In the endless forest, a battered and exhausted team emerged from the dense greenery.

Wiping the sweat off her brow, Teresa Taylor exclaimed with excitement, "We finally made it!"

Everyone looked as though they had narrowly escaped death.

After three days of grueling trekking through the wilderness, and at the cost of losing four team members, they had finally reached the vicinity of the television station.

Signs of human activity were evident.

The ground vegetation was sparse, likely cleared repeatedly by someone. The air was filled with a pungent smell, likely from burning some kind of insect repellent. The massive insects commonly found in the forest were nowhere to be seen.

After searching for a while, Teresa Taylor spotted a clearly marked trail.

Next to the path stood a large sign with an arrow: "100 meters ahead, TV Station Official Rescue Point Reception Center."

The sign appeared to be regularly maintained, free of overgrowing vines.

Leading the way, Teresa Taylor called out, "Let's go!"

Seeing hope at last, the group, supporting one another, walked forward, chatting and laughing despite their exhaustion.

The path was much easier to traverse, and before long, a metal container building emerged from the mist.

The words "Reception Point No. 7" were painted on its walls, along with a distinctive New York State-style iron-bar service window.

The group approached happily.

The doors and windows were tightly shut, and the inside was pitch black, making it impossible to see what was within.

Hertha, a student from the New York Film Academy, curiously remarked, "Could the staff inside be sleeping?"

Aside from Teresa Taylor and Mike Brown, who were ability users, only three survivors remained: Jemmy, another student from the New York Film Academy studying acting; Zack Torres, a middle-aged electrician who had been following Teresa since they left the police station; and Hertha.

Mike Brown pressed his ear to the wall and listened, then said doubtfully, "I don't hear any breathing. No one's inside. Could they have gone back to rest for lunch?"

Teresa Taylor was equally puzzled. She walked around the container house, but there seemed to be no other paths leading away from it.

It appeared to be a standalone structure.

Zack Torres, frustrated, exclaimed, "Where are the rescue workers?"

Jemmy, worried, added, "Why isn't anyone here to receive us?"

Suddenly, Mike Brown tensed up. "Someone's coming! From all directions!"

Teresa Taylor froze.

It's a trap!

She quickly raised her fire axe and scanned her surroundings warily.

Everyone in the group grew tense.

Before long, over a dozen fully armed soldiers surrounded them, aiming their guns.

One soldier was clearly an ability user, holding a comically large iron shield. He stood protectively in front of a slender, seductive woman, as if shielding her.

Teresa couldn't discern what ability the woman possessed.

A soldier with a lieutenant's insignia on his shoulder shouted sternly, "This is the New York Base Garrison! I order you to immediately drop your weapons and surrender!"

The survivors were stunned. This was far from what they had expected. They looked at Teresa Taylor in fear and confusion.

They had come here because of her promises, but this was not what they had imagined!

Mike Brown trembled, "Boss, what's going on?"

"Relax," Teresa Taylor reassured him calmly.

Seeing the disciplined demeanor of the soldiers, she felt slightly relieved. Slowly lowering her fire axe, she said steadily, "I'm Officer Teresa Taylor from Peace Road Police Station. I came here on orders from my superiors and mean no harm."

Hearing this, the officer relaxed slightly but kept his weapon raised. He replied firmly, "Officer Taylor, due to the rampant violence from raiders, we must avoid unnecessary casualties. I order you to immediately lay down all your weapons and submit to inspection!"

Teresa Taylor was annoyed. They summoned her here, and this is how she was treated?

But logic told her that the officer had a point.

Since the advent of the violet mist, food shortages had caused the collapse of societal order. On her journey, Teresa had encountered two robbery attempts. If not for her abilities, they would have been doomed.

It was likely that this rescue point had also suffered attacks from raider groups, which explained their caution.

The biggest issue was that Teresa couldn't confirm whether the soldiers were truly who they claimed to be. Laying down her weapons blindly seemed naïve.

But what choice did she have?

Surrounded by guns and unknown ability users, Teresa didn't have the confidence to break out, especially with the others relying on her.

Her only option was to trust them.

Teresa Taylor was the first to pull out her pistol and knife, tossing them to the ground.

"Everyone, drop your weapons," she ordered.

The others exchanged hesitant glances before reluctantly putting down their makeshift weapons.

To navigate the forest, they had crafted simple spears by tying knives to mop handles. These makeshift weapons were effective for both stabbing and pushing threats away.

The lieutenant continued, "Officer Taylor, and you, the man behind her—you're both ability users. Follow me."

Teresa Taylor was surprised. The soldiers could distinguish her and Mike Brown as ability users? What kind of ability allowed them to do that?

She glanced at the seductive woman. Could it be her ability?

"No problem," Teresa said calmly. "But what do you plan to do with my companions?"

The officer replied coldly, "Don't worry. We'll process them according to the survivor rescue protocol."

Process.

The word made Teresa frown.

But with no way out, she had no choice. She led Mike Brown and followed the officer.

One soldier took the lead, while the officer, the shield-bearer, the seductive woman, and two seemingly ordinary soldiers escorted them away.

After Teresa and Mike left, the remaining soldiers began thoroughly searching the three survivors.

Hertha blushed and protested, "Hey! Don't touch me! I'm not hiding any weapons!"

The soldiers ignored her.

After confirming they were unarmed, another officer said coldly, "You three, come with me."

Jemmy, Hertha, and Zack Torres tensed up but, surrounded by armed soldiers, didn't dare resist. They could only follow obediently.

Zack Torres, timid, asked, "Where are we going?"

"Shut up!" barked the officer.

Zack shuddered, silenced by fear.

The three couldn't shake the feeling that something was very wrong. In their hearts, they cursed Teresa Taylor.

This idiot brought us into a trap!

Not long after, the soldiers led them to the entrance of a massive underground tunnel.

A three-meter-tall iron gate slowly opened, revealing dozens of fully armed soldiers inside.

In the dimly lit tunnel, the flickering lights made the atmosphere even more eerie.

The three survivors grew even more frightened.

A soldier shoved Jemmy from behind and snapped impatiently, "Get in! What are you waiting for?"

Helpless, the three entered the tunnel, eventually being escorted into an empty room.

Two armed soldiers stood guard at the door, watching them like hawks.

Confused, they whispered among themselves: "What's going on?" "Something feels off!" "We're doomed! Teresa Taylor screwed us! I should've known better than to follow her!"

A man in a white coat hurried into the room.

"Women, come with me. Men, stay here," he said curtly.

Hertha was forcibly dragged out.

Soon after, Jemmy and Zack Torres were stripped of their clothes, made to shower, had their heads shaved, and were sprayed with a pungent disinfectant.

At first, they were terrified.

But when they realized it was merely for hygiene purposes, they relaxed.

After all, if they went to so much trouble, they wouldn't just kill them, right?

Finally, the two were made to wear gray uniforms and sent to another room.

Inside, seven or eight others dressed similarly in gray with shaved heads were chatting quietly.

Relieved, Jemmy and Zack Torres sat down, their fears easing.

"Looks like it's just part of the base's hygiene protocol." "Yeah, with all the evolving plants and animals outside, who knows what kind of viruses we might be carrying." "The attitude was harsh, though. They could've been nicer about it!" "Get real. In this hellish world, just surviving is a blessing." "I just hope there's enough food here..."

Hertha was eventually brought in as well, now sporting a shaved head and wearing the same gray uniform.

Seeing her, Jemmy burst into laughter. "Hertha, you look awful bald! Hahaha!"