Chapter 128: Excursion
I am thinking of extending an invitation to the various people in the area after the third wave is dealt with, Zac began. However, are there any groups that might wont make it until then?
It was a fair question, as the refugees he took in last ti were forced to set sail since conditions got too harsh on their island. Since then a few weeks had passed, and things were only getting worse out in the wild.
There are 3 settlents we can bring back before the auction, and another 2 before the last wave, Mr. Trang said after so deliberation. All of them are teetering on the edge of destruction, and they did not seem very organized. There were no real fortifications around their settlents, and the beasts must have done a number on them. However, we cant take too many each trip with our vessels, 15-20 people at the most per vessel.
Zac sighed but nodded, indicating that theyd follow Sap Trangs lead. It was pretty clear that the groups theyd pick up before battle wouldnt be able to contribute to the war efforts.
Is there any force that seed strong amongt them? Zac asked
Both the bestman camps looked pretty strong, Mr. Trang said. There was also one human town that was Odd.
Odd how?
Im not sure, it wasnt
who went there. It was the largest human settlent. They looked quite organized and no one seed to be starving. However Mr. Nguyen said it was very eerie,
Eerie? Zac asked doubtfully, to which Mr. Trang could only shrug his shoulders.
Fetch those who went on that expedition, Zac said after so deliberation.
If it was one of the small camps that was a bit off, then it was ok. But if it was the largest one he might need to intervene early.
Soon a couple of demon soldiers and a very nervous old fisherman stood in front of Zac and the others.
Can you explain what was odd about the town? Zac said as he looked them over.
The scouts hesitantly looked at each other, until one of the demons from the expedition spoke up.
I cant say for sure It was just a feeling, like there was sothing wrong about the people, he said.
There were no children, another demon added after so additional silence.
Zac didnt react for a few seconds before he gave a start at that. He had not really thought about it since there naturally were no children in Port Atwood, but he realized that wasnt really normal in a large settlent.
Children had a rough ti of it in general since the integration. The system awarded them no special protections, not even those who had the potential to beco cultivators, letting them fend for themselves. The only exception was that children below the age of 7 were teleported with their parents if they entered the tutorial. Of course they werent part of the missions but were placed safely to the side.
Otherwise the System was uncaring about the children of earth, and it was the sa in the whole multi-verse. But the old factions and forces had established order long ago. Their towns werent on the brink of destruction from so monster hordes, and there was functioning training infrastructure within clans and at academies that would protect and prepare the young until they could gain strength. Children were seen as a resource and fiercely guarded, as it only took one genius or powerhouse to elevate a whole clan to a new level, and each child held that potential.
On Earth the adults could at least get stronger to defend themselves, but children could only hope to their parents were still around to protect them. Zac heard that the governnt was trying to set up sothing up for the young, but it was still in planning stages from what he understood. Many were already calling those below 16 when the integration ca The Lost Generation, and Zac felt it fitting.
Emily was part of the lost generation, though she was a bit better off with at least being 15 when the integration happened. But her fate before eting Zac was indicative of how powerless children were in this new world.
Zac had seen children in both New Washington and Greenworth, though they were generally accompanied by their parents. But if all children of a whole settlent were missing as the scouts indicated sothing nefarious was might be going on.
There was no real proof however, only so circumstantial odd facts, and since the people were both protected and looked fed he couldnt use his limited ti on that settlent. He would have to check it out after the last wave.
Everything was dealt with by now and the eting was soon adjourned, and only an hour later four ships set sail together, with Zac standing on the fore of one of them. They were heading toward one of the islands that required imdiate help, and Zac ca along since he wanted to see the situation for himself. There was not much for him to do apart from pondering on the Dao at the mont in any case, and he could do that while sitting on a boat.
Zac wasnt the only human on the vessels. He not only brought Sap Trang with him, but also a few of the stronger girls to give them so experience, and to let the refugees not only see people with horns. All of them, Mr. Trang included, were currently sitting down absorbing Nexus Crystals, not letting a second go to waste.
The island they were heading for was about three hours away, and when they arrived Zac saw that it looked about the sa as any tropical island. This one was even smaller than the Zhix island, though there was no mountain taking up most of the space. They sailed around the shore for a few minutes until a run-down town ca into view.
