Five men in gas masks trudged down an abandoned street, rifles slung over their shoulders and rucksacks strapped tightly. Calling this a street felt like a stretch—the asphalt had mostly worn away, leaving behind a patchwork of cracks, moss, and creeping bushes. The city around them was in an even worse shape. as seen from the shattered windows, broken facades, and high-rises with trees sprouting from their upper floors. It was clear that no human had set foot here in a long time. Nature had reclaimed the land, but it was eerily silent. Not a bird or animal stirred a beat. They were nearing the edge of this desolate urban wasteland.

"Boss Wei, are you sure going further is a good idea?"

Lu Yong, a young man in his mid-twenties, voiced his apprehensions. He was relatively new to scavenging, and while his more experienced companions had spoken eagerly about the potential haul, the two-day trek through monster-infested territory had begun to wear on his nerves.

"Hold your horses, kiddo. There's an abandoned military base up ahead. We'll be able to restock our ammo and supplies soon enough," Fan, another member of the group, reassured him.

Lu chose not to voice his concerns further. The cataclysm had ravaged the world years ago, leaving most humans dead or missing. Those who survived did so by scavenging and banding together. The former People's Republic of China, like many other nations, had long since crumbled. Survivors who could afford to escape did, while the rest scrapped together a meager existence. Lu's parents having fallen victim to the harsh realities of this new world, although presumably done in by humans, left him to fend for himself utterly from a young age. He had learned to survive through theft and deception, clinging to every scrap of hope he could find. Recently, news of a nearby military base had emerged. Though Lu lacked experience, he was accepted into this expedition—an inclusion he found suspicious. He kept his hand near his knife, ready to act if necessary.

As they continued, Lu's unease grew. Three years earlier, private militias from Zhogtian Corps led by metahumans had arrived, clearing the land and establishing a forward base. Lu had hoped to build connections with them, but they left a little too soon. Rumor had it they came from a stronghold where ordinary people still lived normal lives. Though he couldn't afford the high entrance fees, Lu dreamt of settling there someday, providing a better life for his future wife and lovely kids.

"Let's set up camp here," Captain Wei decided as dusk approached. The sky was a dark purple, and no rain seemed imminent. The men spread out their sleeping bags. Lu ventured into the nearby woods to gather firewood. He was relieved for the brief respite from his companions, but the thought of dying alone in this desolate place unsettled him. As he searched, he spotted a raven—dark as the night—watching him intently. It was unsettling, enough, more so because he'd seen this raven shadowing him ever since they left the scavenger guild. It'd show up every evening and vanish as the night fades away. He hurried back to the campsite, trying to push his fears aside.

"I couldn't find much firewood; the area's damp and it's getting dark," he reported, omitting the raven from his account.

"Sure, kiddo. This is the third day you're saying that line, you know?" Fan remarked.

"Kids these days," someone else added. "Back in our day, we had to sneak past monsters for the most basic of supplies." Arguably, there was some truth to it.

"Enough!" Wei interjected. "Lu, prepare the food and water, and light the campfire."

After lighting the fire, the group settled into light conversation—talk of children, spouses, and scavenging finds. Lu found little to contribute as they listened to their muffled laughter, the same as usual. Shifts were decided early on and he got his early. As the others drifted into sleep, he stayed awake, staring blankly into the fading campfire. The raven's relentless gaze would be enough to keep him awake through the night.

Morning light seeped through Lu's tired eyes. He had been plagued by nightmares recently, and a restful night's sleep seemed elusive. The raven was nowhere to be seen, as usual. The other members were stirring, with Fand and Wei already up and ready.

"We go north from here," Wei announced curtly. He'd always been a man of few words.

The group set off again. The familiar suburban ruins gradually gave way to a dense forest. By evening, they stumbled upon the remains of a long-abandoned military facility. Barracks and rusting vehicles lay scattered, none useful in their intended ways, all too expected but even their search yielded no weapons or ammunition. They split up to investigate the barracks, only to find more mold and decay.

"It's getting dark; we can't leave now," Lu complained.

Wei looked concerned. Clearly, this expedition had yielded little, and as the group leader he needed to bring back something, anything. Just then, all of a sudden,

"Hey guys, look what I found!" Fan's voice rang out with excitement. He had discovered a vault leading to an underground complex.

"That could be a sewage tunnel, ya goof," one of the men said, clearly unimpressed with the idea of crawling through sewers in the dark.

"No, no, it's definitely not that. And for that you'll have to see for yourselves," Fan insisted.

Wei deliberated briefly, but in his mind, he had already reached his decision. With a nod from the majority, and Lu's brief grumbling they decided to explore the vault.