After a short rest, the group boarded Saul Sterling’s plane, intending to fly directly back to the Morhaven base. However, Annelise Locke was physically unable to climb the rope ladder, so she had to stay behind with Irvin Holden, Cynthia Grant, and two special forces soldiers to pilot the boat back to the Morhaven shore.
Less than two hours later, the plane landed on the tarmac nearest the safe zone. It was clear that the landing strip had been cleared by people. Traces of zombie brains and viscera still stained the ground.
Flora Bloom disembarked from the plane and, while walking away from the tarmac with the group, carefully observed the condition of the civilian airport.
This was one of Morhaven’s international airports. It was fully equipped with a wide range of aircraft for both short-haul dostic and long-haul international flights.
’It has been about a month and a half since the apocalypse began, and everyone has been scattered to the corners of the world by the sudden cataclysm. In my previous life, it took three months for people to gradually adapt to the new rules of survival. Within half a year, more than sixty percent of global communications were restored.’
’Of the nine major bases in the world, four were within the borders of Veridia. So smaller nations, with their sparse populations, were completely wiped out after the apocalypse began.’
’The other five base cities were located in Southeast Asia, Northern Europe, and the US-Canada region.’
’Unfortunately, by the third year, global communications collapsed again. Organized hordes of zombies systematically isolated and destroyed human settlents, causing the human population to plumt by two-thirds. The survivors were left to face a human world that had been utterly annihilated. In its place, vegetation overran entire cities overnight, and extre environnts of all kinds erged.’
’Humanity’s downfall was rooted in the early days of the apocalypse. We only dared to cower inside the safe zones, failing to seize the pri opportunity to upgrade our superpowers. By the ti most people realized their mistake, the zombies had already ford a society, a race akin to humanity itself.’
’Hordes of High-level zombies began to appear. Even with groups of High-level superpower users leading the fight, humanity only ever t with defeat.’
’At that ti, there was no safe place left for humans on land. The oceans were overrun by millions, if not more, of marine creatures. The skies had beco the domain of flying beasts.’
’In an instant, humans went from being the masters of the Earth to stray dogs, struggling to survive in the cracks of an era dominated by various powerful life forms.’
’The cause of it all was right here, in the present: humanity’s fear of the apocalypse, their cowardice and disunity. Not to ntion the infighting, people in the bases killing each other over resources.’
’If, starting now, large numbers of people could venture out to hunt as many zombies as possible, not only could they quickly upgrade their superpowers, but more people could awaken superpowers, adding to the existing number of Awakeners.’
’With more superpower users, they would have a greater chance of winning the future wars for territory against the zombies and other races.’
’Thinking about the tiline, the prototypes for several small dostic bases and the major bases should have already taken shape. If the powerful figures from the major bases could connect with each other now to accelerate their developnt, could the future be different?’
’The airport.’
’Since the airspace hadn’t yet been seized by various flying creatures, this was an excellent opportunity.’
Flora Bloom took one last look at the airport layout. Aside from the tarmac, the zombie density inside the main airport was comparable to that of a small town.
’First, I’ll go back to the base and let Mom and Dad know I’m safe. When I have so free ti later, I’ll co back and clear out all the zombies inside the airport.’
To save ti, instead of driving and having to stop to clear zombies or other obstacles from the road, Flora Bloom directly summoned her bulldozer-like behemoth.
It crushed any zombies it encountered and could push aside any roadblock. Its speed was no slower than an ordinary car.
After everyone climbed onto the behemoth’s back using its forelimbs, a few of the special forces soldiers let out a "WOOHOO!", excitedly hopping around on its back a few tis as if playing hopscotch.
"Sister-in-law, you’re so cool! To think you could ta a creature like this as a pet! I have to say, that internal space of yours is truly one-of-a-kind in the entire Vastsea Universe!"
Flora Bloom raised her eyebrows smugly. But regarding the events of the past two days—from the Thunderbird couple to the Golden Crow currently sleeping in the hair behind her ear, and even Lex Cross and his special forces team—they were all dropping words like "Vastsea Universe," "internal space," "Thunderbird Clan," "Great Crow Clan," and "Golden Crow lineage." Each person was like a mysterious Morse code, revealing to her an unknown and enigmatic world.
"So, I’ve been aning to ask. Who... are you guys, really? Ahem, or to be more blunt, you’re not... aliens, are you?"
Five and the others glanced at their leader, Lex Cross, only to find him completely unfazed. He was just looking at Flora Bloom with a faint smile, as if utterly enchanted.
"Flora, the universe is vast. Earth is just a tiny little kingdom. But by Earth’s definition, yes, we are indeed aliens."
Flora Bloom blinked her large eyes several tis. "So you guys really are aliens!" Flora was dumbfounded. ’So not only did I have a one-night stand with an alien, but I’m also pregnant with an alien baby? Strictly speaking, it’s a human-alien hybrid. Isn’t that genetic combination a bit too... cross-dinsional?’
Lex Cross looked at Flora Bloom, amused. "Don’t worry, I’m human too."
"That’s the wrong way to think about it, Sister-in-law! There are plenty of indigenous planets like Earth in the universe! It’s just that the species that evolve on each planet are different."
"Take the Great Crow you tad, for example. Here, you call them octopuses, but on the outer battlefields of the universe, their race is incredibly powerful. In terms of racial genetics, the genes of so formidable species are on the sa evolutionary level as human genes. So are even on a higher tier! And take the Golden Crow behind your head—their genetic tier is much higher than that of an average human. But because their genes were so heaven-defyingly powerful, they were cursed by the heavens, and their bloodline grew thin. As far as I know, it’s the only Golden Crow left."
Hearing this, Flora Bloom frowned and asked, "But why do we only have humans here, then?"
"That’s not quite right, Sister-in-law! Your planet doesn’t just have humans! All sorts of creatures can gain intelligence and superpowers once they evolve to a certain point." As he spoke, Five nudged Saul Sterling, who was standing nearby. "This fortune-teller’s ancestor, I think it was his great-great-grandmother, was a plant-based life form who took on human form and married his great-great-grandfather. That’s how they managed to compensate for the frail constitution and short lifespans of their Divination Clan."
"So the idea that Earth is still dominated by humans is completely wrong!" Saul Sterling added.
Flora Bloom looked at Saul Sterling. ’So, he’s not just an alien, but a human-plant hybrid? Half-human, half-plant? What we on Earth would call a non-human?’
Seeing Flora Bloom’s conflicted expression, Lex Cross gently scratched her head. "Don’t overthink it. Just let nature take its course. Everything happening to Earth right now is a tribulation that other planets or kingdoms have gone through in their evolutionary history. I originally thought Earth was just a backward, indigenous planet. I just never expected to find the surviving bloodlines of so many powerful cosmic races gathered here."
"Right, what about you guys? How did you get to Earth?" Flora Bloom looked at Lex Cross curiously. She only knew what Cynthia Grant had told her—that Lex Cross was the eldest legitimate son of the Adler family in Argent. How could he also be an alien from so kingdom in the universe?
At Flora Bloom’s question, Lex Cross’s expression turned cold. "Betrayed by my brother."
"Sigh. If the Boss hadn’t been protecting us, he never would have been swallowed by that spatial rift!"
Lex Cross remained silent, but The Crown Prince, the leopard cat beside him, spoke up: "Now our thrusters are broken, and our strength is suppressed. These inferior waste-slaves are the lowest tier of sacrificial pawns in the universe, and they are usually few in number. But here, they are forming hordes and gathering on a massive scale. On top of that, the Superpower Levels of the people here are too low. Just dealing with these... zombies, as you call them, is incredibly draining."
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