of people surged toward the Land Rover—greedy, desperate, ready to take what wasn't theirs!
Jaxon froze, his face darkening. "Damn it—can't they see we're all in this together?"
"That your friend in there? Tell her to drive away! These people are crazy, heartless—they'll hurt her!" Piper ground out, furious at the betrayal.
Elara watched the crowd charge. Then her gaze drifted upward—her air Superpower had picked up movement overhead.
"Caw!"
A harsh cry cut through the air. A black shape dive-bombed, tearing out half a man's throat. He crumpled to the ground moments later, blood pooling.
"Ah! Mutated crows!"
Screams erupted. The crowd panicked—some ran back to the military, others raced faster toward Elara, thinking her car was a safe haven.
Elara stepped out gracefully, leaning against the car door. She squinted up at the circling crows—sharp, focused, not a hint of fear.
Chen Jinge spotted the Mutated Beasts too, his face hardening. He ordered men to shoot—but every bullet missed, the crows too fast.
"Why'd she get out? Can't she see those maniacs?" Piper stamped her foot, frustrated but not truly worried—she'd seen Elara fight.
Elias's eyes widened at the familiar figure. Silas's face tightened with worry—genuine, quiet concern for a stranger who'd offered help.
Only Jaxon smiled, calm and sure. "Don't worry. She'll be fine. That woman's got more grit than most soldiers."
After all—someone who could watch hundreds die at the jaws of Mutated Beasts without flinching? She'd never let anyone push her around.
When the crowd was five meters away, Elara brushed her hand over her waist. Five slender steel nails glinted coldly between her fingers. She squinted at the crows, then flicked her wrist—fast, precise, deadly.
Caw! Caw! Caw! Caw!
Four crows fell, screaming. Before they hit the ground, Elara launched a second volley—her golden Superpower guiding the nails true.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Eight black crows landed two meters from her. The charging crowd skidded to a halt, terror overriding greed.
Even the military side went silent—stunned by the display of skill.
Piper's eyes widened, her mouth hanging open. "Damn! That's insane! How'd she do that?"
Jaxon stared, stunned—until Elara's cold voice cut through, sharp as a blade.
"One more step, and you'll end up like them."
The crowd hesitated, frozen in place—fear keeping them at bay.
Elara looked up at Jaxon and the others, her brows furrowing slightly—impatient, but not unkind. "Well? Are you coming, or do I have to fetch you myself?"
"Huh? Oh! Right!" Jaxon snapped out of it. He hurried over, leading Silas, Piper, and Elias through the crowd—quick, careful, avoiding the panicking survivors.
Elias passed Elara, his eyes holding a mix of complexity and admiration. "Miss Voss. We meet again."
Elara's lips curved into a faint, sharp smile—cool, but not unfriendly. "Lawyer Nie. Seems fate has a sense of humor."
Elias choked up, then climbed into the car quickly—embarrassed by his earlier surprise. Jaxon slid into the driver's seat, starting the engine with a roar.
Elara half-closed her eyes, watching as the military took down the last wolf. Her gaze met Chen Jinge's. He nodded—a silent acknowledgment of her strength. She nodded back—curt, respectful.
"Move out!" Chen Jinge waved his hand. The military led the remaining survivors onward, leaving the dead behind.
The bodies of those killed by the Mutated Beasts lay on the road—forgotten, ignored, a grim reminder of the apocalypse's cruelty.
Next Chapter Teaser:
Elara's team gains unexpected allies, but trust is a luxury in the apocalypse. When a hidden Beast Core cache sparks a fight between the military and survivors, Elara's golden Superpower is pushed to the limit. And far away in City X, Kael's rage boils—he's tracked Elara's trail, and he'll burn down anyone who dares stand between him and his girl. Deadly Mutated Beasts, backstabbing humans, and an obsessive tycoon's relentless pursuit—next chapter, the chaos doubles!
In the apocalypse, is humanity even a luxury?
The government leaves the dead to rot on the road—so what's the difference between them and the Mutated Beasts?
Piper Thorne snapped, her voice laced with anger.
"Their own relatives didn't bother burying them."
Do you really think the military has nothing better to do than clean up this mess?" Jaxon Hale's tone held disappointment, a chill settling in his chest.
"Exactly," Elias Voss said flatly, adjusting his glasses.
Compared to the unrelated military, those who let their own kin lie exposed in the wilderness—they're the ones without a shred of humanity."
Silence hung in the air.
Then Silas Thorne, who'd stayed quiet, sighed softly.
"This is the apocalypse, huh."
His words drew simultaneous exclamations from Jaxon, Elias, and Piper.
"Apocalypse? Now I get it," Piper ranted, machine-gun fast.
"Before, standing up for others was heroism. Now? Shit, it's just asking for death!"
