Apocalypse: Reborn with a Soul Sync Farming Space System-Chapter 151 Outside the Fortress

After saying their goodbyes Laurel left the house and headed straight toward the broadcast station located near the center of the fortress, where several technicians were already waiting for her arrival while the communication system connected to every loudspeaker inside the fortress was prepared.

When the signal light turned on Laurel stood in front of the microphone and spoke calmly.

"This is your commander speaking."

Across the fortress, people paused in their work as her voice echoed through the streets.

"I will be leaving the fortress today to retrieve resources necessary for our survival, and during my absence, the authority of this fortress will temporarily be handed to Grandpa Wayne."

She paused briefly before continuing.

"Everyone will continue their training and their assigned work as usual, and all orders given by Grandpa Wayne will carry the same authority as mine."

Her voice remained steady.

"This fortress belongs to all of us, and its survival depends on everyone doing their part. I’ll see you all soon."

When the broadcast ended Laurel stepped away from the microphone and returned to the vehicle waiting outside, where Alexander had already climbed into the driver’s seat while the engine hummed quietly beneath the hood.

The truck rolled through the streets until they reached the massive gate of the fortress.

Several soldiers were already waiting there, all dressed in black suits similar to Laurel and Alexander’s while weapons rested at their sides, and two large armored trucks stood parked across the road with thick iron plates welded around their frames and heavy spikes protruding from the front like the horns of a charging beast.

Chris stood beside one of the vehicles with his hands in his pockets.

Gabriel stood nearby. And Stefan waited quietly beside them.

When Laurel and Alexander stepped out of their truck the three men turned to look at them.

"Ready?" Chris asked calmly.

Laurel nodded.

Then the soldiers climbed into the trucks while Laurel and Alexander entered the front vehicle with Chris and the others following behind.

The fortress gate slowly began to open. Within moments the convoy passed through the walls and drove out into the silent world beyond the fortress.

Laurel felt nervous as she stared out of the window, the earth and everything was scorched black, the land stretching endlessly beneath the pale morning sky while the ruined remains of what once used to be a city stood in the far distance like the skeleton of a forgotten world... it was.

The road ahead had long since lost its original color, the asphalt darkened by fire and dust while broken vehicles lay scattered along the sides of the highway, some half buried beneath layers of ash while others had been.

Alexander kept his eyes on the road as he drove forward, one hand resting on the steering wheel while the other remained near the weapon strapped beside his seat, his expression calm though his gaze constantly scanned the surroundings with vigilance.

Behind them the second armored truck followed closely, its heavy wheels crushing small debris along the road as the soldiers inside remained alert, their eyes watching the empty landscape through narrow armored windows while the fortress walls slowly disappeared behind them.

Laurel leaned her head slightly against the window as the convoy moved deeper into the ruined land, the silence outside feeling almost unnatural after living inside the fortress where the sounds of people and activity had never truly disappeared.

For a moment she found herself wondering how many survivors still remained scattered across the world, because ever since the meteor disaster struck and the red mist swallowed entire regions, communication between cities had collapsed completely, leaving every surviving settlement isolated.

Chris sat across from her inside the truck, his posture relaxed though his sharp eyes never stopped moving as he studied the surroundings through the front windshield while Gabriel sat beside him quietly checking the ammunition in his weapon.

Stefan remained silent near the rear door, his calm expression hiding the tension and unease he was feeling. He listened carefully to the sounds of the road outside, but all he could think about was his little niece.

So far she hadn’t shown any signs of becoming an infected, yet she was still isolated. His heart clenched as that was not what he had intended when he sought refuge.

Laurel’s words still echoed in his head. ’If you try anything funny, then you will never see your niece again.’

Sometimes he wonders how someone could be so kind one moment and the next second so ruthless.

After nearly twenty minutes of driving the convoy finally slowed as the road ahead narrowed between a stretch of burnt forest, the blackened trees standing crookedly on both sides of the highway while the wind moved softly through their branches.

Alexander eased his foot off the accelerator and glanced briefly toward Laurel. "We’ll reach the mountain region before sunset if the roads remain clear."

Laurel nodded slightly. "The Snow Lotus grows in the mists, so once we enter the northern mountain range we’ll need to be careful."

Laurel shifted her gaze toward the distant mountains barely visible on the horizon, their peaks rising faintly through the morning haze while a strange heaviness settled quietly inside her chest.

When she lowered her gaze, a gasp escaped her mouth as she stared at the bodies scattered around the ground.

Some of them had a big hole in their chests, others had their guts and intestines pulled out. Most of them had missing limbs.

"These must be the people who had left the fortress last night," Chris said, his voice devoid of emotion.

Laurel closed her eyes, her chest burned with pain and a drop of tears trickled down her face.

"Chris, can you send a message to the fortress, the infected are already lurking around. They must not open the gates no matter what and they should be more vigilant."

"I’ll do that." He replied, his eyes hovered on her. "You did the best you could, it was their fault for leaving."