Chapter 534 - 543: Aftermath

Chapter 534: Chapter 543: Aftermath

An unknown amount of time passed before Miles Sanctus collapsed to the ground. Lying around him were several wrecked Human Body Warriors.

The man’s eyes flashed with surprise as he took in the scene.

’This man is truly powerful. To be this strong already, even without any enhancements.’

’He is truly worthy of being my equal.’

’To be honest, I probably couldn’t have matched him at this stage.’

Caleb Xavier’s gaze darkened, his eyes holding a complex expression as he looked at the man on the ground.

’His power is beyond my expectations. I knew he was strong, but I never imagined he could be this capable at this stage.’

’He’s injured, yet he still managed to wreck several of these Human Body Warriors.’

This, however, made him wonder. ’Miles Sanctus is so powerful, and he has a large base backing him. How did he end up in such a pathetic state?’

He knew an earthquake had just struck, but why was Miles Sanctus all alone? ’Where are his subordinates?’

’If I’m not mistaken, Sanctyr Base should still be around right now.’

’What in the world happened here?’

The confusion in his eyes deepened. He had, after all, arrived a step too late and had no idea what had happened earlier.

After a while, Caleb Xavier hoisted Miles Sanctus onto his back and left.

When Stella Sterling and the others returned to Veridia, they found that the once-bustling city had been reduced to a field of ruins.

All the buildings had collapsed.

Stella Sterling and her group had anticipated this. After all, if even a major stronghold like Sanctyr Base was turned to rubble, it was clear how severe the earthquake had been.

But seeing the devastation firsthand still sent a jolt of shock through them.

Veridia had been more prosperous than other cities, and thanks to Sanctyr Base, it had a much higher population density than other places.

For that very reason, now that Veridia lay in ruins, there was no telling how many bodies were buried beneath the rubble.

Even at a glance, they could see countless people pinned beneath the wreckage.

Other survivors moved through the chaos; some desperately dug for friends and family, while others seized the opportunity to scavenge for food.

Whenever Stella Sterling’s group came across someone trapped, they would lend a hand.

Along the way, Hunter Night had woken up. When he saw the devastation, he immediately broke into a run toward the Three Tigers Corps’ camp.

Mutt’s two former subordinates now looked anxious. They approached Stella Sterling and asked, "Sterling, can we go back and check on our people?"

They looked at Stella Sterling with pleading eyes. They might not have been good people, and they hadn’t reacted much to the death of their former boss, Mutt.

But Mutt’s other men were comrades they had fought and bled alongside; there was a bond there. Now, those men were likely buried beneath the ruins, their fates unknown. The two were desperate to go back and check. If they could help, they would. If they were fast enough, maybe some of their brothers could still be saved.

Even if they all went their separate ways in the future, they wanted to know their old brothers were alive. They wouldn’t have peace of mind if they didn’t at least go check.

However, they had chosen to submit to Sterling and follow her, so they naturally needed her permission to leave.

Seeing their imploring expressions, Stella Sterling waved a hand. "Go. When you’re done, head to the Three Tigers Corps’ camp and wait for me."

Having received her approval, the men left excitedly. Stella Sterling then turned to the remaining people from Sanctyr Base. "Do any of you have friends or family here?"

They all shook their heads in unison. A flicker of sorrow crossed their faces, but they quickly composed themselves and replied to Stella Sterling, "Sterling, we don’t have any family here."

Stella Sterling wasn’t surprised. ’It makes sense,’ she thought. ’The people left are either former members or residents of Sanctyr Base.’

’If the residents of Sanctyr Base had any relatives, they would have brought them into the base. It’s unlikely they’d still be in Veridia.’

’As for the Sanctyr Base members, they probably didn’t have any family left to begin with.’

’Besides, if they had family in Veridia, they would have been in a hurry to check on them, just like the others. They wouldn’t be standing here so calmly.’

Stella Sterling didn’t press the matter. She gave the group an address and told them to search for survivors there, instructing them to bring back anyone they found alive.

After a pause, she added, speaking to the former Sanctyr Base members, "You should know who I’m talking about. They’re the ones who left Sanctyr Base with me a little while ago."

’I’d almost forgotten about them,’ she thought. ’I had them stay in a designated spot, planning to take them with me when I left.’

’I never expected a disaster like this. I have no idea how they are now.’

’I’ll send the people from Sanctyr Base to check. If they’re alive, they can bring them back, and then we can all leave together.’

’If they’re...’

’Then there’s nothing to be done!’

’Sending the people from Sanctyr Base is the best choice. Since they’re all from there, they know each other, which should speed up the search.’

The group seemed a little surprised, but they quickly nodded and set off to carry out her orders.

Stella Sterling looked at the few who remained and instructed Zane Xavier to take several of them to the Three Tigers Corps’ camp to see if they needed help.

She remembered how Hunter Night had dared to stand by her side and help earlier today.

’Sending Zane Xavier and a few people from Caeluna Base to check on things is a good idea. They might be able to provide crucial assistance.’

’After all, the people from my Caeluna Base are far stronger than ordinary people. When it comes to digging, they’ll be much faster than anyone else.’

The people from Caeluna Base nodded without objection, though they cast surprised glances at Zane Xavier.

’This guy seems to hold a special place with Sterling,’ they thought. ’And earlier, he stepped up to help her without a moment’s hesitation.’

’He must be a new subordinate she just recruited.’

Although they didn’t know one another, they had their orders from Stella Sterling. So, despite their private curiosity, they set it aside and followed Zane Xavier toward the Three Tigers Corps’ location.

Meanwhile, Stella Sterling took the remaining people—from Black Swan and Seven Locke’s group—and drove directly toward Felix Lawrence’s camp.

Felix Lawrence and his people were camped in a series of caves. After such a massive earthquake, Stella feared their situation could only be worse.