Jaxon's mouth twitched, but he had no retort.
When he'd fought the Mutated wolves alongside the trio, those hiding behind them hadn't lifted a finger.
"But who's your friend? She's insane!" Piper's anger faded, replaced by starry-eyed admiration.
"Those Mutated Beasts are hard enough to kill on the ground, let alone in the sky. And she took them down with a few nails?"
"She's—" Jaxon was about to boast, but cut himself off.
Elara Voss was already walking toward a Mutated Beast's corpse, moving to extract its Beast Core.
"Save it for later," Jaxon hurried to say.
"There's food and water in the back. Eat first, regain your strength!"
He pulled the key out, hopped out of the car, and joined her in harvesting Beast Cores.
Piper, Silas, and Elias had no idea what Elara was doing.
Exhausted and starving, they wasted no time grabbing the food and gorging themselves.
An hour later, Elara and Jaxon returned to the car.
They'd collected 113 Beast Cores in total.
Jaxon got 45. Elara kept 53 for herself.
The remaining 15 were split evenly between Piper, Silas, and Elias—5 each.
Full and satisfied, the three stared at the Beast Cores Elara handed them, confused.
Elara frowned, tossing the cores to them before turning to Jaxon.
"Explain it to them."
With that, she leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes to rest.
Jaxon sighed, resigned, and told them about Beast Cores and Superpowers.
He also briefly introduced himself and Elara.
Understanding the value of the Beast Cores, Elias, Silas, and Piper looked clearly grateful.
They each introduced themselves in turn.
"Elara and I are heading to City X," Jaxon said.
"Where are you off to? If we're on the way, we can travel together—safer in numbers."
"My brother and I are going to City C to find our grandpa," Piper spoke up first.
"We pass through City X on the way. Looks like we're teammates now! Let's watch each other's backs!"
Jaxon nodded, smiling. "Absolutely."
He turned to Elias, as did Piper and Silas.
Elias hesitated, adjusting his glasses, his face still impassive.
"I'm an orphan."
Everyone froze—even Elara opened her eyes.
His meaning was clear: no fixed destination, just going with the flow.
"From now on, we're allies," Elara said, turning to face the three.
"Speak your minds openly. Settle conflicts head-on. No behind-the-scenes gossip."
She paused, her voice firm.
"To survive the apocalypse, we need to work as one. I hope we can become friends—people who'd trust each other with their lives."
Before Silas or Elias could respond, Piper burst out excitedly.
"Elara Voss! Be my mentor! I want to learn how to throw those hidden weapons—you looked so badass!"
"Piper, don't be rude," Silas chided, a rare sharpness in his voice.
But Piper didn't back down.
Her starry eyes still fixed on Elara, full of hope.
"Hidden weapons are nothing," Elara said with a faint smile.
She leaned back again and closed her eyes.
"Someday, you might learn something even better."
Elias and Silas exchanged a look.
Both saw shock and determination in each other's eyes.
"Elara's still in City H," Kael Voss said into the phone, frowning as he held a cigarette between his lips.
"The second brother's in City N, third in City C, fifth in City B. Only you're in City H."
He gave his order sharply.
"Find Elara Voss and get her to City X safely. Whatever she says or does, don't argue with her. I spoiled her rotten as a kid."
He paused, his voice cold.
"If push comes to shove, tie her up. Just get her here safe. I've got plenty of supplies—take whatever you want."
"Don't worry, boss. Easy enough," came the voice on the other end.
"But none of us are as well-prepared as you. We'll probably need your support later."
Chen Zi'an hung up, his peach-shaped eyes glinting. He frowned.
Elara Voss? Dammit, what a headache.
But he had no choice but to do it.
"Someone!" he called out.
A fully armed man strode in.
"Young master? What are your orders?"
"Take a few men to Unit 808, Ruyi Villa Community."
"Bring the person there back—any means necessary, but don't hurt her."
The man nodded and left.
"The apocalypse…" Chen Zi'an muttered, a sinister smile tugging at his lips.
"Who'd have thought boss's dream would actually come true? Lucky I listened to the third brother and prepared in advance."
He chuckled.
"Those stubborn old men—they must be crying their eyes out now."
After hanging up on Chen Zi'an, Kael dialed Elara's number.
He didn't know when the signal would cut out—every extra word counted.
He'd been swamped these days: recruiting men, fighting enemies, gathering supplies.
He'd even picked a few decent, loyal guys to train.
He hadn't had a minute to call her.
And Elara? She acted like she'd forgotten about him, not a single call.
Kael's mood soured.
The phone rang a few times, then connected.
"Elara?" he said.
But a man's voice came through first.
"Elara Voss, that group up ahead looks like the military. Should we stop and rest here?" Jaxon slowed the car.