An unknown town in the northwest corner of the Central Continent was reduced to a sea of ??flames within half a day.
Of course the town has its own name. It's just that in the Central Continent, it is an insignificant location in terms of geography and economy. Even the map surveyor of the country where the town belongs did not bother to mark its location on the map in the first place.
In fact, not only the small town, but also the country to which the small town is nominally affiliated, due to complex issues such as boundary demarcation and sovereignty ownership, was published in the Akapov Planet Calendar 20021. Of the one hundred and fifty-two versions of world maps, there are only less than thirty-five versions of the map that mark it.
It¡¯s just that in such a small country, a civil war caused by different racial beliefs is so small that it can hardly attract the attention of the world¡¯s mainstream media. In just one month, it caused nearly 100,000 direct casualties in this country with a total population of less than 4 million. Several times that number of people were displaced.
The war spread quickly, from east to west, following the large numbers of fleeing people, destroying towns one after another. It continued to expand to this barren town on the border, driving them into a hell of no return. the road.
Although regarding the demarcation of borders, this country, which has exercised sovereignty for less than fifty years, has always had many disputes and frictions with several neighboring countries. However, this small town located at the end of this snail-shaped country has never had any similar disputes. Because, like more than 60% of the countries on the Akapov planet, it also has a dangerous and vast intelligent forest belt that can be used as the globally recognized gold standard for border lines.
The shrubbery zone, which is dominated by hilly landforms, is composed of only a few intelligent creatures with the simplest reaction instincts. However, because most of their branches and roots contain highly toxic spikes with completely different chemical and biological properties, they lack special protection. Ordinary people, no one dares to risk walking through it.
The only thing you can barely walk on is a long and narrow passage that has been abandoned for almost a hundred years. The path is only a few meters wide, but it is rugged and winding, as if it will never end.
On this road, not only are food sources extremely scarce, but in this month of lack of precipitation, it is almost impossible to replenish water sources along the way. The exhausted refugees were falling down almost every minute after reaching less than a quarter of the distance.
But even if they are accompanied by death all the time, they still don¡¯t know what kind of fate awaits them at the end of the road. For those who are now walking on it and have lost more than half of their number, there is no way out.
The only thing that can be done at this time is to survive and finish the road ahead.
On this road to hell filled with death, conspiracy, and betrayal, even if such beautiful feelings as friendship, family affection, etc. exist, they are only limited to an extremely narrow range. Dominant overall
There is only the natural law of the weak and the strong, survival of the fittest.
There is no doubt about the superficial reputation status of civilized society. This is a stage where only the strong can survive.
I don¡¯t know when it started, but on a hill more than ten kilometers away, there was a group of people silently watching various plays performed on the stage below.
Leading here for more than fifty years, reflecting the highest -tech protective clothing of the Akabar Planet Federal Federation, which not only completely resists the attack of surrounding smart plants, but also has a color -changing camouflage that assimilates the surrounding environment, which makes people not detect their existence.
Just like the carrion vultures hovering in the sky at this moment, who came from hundreds or even thousands of kilometers through special messages between their kind to enjoy this rare human flesh feast, these people always appear. In the death zone, quietly observe and wait for harvest.
At the moment of life and death, a person can often exert his greatest potential. Their mission is to find talents for the organization who can successfully cross the limits and have excellent potential from the cruel hell-like environment of Shura.
The leader has light gray eyes as sharp as an eagle that can clearly see everything happening in the distance without the help of a telescope. Although the long years have left deep marks on the corners of his eyes, turning his light brown hair into silver gray now, it has obviously not suppressed his spirit and spirit.
When he looked at the boy in unseasonable black clothes on the road in the distance, the waning old man actually exuded the same brilliance as the young man.
"Mr. Syndicate, you are looking at that child again." A person standing behind said cautiously. As an old subordinate, he has never seen Syndicate look so focused and happy in the past twenty years.??Followed someone. Being able to see the Syndicate cheer up again made him feel happy from the bottom of his heart.
