Apocalypse with my SSS Harem Beauties-Chapter 133: Another Group

The section ahead looked as if it had been torn from another world and forcibly embedded into their world. Dark red soil replaced asphalt and concrete. Bone-like spires pierced through office towers. Organic membranes stretched where glass windows once stood.

They all thought the same thing. But it was not unfamiliar.

They had witnessed something similar when they first stepped into an Ether Rift. Worlds overlapping and structures stitched together without logic.

Landscapes layered on top of each other with no structural harmony.

The Etherfall did not follow clean geometry or orderly borders. It merged realities in chaotic intersections.

That unpredictability made it dangerous.

They could not anticipate what existed beyond the next structure. A predator creature or plants could be hiding inside the architecture itself.

The ground beneath their feet might not even be stable in a conventional sense.

"Come on," Myles said.

None of them looked eager to step into that alien terrain but hesitation had long stopped controlling them.

They moved forward in tight formation with weapons raised. Ether circulating along their limbs and their every sense sharpened.

They did not allow their guard to drop for even a second.

After several minutes of slow advancement, subtle movement caught their attention.

Shadows shifted behind the jagged towers. Something large passed behind a membrane-covered archway. It moved carefully, as if observing them.

That was not a good sign.

Myles glanced at the others. No words were needed. They need to maintain vigilance and strike instantly if necessary.

"I want to fly above and look around," Lilian said quietly, scanning the skyline where distorted structures overlapped like broken ribs. "But that would expose me. It would attract attention. We don’t need that yet."

Myles gave a small nod. She was right.

The air changed.

It no longer just felt heavy. It felt hotter. Not a dry heat like sunlight but a dense and suffocating warmth that pressed against their skin and seeped into their lungs.

"Did summer come early?" Ethan muttered with a grimace, wiping sweat from his brow.

"This can only get worse," Victor replied with jaw tight.

They kill several more monsters that lurked between the structures. None of them posed serious difficulty, but the environment itself felt oppressive. The Ether concentration was thick and restless.

"Keep absorbing and circulating," Lilian reminded them as they advanced. "Don’t let it stagnate inside your body. If you adapt faster you will grow faster."

They followed her instructions immediately. Ether flowed through their core and body in steady cycles, reinforcing their muscle fibers, stabilizing their breathing, and tempering internal pressure from the environment.

It has become an active refinement right now.

Then suddenly three figures emerged from between two warped structures ahead.

They stepped into view cautiously.

They wore clothing similar to the companion’s, combat-ready gear reinforced with metal plating and monster-derived materials. Their armor showed signs of wear but it was functional and intentionally crafted. They were not mutants.

They were human. Other survivors.

Myles and the others immediately tightened formation. Weapons angled subtly and ready.

The man in the center raised both arms slowly, palms open. He appeared to be the leader.

"We don’t want any trouble," he said calmly.

The two behind him mirrored the gesture, hands raised to show they held no immediate hostility.

However, Myles and the others did not lower their weapons.

In a world that had collapsed into something close to jungle law, words carried little weight. Strength decided survival and resources decided loyalty. If someone wanted something, the fastest and most reliable method was often simple, that was to kill and take.

"Who are you?" Myles asked, voice even.

The man in the center kept his hands raised. "My name is Michael. My group entered this area earlier than you. We’ve established a camp nearby."

Lilian’s eyes shifted subtly past him. Her perception extended beyond the obvious. She sensed faint fluctuations in Ether and controlled breathing patterns behind warped pillars. She felt movement suppressed but present behind that group.

She stepped closer to Myles and whispered, "There are several more. Hiding."

"I know," Myles replied quietly. He had already expected them the moment the three stepped out.

He looked back at Michael. "What do you want from us?"

Michael hesitated for a fraction of a second. "We thought you might need help. So we approached."

Myles frowned slightly. "Help? That doesn’t make sense. If you want something, say it directly. Don’t waste time."

Silence stretched between them. Michael studied the group carefully now. He looked at their posture and sensed their aura. The way none of them looked nervous. These were not disorganized survivors barely scraping by. They were refined and tempered people.

He lowered his arms slowly but kept his palms visible. He decided to go directly to the point.

"Alright," he said. "There’s a powerful monster deeper inside this sector. It’s guarding some kind of altar. We’ve tried observing it but it’s beyond what my current team can handle alone. We want cooperation. We kill it together, and we share whatever the altar grants."

Behind Myles, George, Daniel, Ethan, Samantha, Kade, Clara, and Victor exchanged brief glances.

An altar.

If it was like a Soul Forge Altar or something similar, the rewards could be extraordinary. Moreover it was an altar located in this high zone. The potential was immense.

But trust was another matter. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

The same thought moved silently through all of them.

What if they betray and kill them after the monster fell?

Myles did not answer immediately. His gaze remained fixed on Michael and his group while pondering.

"You can come to our camp first," Michael added. "We can talk properly there. You’ll see we’re not planning an ambush."

Lilian subtly observed the hidden figures again. Their heart rates had not spiked. No aggressive Ether surge. They were not hostile yet.

Myles pondered for a few seconds.

Retreating was pointless. Advancing blindly was reckless. Information was always valuable.

He glanced at his companions. Victor gave a small nod. George shrugged lightly but kept his grip firm. The others remained alert.

Myles looked back at Michael.

"Fine," he said calmly. "We’ll see your camp."

His tone carried no friendliness. Only evaluation and readiness to kill if necessary.

Michael caught that immediately, and said, "Come on."

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