Chapter 107: Chapter 108: The Arm Is Gone
The Aberrant Beasts didn’t stop their attacks while they searched for survivors.
It was as if they could smell humans, drawn in by the scent.
And they weren’t just present—they were exceptionally ferocious.
All kinds of Aberrant Beasts lunged forward in a frenzy, looking to tear both the people and their vehicles to shreds.
The members of the rescue team were already well-experienced in dealing with Aberrant Beasts.
And though the scene was chaotic, they weren’t flustered.
They might not have had everything under control, but at least they weren’t getting hurt.
The survivors inside the vehicles, however, were in another state entirely.
Countless people screamed madly at the sight of the Aberrant Beasts, wrapping their arms around themselves in terror.
Some even began to clamor about returning to the building, as if only that could grant them peace of mind.
But it was all just talk.
There were so many Aberrant Beasts outside, each more ferocious than the next.
If they were actually told to get out of the vehicle now, none of them would have the courage.
When they heard they were finally returning to the base, all the survivors breathed a sigh of relief, and some were even moved to tears.
"Finally, we’re going to the base! I don’t want to spend another second in this damn place!"
"At the base, we’ll have food and water, right? And we won’t have to worry about Aberrant Beast attacks?"
"What are the living conditions like at the base? Can I get a room to myself? I’m a light sleeper, and it’s hard for me to fall asleep when I’m with other people!"
"Sleeping is secondary; I’m more concerned about what we’ll eat. I wonder if they’ll have fruits, vegetables, and meat. I haven’t eaten any of that in so long! Just thinking about it makes my mouth water!"
Sierra Sullivan and Jayce were at the very front of the vehicle, but they could clearly hear the discussions of the people in the back.
This wasn’t the first time Sierra Sullivan had heard such words.
Every time they rescued survivors and headed back, she would always hear similar remarks on the road.
No matter the era, people were always filled with hope and imagination.
It seemed a bit overly naive, but it wasn’t entirely without its benefits.
At the very least, it allowed them to be happy along the way.
After the apocalypse, happiness and joy had become a luxury.
To have it for even a little while was a blessing.
Even if that happiness and bliss turned to dust the moment they arrived at the base, at least they had experienced it.
Just as Sierra Sullivan was lost in thought, someone took her hand.
Sierra Sullivan turned to look at Jayce, raising an eyebrow at him in a silent question.
Jayce didn’t speak, but instead smiled at Sierra Sullivan.
It was a brilliant smile, and his eyes seemed to hold a sky full of stars.
Just one look, and Sierra Sullivan couldn’t help but smile along with him.
General Aldridge glanced their way unconsciously and happened to see the exchange, finding it amusing.
’Youth is a wonderful thing!’
’Nothing at all is happening, not a word has been said, yet they can smile so happily.’
Just as General Aldridge was reflecting on this, he heard a loud THUD.
Before General Aldridge could even investigate, his body was thrown forward by inertia.
It wasn’t just General Aldridge; Sierra Sullivan and Jayce were thrown forward too.
The pair reacted quickly, grabbing onto handrails to steady themselves.
"What’s going on?"
"What happened?"
"Did the vehicle break down?"
The survivors inside the cabin were terrified, one after another asking what on earth had happened.
But Sierra Sullivan and the others had neither the time nor the inclination to answer them right now.
Sierra Sullivan was staring intently at the front of the vehicle.
Plastered to the front windshield was a gigantic face.
Its eyes were inverted triangles, filled with greed and a malevolent glint.
Its nose was flat.
If it weren’t for two slits, one wouldn’t even be able to tell it had a nose.
As for its mouth, it was a truly cavernous maw.
Not only was it stretched wide, it was also filled with fangs.
Maybe because its mouth was open so wide, saliva was constantly drooling out, making for a particularly nauseating sight.
Sierra Sullivan had never seen this kind of creature before.
Its skin was a particular shade of earthy yellow, the same color as the sand outside.
She couldn’t tell what it was, only that it must have been a creature from after the apocalypse.
But none of that was the most important part.
The most important part was that it wasn’t just clinging to the glass; it had started to ram its head against the windshield repeatedly.
Seemingly unable to break through by ramming, it started to gnaw on the glass with its fangs.
The fangs were incredibly sharp. After just a few bites, Sierra Sullivan heard a CRACK.
The glass had cracked!
In a sandstorm this massive, if the windshield shattered, they wouldn’t be able to drive at all.
Sierra Sullivan immediately stood up. "We can’t wait any longer."
Though she didn’t know the exact situation outside, going out would very likely be dangerous.
But simply waiting would only be more dangerous.
Jayce and General Aldridge followed suit, also standing up.
As he moved, General Aldridge commanded, "The rest of you, don’t get out! Keep the doors shut and wait in the vehicle!"
After the three of them got out, they shut the door behind them.
It wasn’t just them; the Superpower Users in the other vehicles had also disembarked one after another.
They had no time to look at each other, much less speak. Everyone’s eyes were locked on the Aberrant Beasts in front of them.
It wasn’t just their vehicle—the other vehicles each had an Aberrant Beast of some unknown species clinging to them as well.
General Aldridge’s expression was grim. "Don’t just stand there! Everyone, go! Don’t hold anything back, let’s end this fast!"
The wilderness was already dangerous.
Who knew if other Aberrant Beasts might appear.
Under the circumstances, a quick and decisive battle was clearly the best option.
The chaotic battle was joined in an instant.
Once attacked, the Aberrant Beasts immediately gave up on the vehicles and charged straight for Sierra Sullivan and the others.
Facing such massive Aberrant Beasts, a head-on confrontation was impossible.
Their only option was to dodge as much as possible and attack when an opportunity arose.
But just walking on the sand was difficult, let alone running.
Running, dodging, and attacking all at once was even harder.
Before long, Sierra Sullivan heard a cry of pain and the shouts of others.
Looking toward the source of the sound, she saw someone whose leg was trapped in the sand.
With their movement restricted, they were unable to dodge in time and had been viciously mauled by an Aberrant Beast.
The person had subconsciously raised an arm to block; the next moment, their entire arm was torn off.
With their arm brutally ripped off, blood instantly sprayed everywhere. The person collapsed in pain, their fate uncertain.
Witnessing this scene with her own eyes, Sierra Sullivan’s pupils constricted violently.
Without any hesitation, Sierra Sullivan used her Superpower to coalesce the sand into a massive arrow, shooting it toward that Aberrant Beast.
The massive arrow looked cumbersome, but its speed was incredible.
The Aberrant Beast sensed that something was wrong, but by the time it tried to dodge and flee, it was already too late.
