Apocalypse with my SSS Harem Beauties-Chapter 134: Camp

They followed Michael without lowering their guard, moving through the warped district with measured steps while the three visible survivors walked ahead and the hidden ones revealed themselves gradually, falling into flanking positions that looked casual but carried clear tactical intent.

Lilian already concealed her wings.

The path toward the camp cut through a stretch of terrain that felt even more alien than before.

They saw giant green mushrooms rise between ruined buildings, their thick stalks as wide as pillars and their caps sagging like swollen flesh.

Veins pulsed across their surfaces in slow rhythms, each contraction releasing faint waves of humid mist into the air.

The ground around them glistened with a slick sheen and a faint organic smell lingered.

The mushrooms looked less like plants and more like organs torn from some colossal creature and planted upright among the ruins.

Michael noticed their stiffened posture.

"They’re not dangerous as long as you don’t get too close or touch them," he said evenly, gesturing toward the nearest pulsing mushroom. "They react to direct touch. That’s why we keep them around. Most creatures avoid this area."

No one in Myles’ group accepted that explanation at face value. George adjusted his grip. Ethan’s eyes tracked the slow expansion and contraction of the nearest cap as if expecting it to lunge.

Myles did not speak. He turned his head slightly and met Lilian’s gaze, a silent question passing between them.

Lilian extended her perception outward and felt that Ether fluctuations around the mushrooms remained stable. No predatory intent. No sudden spikes when they got close. Just a territorial reactive field concentrated within a narrow radius around each stalk.

After several seconds, she gave a small nod.

That subtle confirmation shifted the atmosphere within their formation when they saw that nod. Tension did not disappear, but it felt less heavy.

They adjusted their path to maintain distance from the mushrooms’ reactive zones and continued forward.

The pulsing masses stood like grotesque sentinels forming a natural perimeter that would discourage wandering monsters or reckless survivors.

Even so, Myles memorized the spacing between each one and calculated escape routes in case something happened.

The camp revealed itself only after they passed the densest cluster of fungi.

A wide yard opened between several ruined buildings whose upper floors had collapsed long ago.

In the center of that clearing stood a tall wall constructed from interlocking translucent crystals. The structure caught ambient light and refracted it faintly, casting pale shards of color across the broken pavement.

The wall encircled the yard in a near-perfect ring, each segment seamlessly connected to the next. Its height reached well above two stories, and the crystalline surfaces looked thick enough to withstand heavy impact.

Myles narrowed his eyes. The alignment was too precise to be accidental.

The wall followed the terrain contours exactly, enclosing the camp in a calculated defensive perimeter. Someone in Michael’s group possessed a skill to build this.

The wall did not just block entry. It integrated into the surrounding ruin, making direct assault difficult from multiple angles.

Michael stepped forward and tilted his head upward. "Open it."

Figures appeared along the top edge of the wall. After a brief pause, a vertical seam formed at the front.

Crystals slid aside, retracting into the structure without fracturing. The opening widened just enough to admit a group their size.

They entered without breaking formation. Michael’s group of three enter first.

The wall sealed behind them.

Inside, the camp felt both temporary and determined. Several tents stood arranged in organized rows. A few larger wooden houses rose near the center of the yard. Fresh timber framed their walls.

Some buildings still lacked full roofing, beams still exposed, suggesting ongoing construction. Tools and stacked materials rested along one side.

About five individuals stood within the enclosure, turning to face the newcomers the moment they entered.

Their expressions remained solemn, guarded, and analytical. No one smiled or looked relaxed. Hands stayed near weapons even if not openly drawn.

Myles observed everything in a single sweep. Defensive perimeter secured by reactive flora and crystal wall. Elevated patrol positions. Structured layout. Active construction. Approximately eight to ten total members could be seen right now inside the camp, not including Michael’s group.

They were not a scattered survivor band. This was a functioning unit.

"This is our camp and our members," Michael said as he gestured around the enclosed yard. His voice carried quiet authority rather than pride. "Not everyone is here. Some are out gathering materials. Some are leveling. Others are on patrol rotation."

"How many do you have exactly?" Myles asked.

"Around thirty," Michael replied. "This is the group I managed to gather and keep alive until now. There were more outside this zone at the beginning." He paused briefly, though his expression did not change. "They’re dead."

He said it plainly, as if stating weather conditions instead of death.

Myles studied him for a moment, then gave a small nod. Death had become a statistic in this world. Emotional weight still existed, but it was not mourned for too long anymore.

He swept his gaze across the camp again. Men and women moved with purposeful steps. A few teenagers stood near the inner wall, their expressions hardened beyond their years. There were no children. Only those strong enough to endure the Etherfall remained.

Their bodies carried scars. Their eyes carried experience. These were not rescued civilians. They were survivors who had fought repeatedly and won just enough to still be breathing.

At the same time, the way several of them observed Myles’ group revealed the same thoughts. They recognized strength when they saw it. A small team capable of entering this zone intact was not ordinary. They also recognize the companion’s weapons have a magical aura. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"Let’s discuss," Michael said, pointing toward the largest tent positioned near the center of the yard.

Myles nodded and walked forward. His companions followed without hesitation.

Inside, the air felt warmer and still. A heavy wooden table occupied the middle of the tent, its surface covered by a large hand-drawn map.

The paper had been patched together from multiple sheets, edges reinforced with tape. Ink lines traced streets, collapsed structures, and irregular terrain formations.

Notes filled the margins in tight handwriting.

"This is the map of the area we’ve managed to chart so far," Michael explained. "We realized early that this is no longer the city we used to know. Entire segments from another world merged with it. The overlap created a new zone with different terrain."

He moved his finger across the map, tracing distorted pathways and marked danger areas.

Then he stopped at a large skull symbol drawn near the center. Black flames had been sketched around it in thick strokes of pen.

"That’s where the monster is located," Michael said. His finger tapped the mark. "And behind it is the altar."

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