Kai felt that the Haven-45 Shelter was far more organized than he had expected. This would definitely help when the siege came.
The two of them continued along the steep pathway. During this time, he noticed that along the narrow path, there were plenty of rusted pipes, dangling wires, and old support beams that crisscrossed overhead.
It gave the impression that the entire shelter had been built slowly, bit by bit, patched together from whatever could be salvaged.
Then, as Kai thought of asking him about the A.I. Rebellion, Russel spoke as if he could read his mind.
"By the way… I know you have lots of questions. I get it. You want to know everything. Who's here, what's going on, why the A.I. hasn't wiped us out yet…" He shrugged.
"Don't expect all the answers. But we'll let you know what you should know… Then, learn as you go. That's all I can tell you."
Kai nodded.
'Fair enough.'
Finally, the narrow pathway opened into a larger chamber.
The first thing that he noticed in this chamber was the box-like dividers that were probably rooms for the residents.
Then, he also noticed that flickering LED panels, patched-together generators, and crates of supplies that filled the central area...
A handful of figures moved quickly, checking equipment, stacking supplies, and tending to small fires.
Russel nodded toward them.
"Those are the four who arrived just before you. Don't worry, they've already been briefed. You'll meet them properly soon. For now… just get your bearings. This is your new world, kid."
Kai took a deep breath. The smell of metal, oil, and faint smoke filled his nostrils.
It wasn't the best, but it was better than the situation outside.
The shelter felt cramped, but it was bearable.
Soon, Kai arrived at the gathering spot where four other people like him were…
"Alright… Stay here for now. I'll just tell the manager to make your IDs. It'll prove that you belong to Haven-45. It might be useful someday." Russel said before he left, leaving Kai with the other four, who seemed to be a little nervous or restless.
Unlike him, who had surrendered himself to this new reality, these four still looked worried and perhaps couldn't accept what was happening.
Kai studied the four carefully.
They were all Caucasians, with one female among them. Each looked to be in their thirties, their faces tense and restless as if still struggling to accept this new reality.
Aside from that, all of them wore the same kind of Starter Gear that Kai had received.
It was the dark jackets, multi-pocket pants, sturdy boots, and belts with simple pouches.
There was no doubt that they were also sent here by the System.
Breaking the silence, Kai decided to start the conversation.
"It seems that we're all dragged here… Did you all select the A.I. Rebellion willingly? I'm Kai, by the way."
The four exchanged uneasy glances before one of them finally spoke.
"Y-yes… I'm Wallace," the man said. At this point, his voice was still shaky, but he slowly calmed down as he continued.
"I got three options… Zombie Outbreak, Ragnarök, and A.I. Rebellion. I chose this."
Kai looked at him closely. Wallace had short blond hair, a square jaw, and a build that suggested he had worked with his hands before.
Wallace also studied Kai. His eyes lingered on Kai's fair skin, dark hair, and sharp features. Kai's appearance stood out among them, and Wallace seemed to note his calm attitude despite the situation.
Handsome, composed, and already carrying himself like someone prepared for survival.
However, Kai noticed something else. Despite their different backgrounds, they all understood each other perfectly. It seemed that the system had clearly removed any language barriers, ensuring communication was seamless.
Another man stepped forward next.
"I'm Ralph," he said before he turned to Wallace. To be honest, he hadn't expected that there were other choices. He thought everyone had the same options.
Nonetheless, everyone noticed that his brown hair was thinning, and he wore glasses that were slightly cracked at the edges.
"Ahem… my options were Zombie Outbreak, Alien Invasion, Magic War, and A.I. Rebellion. I figured machines were more predictable than magic or aliens… so here I am."
He hadn't even considered the Zombie Apocalypse.
The female survivor then spoke after him.
"I'm Claire," she said softly. Her auburn hair was tied back in a rough ponytail, and her eyes showed that she had just finished crying.
"It seems that there are a lot of Apocalypse choices I didn't get. My options were Demon Invasion, Ragnarök, Divine Judgment, and A.I. Rebellion. I didn't want to deal with gods or demons… so I picked this. At least machines can be fought with logic and weapons."
As they talked, the atmosphere was slowly being lifted. It seemed that a simple conversation was all they needed.
"Ohhh… everyone has unique options, huh."
Then, the last man introduced himself with a sigh.
"Name's Victor," he muttered. He had a heavier build, with broad shoulders and a beard that made him look older than the rest.
"My options were Alien Invasion, Deep Sea Awakening, Parasitic Evolution, and A.I. Rebellion. I hate the ocean, and parasites… no thanks. So I went with this. Doesn't mean I'm happy about it."
Kai nodded slowly, taking in their words. Each of them had faced different choices, yet all had ended up here, in Haven-45, under the same banner of survival against machines.
"Looks like we all chose the same battlefield," Kai said quietly.
"To be honest, I got a total of twelve choices."
Hearing this, everyone was shocked!
Previously, they had all been worrying about their spouses, children, parents, or even their pets that they had left behind. However, they were now curious about what other Apocalypses there were!