Some people had money and power. Some were impoverished and desolate.
So-called fairness was merely a kind of mercy the strong showed the weak—a pitiful self-pity and self-lament of the weak.
Regarding his parents' deaths, those people's inaction—he could understand it.
But understanding didn't mean not resenting.
Even children, no matter how mature, would harbor a thread of fantasy about this.
The feeling of shattered fantasies truly wasn't pleasant.
How to change such a world?
There was no method whatsoever.
Just like him now—having awakened a Space-type ability with a second awakening, his importance to the nation far exceeded the vast majority of people.
So he also gained the ability to enjoy privileges.
Therefore, he knew some things weren't unwillingness to change, but having no way to change them.
People were simply different from one another.
Some people were just more important than you!
So after Liu Suifeng said "You did nothing wrong—we're the ones at fault," that trace of resentment remaining in his heart was also completely erased.
Perhaps his ability to survive was already their maximum effort.
Zhang Hai walked across the ground. Each step covered several hundred meters from the last.
Along the way, he also encountered mutant beasts. Upon detecting Zhang Hai, they even charged at him without hesitation to tear and bite.
If it were normal times, Zhang Hai might have had interest in playing with them.
But now, with a spatial ripple, Zhang Hai's body instantly disappeared from these mutant beasts' sight.
"Roar???"
The mutant beasts showed bewildered expressions.
"I hope Goose City's citizens can hold out a bit longer."
Though Goose City wasn't some major metropolis, it still had a population of several million.
A second late meant an unknown number of lives dying.
Though every city established shelters—
This didn't mean shelters could guarantee one hundred percent protection of citizens' lives inside.
Humanity, leveraging technology's power—unless bug-level mutant beasts capable of reversing battle outcomes like First Sequence appeared, cities were very difficult to breach.
And with First Sequence level mutant creatures' strength, even the sturdiest shelters weren't absolutely safe.
While Zhang Hai headed to support Goose City, support forces from other cities were also en route.
Some among them were going to Goose City, but more headed toward other cities.
Not just Goose City—many cities were currently enduring Beast Tide invasions. Some cities even had mutant beast silhouettes appearing inside.
They were also primary support targets.
Others still resisting were secondary tier.
There were also some civilian ability users with powerful talents and strength. Because their own cities' firepower was too vast, and Beast Tides hadn't encountered First Sequence mutant creatures capable of reversing battle outcomes, they'd swiftly resolved Beast Tides.
Wanting to use Beast Tides to temper their strength had no method—they could only head to other cities. While supporting, they could also temper their strength.
Time slowly passed. Right now, Goose City's citizens were already in fear nearing despair.
Even knowing that since the Beast Tide breached the city not much time had passed—support couldn't possibly arrive this quickly—they still inevitably panicked, despaired, worried, fearing the nation had already abandoned them.
Reason was sometimes a very fragile thing. Fear could often destroy it.
Once losing reason, normal thinking would become chaotic. One would involuntarily begin doubting, panicking, even going mad.
Goose City's defensive line was broken. Countless mutant creatures rushed into the city. To them right now, every second staying in shelters felt like years.
Outside shelters—even more a hellish scene.
Though people still survived, in their eyes, death was already a matter of time.
The originally somewhat prosperous city was now engulfed in flames. Towering buildings had become ruins.
Carefully looking out windows—
On the roads, mutant wolf packs gnawed on humans. Humans hiding in houses were also killed when massive mutant boars charged, destroying dwellings and swallowing their flesh and blood.
One could even see a mutant wildcat toying with a human, letting them flee. After they thought they'd survived, it appeared before them. Back and forth—treated as entertainment toys.
Tired of playing, sharp claws tore open flesh and began feeding. That person's body was still struggling.
"Roar!"
A mutant giant python coiled among human dwellings. Scorching flames transformed into an intense beam penetrating houses. The humans hiding inside also burned and self-immolated in the flames.
It had no desire to devour this human—seemingly just wanting to use its ability.
But even these were merely an insignificant microcosm of Goose City's current state.
These mutant beasts' strength wasn't powerful. With enough people and sufficient ammunition, no matter how many, they weren't worth mentioning.
If not for that existence, they absolutely couldn't have broken through Goose City's defenses!
Looking down from above, entire Goose City was now divided in two.
One side—flames of war continuous, screams unending. The other side—incomparably calm.
The calm side was that First Sequence level mutant beast's territory.
Not a single mutant beast dared trespass. Or rather—those who dared had already died.
It was a lizard. But not the imagined green skin—rather brownish. Its physique was also extremely massive, even massively terrifying.
Though smaller than giant mutant creatures in the ocean, not by much.
A nearly hundred-meter-tall body like a small mountain.
On the ground—whether earth, vegetation, buildings, or even humans—all were already covered by rock.
It just stood here quietly. Tawny pupils tightly closed. Faintly visible on the ground—countless yellow streams of light seemed to flow toward its body.
"Is there no method left?!"
A man looked at the obvious dividing line ahead and behind, face full of struggle.
Behind him, a mutant wolf stared at him tightly. Perhaps because he was too close to that terrifying mutant beast's territory—for a time, the mutant wolf didn't dare attack.
Both sides deadlocked like this, until...
"Awoo!"
A wolf's howl. Several more mutant wolves approached. Fierce, cruel beast eyes stared at him fixedly, approaching step by step.
"Damn it!"
The man retreated step by step, expression growing increasingly ugly and panicked.
Until he had no retreat left. Going further back was that mutant beast's occupied territory.
"Awoo!"
Another wolf's howl. His heart panicked—left foot accidentally moved one step backward.
"Bang!"
In just an instant, his left foot was covered by rock, rapidly spreading from the left foot as base point toward his entire body.
If he were ruthless, he'd swing a blade now to sever his own left leg. But clearly, he lacked this ability. Moreover, he had no weapon capable of severing his left leg in an instant.
A few seconds later, the ground gained another human stone statue covered in rock.
Those several mutant wolves fearfully retreated two steps, then turned and ran.
(End of Chapter)