18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 608

After China unleashed a wild spray of bullets, they stopped when no response came from the distance.

Taking cover behind a makeshift Kindle Chest, they waited, scanning the horizon.

Ten minutes...

Half an hour...

As dawn broke, still nothing.

The team leader slapped one of the sentries, scolding them for their jittery nerves. It was probably just the desert wind kicking up dust, mistaken for enemy movement.

But those Aussie bandits were indeed a pain, having harassed them multiple times, so staying alert was crucial.

Another cautious thirty minutes passed as the glaring sun rose, carrying with it gusts of sand.

Another scorching, dry day had begun.

They couldn't fathom what was so special about this damn chest. Why were those bandits risking their lives for it? Why had their own headquarters insisted on getting it open at all costs?

They had wrecked countless saws and drills trying to break into the colossal chest. Who knew what kind of material those Aussies had used?

But they had called in the ultimate machine, and after two days of drilling, they had finally made a crack.

If all went well, today they would break it open and uncover its secrets!

The men relaxed, everyone but the sentries lowering their guard.

They hurriedly cooked breakfast, knowing there was work to be done afterward.

As they started to move about, Stella, ever patient, smiled and didn't hesitate to pull the trigger.

She signaled her team, and they fired together.

Gunshots rang out, and several of China's men fell with precise headshots.

Panic ensued, everyone scrambling for cover, pots and pans clattering to the ground.

A soldier yelled, "Snipers, they've got snipers!"

His words were cut short as he collapsed into a pool of blood.

Truthfully, it had been ages since these soldiers had seen a real fight.

Or more accurately, it had been a long time since they had encountered such formidable opponents.

They were used to driving away survivors who trembled at the sight of their guns. Any resistance was usually weak and easily quelled with a burst of gunfire.

But today, they met their match.

Pinned down behind the Kindle Chest, Stella lobbed a short-range smoke grenade that landed right beside the chest.

The grenade released toxic smoke that caused convulsions, dizziness, nausea, breathing difficulties, and blurred vision.

Biological warfare!

It was one of Stella's spoils from the Arctic, made by China itself. And now, it was being used against them.

Some of China's men couldn't take it and ran out, gasping for air.

A bad move – it was like serving up their heads on a platter.

Stay and die, or run and die – they had to take their chances.

Sorry, but they lost that gamble.

To make sure none survived, Stella fired another grenade even closer.

Soon after, two more men stumbled out.

After waiting an hour, Stella and her team approached cautiously.

There were survivors, but the poison had blurred their vision, causing them to see double and miss their shots...

Out of the 21 men, all were taken down.

Stella and her crew were just as curious about what was in the Kindle Chest.

Stella and Jasper had separate tents. Despite her exhaustion, Stella couldn't sleep.

Her mind was filled with thoughts of Cody, Lukas, and the others who had chosen to live in Griffith. She was glad, as they were among her few friends.

But she also worried about their inquiring eyes.

Jasper saw through her concern. "Are you afraid they'll discover you have the Arcadia?"

Indeed, she was.

Reborn with superpowers, Stella had built up barriers around her heart due to her brutal past life.

Even though she had grown up close with the three of them, and Angela had once helped her, who could guarantee anything in this bloody apocalypse?

She lacked the confidence to be completely open.

Later, by chance, she met Mark, Collin, Evan, and others.

Drifting in the vast, endless ocean, it felt like she was the only one left in the world, surrounded by despair and suffocation.

That's why when she saw fellow countrymen struggling, she couldn't help but want to do something.

But it was Daniel who truly opened her heart.

Imperfect as he was, he did his best both in public and private matters.

The loss of family wasn't his fault, but he was trying to make amends.

She had always thought she didn't need emotions – friendship, family, or love – because during a disaster, they were worth less than a loaf of bread.

But Daniel's silent support helped Stella reconcile with her past self.

She cut ties with the past, aiming for a better future.

Having lived twice, she could count true friends on one hand.

Because she cared, she suddenly wondered: when Cody and Lukas found out the truth, would they hold it against her?