Chapter 26: Information about the camp

"What! You have a transceiver!"

Suddenly, Ramie heard Lance's exclamation, which really startled him, along with Neil.

He saw that Lance was looking at a certain direction. Then following where Lance was looking, Ramie saw a hand-held transceiver resting on a small table across the living room.

This was a pleasant surprise, as one of their goals when they escaped from the previous building aside from finding food; was to obtain a transceiver! So that Lance could communicate with the military forces in the camp. In order to find the best way to get in there without encountering deadly creatures or to see if it was possible to send a rescue team here.

Albeit the latter possibility was very unlikely, as the military couldn't even hold his own, let alone sparing forces to save ordinary, unimportant citizens like them, but it didn't mean that they shouldn't at least try.

Anyway… as the camp was their destination, it would still be very helpful to learn about the situation there from the soldiers.

Not giving Jeffry time to respond, Lance quickly added, anxiously: "have you tried to contact the camp?"

"Of course I did!" seeing him so anxious, Jeffry answered without delay.

"Do you know about the situation there?"

"Yes! Of course."

"Then please, can you tell me everything you know?"

"Sure, sure…!"

Having heard that, Ramie's eyes lit up at once. Finally, he was going to learn about the situation in the camp.

For the past two days, there was a matter that had confused him to no end, and weighted hard on him. It was why couldn't he hear any sound of explosions outside, or any indication of a battle between the military and the creatures from the camp direction…??

It had to be said, that when he was back on the boat, and came to this city through the sea; he had heard the sound of explosions and bombing sounds from long distance away!

But for the past two days, more specifically, from the moment he woke up in the building that he had escaped to while running from the flying creatures… he didn't hear any sound of such? No explosions… no firearms… nothing…?

It was already known to him by now that the creatures always go after the place with the highest human population… which in this case; was the camp in the eastern side of the city.

The camp was already protected by the military force that was stationed there. And after the flaying beasts attack, the defensive line forces also retreated there, along with the forces that were stationed at the harbor. Thus, the size of the forces there in the camp should be quite considerable… And for the past few days, they should have been making their last stand at the camp, forming the strongest defensive perimeter to repel the creatures away from the camp!

Considering that, the raging battle there should have been very intense throughout the past few days… So, why was the city so quiet…?

Was the camp over run already? Or the creatures had yet to attack the camp? What was really happening there?

Focusing all of his attention on Jeffry, Ramie anxiously awaited the answer…

Taking a heavy, long breath, Jeffry opened his mouth, proceeding to explain all that he knows in regard to the situation in the camp.

"The situation is…"

"…"

"…"

"…"

As Jeffry spoke on and on, telling them all he know about the camp, Ramie came to learn a shocking fact, a one that caused the tension in his heart to resurface back again, dominating his mood, and throwing his heart in turmoil.

Apparently, the camp was no longer there…! More specifically, the refugees were no longer in the east side of the city!

Jeffry had kept his hand-held transceiver on, listening to the communication on the military channel in the camp, which wasn't far away. Hence, he was able to pick up their transmission vividly. And through that, he came to learn what he knew about the situation.

Apparently, around the same time that the flying creatures flew above the defensive line and attacked the civilians that were retreating to the camp, a large military force came through the main highway that linked this city to the capital. This road coincidently passed through the far eastern part of this city, which meant it passed through the camp.

From there, and instead of enforcing the already existing military forces to repel the creatures and take back the city, the large military force came with strict orders to evacuate all they can, as fast as possible…

And they did!

Meaning, all of those that had failed to reach the camp in time were now abandoned!

As for the creatures, it went as expected. The strong ones followed the retreating masses outside the city, leaving the weaker ones to inhabit the city.

"This…!"

Hearing these words, Ramie's heart sank. These words fell on him like a clap of thunder.

What did it mean that the military forces had retreated…?

Doesn't it imply that they were left… no! They were abandoned here under the mercy of the bloodthirsty creatures?

Only now did he understand why Jeffry and his daughter Reem were so happy to see them. Turns out, the situation was much gloomier than he had expected…!

Before, their best chance of survival was to get to the camp where the military was stationed to seek shelter.

But now…! There was not a safe place in this entire city!

Reaching this point in conclusion, anxiety started creeping on him, and started causing immense unrest in his heart.

The situation was terribly grave, far worse than he had in mind.

