While Thien Anh and Alisa were immersed in the ammunition workshop, the city of Noi Ha outside was drowning in a horrific storm of chaos. The nearby volcano continued its primal roar, vomiting torrents of molten magma. As the incandescent lava struck the glaciers at the mountain's base, a piercing hiss erupted, sending pillars of white steam billowing into the heavens.
Most notably, from a gargantuan fissure on the northern flank of the volcano, countless creatures resembling ancient wyverns were fleeing in a frenzy. Many were gravely injured by lava burns, stumbling mid-flight only to plummet to the foot of the mountain like falling boulders. Those with more strength spiraled into the city center, sowing terror with roars that vibrated through every alleyway.
The emergence of the wyvern swarm agitated every mutated beast in the city. The sounds of territorial clashes and bone-chilling shrieks tore through the frozen night, leaving survivors hiding in the ruins paralyzed with fear. In Noi Ha, Thien Anh and Alisa were not truly alone; humanity is a resilient species with an uncanny ability to adapt—even in the most savage conditions, they found ways to cling to life.
…
A long, tense night passed.
As the final rounds rolled off the line, Thien Anh had amassed enough firepower to deal with the most resilient mutated threats. He stood up and stretched, ordering Alisa to catch some sleep, noting the deep exhaustion from her all-nighter. Thien Anh took over the kitchen to prep breakfast.
The morning menu was simple: steamed rice, savory braised pork, and a pot of hot soup. After the preparations were complete, seeing there was still time, Thien Anh decided to grab some rest. He didn't head for the bedroom, but instead went straight to the living area, collapsing onto the floor beside Ki and Moc.
It had been ages since Thien Anh had the habit of sleeping on a warm bed with plush pillows, unless absolutely necessary. A past of poverty and wandering through shadowed refugee camps had accustomed him to huddling beside his spirit beasts for warmth and security. To him, only when he could feel the rhythmic breathing of Ki and Moc close at hand could he truly drift into a deep, dreamless sleep.
…
Time flowed silently. Alisa woke up, feeling sufficiently rested. Her first task was checking the medical bay; finding the two soldiers stable, she went looking for Thien Anh.
Through the surveillance feed, Alisa saw Thien Anh sleeping soundly between the gargantuan wolf and the small serpent. A strange sensation fluttered in her chest. She mused that in this mad era, the bond between human and spirit beast was sometimes purer and more reliable than that between fellow humans.
Not wishing to disturb his rest, Alisa quietly handled her morning routine and did a final gear check. She reheated the food in the kitchen, intending to set the table so he could eat the moment he woke. But the aroma of the food had already roused Thien Anh.
He rubbed his eyes, letting out a long yawn that brought tears to his eyes, and asked in a sleep-heavy voice:
"Up early, Lam?"
Alisa smiled, her eyes flickering with tenderness.
"Mhm. Go brush your teeth and wash up, then come eat. I've set everything out."
"Got it!" Thien Anh nodded slightly and stood up.
Moments later, he returned to the dining area. Seeing the table empty of bowls or plates, Thien Anh paused, bewildered.
"Are we… doing the same thing as yesterday? Eating straight from the pots?"
Alisa was already seated, replying nonchalantly:
"Yeah. Saves on the washing up. It's just the four of us here; there's no one else we need to maintain appearances for."
Thien Anh chuckled at her pragmatism. He sat down and began partitioning the rice pot with Alisa, not forgetting to share portions with Ki and Moc so they could enjoy the "family" meal together. Both ate while focused on the morning news broadcast on the large screen.
The news today was overflowing with monumental shifts. The headline was the global emergence of "Relics." Scientists hypothesized these were remnants of ancient civilizations mysteriously wiped from existence. Humanity was pinning its hopes on finding secrets to decode the cause of past genocides. However, these relics were extremely hazardous due to complex trap systems and the presence of high-tier mutated beasts drawn to the ancient energy.
Another breaking story was the global geological transformation. Continental plates were drifting back together. In the near future, the world was expected to form three supercontinents surrounded by gargantuan oceans. Simultaneously, the ecosystem was exploding, with animal genera increasing by 500%—the highest biodiversity in planetary history. Gargantuan forests were rising with incredible vitality, covering everything from permafrost to deserts.
Thien Anh felt a twinge of regret hearing about the relics. Had he been near one, he certainly would have scouted it, but the harsh reality of survival pulled him back. He switched the channel to domestic news.
In Linh Nam, the government under the leadership of the patriot President Nguyen Ai Dan had achieved significant success in managing the plague and the food crisis. Ai Dan City was now considered the ideal sanctuary for survivors.
Alisa, sitting beside him, noticed Thien Anh staring intently at the President's image on the screen. She asked curiously: "You seem very interested in him. Are you a fan of his, too?"
Thien Anh continued chewing his rice, replying in a flat, toneless voice: "No. He was once my prey."
Alisa froze, swallowing a piece of meat with a start as her eyes widened in shock. "Prey? What do you mean?"
Thien Anh didn't bother hiding it, offering a faint, cold smile. "Someone once hired me to kill him for five hundred million Linh Yuan. That contract is the reason I flew back here from Australia. Do you remember the day the first earthquake hit? That was the day I intended to strike. But the cataclysm hit out of nowhere, and worried about Moc and Ki at home, I abandoned the mission."
Alisa was stunned, her face blank with shock. It took a long moment before she could stammer out: "You… you're truly an assassin? And your gall is incredible—targeting the President of Linh Nam… were you doing that mission alone?"
Thien Anh smirked, a cold glint flashing in his eyes as he prepared to reveal the darker corners of his life.