In the aftermath of the apocalypse, humanity's survival instincts have reshaped their moral compass.
Previously, mining resources on a massive scale was strictly prohibited—both by governments and private entities—to safeguard ecological balance.
But now? Survival is paramount. Ecological concerns be damned.
If humanity perishes, what good is preserving the planet anyway?
"Lewis, come here," the captain barked. A short but broad-shouldered man jogged over briskly. "Take care of these two."
"Yes, sir!"
Lewis offered a salute that was more enthusiastic than precise. Eyeing Miles and Isaac, he gestured for them to follow. "You two, come with me."
As they walked, Lewis glanced over his shoulder. "So, you're villagers?"
"Yes," Isaac replied quickly. He clapped a hand on Miles's shoulder, smiling. "This is my son. We came to the mountains looking for food and stumbled upon this place. We'll be counting on you, Lewis."
"There's no 'counting on' anyone here," Lewis replied matter-of-factly. "Work hard, and you'll eat. It's as simple as that." Around thirty years old, Lewis revealed a set of yellowed teeth as he spoke. "Every month, we have a quarterly review. If you're lucky enough to be named Worker of the Month, you'll earn a regular meal as a reward."
Miles feigned curiosity. "What's in a 'regular meal'?"
"Cornbread, porridge, and an egg."
"That's… pretty regular," Miles muttered under his breath, silently grateful for his decision to stay in Cloud Haven. The thought of endless feasts of meat and vegetables felt like a luxury from a bygone world.
Lewis chuckled. "You'd be surprised. Some people have been here for months and have never tasted it. They survive on those awful protein rations."
"What are those?" Miles asked, adopting the wide-eyed curiosity of an ignorant bumpkin.
"Ground-up cockroaches, ants, mice, and whatever animal corpses they can scavenge—processed into a gelatinous protein block. Those creatures breed like wildfire, and the research lab figured out how to turn them into food."
"Ugh!" Miles gagged reflexively.
Lewis merely shrugged. "You get used to it. Eventually, you won't think twice about eating raw rat meat. Survival trumps everything."
Miles's mind flashed back to a film he'd seen before, depicting a post-apocalyptic world. In it, humanity survived aboard an endlessly moving train, with the poor at the back eating processed insect protein while the elite thrived at the front.
"No one's tried to rebel?" Miles asked cautiously.
Lewis snorted. "Don't get any ideas. Once you're here, leaving is a pipe dream. And even if you manage to escape, you'll only die out there. Besides…" He gestured to the armed guards stationed every ten meters along the corridor. "Those machine guns will quickly remind you of the cost of running."
As they reached the end of the corridor, they arrived at a ten-meter-wide black tunnel. Lewis rang a bell hanging from the ceiling.
The faint sound of jingling echoed in the darkness before a soot-covered man emerged. Bare-chested, his muscular frame exuded raw power, enough to make anyone think twice before crossing him.
"New recruits?" the man asked flatly, glancing at Miles and Isaac.
Lewis grinned. "Davis, these two are yours."
Without a word, Davis nodded and retreated into the tunnel. Over his shoulder, he ordered, "Strip down. Grab the tools on the side, one set each, and follow me."
"Strip?" Miles hesitated, baffled.
Davis stopped and turned back. "The temperature underground is about five degrees, and the air is thin. Do as I say if you want to live."
Miles exchanged a wary glance with Isaac before the two of them reluctantly shed their outer layers. Clad in thin clothes, they picked up the crude mining tools and followed Davis into the darkness.
"This is a goddamn pigsty," Miles muttered as they descended. "No wonder Boris risked death to escape."
The air grew warmer as they ventured further into the mine, but it came at the cost of oxygen. Each breath felt labored, and Miles found himself relying on his psychic senses to navigate the pitch-black surroundings.
"This mine was likely dug in a hurry," Isaac whispered. "No proper ventilation system. Working here is a death sentence."
"You think Ryan might be here?" Miles asked. Then, louder, he directed his question at Davis. "Hey, do all newcomers start in the mines?"
Davis didn't respond, his stony expression unchanging.
"Davis, how many meals do we get a day here?" Miles continued pestering. "What happens if we don't meet our quotas? And what if I know some people outside who want to join—should I bring them in?"
Finally, Davis snapped. "Will you shut up?"
The sudden outburst silenced them.
As they pressed on, they passed dozens of other miners. Bare-chested like Davis, they carried tools and baskets, moving mechanically like worker ants.
After walking nearly two hundred meters, they reached the end of the tunnel. Davis pointed to a group of about twenty miners and said, "You two join the excavation team. Two meals a day—protein rations. Fail to earn ten points, and your food gets halved."
With that, Davis turned and left.
"Hey, new guys!" A sooty figure approached, grinning. "That's Davis, our team leader. Cold as ice. Word is, he used to be in the army but got demoted here after crossing a superior."
Under the dim orange lights, Miles observed the speaker—a teenager no older than seventeen or eighteen, his coal-dusted skin glistening with sweat.
"Do new people join often?" Miles asked, pulling half a crushed biscuit from his pocket.
The boy's eyes lit up, but he quickly scanned the area before stuffing the crumbs into his waistband. "Not really. Most of the nearby villages have been emptied, either through conscription or deceit. You two are the first arrivals in days."
"No one's come in the last few days?" Miles frowned. "My friend was brought here yesterday. We're looking for him."
"Looking for someone here?" the boy laughed bitterly. "Good luck. Do you know how big this base is? Three, maybe four thousand people at least. Energy zone, fuel zone, boiler zone, livestock zone, planting zone… I've been here three months, and I still haven't seen the whole place."