Kapitel 25: Chapter 25
Alex looked at the desolate landscape before him, still surprised by the state of the city. Though he knew that the cold and snow had transformed everything, the devastation was even more shocking in person. The buildings, once symbols of life and progress, were now buried under meters of snow. The only structures that stood above the endless white were the cranes from a construction site, like frozen giants in the middle of an unfinished task.
"Is this really the city?" Alex asked aloud, recalling the days when these streets were filled with life. He could see in his mind the faces of people walking back and forth, cars, neon lights, and a vibrant human activity that now only existed in his memories.
"Affirmative," Ariel replied. "The city has changed a lot since the snow began falling relentlessly. The place is unrecognizable, but it is still the same. You must begin the mission now."
Alex sighed deeply, mentally preparing himself. He knew this trip wasn't going to be easy, and the state of the city didn't give him much hope. Still, they had to find the resources they needed for the farm.
"Alright, Ariel," he responded, cautiously scanning the surroundings. "Activate the reconnaissance drones. I want to make sure the area is clear."
"Drones activated," Ariel responded promptly, and instantly, small devices rose into the air, spreading out across the city in search of potential dangers.
As Alex watched the landscape on the convoy's screens, everything seemed desolate and quiet. The snow had covered everything. Despite this, Alex knew he couldn't let his guard down. Silence in this world was only a prelude to danger. And with the threat of the mutated rabies lurking, anything could appear at any moment.
"I detect no signs of infected animals in the vicinity," Ariel reported. "The area appears clear for now."
"Good, let's move forward then," said Alex, as the convoy resumed its march toward the construction zone Ariel had marked as their first objective.
The vehicles struggled through the snow, their tracks carving a path as the tractor at the front cleared the worst of the terrain. With every meter they advanced, the silence became more oppressive, and the cold cut like invisible blades. Alex could feel his skin burning from the low temperature, despite the layers of thermal clothing he wore. But he said nothing. He knew the worst was yet to come.
Upon reaching the construction site, Alex observed the cranes and structures partially buried in snow. The place seemed frozen in time, as if the workers had left their tools one day and never returned. Large mounds of snow covered what must have once been construction materials and heavy machinery. Everything looked unusable at first glance.
"This is the place," Ariel informed. "A multi-story shopping center was being built here. Although most of the useful materials will be buried under the snow, there is a large amount of machinery that we can repurpose."
"Perfect," Alex replied, getting off the convoy and surveying the surroundings. The snow was deep, and it would be complicated to unearth everything they needed, but they had no other option. The future of the farm depended on this trip.
"I'm going to unload Vela, Roka, and Suri," Alex said as he opened the trailers and freed the three dinosaurs. They disembarked with agility, moving cautiously over the snow. Their imposing size and presence in the frozen landscape gave Alex an odd sense of security.
"Listen, guys," Alex said, addressing them, "don't wander too far. I want you to keep watch over the area. If you detect anything unusual, alert me immediately."
Vela let out a low sound, almost like confirmation, while the other two dinosaurs, Roka and Suri, also seemed to nod, staying alert. Their size and strength made them perfect for the task of surveillance, and Alex trusted them to warn him if anything approached.
As the dinosaurs dispersed, Ariel had already started deploying additional small drones to clear the snow in the area. These drones, equipped with shovels and specialized tools, began digging at key points where Ariel had detected potential accumulations of materials.
"Ariel, what kind of machinery do you think we can use from here?" Alex asked as he watched the drones work efficiently.
"Mainly excavators and cranes," Ariel replied. "There are also trucks that could be adapted to transport heavy materials. If we manage to unearth everything, we will have enough to make progress on the farm's projects."
Alex nodded, though he knew it wouldn't be an easy task. Unearthing those vehicles and machinery from under tons of snow would take time. But if they succeeded, they would be one step closer to ensuring the farm's survival and improving its defense capabilities.
With the drones working and the dinosaurs keeping watch, Alex couldn't help but let his mind wander again to the past. He remembered walking these same streets in his youth. The city had been a place full of life, of promises and dreams. Now, it felt like a frozen graveyard, where hope had been buried along with the buildings.
"Maybe I'll find more humans in this city," Alex thought with a mix of anticipation and fear. It was strange how, after so much time isolated, the idea of encountering other people unsettled him. Solitude had been his ally for months, and though he needed help, he wasn't sure how it would feel to interact with others again.
As he watched the snow fall slowly, Alex wondered how many people had been trapped in this city when it all started. Were there survivors hidden among the buried buildings? Or had the cold ended them all?
"Do you detect any signs of human life?" Alex asked, breaking the silence.
"None at this moment," Ariel replied. "However, my sensors can't penetrate deeply under the snow, so I can't rule out the possibility of people in underground shelters or still-habitable buildings."
