Chapter 164 – Key (7)
◎ Until the last person ◎
“Xiao Ye, wait, don’t be impulsive, let’s talk things out!”
“Director He is in a meeting, you can’t just barge in like this.”
“Zimei, let’s wait for approval. Maybe there’s still a chance…”
Ye Zimei’s face was as calm as water. Striding through the corridor, she, an A3-level gravity-type awakener, raised her hand, and with a swift motion, her colleagues’ limbs felt as heavy as sandbags. Their knees gave way, and they knelt on the ground, unable to block her path any longer.
In the past, Ye Zimei, who always followed rules and regulations, would never have dared to use her awakened abilities so audaciously in the workplace. However, under the influence of the “lawless” Song Ke, after cleaning up messes several times, she gradually realized that sometimes solving problems with force could save a lot of unnecessary time.
Ye Zimei stopped in front of the meeting room, took a deep breath, and knocked on the door. Without waiting for a response from inside, she confidently walked in.
“Director He, this is the evacuation proposal I drafted. It outlines 13 retreat routes for the residents of Qianzhan City. Please review and approve it.”
The room fell silent, and the virtual projections of the participants all turned their surprised gazes towards this unexpected visitor.
He Qiuhong sat at the main seat, her expression unchanged. “Regarding Qianzhan City, I have already issued the order. You should proceed with normal execution.”
Ye Zimei gradually clenched her hands into fists and said, word by word, “No, we cannot execute it. What you represent is only your personal will, not the will of the Northern Base.”
This statement shocked everyone present. Who was He Qiuhong? The highest-ranking official in the Awakener Department, the second in command in District B10. Many people on the scene were unclear about Ye Zimei’s true identity. Her open defiance sent a chill down their spines. Was this young person so bold because she had lost her mind?
“Director He, you have always been my respected senior, and once, my goal to look up to.”
Ye Zimei stood tall, her voice slightly trembling, but her expression exceptionally firm.
“But it seems you do not understand the significance of the Northern Base. The purpose of establishing this city by Ye Zheng is to provide a refuge for all those who have suffered through wars. Whether in peace or turmoil, at any time, no matter what happens, as long as the Northern Base stands, its gates will open selflessly to fellow countrymen. That’s why it’s called—the last hope of humanity.”
After the devastating nuclear war, countless people were displaced, homeless, drifting with despair. Ye Zheng built a new city with his own hands in the wastelands, telling all survivors that this is your home. Half a century later, numerous prosperous cities had risen, but for the Alliance people, the Northern Base held a different meaning. It not only represented hope but also served as the final retreat.
Ye Zimei’s eyes were slightly red as she raised her voice, “The 6.5 million people outside are our compatriots; they shouldn’t be abandoned!”
“You are still young and haven’t considered the whole picture,” He Qiuhong, uncommonly not angered, sighed and opened real-time monitoring. “Now, within the city, there are hidden awakeners in various areas, and even infiltrators of S-level. They harbor ill intentions, attempting to provoke conflicts. What’s the use of bringing the people from Qianzhan City in? The wisest course of action now is to prioritize dealing with internal crises and minimize the risks.”
Ye Zimei questioned with difficulty, “Director He, in your eyes, is a person’s life only measured by its ‘usefulness’?”
He Qiuhong gently raised her hand, “In my position, I must consider the interests of the Northern Base.”
Pale-faced Xi Ze emerged from the shadows. The entire meeting room instantly became an awakened energy forbidden zone, impervious to the use of awakened abilities.
Xi Ze, having been knocked back from S3 level to A9 level by Song Ke, had disappeared from the public eye since then. Unexpectedly, he had surreptitiously surrendered to He Qiuhong.
Several security personnel entered and detained Ye Zimei.
He Qiuhong gazed at her calmly, “After this crisis passes, I will personally apologize to the teacher.”