Syndicate seemed to have turned a deaf ear to the questions behind him. After a long time, he withdrew his gaze and turned around to ask
"Norton Frye, where are his people now?"
"Three of the five people he selected ten days ago have already passed the finish line. Norton is currently doing containment work at the front and will not be back before evening." The subordinate replied.
"Norton Frye must be very dissatisfied with being reduced from the main candidate to the deputy. That's why he is so eager to perform." He added.
"Norton has a very accurate eye for people and is a very capable person. You shouldn't say that about him." Syndicate said calmly.
"However, since he came here, he has been doing his own thing. Not even the most superficial perfunctory, and he doesn't take you into his heart at all."
"I like this about him very much." Syndicate smiled, "Feng, I will take over this task this time, not to regain the attention of the highest level or to restore the past glory. We are all old people. Are you now Are you still unable to look away like this?"
"I'm sorry. Because seeing you look like that just now made me forget my age unconsciously." Scratching the white hair on his head, the man who was called Feng by the Syndicate smiled and said, "You are an old man, and so am I. Old horse."
"Even if he is an old horse, Junji is still Junji. However, after the big change thirty years ago, many names have been hidden by the organization. Whether it is Feng Junji or Wolf Syndicate, not to mention the new students of the organization In our generation, even among the middle-level cadres, there are many people who don¡¯t know our names. Although Norton is not young, he entered the organization relatively late. I am afraid that he is not even nominally the person to whom he directly belongs now. You don¡¯t even know anything about someone who is not one of the top four people.¡± Syndicate said with the tolerance unique to the elderly.
"That's what you said. However, I haven't heard from Lord Blair for a long time." Feng said.
Syndicate did not answer, but nodded slightly, and then turned his attention back to the young man he was paying attention to.
Years of experience told Feng that the conversation was over. Therefore, he raised the surveillance equipment in his hand and, like the Syndicate, turned his attention to the young man below.
It wasn¡¯t difficult to find the boy in the monitor¡¯s field of view. In the second half of this road to hell, there are very few people who can survive alone without relying on the strength of a group.
Therefore, as long as the camera is moved slightly, the young man in black, with an indifferent face that does not matter whether he is alive or dead, and carrying a long blade that is almost as high as his shoulder, comes into view.
Judging from the appearance and body shape, the boy below is not yet old enough to be called a boy. Rather than being called a boy, it is more appropriate to call him a boy.
Although he had not received formal food three days ago, the boy's steps were still steady. Compared with the refugees around him who were full of anxiety and despair and embarked on the road to escape, he had long been accustomed to this kind of life. Boys can digest and absorb things that others cannot use as food.
In fact, at the beginning, the boy was not short of food. Although they carry less water than others, their food intake is limited and their self-control ability is strong. In the process of slowly catching up from behind, the food supplies he carried had become a coveted item.
With the future uncertain, everyone is trying to increase their reserves. Boys who are young and obviously lack strong adult protection around them often become targets of robbery. And everyone who makes this plan will lose food at least, or lose his life in serious cases.
Although the pride engraved in his bones made him disdain to take the initiative to snatch other people's daily necessities. However, the boy never showed mercy to those who provoked disputes.
Later, the boy would even go without food for several days, leaving food and water beside him, waiting for predators to come to his door. In his opinion, this is a gamble in which as long as there is enough patience, someone will participate, using food and water as a bet, and a fair fight for each other's lives.
And the boy is confident that he will never lose in this gamble.
Even though he has never practiced any martial arts, his movements
Born to be faster than others!
Until three days ago, the boy accidentally lost the gamble.
When a girl, who was about the same age as a boy and had no fighting power at all, snatched away the food in front of the boy and ran back to her parents not far away who looked exhausted and almost unable to move forward
At that moment, although the boy's hand tightened on the knife handle, he did not draw the knife.
From that day on, the boy never received regular food.
From that day on, when he happened to see the syndicate in front of him, his eyes rarely left the boy. Later, Feng Junji even began to be grateful to Norton, who was responsible for assisting in the task. Because, from that day on, Syndicate has not selected anyone else for the organization.
