FGCT CH30.2

An hour later, after braving the storm and trudging through puddles, Fugui’s group finally reached the banks of the Yalu River.

The wind and rain were fiercer here, threatening to tear off their raincoats and hoods. The biting cold made everyone shiver; it was a perfect condition for illness as body heat clashed with the chill.

But Fugui’s attention wasn’t on the raging river. Instead, he stared out at the vast, gray expanse of water stretching endlessly into the distance.

In his original world, Fugui had seen all kinds of seas and climbed countless mountains. He considered himself well-traveled. Yet standing here now, he was struck with awe, even dread, by the sheer scale of this world’s transformation—

This place had once been a mountain range, with deep gorges and rushing rivers carving through the landscape.

Now it all vanishes in the void.

“Alright! Everyone, board quickly! No dawdling on the shore! Stick close and don’t wander off! Remember what I said about the ship’s different mission zones? Get lost, and you’ll end up disembarking in the wrong place!”

The guard shouted over the storm, desperate to be heard. Only when everyone was safely aboard the massive, unusually sturdy-looking ship did he relax.

“See this ship? Huge, right? Built like a tank? This is the prototype for those giant seafaring vessels they mentioned in last night’s news! It can hold up to five thousand people. It’s mainly a test for new storm-resistant materials. Once this ‘Vanguard’ proves successful, they’ll build even bigger ones.”

After a headcount confirmed all sixty-eight were present, the guard started yapping about some interesting stuff about this ship.

“Feel free to look around this section, but don’t go wandering. Most onboard are soldiers on urgent missions. Only a small fraction are civilians like you.”

Here, the guard paused, his expression turning grave. “Don’t cause trouble. Don’t disturb them. They’re already more exhausted than you can imagine.”

No one argued. Some sat quietly in the cabin, resting their eyes. Others stared out the windows at the sea.

After a moment’s thought, Fugui slipped outside, careful not to make noise. He wanted to see the drowned cities, the submerged land… this drowned world.

And he saw it.

But none of it was what he truly wanted to see.

As the colossal ship rode the river-sea currents downstream, wind and rain lashed at Fugui’s face. He saw mountains half-submerged, like sleeping giants in the deep. He saw toppled skyscrapers and those still standing, skeletal against the gray. The further they traveled, the more the sights piled up, each more staggering, more horrifying than the last.

By the time they reached their destination five hours later, the water was littered with corpses, battered by wind and waves.

Standing at the ship’s edge, Fugui realized he’d never before been so acutely aware of how many lives existed on this land.

And never before had life felt so precious, so precious that no amount of wealth could preserve it, so heavy that no effort could fully uphold it.

“According to global statistics, over half the world’s population has died in just this past month and a half,” Xie Tianlang’s voice cut through the suffocating air.

“At least seventy percent of land animals are extinct.”

“It’s dying.”

Fugui closed his eyes, he knew what “it^[1]” referred to.

But then his eyes snapped open. “But it’s not dead yet, is it?”

“You can’t know the ending until the very last moment.”

Even at the last moment, if they could find and repair the world’s core, it could still survive!

With that, Fugui dove into the churning waters. Watching the young man’s agile form cut through the waves, Xie Tianlang smiled in approval.

“What a coincidence.”

He, too, was the type to fight until the bitter end.

The giant ship was like a huge bus on the sea, with Sichuan Province just one stop of many. After this, it would carry its cargo of soldiers to other regions for even harder missions—salvaging, rescuing, searching. All for the sake of more lives, better survival.

The research base in Sichuan was anchored by a repurposed cruise ship, now too battered by storms to sail but serving as a temporary hub for explorers and task forces.

When Fugui’s group of sixty-eight disembarked from the mothership, rescue boats came to ferry them over.

Most were here for missions, though some had simply paid their way with food or supplies, hoping to scavenge valuables from this relatively accessible, once-prosperous area.

Compared to mind-numbing factory work or prison-like confinement in the safe zones, this was a gamble worth taking for a shot to exchange for a better better life.

Stepping onto the cruise ship, Fugui was momentarily dazed.

The vessel had been heavily modified. The open decks were now covered with rainproof canopies, beneath which vendors hawked their wares like a makeshift market.

“Phones, laptops, gaming consoles—all functional! Power banks are fully charged! Three packs of instant noodles or two fish for a phone or power bank! Come take a look!”

“Freshly salvaged jewelry! One pack of noodles or one fish, take your pick! Sure, it’s useless now, but what if the rain stops tomorrow? These are genuine pieces, originally worth thousands!”

“Winter gear straight from the mall! Down jackets, wool sweaters, thermal pants! Prices negotiable. Wouldn’t your family need these? With production at a standstill, stock up now!”

The scene was so bizarrely mundane that Fugui almost forgot where he was. But no real market used instant noodles or fish as currency.

And no real market treated jewelry and electronics as worthless while food commanded exorbitant prices.

“Check it out! Fresh sardines from today’s haul! Selling cheap! We’ll take anything valuable—especially unspoiled meat like pork, beef, or chicken! Top prices for those!”

“Quite lively,” Fugui murmured. Moments ago, he’d been weighed down by the bleakness of their situation. Now, faced with this stubborn spark of human resilience, he was reminded that life wasn’t so easily extinguished.

A nimble cat darted past, snatching a sardine from the fish stall. Fugui expected the vendors to lash out, but they just laughed and shouted after it.

“Thieving little bastard!”

“Enjoy the meal, and live a few more days, huh? Don’t let this damned world win!”

Fugui smiled.

“Hey, longhair! Quit daydreaming! Come claim your bunk. Once that’s settled, we’re heading to the research base before dark!”

Though the guard had little hope for Mission One’s success, this batch did include a few promising candidates—

Like the tall, intimidatingly capable man, the Tibetan who’d grown up by Qingchuan’s lakes, the petite but professional pearl diver, and the scuba diver with his gear. These four might actually reach the research base’s depths and locate the machines.

Yes, the Sichuan research facility housed three high-precision machines capable of synthesizing materials for “survival spheres.”

Only one was easily accessible, stored on the first-floor factory wing. The other two were in the underground vault.

With the base now fifty meters underwater, finding an unfamiliar, heavy machine amidst crushing pressure, limited oxygen, and a maze of corridors was daunting enough.

Not to mention the two down in the vault.

Without proper equipment or tools, it was no wonder that after half a month and over a thousand attempts, the mission remained unfulfilled.

As the rescue boat approached the research base, the guard briefed the team.

“Originally, this was meant for the military. But with only three machines, mobilizing them here wasn’t cost-effective. They’ve got bigger priorities, like resource gathering. So the mission was opened to the public.”

“But it’ll only stay open for five more days. After that, the military takes over. Survival spheres are top priority now.”

“So, folks, this is your last shot.”

“From here, you’re on your own. You’ve seen the maps and know the machines’ locations.”

“Time to show what you’ve got.”

With that, the guard turned to Fugui, his gaze challenging.

Well? Impress us.

Fugui ran a hand through his hair. Then, as the others stretched and prepped for their dives, he took a deep breath and executed a flawless dive into the water.

Fine. He’d show them.