Ye Zimei struggled, unable to move. She closed her eyes, connecting her consciousness to the terminal. A faint light flashed quickly through her pearl earring.
…
After the appearance of sandstorms and a flock of crows, the awakeners of the Northern Base swiftly counterattacked. Various armed aircraft flew through the high sky, and colorful awakened abilities pierced through the murky sky filled with yellow sand. Due to the double barriers of the sand-resistant net and shields, the crow army couldn’t break through, temporarily securing the base. However, they densely occupied the sky, with their numbers causing great anxiety. The only way to deal with them was to slowly wear them down using long-range awakened abilities.
Lin Youyou’s long hair moved slightly as she sang an ethereal tune. The crow group within her range was afflicted with debuffs, drastically reducing their aggressiveness. Xu Xing became the top damage dealer for V587, unleashing a storm of ice needles. Lu Xiaoyu set up heavy machine guns, but due to the upward angle, their effective range was shortened, limiting the damage they could inflict.
Song Ke shook off the ankle-deep sand, raised her leg, and coincidentally met eyes with a slightly larger crow.
“You, come down!” Song Ke defiantly raised her arm, pointing at it and shouting.
“Caw!” A hint of disdain flashed in the crow’s gray-white eyes, as if saying, “You come up if you dare.”
Captain Song was incredulous, opened her mouth, and accidentally swallowed some dust. Pff, no, was she being mocked by a bird?
She wished she could have those weapons from TV dramas like “Peacock Feather” or “Pear Blossom Needle,” capable of releasing thousands of dark needles instantly. But aside from not knowing if those existed in the history of the old civilization, she had never seen them and had no idea of their specific structures. She was helpless relying solely on imagination.
Annoyed, Song Ke gritted her teeth, pressed one hand to the ground, suddenly leaped up, and, unleashing the full potential of her feline genes, jumped more than eight meters high. She climbed to the highest point closest to the sky along a lightning rod, throwing out a swallowtail dart. The arrogant crow was instantly cut down in large numbers.
However, as the first batch of beasts fell, more continuously replaced them. The number of crows seemed endless, “clang clang” striking the barrier. Cracks quickly appeared in the outer sand-proof net.
Song Ke jumped back to a slightly lower platform, her expression troubled.
No, the clearance efficiency was too slow, unable to keep up with their rate of reinforcement. How many beasts were there? Had all the crows in the entire Alliance come?
Boom—boom—
A sleek hovercar raced in, dangerously close to the sand-proof net, and narrowly grazed it. Crimson explosive shells were fired at close range, passing through the net openings and accurately hitting the densest area of crows. The explosions resounded, feathers scattered, and blood splattered, revealing the previously obscured sky.
The roof of the car opened, and a silver sniper scope was pushed onto the forehead, revealing a sharp-jawed face with cold gray eyes. He stared intently at the crow swarm, exuding a sense of oppression. When he looked down at Song Ke, his expression turned into a brilliant smile.
Perched on the car roof, Yin Xiao tilted his head slightly, covering his face with one hand, and asked in a low voice, “Daughter, do you think I have a chance if I confess again?”
Before Jennifer could reply, Yin Xiao convinced himself, “Never mind, how will I know if I don’t try?”
Like a soaring hawk, he leaped down, squeezed into the narrow platform, almost face to face with Song Ke, causing her to sneeze twice.
Yin Xiao was covered in sand; shaking himself, several pounds of sand fell off. It was evident that he had just rushed back from outside.
Song Ke rubbed her nose, slightly surprised, “You… advanced?”
In just a few days, Yin Xiao’s awakened energy had unexpectedly reached S-level.
Croak! Caw! Crows gathered again overhead, but Yin Xiao didn’t look up. Instead, he shot backward, dispersing the flock with a single shot.
“Just broke through S1, Captain Song. I’ve been trying to catch up with you.”
A double entendre, but unfortunately, it was lost on Song Ke, who sincerely congratulated him, “Congratulations.”