Alex sighed. "Alright, let's keep going."
As they moved forward, the sound of the drones' shovels clearing the snow was the only thing breaking the city's silence. Alex moved cautiously, watching every shadow, every building, expecting that at any moment something might emerge from nowhere.
Finally, as the convoy continued, the place that had once been a bustling construction site was slowly revealed before them, as if they were unearthing a forgotten treasure.
The icy wind hit Alex's face as soon as he got off the adapted tractor. Despite the thick thermal clothing and coat he wore, the cold seeped through, reminding him of how hostile this world had become. Before him, the city that had once been full of life and noise lay in a deathly silence, buried under snow, as if it had been forgotten by time.
"It's damn cold out here," Alex grumbled as he rubbed his gloved hands together, more out of habit than necessity.
"The current temperature is -25 degrees Celsius," Ariel responded. "At this rate, I recommend not prolonging your exposure to the outdoors."
"Yeah, yeah, I already feel it," Alex muttered, shaking his head as he approached the truck buried under ice and snow. The convoy was parked nearby, and several drones were diligently clearing the area around the frozen vehicle.
He approached the partially unearthed vehicle. It was completely covered by a thick layer of ice. If they managed to get it running, they would have enough capacity to transport essential materials back to the farm. But first, he had to make it work.
Climbing up to the frozen hood wasn't easy. The ice still covered part of it, but Alex managed to find a flat space where he could place the hexagonal device he had taken from the tractor. The device was the size of his palm, with a simple design at first glance, but loaded with advanced technology.
"Let's see if this works," he muttered as he positioned the device over the engine hood.
As soon as he released the device, small metal legs emerged and anchored into the surface of the hood with a slight crunch. Alex watched the device in silence, waiting. From the center of the device, a thin tube began extending downward, piercing the truck's frozen metal.
"The device is anchored," Ariel informed. "Now you'll need to activate it with your ability."
Alex took a second before acting, flexing his hands. The metal plates of the gloves covering his arms up to his elbows creaked slightly with the movement, as he felt the internal mycelia react to his touch. They were like tiny filaments wrapping around his skin whenever he used those gloves—something he still hadn't gotten used to.
"I'll never get used to this," he muttered as he reached out toward the device.
When his fingers touched the device, the glove seemed to come to life, connecting with the apparatus. The fungal mycelia inside the device began to activate, spreading throughout the frozen engine. Alex could feel the filaments penetrating the vehicle's internal systems, searching for every circuit, every damaged connection.
"The fungi are designed to rebuild the truck's electrical connections," Ariel explained as she observed the results. "It's a cold-resistant strain, ideal for environments like this, though you'll need to supervise its growth."
Alex breathed deeply as he guided the growth of the hyphae through the engine. The mycelium spread slowly, connecting the broken areas. It wasn't as fast or efficient as what they used on the farm, but it was enough for what they needed here.
"That should be enough to power it," Alex commented, feeling how the fungi responded to his commands. It was like he was weaving an invisible web inside the engine.
After a few minutes, Ariel intervened. "The system seems stable. I will attempt to start the truck."
Alex stepped back, watching nervously. The engine remained silent for a few seconds, until a low, deep roar filled the air. The truck started, the sound reverberating in the silence of the snowy city.
A smile appeared on Alex's face. It had worked.
"It works. The engine is running," Ariel confirmed. "Though it will take a few minutes for the internal parts to fully thaw."
Alex nodded, pulling a small tube of Omega supplement from his belt. Carefully, he connected it to a small opening in the hexagonal device. The greenish liquid began to flow, providing the necessary energy to keep the truck running.
"It's impressive," Alex said as he watched the truck continue to roar. "These devices are doing the job."
Ariel added with a practical tone, "Remember, this strain of fungi isn't as efficient as the ones we use on the farm. You'll need to keep the Omega supplement active for it to work continuously. Additionally, you'll need to keep controlling the growth of the fungi with your ability."
Alex frowned. He knew it took a lot of energy to keep everything running, but it was a risk they were willing to take. The system was designed to withstand the cold, but it wasn't a long-term solution. However, for now, it was enough.
"How long will it take to thaw the other vehicles?" Alex asked, crossing his arms.
"It will depend on the weather and how quickly we can rebuild the electrical systems," Ariel replied. "If you keep this pace, we should have the vehicles ready ahead of schedule."
The sound of the drones, the icy wind, and the newly started engine filled the air. Alex looked around, making sure Vela, Roka, and Suri were nearby, watching the area. He knew they couldn't let their guard down, even in what seemed like an abandoned place.