And ten days after losing food
The boy was still moving very fast. At this speed, he could complete the distance in less than thirty days that would take other people two to three months.
As edible items became increasingly scarce, the garbage and even leather and sawdust left by the refugees ahead were swallowed up by the boy one by one, mixed with the morning dew.
Twenty days later
The boy who avoids the four hours before and after noon every day still maintains a similar pace as before.
¡°It¡¯s just that due to the increasing temperature, the boy who no longer has enough dew to collect has to spend a lot of time picking up the roots of roadside plants hidden deep in the ground to obtain water.
Feng, who has rich experience in surviving in the wild, knows that although the sap in the rhizomes contains low toxins, the taste of the sap, let alone human beings, is unique to this smart forest belt. It is hidden deep underground, with underground rhizomes of plants. Rodents that feed on it won't even want to touch it.
Twenty-five days later
The boy's speed finally slowed down. Signs of severe physical exhaustion have begun to emerge. But even under such circumstances, the boy did not even glance at the water carried by the people who occasionally passed by.
Thirty days later
There is still not a drop of precipitation in the sky, but the temperature has almost doubled from fifteen days ago.
As the sun gradually set in the west, the boy, who was leaning against a rocky corner by the roadside to escape the heat of the day, finally failed to stand up again.
It wasn¡¯t just hunger and fatigue that made the boy lose the ability to move forward. The plant tubers containing all kinds of deadly toxins he had eaten these days had finally accumulated to the point where he couldn¡¯t bear it
"What a pity, Mr. Syndicate, we are only thirty kilometers away." Putting down the high-power electronic telescope in his hand, a middle-aged man with a thin body and a stoic face said this.
Although he said it was a pity, his expression was slightly gloating. His work ended a week ago. For the past seven days, he had also accompanied the Syndicate to observe the boy below with great interest.
As the deputy of the Syndicate this time, he has found nearly a hundred men and women of suitable age with good qualities for the organization. With the successful completion of this mission, his status in the organization will undoubtedly be greatly improved.
And the only target that the Syndicate paid attention to this time is now obviously unable to be selected.
"It's indeed a pity." After a long silence, Syndicate said, "But"
"I want this child."
"Mr. Syndicate, you really know how to joke." The man laughed.
"Norton, I never joke." Syndicate said without turning around.
¡°If you¡¯re not joking¡¡± A sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth, and the man gestured from behind. Following the code, people began to gather around that person.
"Those who cannot pass the cruel survival competition test, no matter how great their potential, are not qualified to join. This is the iron rule of our organization. As the chief coach of the organization, you should be very clear about this. Even if this selection task is nominally It's your responsibility. But I am in charge of assisting you, so I can't let you break the rules of the organization." Facing the Syndicate, which had only an old subordinate to support him, there was obvious blame in his tone.
"If you don't know how to respect yourself and insist on going your own way, I will have to forcibly terminate your first supervisory authority here. I, Norton Frye, will take over the follow-up work." Norton Frye, who has the advantage in numbers, said sternly.
However, although they had the numerical advantage, the flow of momentum did not seem to shift to Norton Frye's side.
During the conversation just now, Syndicate¡¯s eyes never left the boy below, and they still didn¡¯t turn around. As for Feng, who stood upright beside the Syndicate with his hands behind his back, a contemptuous and mocking smile slowly began to appear on his face when facing Norton and his immediate cronies.
"Please both of you leave this place immediately. Otherwise" Although the situation was not as easy to control as he had expected, Norton was now unable to help himself.
At this time, the Syndicate finally turned around and looked at each other
"I want this child." Syndicate said calmly.
His tone was calm and natural, just stating a fact. However, under the gaze of those light gray pupils, Norton Frye's breathing seemed to have stopped.
It was only then that he discovered that although they had been together for more than three months, it turned out that he had never understood the old man in front of him.
At this time, he felt like he was facing a powerful beast that suddenly took off its disguise and was accustomed to being at the top of the food chain. His own life and death completely depended on whether the other party would kill or not kill him based on his appetite.
