Chapter 255 Who would say no in this situation?

Ivy climbed down from the vehicle and looked toward him with a serious expression.

"We should go get the people and leave here immediately," Ivy said firmly. "If we, who still have abilities, are already being affected by the smell of these monsters, then imagine how much worse it must be for ordinary people."

Darren slowly straightened himself and nodded in agreement, although he still looked sick.

"You’re right."

He took one cautious breath through his mouth before walking alongside Ivy toward the other building.

The moment the survivors’ gazes fell on Ivy and Darren, they all immediately rose to their feet. Some looked relieved to see them, while others appeared anxious, clearly waiting for instructions. They had been hiding for so long that they were more than ready to leave the place.

"Get in, everyone! Now!" Darren announced, turned to leave with Ivy towards the truck and the survivors didn’t need to be told twice.

They immediately rushed toward the armoured vehicle, helping one another climb inside.

Once everyone was inside, Darren quickly took his place behind the steering wheel and started the engine.

The armoured vehicle roared to life.

Without wasting another second, Darren began driving out of the ruined city at full speed. The tyres crushed debris beneath them as the vehicle sped through the damaged streets, heading directly toward the city gate.

Everyone remained silent inside the truck. They were exhausted and were still terrified.

And most importantly, they desperately wanted to get as far away from the city as possible.

The moment the truck finally drove through the city gate and reached a safe distance outside the ruined city, the ground behind them suddenly began to shake.

BOOM!

A massive explosion erupted inside the city.

Then another.

BOOM!

BOOM!

One explosion after another tore through the streets, causing several damaged buildings to collapse. Flames spread through the city as Ivy’s system carried out the command she had already given it. The objective was simple: destroy the countless monster corpses before they could become a source of contamination and put the surrounding areas at risk.

The survivors stared through the windows in stunned silence as the city disappeared behind them beneath thick smoke and flames.

No one spoke but simply watched.

Darren continued driving for what felt like forever. His hands remained firmly wrapped around the steering wheel, while his exhausted eyes stayed focused on the road ahead. Eventually, after travelling for a long time, he finally brought the armoured vehicle to a stop.

Darren immediately leaned back in his seat and began panting heavily.

His entire body was exhausted from driving at full speed, and the rotten scent everyone had inhaled inside the vehicle had been far too intense. Even though they were now far away from the city, the smell seemed to have settled into their clothes and remained trapped inside their noses.

Finally, the remaining eight survivors Ivy and Darren had rescued began climbing out of the truck.

But the moment their feet touched the ground, they all bent over almost simultaneously and began vomiting.

The fresh air outside wasn’t enough to erase the horrible sensation left behind by the rotten smell they had endured for so long. Their stomachs still felt unsettled, and some of them had to place their hands against their knees just to keep themselves upright.

"Oh my goodness!" one of the survivors cried out between breaths. "I really feel like I’m going to die!"

Another survivor clutched his stomach tightly, his face twisted in discomfort.

"My stomach hurts terribly now."

"Are you okay too, Captain?" Darren asked with concern in his tone as he addressed Ivy, who was actually standing behind them. Her hands were folded across her chest as she stared into the distance, her gaze fixed on the direction they had all just come from.

"I’m okay. I’m sure you’re feeling better too," Ivy replied immediately, finally turning her attention toward Darren.

Darren nodded his head in response.

"Yeah, I’m feeling much better now," he replied, although his expression suggested that he still hadn’t completely recovered from the horrible smell.

"And what’s the next plan now?" Darren asked, raising an eyebrow with curiosity. "Should we return to Hope Base?"

Only then did Ivy turn her gaze toward the eight survivors.

They were all seated beneath the tree, collecting fresh air and trying to regain their strength after finally finishing vomiting.

However, the moment Ivy turned her attention toward them, they all rose to their feet.

Ivy looked at each of them for a few seconds before deciding to go straight to the point.

"Now, who would love to join my base?" Ivy asked calmly.

The survivors exchanged glances.

Ivy folded her arms across her chest and continued, her voice firm but not threatening.

"You have the right to decide whether you want to stay with us or leave. It’s a simple yes or no. If you’re interested in joining my base, you’re welcome to stay. If you’re not interested, you’re free to leave. I won’t force anyone to come with me."

The survivors remained silent for a moment.

They looked at one another, seemingly trying to figure out what everyone else was thinking.

"Who would say no in this situation?" Darren muttered under his breath.

His arms were folded over his chest as he let out a small scoff. He glanced at the survivors with an almost disbelieving expression.

"They’ve just escaped a city full of monsters, and we’re offering them a safe place to stay. Why would anyone in their right mind choose to leave?"

"You’ll be shocked to see that some people will choose to leave," Ivy replied under her breath.