After Surviving the Apocalypse, I Built a City in Another World - Chapter 929

Chapter 929: Through the Array

The group ran towards the array, with Atlas giving them one last advice. “Remember, after we go through, run at the direct opposite of the gate.

“Take care of yourselves. To each to his own. At this stage, to survive, we can’t be bothered with other people—at least I won’t.”

Some people frowned but Atlas had always been frank. The last time, people took advantage of his sense of justice as a former police officer. It held him back, keeping him from venturing out to find his brother.

There was also the fact that no one wanted to go out with him, making it a suicide mission to even go too far away from the walls. However, if there weren’t people convincing him, begging him to stay, he really might’ve taken that risky mission on his own.

Now… he really couldn’t wait any longer, and he wasn’t going to let anyone hold him back.

He looked at them as if he was saying goodbye. If they could follow him, good, and this meant he could travel with them for longer. However, if they could not, then he could only wish them well.

“Assume they have people there to guard, at least a few of them,” he told them. “Be as quiet as you can, and run as fast as you can.”

They entered the array and paid the required fees, hearts filled with unknown expectations and all desperation.

The circle lit up, making them gasp at the strange sensation. It felt like riding an elevator but the scenery changed. It happened quite quickly, only a second, and it was normal for people to be dazed.

Atlas quickly gathered his bearings, not waiting for another moment to move. He tapped the people closest to him, not wanting to make noise, but he immediately darted in the direction without looking back.

Sadly, even if they didn’t make noise—which was unavoidable with a group of civilians who couldn’t help but let out surprised sounds as they were teleported—the array lit up when it was used, and it caught the attention of the people on the other side.

Fortunately for them, the heat was too intense and no one was really guarding the array closely. No one would in their right mind stay outside for so long.

Some shade was created by the gates and only one person saw the flash of light. He didn’t think much at first but then he saw none of them were familiar and he realized they must’ve come from the enemy territory!

“HEY!” he yelled, though he immediately felt uncomfortable after moving in this damned heat. “SHOOT THEM DOWN!”

The archers by the gate—who were also covered with shades—immediately shot at them. Their movements lagged because of their weaknesses, which could only count as a blessing for the trespassers.

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Atlas and the others ran as fast as they could, and for the first few moments, no one was hit. However, as more and more archers gathered their bearings, more and more arrows rained down on them—finally hitting a few.

“AHHH!”

“HELP!”

“GAHH!”

Atlas gritted his teeth but continued his dash. His heart clenched as he heard the screams, the sounds of falling, and the cries for help. However, he had already done enough for others, and knew stopping now was accepting he might not see his only family member left.

Tim was also hit in the arm, but they trudged on. They pushed themselves to the limits of their already weak bodies, running faster and faster despite their whole bodies feeling like it was melting from the heat.

Soon, they were out of range and the guards didn’t have enough interest to follow. Anyway, they weren’t going into the territory, so there was no reason to waste anymore important energy and spirit.

They ran and ran and some even fainted on the way. The person got dragged by his friend for a while until he got too tired and had no choice but to let go.

“I’m sorry,” the person said, apologizing before walking away without him. His friend could only crawl after them, albeit to no avail and to be left behind for dead.

Eventually, the group confirmed they were not being followed and stopped. They were lucky that Atlas had some survival knowledge and found a tunnel. It was very small, too small for beasts to use, so they used it to pass the daylight.

Everyone there hurried to the shade, though their skins were already stinging so much they really couldn’t feel much anymore.

As they settled there, they looked around, realizing that there were only a dozen of them who managed to make it.

Their hearts were beating out of their chest, and they felt like fainting from the intense heat, hunger, and tiredness.

However, they were alive, and—just for the fact that they were still breathing—they couldn’t help but cry.

.

.

They decided to pass the night in that little space, with Atlas finally gathering enough energy to completely enclose them. He left behind tiny breathing holes for them, and they could only hope there was no monster who’d catch them there.

They really didn’t have that much energy anymore. They were tired, parched, and starving. No one could lift their hands enough to actually fight with a rabid beast.

Of course, Atlas was still prepared for whatever, however he could. He managed his breathing, his weapon was out and ready to be used at a moment’s notice.

While most were catatonic, Atlas was sitting upright and managing his breathing. Hana saw it all while she was sitting next to her boyfriend.

Hana really found Atlas much more attractive than Tim. Not in a romantic way, however. After all, her heart truly beat for one person—but that person was not there.

However, Atlas felt safer to be with and attach to. Sadly, Tilda had her eyes on him and the moment she gave a hint of friendliness, the woman would open her mouth and send her a barrage of hurtful words.

It discouraged her from getting too close, but she didn’t mind too much.

Thinking of this, she turned to look at Tim and smiled.

At least she had someone who loved her—unlike Tilda, who every good man looked at with disgust—and that was already a fortunate thing.

.

.

The night was tense and everyone had to practically cover their mouths to keep themselves from making any noise (or to breathe properly, for that matter).

The entire duration of the night, mobs passed by where they were, causing the ground underneath them to vibrate.

There were plenty of times that beasts would find interest in their mound but, fortunately, they were not yet too far from Suki Village, which was definitely more attractive to the beasts.

It was another sleepless night for everyone, but the moment light peered through the tiny holes of their little hiding place, Atlas immediately woke everyone up.

They were lethargic and in pain, but they knew they couldn’t stay there forever.

They mentally prepared themselves for smelling their own burning skins again when they headed out, not entirely registering that the atmosphere was not as hot as it should be.

When the expected stinging sensation did not arrive, even when they were under the direct sun, the realization finally dawned on them.

“What…”

Their eyes were wide as they looked at each other. “Is it…?”

They had been attacked many times by aborigines, so they knew this heat was an Extreme Event that would eventually come to an end—they just didn’t know when.

They didn’t dare let their hopes up too high, however.

They stayed still for a few moments, feeling the radiation of the sun, making sure they hadn’t just gotten numb somehow.

For the first time in a long while, Atlas finally broke into a smile. “It’s over!” he announced, and everyone’s hearts lifted.

The heat wave… was finally over!