"The second level did food processing and material production. Same hours. "The third level gave orders, handled logistics, and security. We don't really know what hours they worked. "The fourth level is Dr. Klein's research base—science and tech stuff." "And the fifth level?" Theresa asked. William shrugged. "No idea. I don't think they had to do anything." "What'd you eat?" "Two meals a day. In the morning, we had watery corn soup, and at night, we ate one piece of bread along with cold side dishes. William paused, then added with conviction, "Ms. Hall, don't worry. We will survive no matter what is out there. As long as we get a bite to eat, we'll do whatever it takes!" He'd already braced himself for a life dodging zombies and dancing with death. Then, he looked up and saw it. A human city. Lit up. Yes. Lights. Real lights. The helicopter had been flying for hours, from the fiery hues of sunset into the depths of the night. And even in the pitch-dark sky, he could see something unmistakably human—lights. Not just a flicker or two. But an entire city!The streets stretched out in grids, glowing brightly. Tall residential buildings shimmered with light, windows aglow, thousands of homes lit up like stars. The helicopter slowly descended into the central plaza of the city. As it landed, residents out for a night stroll gathered around. "Our leader is back!" "Our leader has returned!" "Theresa! Come grab a drink!" They waved drinks and snacks bought from the night market, beaming with excitement as they swarmed forward. William, stepping off the chopper, was completely stunned. Isn't the outside world supposed to be crawling with zombies? Aren't humans on the brink of extinction, barely clinging to life in desolate, remote outposts? What is this?! Did I just travel back in time—before the apocalypse? Linda looked just as shell-shocked. She stared at the bustling streets, at the well-dressed people moving about with ease. This... this can't be real. "Welcome to our Alliance," Theresa's voice came from behind them. "This is the city we took back. All of us—together." William and Linda were left speechless. Oh my God! Humans had reclaimed the city!They gawked at the warm crowd around them, overwhelmed by the roaring wave of emotion inside. Linda looked at the city, covered her mouth, and burst into tears. And just like that, Theresa had two new residents. Population +2. Points +200. They were ordinary people, so she didn't receive any extra attribute bonuses from them. Still, both had solid skills and experience. Before the apocalypse, Linda had worked in the food industry, and William was a skilled electrician. Theresa assigned them to the most suitable roles for their talents. The Blazing Sun Alliance was still young, with a long road ahead. Every person mattered. Even the most "ordinary" citizen was a valuable asset. Theresa had never believed there was a true divide between ordinary people and ability users. In her past life, she'd been just a regular, powerless person. But through sheer will and grit, she made it just as far as those gifted with abilities, even thriving in a small camp. Some things—like your background or innate powers—were beyond your control, but hard work could close that gap. In her eyes, differences between people were never the problem. Sure, where you start might set your ceiling or floor.But how brightly you live—that's up to you. Theresa always lived life facing upward, seizing each day with all her might. After settling in her two wide-eyed newcomers—who were clearly in their own "Alice in Wonderland" phase, gaping at everything like they'd just stumbled into paradise—Theresa called it a night. She'd been running all day. Now it was time for a hot meal, a long shower, and some d*mn good sleep. Nothing in the world felt better than that. And with their leader safely home, the entire Blazing Sun Alliance slept peacefully, wrapped in a sense of deep security. But while they drifted into restful dreams, chaos was unfolding elsewhere. 'Why hasn't Ark Camp One called for help yet?' Right now, inside Ark Camp's comm system, Ark Camp Two was whispering privately to Ark Camp Three. 'I was just about to ask—you think they reached out to you for a private deal?' 'No. Just the usual chatter in the public channel. But it's been hours—over a dozen now—since Ark Camp One sent anything out. You think they're... completely wiped?' 'I've been thinking the same thing. They've been out of touch for too long. It's very possible they're gone for good.'