Two Lights in the Apocalypse

The man's shout was like a thunderclap on a clear day, a full-throated roar of pure, unadulterated excitement.

In an instant, everyone crouching in the classroom looked up toward the doorway, their eyes filled not only with shock and anticipation, but also with a profound fear.

Fear that this was all a lie, that things weren't as they hoped, that the MOTH hadn't brought hope after all...

Three months of the apocalypse had worn away everyone's sharp edges. Zombies, Deadwalkers, Honkai Beasts... hunger, cold, thirst... and even the uncertainty of tomorrow, of the future.

Everything fell within the scope of their fears. Everything they could see, hear, and touch in the world was like a thick fog, shrouding their lives in darkness.

In this world where nothing could be clearly seen or grasped, the radio that the MOTH had airdropped two months ago was like a beam of light, supporting this shelter that had already begun to descend into chaos.

All voices of dissent were suppressed. The first thing people did upon waking was not to clutch their empty stomachs or lick their parched lips, but to gather around the radio and listen to the MOTH's daily broadcast.

Listening to the MOTH's steady advance, hearing the occasional rumbles in the distance, everyone held their breath, waiting quietly and obediently.

The food ran out, the water was cut off. People stripped the green plants from the flowerbeds, peeled the bark from the campus trees, and some were even driven by hunger to gnaw on the pages of books...

For three months... they had survived on that single breath of hope, maintaining their identity as human beings, without suspicion, without giving in to inhuman desires.

People would gather around the radio, and after the daily broadcast ended, they would talk amongst themselves, sharing their meager rations with the children and the elderly...

In this dark world, there were two lights... one from the MOTH, named Hope.

The other came from every single person—and it was called Civilization.

Bzzz— The radio suddenly let out a long burst of static, drawing most people's attention.

It was a sound that usually only occurred in the morning, signaling the start of the daily broadcast.

But today's broadcast was already over... What was this...?

Click— After a soft, crisp sound, an excited voice came through the broadcast. It was a voice everyone knew well—the host of the MOTH's broadcast.

"To all listeners who can hear this broadcast, and to all survivors, hello!!"

This time, it wasn't just the radios that were connected, but the city's public address system as well. For the first time in two months, the massive sound echoed throughout Sapphire City.

Only this time, there weren't as many zombies and Deadwalkers drawn by the sound. Only a few scattered stragglers let out frustrated roars and snarls at the speakers.

Around the world, those watching the live broadcast, even though they had already seen the outcome of the operation, couldn't help but sit up straighter when the broadcaster's voice came on.

They were all waiting for those words.

"No other news today. Today, at this very moment! I only want to announce one thing to everyone!!"

"The Flood Dragon emerges from the sea! The great Roc spreads its wings! Operation Jiao Long in Sapphire City has been a perfect success!!"

"WOOOOOOOHHHHH—!!!"

An earth-shattering cheer erupted, almost blowing the roof off the entire school.

The uproar immediately caught the attention of Theresa and her group. They exchanged a look and quickly rushed toward the academic building where the sound was coming from.

A crowd of ragged survivors poured out of the small classroom, expressing their excitement with the most uninhibited gestures they had shown in three months.

Some kissed the ground, others raised their faces to the sky. A man letting out a gruff roar stood next to another who had fallen to his knees to thank the gods. Two men who were complete strangers embraced excitedly, then pulled in another man who was stripping off his clothes to go streaking, joining their group hug.

Finally, a dozen men, ranging in age from their teens to their forties, formed a circle, jumping up and down as if performing some kind of ritual.

The group's approach slowed. Looking at the excited crowd, they couldn't help but exchange glances.

"Should we interrupt them now?" Durandal asked in a small voice, afraid of breaking their celebratory mood.

Theresa watched for a moment longer, then nodded. "Of course, we have to. The train leaves tonight, and we have to report back."

"But they're so... " Durandal looked at the ecstatic crowd, looking troubled. "How are we supposed to get them to quiet down?"

"Leave it to me." Rita gave the others a slight bow and took a step forward.

It was strange. One moment, everyone was celebrating like mad, and the next, the boisterous environment fell silent with what seemed like a casual clap of Rita's hands.

The change was so abrupt that Durandal started to wonder if Rita had some kind of special ability.

"Everyone, I am from the MOTH's special squad, a member of Lady Judah's team—the Maid. I understand your excitement, but I must ask you to calm down.

The MOTH has already prepared a train to the base for you all. Food, shelter, bathing facilities, and clean clothes have all been prepared."

The crowd looked at each other, radiant smiles on everyone's faces.

Then, Rita reached out and took two vibrant green vials from her person, holding them up in her palm as if promoting a product. She smiled at the crowd. "This is a nutrient serum prepared by the MOTH. These two vials in my hand can sustain twenty people for one meal."

Durandal was taken aback for a second, then quickly took out two identical vials from her own pouch. "I have two here as well!"

Theresa also took out her two vials. A total of six nutrient serums could provide the necessary sustenance for sixty adults.

The only downside was that they didn't provide any feeling of fullness.

"Does anyone need to replenish their energy right away?" Rita asked with a smile, posing the final question.

The crowd fell silent. No one stepped forward to ask for one.

Anyone could see that those few vials weren't meant for them, the survivors. It was clear that these soldiers were offering to share their own rations.

"What about the children?" After a couple of seconds, the same man in the suit who had first gone to check stood up. "The children, come out! Those under fifteen can get some first, then the elderly..."

With that, he walked up to Rita, who handed him the vials.

The crowd began to shift, pushing the young children to the very front.