Chapter 123: Dawnlight Base Is Besieged

Encouraging all survivors to awaken a Superpower was not going smoothly.

Although many people wanted to become Superpower Users, that didn’t mean they were willing to endure the hardships involved.

Failing to awaken a Superpower wouldn’t necessarily kill you, but it wasn’t entirely safe either.

Especially since after awakening a Superpower, you had to fight Aberrant Beasts.

This was something many people were unwilling to accept.

They wanted to become Superpower Users, but they weren’t willing to bear any of the risks or responsibilities.

More people hoped to awaken a Wood Element or Water Element Ability.

These two abilities could ensure they wouldn’t have to worry about food and water, grant them a certain rise in status, and save them from having to face ferocious Aberrant Beasts. It was like killing three birds with one stone.

Of course, someone like Jayce—a Water Ability user who constantly participated in battles—was completely outside their consideration.

After all, not everyone was Jayce.

Over three consecutive days, fewer than a thousand survivors even volunteered to undergo the Superpower awakening process.

The entire base housed tens of thousands of people.

But with fewer than a thousand volunteering to awaken Superpowers, the ratio was truly absurd.

Although Kevin Everett felt somewhat disappointed, he knew you couldn’t force such matters.

Having some people was much better than having none.

Of the nearly thousand people who volunteered, three hundred ultimately succeeded in awakening a Superpower.

And that was with Dr. Hayes’s help.

Without Dr. Hayes, the success rate would have likely been even lower.

Even though less than half succeeded, at least there were no casualties.

The fact that no one died made Kevin Everett happier than gaining a few more Superpower Users.

As things stood, countless survivors were dying outside the base every day.

Even if many survivors were selfish, timid, and cowardly, Kevin Everett still hoped they could live on.

Only with enough living people was there hope of overcoming the apocalypse.

Among the three hundred who successfully awakened, all sorts of Superpowers emerged.

There were ten with a Water Ability alone.

In this post-apocalyptic world with its extreme water scarcity, the more Water Ability users, the better.

Although these people were unwilling to fight Aberrant Beasts, if they worked on improving their physical stamina, they could at least solve a portion of the base’s water needs. This would save Jayce some trouble, allowing him to focus his attention and energy elsewhere.

Over the past few days, Sierra Sullivan and the others hadn’t left the base, but they hadn’t been idle either.

Their main task each day was to absorb Crystal Cores and enhance their Superpowers.

With their previous experience, training to level up their Superpowers was a natural process.

As long as they had enough Crystal Cores, enough time, and could endure the loneliness and monotony of training, the speed of improving their Superpowers was quite fast.

After three days, Sierra Sullivan’s Space Ability had already reached the Second Level, the same as Leo Lowell.

When Leo Lowell found this out, his eyes widened in shock.

He knew Sierra Sullivan was formidable, but he had never imagined she could be *this* formidable.

’Isn’t her talent a bit too high?’

’Is the gap between people really this huge?’

Seeing Leo Lowell’s existential crisis, Jayce patted his shoulder. "Don’t overthink it. It’s normal that you’re not as strong as Sierra."

Leo Lowell replied, "...I know."

After a moment’s thought, Leo Lowell asked another question.

"Captain Everett, your Wood Element Ability... how’s it coming along?"

’Sierra Sullivan is already incredible. Surely Jayce can’t be just as amazing, right?’

’How is anyone else supposed to live?’

Jayce had never known the meaning of modesty, nor did he feel any need for it.

The corners of his lips curled up, and his voice rose slightly.

"It’s already Third Level."

Jayce’s casual tone left Leo Lowell stunned on the spot.

Jayce had only awakened his Second Superpower a total of three days ago!

’He reached Third Level with his Wood Element Ability in just three days, the same as Candice Tate? Is that even right?’

’We’re both human, both Superpower Users, so how can the gap be so huge!’

’Did I awaken a fake Superpower or something?’

Seeing the self-doubt written all over Leo Lowell’s face, Jayce kindly patted his shoulder again. "Don’t dwell on it. People are just different. Don’t compare yourself to others, just compare yourself to yourself!"

Although he was being comforted, Leo Lowell didn’t feel the slightest bit of happiness or joy from it.

However, Leo Lowell wasn’t the type to torment himself.

Back when he was in school, he had clearly recognized that there were differences between people—huge differences, at that.

Now, in the apocalypse, even though they had all awakened Superpowers, it was impossible for everyone to have the same level of talent.

If he compared himself to others too much, he would just be making things hard on himself. There was really no need for that.

Having figured this out, Leo Lowell felt relieved.

"Captain Everett, I get it! I’ll work hard too!"

Seeing Leo Lowell’s smiling face, and noticing in particular that he had come to terms with it, Jayce raised an eyebrow.

’This kid Leo Lowell... even though he covets my Sierra a little, he’s not entirely without his merits.’

"Work hard. If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can ask me!" Jayce patted Leo Lowell’s shoulder again.

Leo Lowell didn’t refuse; instead, he nodded very seriously.

"I will!"

No matter what the reason, he would work his hardest!

While the two of them were talking, Sierra Sullivan and Candice Tate were sitting on a sofa not far away.

With Sierra Sullivan’s extra space, Candice Tate could completely exhaust her Superpower every day.

Not only did this produce a lot of extra supplies, but it also allowed Candice Tate to train her Superpower, helping her improve even faster.

Two more days passed like this, and things seemed to have quieted down considerably.

Of course, that was assuming one didn’t look at the yellow sand filling the sky outside, or the Aberrant Beasts that attacked the base from time to time.

A single glance at those things would tell you that all the current peace was nothing but an illusion, like flowers in a mirror or the moon’s reflection in water—just a way of deceiving oneself.

The conditions for survival would only grow more difficult.

On this day, Sierra Sullivan and Jayce were taking Candice Tate to the tenth floor as usual when, just as they entered the room, they sensed something was wrong.

Besides Kevin Everett, General Aldridge was also there, along with several other base leaders.

So many people were sitting together, and although no one was smoking, the atmosphere was still heavy with a somber, smoke-filled feeling of distress.

Sierra Sullivan and Jayce exchanged a look. They both knew something must have happened, and it wasn’t something small.

Kevin Everett and the others had already seen them. Kevin Everett said, "Have Candice Tate go into the other room. You two, come sit down!"

Sierra Sullivan agreed, handed Candice Tate over to Yvonne Shelby, and then returned to the living room, sitting down next to Jayce.

Just as they sat down, they heard Kevin Everett say in a grave voice, "Dawnlight Base, the one closest to us, is under siege by Aberrant Beasts."

The sentence wasn’t long, and his tone was steady, but the words struck Sierra Sullivan with immense shock.