How could he not feel this way? They were trapped in a city dominated by horribly, vicious man-eating creatures that would attack them on sight. Although against tier-1 creatures they would still have a chance. But what if they were attacked by more than just one…? And what about Tier-2, 3…4??!!

Worst, what were they suppose to do now? Stay hidden…?! If so, then for how long? What about supplies? And what if a powerful creature stumbles across them?! What is the alternative by then? To escape…?!

And if they wanted to run away from the city, then how??? By foot?! Was it even possible to assume that they could run out of the city, and spend all that much of time out in the open streets running without any creature noticing them??! Was that even possible?

But what is the alternative? To use a car and make a dash for it, hoping that all that much of noise wouldn't attract anything…?! How's that any different from announcing their presence to the creatures, and how was it any different from throwing away their lives?!

The more Ramie thought about the current situation… the uglier his expression became. He started feeling to be at his wit end.

Although leaving this city alive would be very, very difficult objective to achieve… but it wasn't completely beyond the realm of possibility. After all, they did have Lance's life energy and three artifacts… if counting Reem with them.

However, even if they did manage by some miraculous stroke of luck to actually pull it off! Then what about next? If this Jeffry guy words were true, then wouldn't that mean that the closest military gathering was now in the capital! So, how were they supposed to get there? Especially considering that every land the creature's passes by is considered a 'Red Zone!' A term that means; lands that was outside the control of the military, where it is highly likely to encounter creatures everywhere!

Sensing the great pressure from this severe situation, Ramie's yellow irises glinted with an eerie yellow flash as his sight shifted to his left sleeve, where the bracelet was hidden beneath.

If there was anything within his reaches that would give him a chance to salvage himself from this dilemma…? Then it would unquestionably be this mysterious artifact around his wrist!

So far, and although he was completely uncomfortable with his severe case of disfiguration… it was still hard to deny the great advantages this morphing spell brought about.

So, despite his unspeakable unrest to the morphological and physiological changes that seemed to make him look like a creature more than a human… but he couldn't deny that it had saved his life back in the fight with that survivors group! Additionally, his perception seemed to have been increased by an unimaginable extent. And now, not only can he sense the aura of the creatures and the humans with life energy and artifacts… but seems to also be able of sensing the killing intent directed toward himself!

This would be enormously helpful to boost his chances of leaving this city alive!

Thinking of the advantages of his artifact, Ramie actually started feeling lucky to have this artifact, even though it had turned him to this form.

Right now, Lance had aghast expression on his face, as he grabbed the transceiver and browsed through the channels with great anxiety, trying to communicate with the military. Apparently, he wanted a confirmation of Jeffry's story.

As such, and knowing that this transceiver had a limited range, he browsed through the channels, trying to pick up any signal from the military. The premise behind his action was; if Jeffry's story was true, then he shouldn't be able to pick any signal from the military forces in the camp. As if they really had left, then with this hand-held transceiver short coverage area, he shouldn't be able to pick any signal up.

After some time, Lance's expression turned terrible, with his face alternating between colors. He wasn't able to pick any signal, at all. Apparently, Jeffry's words were true.

As for Neil, he sat with a pale face, nervously fiddling his fingers. Obviously, he didn't take this news very well.

Jeffry on the other hand appeared to be in relief, as evident by his relaxing expression. Apparently, he took comfort in the fact that it wasn't just him and his daughter anymore. But now, there were three men with him, and one of which even have a similar miraculous bracelet to the one that his daughter had.

After a while of indulging himself in a cycle of negative thoughts, Ramie let out a burdened sigh, and started massaging his temple, as he struggled to think of what to do next…

After continuously sighing for a while, he shifted his gaze toward the girl, which spent the entire time staring at him curiously. It wasn't out of place. As it was definitely weird to see someone going to this extent to cover his body, not even leaving his face revealed.

Right now, not even a speck of his skin could be seen. He even raised his collar to cover his neck and the lower part of his face, with hood lowered down to cover the upper part of his face, leaving an exceedingly small slit between for him to look through.

If anyone sees him this way, then one would definitely wonder on how he could see anything at all.

Ramie wanted to inquire about this girl's artifact, to see on how different it was from his, or Neil's, and on why her aura was stronger than both of them? Also, he wanted to know what kind of spell did she have, and what effect does it produce?

He wanted to ask her so, to see if her spell could be used to improve their currently grim odds of survival.

…