Yin Xiao looked straight at her, “I’m S-level now too. Do you want to consider leaving that man and be with me…”
“Song Ke, come down,” Zhuang Qingyan’s deep voice interrupted.
“Dad, save me, it’s on fire!” At the same time, Jennifer wailed. The downside of AoE awakeners: they were prone to causing collateral damage. Jennifer’s flames, while incinerating crows, unintentionally damaged the sand-proof net.
Song Ke turned her head and shouted below, “Xiao Xing, lend a hand!”
The feline genes kicked in again as the obedient little cat jumped several times, returning to the side of the summoned Zhuang Qingyan.
Yin Xiao met the annoying man’s eyes from below, the latter smirking with icy eyes.
Yin Xiao rolled his eyes at the sky and jumped down following Song Ke.
Xu Xing hopped around doing calisthenics, changing the ice needles to a larger area of ice and snow to stop the spread of the fire. However, the area still turned dark, the sand-proof net teetered, and crow corpses piled up like mountains.
Members of the “Tustan” team landed on the rooftop one after another.
Jennifer, with her wavy long hair, threw herself forward with a coquettish gesture. “Oh~ my dear~ I haven’t seen you in half a day~ I miss you so much…”
Thud! She unexpectedly collided with a hard chest, Su Cha’s face darkened like the bottom of a pot. With two fingers supporting her forehead, he pushed her backward several meters.
Jennifer stumbled back to Yin Xiao’s side, and the father-daughter duo pursed their lips, silently reaching a consensus.
Why is there always an annoying guy next to the cute crush?
Zhuang Qingyan glanced at the increasing crow swarm, his expression serious, “This is not good. At this rate…”
The number of these beasts was even greater than originally estimated. Although the awakeners at the Northern Base killed some of them, they also damaged the sand-proof net extensively. The sand and dust were raging again, the yellow wind howling, and the dirty dust desperately infiltrating the respiratory tract.
In the current situation, it was difficult to salvage it manually. The only effective solution was to activate the city defense mechanism.
Zhuang Qingyan spoke in a deep voice, “District B has a well-established city defense system. I need to see the engineering design drawings and come up with another plan.”
Song Ke opened her terminal, about to contact Ye Zimei when she unexpectedly received a message from her, but the content was blank.
Song Ke called back, but there was no answer on the other end.
Lu Xiaoyu took the terminal and operated a few times, “Ye Zimei’s signal has been blocked.”
Zhuang Qingyan’s eyes flashed slightly. Before they left, the sudden loss of contact with Ye Zimei could only mean one thing – she was under the control of He Qiuhong.
“Contact Bai Qi, we’re going to find General Ye.”
“Hey, Captain Song, let’s go together.”
The two teams hurriedly rushed to the official residence of the General.
…
Endless crows raged and roamed wildly, occasionally diving down from the sky. After seizing their prey with their claws, they cruelly tore open the entrails.
Panic-stricken people scattered and fled, seeking refuge in sealed buildings, hiding in basements, and taking cover in various modes of transportation. However, gates were shattered, windows were smashed, and even monsters emerged from the sewers, relentlessly attacking them from every possible angle.
Individuals with awakened abilities rose to resist, but their limbs were quickly grabbed, howling as they were dragged into the sky, torn apart in different directions.
Black ferocious beasts were everywhere, too numerous to count, leaving the residents of the once-prosperous city helpless in the face of their inevitable demise.
“Mom… sob, Mom and Dad, where are you…” A four or five-year-old girl stumbled through the streets, crying loudly. Surrounding her were dismembered bodies, the pavement slippery with piled-up flesh, and her white shoes stained with deep red blood.
“Gaa-gaa!” Strange cries echoed from above. The girl looked up in fear, her pupils reflecting the terrifying double wings of a crow, resembling the Grim Reaper wielding a scythe.