Alex moved slowly through the snow-covered debris, his boots sinking into the white mantle with each step. The cold was relentless, biting, and despite the thermal clothing and thick coat he wore, he felt the icy wind trying to penetrate down to his bones. Each breath was visible in the air, a cloud of vapor that quickly disappeared into the frozen surroundings.
Ariel kept track of the surroundings, ensuring there were no signs of nearby danger. The work progressed at a steady pace, managing to unearth several vehicles and heavy construction machinery from among the ruins. The plan was simple: reactivate everything possible to take it back to the farm and use the resources to continue expanding their facilities. Progress was slow but steady.
"It's a shame this whole city is buried in snow," Alex murmured, looking around with some nostalgia. "A few years ago, this was a place full of life. And now... it's just a cemetery."
Ariel didn't respond. The wind whistled between the half-ruined buildings and the half-finished structures. It was a constant reminder of how drastically the world had changed.
Alex approached another buried vehicle. It was a transport truck, half-buried in hardened snow. The metal gloves he wore emitted a faint hum as he activated his ability, ready to guide the fungi through the internal systems and restore power to the truck.
"Let's get to work," he muttered, adjusting his gloves and placing the hexagonal device over the frozen engine.
The mycelia began to spread, taking control of the circuits and slowly restoring the flow of energy in the vehicle. As he worked in silence, Alex couldn't help but think about his family. It had been months since he'd seen any humans outside the farm. At that moment, he felt more alone than ever.
Suddenly, something caught his attention. A slight movement, almost imperceptible, to his left.
Alex quickly turned, his eyes scanning the surroundings. For a moment, he saw nothing out of the ordinary—just piled snow and frozen debris. But something wasn't right. The air was too still, and a strange silence had fallen over the place.
Instinctively, his muscles tensed. His training and experience told him something was lurking. His eyes focused on a particular area of the debris, where the snow seemed to have fallen in an odd way. Then he saw it.
A cat, but not an ordinary cat. Its huge, muscular body was perfectly camouflaged, as if its fur could blend with the snowy surroundings. The feline's green eyes watched him with predatory intensity. It was a creature about two meters tall, much larger than any domestic feline. The animal's claws protruded from its front paws, sharp and ready to strike.
The cat moved with the speed and grace of a born predator. Alex barely had time to react.
"Shit!" he shouted as he dodged the first attack, throwing himself to the side just in time to avoid the cat's claws.
The animal let out a low growl, its muscles tensing as it quickly turned to launch another attack. Alex rolled on the ground, getting up quickly, but he knew the cat was faster than him. He activated his gloves, feeling the electric current running through his body, ready to be used.
"Come on, you bastard!" Alex muttered, backing away as he raised his hands, preparing to defend himself.
The cat watched him cautiously, its eyes glowing with deadly intensity. It leaped again, but this time Alex was ready. He shot a direct electric blast at the animal in mid-air. The bolt struck the cat, which let out a sharp cry and fell to the ground, rolling in the snow.
But it wasn't enough to stop it.
The feline quickly got up, shaking itself off as if the hit had been nothing more than a nuisance. Its eyes, now filled with fury, locked onto Alex with growing rage.
"This won't be easy..." Alex said, his heart pounding in his chest.
The cat prepared to attack again, its claws ready to tear him apart. But just as it was about to pounce on Alex, a deafening roar echoed through the site. Vela appeared, charging at the feline with impressive speed for her size.
The cat stopped dead in its tracks, its eyes shining with surprise at the sight of the dinosaur. Roka and Suri quickly joined the confrontation, flanking the cat on both sides. The three dinosaurs, with their massive bodies and bristling feathers, were an intimidating force. They moved in perfect synchronization, ready to protect Alex.
The cat, however, wasn't willing to back down so easily. It let out a low growl and took a few steps back, eyeing the creatures surrounding it.
"Good job, guys!" Alex exclaimed, feeling relief wash over him.
Vela, with her dominant stance, stepped closer to the feline, letting out a guttural roar that echoed between the half-ruined buildings. The cat retreated even further, moving cautiously. It knew it had no chance against three dinosaurs of that size.
With one last hiss, the feline decided the fight wasn't worth it. It turned around and vanished into the shadows of the debris, disappearing as quickly as it had appeared.
Alex exhaled heavily, letting his shoulders drop as the cold wind swept across the area once again.
"That was close..." he muttered, patting Vela's side in gratitude. "Good job."
The dinosaurs remained alert, watching the surroundings, but the danger seemed to have passed for now.
"Ariel, keep an eye on the area. I don't want that cat surprising me again."
"I've already adjusted the drones' sensors to detect any unusual movement," Ariel responded.
Alex relaxed a bit more, though he knew he couldn't afford to let his guard down for long. Anything could happen in this unforgiving world, and there was always something lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike.
"Let's get back to work," he said finally, returning to the convoy.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein