novelraw Chapter 333 - 1: Space Ability and Water Ability
Chapter 333 - 1: Space Ability and Water Ability
Chu River awoke abruptly amid the jolting and shaking.
Surrounding her was the scent of blood, a faint smell of medicine, and the intense odor of human fermentation.
She opened her eyes, immediately certain that this environment was not safe. Looking around, men and women, young and old, all were crowded inside the truck’s compartment, their expressions a mix of fear with a hint of relief, yet everyone appeared exhausted and haggard.
This wasn’t a good moment to speak.
Chu River withdrew her gaze—no one had taken out a phone, so there was no way to gauge the level of technology. She could only gradually spread out her spiritual power—
Is this...some kind of wasteland?
All around were rugged mountain roads, traces of streams flowing once remained, yet the gullies were now dry. Everywhere lay dead branches and fallen leaves, whether shrubs or towering trees, now all left as lifeless dark yellow.
No sign of green met the eye.
The truck drove forward; on the bumpy road, a limb-sized branch lay fallen, blocking the roadway. Yet, the truck tires rolled over it, producing a crisp "snap" as the branch, dry and brittle as if it had been wind-dried for decades, broke.
...
The vehicle drove for a full three and a half hours before reaching the destination—Red Star Base No.24.
It appeared to be a small town developed fairly well; due to historical legacies, high ancient city walls still stood at the town’s edge. Chu River retracted her gaze, roughly understanding why this place was chosen as a base.
After disembarking, everyone huddled into a tent, where disinfectant sprays were sprayed thoroughly yet clearly on their faces, but no one complained, and children merely had their eyes covered by adults.
This process was swift, and based on this disinfection method, Chu River speculated bacteria and viruses hadn’t overtaken the field, the threat seemed rather mundane.
She stepped out of the disinfection tent, seeing registration desks set up on both sides of the entrance—
[Resident Registration of This City]
[Registration for External Survivors]
The soldiers who brought them back were now disinfected and stood aside with guns, waiting. But Chu River noticed their equally dirty, worn uniforms and their faces peeling, with cracked, dry lips, comparing them to the similarly drought-stricken survivors...
Water likely was a precious resource by now.
...
The survivors were led to registration points. Chu River stood in the middle of the queue, overhearing their inquiries:
[What’s your name?]
[How old are you?]
[Where are you from?]
[Do you have any family or friends?]
[Do you have any special skills?]
[Do you have any superpowers?]
Upon hearing this question, she became alert.
Could it be... there’s something akin to spiritual power mutation in this world?
A man at the front of the line licked his chapped lips:
"Special skills... I used to work at a fireworks factory, I can make fireworks..."
"Also, I...I can make fire, but only a tiny bit..." he said, spreading his palm, his face turning red from holding his breath, and indeed, a cluster of flame sparked at the palm’s center.
It was about the size of a candle flame.
The registration staff showed no sign of surprise, instead smiling: "It’s okay, this is normal, just keep training—once registered, take this form, you may enter. Next..."
...
The queue moved slowly forward. As Chu River stepped forward, two soldiers couldn’t help but glance over—they remembered this girl was rescued from the neighboring Huai’an City, unconscious when boarding, and it was the captain who had carefully helped with a spoonful of sugar water.
She seemed to be a delicate girl, right?
Yet now she stood there, resembling a spear, from head to toe marked "well-trained."
Could she also be military?
But something seemed different—not quite like female soldiers.
Chu River paid no mind to their thoughts, proceeding to register based on her memory:
[Name: Chu River]
[Age 21]
[Origin Bishui Road, Wutong Garden, Building 59, Huai’an City]
[No relatives or friends]
[Special skill—very good at fighting]
As she filled out this part, the registering woman looked up at her, eyes skeptical: "Young lady, this affects subsequent work arrangements... how good are you at fighting?"
Chu River chuckled: "I can take down these two here with one hand."
At times like this, probably no one would exaggerate, the woman’s eyes lit up, without hesitation calling out to the two benefactors who had just rescued Chu River:
"Quick, quick, test it out!"
The two men exchanged glances, finally stiffening their postures further: "Being able to fight doesn’t help much though..."
This was indeed true.