In the nick of time, a young awakener swiftly pounced, embracing the girl and rolling away. Vines flew out from his palms, one end wrapping around the crow’s neck and the other tightly coiled around a lamppost, narrowly intercepting its attack.
However, he inadvertently twisted his ankle and fell awkwardly in front of another group of crows. With his last bit of strength, he pushed the little girl away, yelling hoarsely, “Don’t look back! Run!!”
“Big brother… no, no!!” The helpless girl cried.
The streets and alleys were in ruins, a blood-soaked hand pressed against a tightly sealed passage, emitting a desperate cry:
“Open the door… to the North… base… open…”
Why? They set out from the low-level district, traversed mountains and rivers across the majority of the Alliance, all for the sake of finding a new refuge. Why did it end up like this? Were they wrong?
The eyes of the applicant gradually dimmed. Oh heavens, he was willing to give everything, just hoping for a miracle.
In the hazy moment of consciousness, the passage in front slowly opened, pouring down a dazzling light. A majestic figure walked out from inside.
The applicant’s eyes widened slightly. Could it be… a miracle?
Boom!! The newcomer’s fists hit the ground, and a terrifying pressure spread for miles. The crows in the sky lost control and fell uncontrollably, as if glued to the ground by strong adhesive, struggling ceaselessly.
Boom!!
The sound of fists echoed once again, and the bodies of ferocious beasts that roamed on the surface and underground stiffened. Under the force of gravity, their internal organs were compressed, twisting and bursting on the spot.
Fleeing civilians stopped in their tracks, and the little girl ceased her sobbing, staring blankly at the newcomer.
He was a weathered old man with a head full of silver hair, his face covered in wrinkles and furrows, appearing very, very old. However, he stood tall with a straight spine, his eyes sharp and bright. Dressed in a simple military uniform, he stood there like an unmovable anchor.
From both sides behind the old man, thousands of fully armed soldiers rushed out, including those with awakened abilities and ordinary people. Though no longer young, their gaze was resolute, and they were well-trained, all descendants of survivors who had experienced brutal wars. They silently crossed the streets, swiftly eliminating the crows controlled by gravity and organizing the orderly retreat of the citizens.
A deep and resounding voice penetrated the entire Qianzhan City and echoed through the ears of everyone at the Northern Base via the regional broadcast:
“I am Ye Zheng, the Magistrate of the Northern Base. According to Article 10, Section 13 of the Alliance Emergency Regulations during wartime, the Department of Transportation is ordered to immediately open ground entrances numbered 5, 8, 13, 17, and 21, and open the aerial connection channel. We unconditionally accept all residents of Qianzhan City.”
“All officials of the Awakener Deparment, assist in organizing evacuation routes, ensure the safety of people along the way, and the Logistics Department is to designate temporary shelter areas within an hour for the treatment of the wounded and provide necessary supplies.”
“I’ll repeat once again, we unconditionally accept all residents of Qianzhan City, whether awakeners or ordinary people.”
“I, in the name of the Magistrate, swear that Ye Zheng will protect everyone’s retreat here until the last person safely enters the city.”
All the noise and clamor seemed to vanish at once, leaving only Ye Zheng’s concise and powerful commands.
— Until the last person evacuates.
He was General Ye Zheng, the founder of the Northern Base, personally coming to Qianzhan City to protect their retreat.
“General Ye… General Ye!!”
Someone couldn’t hold back anymore, bursting into tears, and the sorrowful emotions seemed to be infectious, spreading for kilometers in an instant, forming a deafening wave of sound. With 6.5 million residents on the brink of life and death, struggling through ups and downs, experiencing a post-apocalyptic world with zombies and ferocious beasts, at this moment, they finally felt genuine gratitude. Grateful that amidst the apocalypse, in the dangerous wasteland of zombies and beasts, they had found the correct path.
The last hope of humanity.
As long as Ye Zheng was there, the significance of the Northern Base’s existence would not change, even across half a century.