In the past, I thought it was ridiculous, but now I found that all kinds of terrifying rumors about the man in front of me were extremely true, and they suddenly came to my mind.
Sweat instantly wet the clothes on the back.
"Butbut" Trying his best to suppress the fear in his heart, Norton tried to speak.
"Of course I don't mean to embarrass you." Syndicate, who saw all of Norton's reactions, smiled lightly and softened his tone. After all, over the years, not many people can still speak under my deliberate pressure.
"Although the organization has regulations that those who have not passed the trial are not eligible to be selected, there is one situation that is not included in this." Syndicate said, "This is my privilege as the only survivor among the five bodies of the previous generation of God-Eating Beasts."
"Is it Could it be that you want to give up your" Norton Frye, who had not fully recovered from the shock just now, did not understand what Syndicate meant for a while, but Feng on the side had a look of shock on his face.
"What does it matter?" Syndicate smiled, "Although I am the chief coach, in the eyes of them and the four people at the top, I am just an annoying old man now. I should give up my position earlier and appoint I believe those people are very happy to see a successor candidate, right?"
After speaking, Syndicate spread his hands and placed them on his chest.
The palms are thin and strong, and scars of different sizes and shapes can be seen everywhere on the back, palm side, fingertips, etc.
There are twenty-four on the right hand and one on the left. Behind every scar on it, there is a thrilling story.
Caressing the diamond-shaped scar on his left palm, Syndicate's eyes were filled with nostalgia for a moment.
And in the next moment
Although it has not been used for twenty years, it was recognized as the most unpredictable left hand in the organization twenty years ago. Its thumb has been plucked out by its owner.
"Take this as proof and tell the four people above that I will officially retire from today." The syndicate said, handing the severed finger to Norton Frye.
Bowing slightly, Norton silently took the finger handed over by Syndicate, wrapped it in a handkerchief, and took it into his arms as a treasure. He had no intention of stopping whatever the Syndicate was going to do next.
"Mr. Syndicate, won't you bandage your wound?" Norton asked. At this time, his tone was full of respect for the Syndicate.
Syndicate shook his head. Although blood was gushing from the wound, there was no trace of pain on Syndicate's face. Instead, there was a sense of relief.
Unscrew the lid of the kettle you carry with you and pour the gushing blood into the kettle until there is no more blood oozing out of the wound. Afterwards, the Syndicate walked down the hill until they were in front of the boy.
Feeling someone approaching, the boy held the knife and raised his eyes.
Even though he was so weak that he had no strength left, the boy's eyes were still sharp, like a lonely but proud beast full of dangerous charm.
With the experience and strength of Wolf Syndicate, at that moment, it could not help but pause outside the cordon within reach of the blade.
Although there is a huge difference in strength between them, the boy in front of him is completely vulnerable to the enemy. However, a certain trait contained in his body actually brings the Syndicate more oppression than expected.
The admiration in his eyes became even stronger, and after a slight pause, the Syndicate's footsteps continued to move forward.
Although he grasped the handle of the knife tightly, the boy did not draw the knife. However, it was not so much that the boy had no strength to draw the knife, but that he did not feel any hostility from the other party.
"My name is Wolf." Passing the kettle in front of the boy, the Syndicate's tone contained no pity, only a touch of appreciation and family-like warmth.
"Wulf Syndicate. Boy, may I ask what your name is?"
"Name?" The boy subconsciously took the kettle that was handed to him. The boy was at a loss. The words that lingered in his mind every day turned out to be unexpectedly difficult when it came time to say them out loud.
"My name" He drank the water from the kettle slowly, and the cool water passed through his throat and slowly turned into heat in his belly. It has been lingering in my body for more than ten days.??All kinds of painful and uncomfortable feelings were gradually dissipated bit by bit by the heat flow. "my name¡¡"
"It's a shadow."
"What a good name." The old man in front of him smiled. "Your name will suit your future identity."
"However, from today on, your name will have one more word"
"The purge organization at the highest level of the underground Dark Alliance"
"Among the five beasts of the God-Destroying Society"
"The number one in sharpness and speed"
"tooth."
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