The sky grew darker with each passing moment, and night would soon shroud the land entirely.
Chen Fan stood among the crowd, much like the majority of people, on tiptoe, straining to see into the distant horizon.
In the depths of the wilderness, the roars of ferocious beasts echoed sporadically. If the hunting team couldn't make it back to the castle before darkness fell completely, they would find themselves in an abyss of darkness, surrounded by relentless beasts that could strike at any moment.
Suddenly, Chen Fan felt his arm being gripped. He looked down to see his mother, her face pale, clinging to his arm with a helpless expression in her eyes.
"Mom, don't worry. Dad and the others will be back soon, I'm sure of it," he reassured her gently.
His mother nodded and then turned her gaze anxiously toward the horizon. Chen Fan scanned the crowd around him; the faces of hundreds of people wore expressions of anxiety and fear.
He sighed internally. He didn't know why or how it happened, but one moment he was napping on the subway, and the next, he found himself in this world. It was now his second day here.
This world resembled his previous life in many ways, except for the fact that ten years ago, everything changed. The birds, beasts, flowers, and trees all transformed, growing larger and becoming cruel, bloodthirsty, and extraordinarily aggressive.
Within humanity, there were awakened individuals, possessing spiritual powers far beyond ordinary people. They could control elements like wind, rain, thunder, and lightning. The most powerful among them could obliterate entire towns without fear of firearms.
However, awakened individuals were exceedingly rare. Cities were gradually forming around their presence, attracting survivors. Some larger cities, like those from ten years ago, had electricity, internet, delicious food, and clean water. People commuted to work, nine to five, just like in the past.
Resources, however, remained scarce. The vast majority of ordinary people were unable to enter these cities, even the smaller ones. Forget about electricity; they struggled to secure basic necessities like food, medicine, energy, and daily essentials. Their lives were a constant battle on the edge of survival.
For example, the previous owner of his current body had ventured out in search of food due to unbearable hunger. He had eaten unknown fruits in the wild, fallen ill with a high fever for three days, and eventually perished, allowing Chen Fan to inhabit his body.
"Could something have really gone wrong?" he wondered, clenching his fists.
At that moment, an excited voice rang out from a wooden watchtower nearby, about seven or eight meters tall. "They're coming! They're coming!"
"Really?"
"Where are they? I don't see them!"
"People who stand higher can see farther. We'll be able to see them soon enough."
"Great, they've finally returned."
The crowd's excitement grew, and all eyes focused on the distant horizon. Small black dots gradually emerged and drew nearer. People began to breathe easier, and smiles appeared on their faces.
However, as the approaching team drew nearer, those smiles started to fade.
A group of around a dozen individuals, armed with bows, arrows, and spears, appeared bedraggled. Several of them were limping, and a few had to be carried on others' backs.
It was evident at a glance that they had no prey with them.
Some among the crowd, more observant, noted that there were fewer people than when they had left.
The team slowly approached and stopped in front of a suspension bridge. The leader, a man with a square face and stern expression, bore grievous wounds on his right arm. Guilt was written across his face.
Time seemed to stand still.
The man licked his parched lips and spoke in a low voice, "I'm sorry, this time we encountered two mid-level ferocious beasts. They attacked suddenly, and we not only lost our initial prey but also... Zhu Zi, A Hua, Xiao Gao, they all..."
Before he could finish his sentence, several individuals in the crowd collapsed, overwhelmed by grief.
Panic swept through the crowd, and those nearby rushed to attend to the fallen. The hunting team hung their heads in shame, unable to meet the eyes of the elderly and children.
Chen Fan's body trembled.
Dead? Three of them at once?
It appeared that in the original owner's memories, this was the most significant loss they had ever suffered.
The square-faced man leading the group was the father of the original body's owner, the one who had overseen the construction of this castle.
Quiet whispers filled the air as some people sobbed, others sighed, and a few attempted to offer words of solace.
The hunting team slowly made their way inside the camp, and the suspension bridge leading to the gate was raised. The entire camp was enclosed by a wall over three meters high, providing a rare sense of security.
The injured man's wife and children, seeing him wounded but alive, wept tears of sorrow. However, they were relieved to know that those who had ventured out earlier in the day, including their father, had made it back, unlike Zhu Zi, A Hua, and Xiao Gao.
The minorly injured individuals departed with their families, leaving behind a camp shrouded in darkness. In the dim moonlight, people could barely make out their surroundings.
"Guodong, your arm," the woman holding the square-faced man said, tears streaming down her face.
Chen Fan approached. He had only been in this world for a few days and still struggled to adjust to his new identity.
"I'm okay," Chen Guodong, the square-faced man, replied, his self-blame evident. "It's all my fault. If only I had spotted those two beasts sooner, Zhu Zi and the others would still be..."
"Snap!"
A large, reassuring hand landed on Chen Guodong's shoulder. A burly, bald man offered comfort, saying, "Guodong, it's not your fault. If blame must be placed, it should fall on this damned world. Those of us who have survived will all face such a day sooner or later."
"Get some rest when you get back," he added, patting Chen Guodong's shoulder once more before leaving with his family.
"Dad, let's head back first," Chen Fan said. "My brother is still at home."
Chen Guodong was taken aback but then nodded in agreement.
The entire camp fell into an eerie silence. Inside one of the nearby rooms, the flickering flames illuminated the space with sporadic sounds of crackling and muted conversations.
"Mom, I'm hungry. I want more to eat," a child pleaded.
"Sleep, dear. You won't be hungry once you fall asleep."
"But I'm really hungry."
"Be a good child. Eating those things will leave us with nothing."
The voices gradually grew fainter.
Chen Guodong's face became increasingly burdened with guilt. Chen Fan observed this scene with a heavy heart. Though the original body's father was reserved, he was an honorable and kind-hearted person.
Each time they obtained prey, it was divided equally among the village's inhabitants. The elderly, women, and children were prioritized
, leaving their own family stretched thin, much to the annoyance of others.
Recently, their luck had been terrible, and prey had become increasingly scarce. The entire village was suffering from food shortages, and hunger gnawed at everyone.
Winter was approaching, and if things continued this way, the specter of cannibalism might become a tragic reality.