It beca increasingly clear that most of the settlents were various coastal towns taken from around the world placed on their own islands. Zac could only assu that the patch of forest he was located in before the integration was added on to the main island to increase its size.
The town looked quite colonial in its architecture, and Zac guessed it was from so island in the Caribbean. The town might have been the type of idyllic place you saw on postcards back in the day, with brightly colored houses and beautiful cobblestone paths, but now it gave off a far more dour feeling.
Many buildings were marred with scratches and cracks, and so even had splotches of blood on them. It looked like only part of the town was randomized to this location, as it seed that the part with any marina or harbor was missing. The section in front of them was mainly lined with beautiful pristine beaches, making it seem like a perfect tourist destination.
The four Creator vessels simply ran up on the beach itself, their inscribed hulls taking no damage at all from the sowhat rough landing. The eight people Zac brought for the expedition swiftly jumped off and were led by one of the demons who initially scouted out the town.
There are a few fortified buildings in the center, we think most of the survivors are holed up there, the demon said.
Soon they reached the buildings the demon ntioned, and Zac saw it was likely once a small hotel that was turned into a base. It was lined with a simple wall of sacks filled with sand and spikes were erected among them.
It was also clear that the place was populated since the hotel was currently under attack by gigantic rats. A quick glance at Sap Trang showed him blanching, perhaps rembering his own ordeals. Zac wondered if this kind of vermin had so sort of advantage, as overgrown rats was a problem in almost all settlents from what he heard.
Having the capability to quickly grown in numbers was a huge asset when Cosmic Energy ensured that anything would grow large. Even if a bear got stronger it might only have a few cubs in its lifeti, whereas a rat could have hundreds of kids.
Zac could see a few people desperately fending off the rat tide that pushed against the defenses, there were a few breaches where a few people desperately swung everything from clubs to frying pans in an effort to keep the monsters outside the periter. The rats were around level 15 to 25, and Zac felt it was a decent target practice for the girls.
Go help them out, Zac said as he stayed put. The monsters werent too nurous, and there was no point in him or the demons going out and stealing the experience.
Soon the three girls and Sap Trang were wildly swinging against the mice, quickly getting splashed in rat blood. Zac saw that Mr. Trang now was using a sword resembling a cutlass. With his old patchy cloth and leathery skin, he looked very much the part of an elderly pirate. Every now and then he also unleashed a few small water sprouts that impaled the rats, but it didnt look very effective. Likely the skill would be stronger if he was at sea and had free water to use.
In just a few minutes most of the horde was dealt with, and Zac felt it was enough at this point. He walked up close to the battlents and simply released his aura. Pandemonium erupted among the surviving rats, and with panicked screeches they fled in all directions.
Zac quickly retracted his aura and looked over his panting soldiers.
Good job, he said with a small smile as he saw them looking down with disgust at their drenched bodies. Youll have to wipe that gri off before we return, I dont want rat blood all over my ships.
Afterward he turned over to the people hiding behind the battlents or were peering out from windows of the hotel.
Hello, Im Zac. I understand you requested so help from my scouts the other day, he said to the people of the island.
He could hear so muted voices for a bit until a man spoke up from behind.
Are you from so governnt?
No. They are an endless distance away on the mainland, and theyre barely able to maintain order in their own towns, let alone sending out rescue missions to our archipelago, Zac said.
They seed disappointed in the news, but a few people still stepped out from the barricades, warily hefting their makeshift weapons.
Whats the catch? one of the won suddenly asked. Were all fighting for our lives here, I dont believe youre just traveling around the sea to save people.
I need workers. I am building a town from scratch, and need everything from farrs to fishern to local business owners, Zac said. Of course, if you want to keep fighting that is more than welco. Warriors are always needed in this ssed up world. But let
be clear; there is no social security, no freebies. There are no monsters and no risk to your lives in my town, but I have no use for freeloaders.
They all perked up when he ntioned the safety. Zac didnt ntion anything about the third wave, feeling that it would only complicate things.
Besides, how long can you stay like you are? You barely fended off these little guys, he said as he waved at the rat carcasses. The monsters will keep getting tougher, and there is safety in numbers.
It didnt take much more convincing than that, and soon four Creator vessels filled to the rafters with refugees were heading back to Port Atwood.
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