Chapter 270: Imperial Ranking War: No Reset

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The reset didn’t happen...

When everybody was expecting it, it did not occur. The whole realm remained dirty, polluted, and deeply contaminated even though the calamity was only supposed to last for one month.

The intensity didn’t lessen either. It didn’t get worse, but it doesn’t have to. Especially since another calamity was now taking place on top of this.

It was a shock and horror to all teams to discover that the reset hasn’t happened. Even more so when the system announced that the nuclear fallout was upon them.

Some protested, some wanted to complain, but not a single one of them was heard. The system remained completely indifferent about their arguments and complaints. It had no sympathy whatsoever.

To be fair, the system never explicitly said that each calamity will only last for a month. It also never said that there will be a reset after each calamity.

This means that each calamity will last for a month, at minimum, and that they are supposed to survive each one since that’s the name of the game so far.

And so, the nuclear fallout was upon them, on top of the lingering pollution and damage of the previous calamity.

And unlike the previous calamities, the nuclear fallout didn’t start off slow and only ramped up the longer it went.

From the very start, it was already fierce. And, once again, this has something to do with the lingering aftermath left by the previous calamity.

The polluted land was the fuse, and the start of the nuclear fallout was the spark. These two calamities synergized and produced an explosive change that rocked the entire secret realm.

The moment radioactivity started spreading throughout the land and touched the contaminated areas, mutations started happening right away.

Some things started glowing with a ghastly radioactive radiance. Plants, small animals, and weaker monsters all began acting differently.

The atmosphere changed, too. The horrible smell was still around, of course, but underneath it, the scent of something strange, unknown, and inexplicable was layered.

Nobody saw these changes during the first few days. But it definitely was happening.

They only noticed it when it was already too late and almost all of the monsters had already mutated beyond explanation.

The spread of radioactivity was still in its infancy since it’s still early, yet the mutated monsters were spreading them farther because they could move. They are actively making things worse.

Death, decay, and rot spread through the entirety of this secret realm. And every team was affected by it.

Especially those who were completely unprepared for it.

The bases of other teams had no protection against the pollution and radioactivity. Thus, they were affected the most.

Their food and water are all contaminated. They didn’t even have to touch them to know this much because it’s clear from what they looked like.

How were they supposed to eat that’s glowing with a sickly green aura? How were they supposed to drink water that looked murky and dark and smelled horrible?

Hell, they don’t even have a decent place to sleep. Since they’ve underestimated the pollution calamity, their base was crawling with disease and infection.

Moreover, the radioactivity wasn’t helping. It’s already making people sick through mere exposure.

Some who had weak resistances have already succumbed; they either died or mutated as well.

It was painful, agonizing, and despairing.

At this point, their willpower had been severely drained from this continuous torture. It was one drastic change after the other, and every time, they paid dearly for it.

They were never prepared for any of this. And they all thought that this wasn’t how it’s supposed to go.

Before coming here, they were all excited.

They thought that this would be an actual turf war. They thought that they were going to be fighting against the representatives of other empires on a hot-blooded and action-filled battlefield. They didn’t care if it lasted for an entire year; they’re ready to scramble to see who’s truly the best.

Then, after that, they’ll return home in glory and will move on to the higher floors of the spire, seeking higher vistas and peaks in search of their road of martial arts.

That’s how they envisioned all of this.

But reality played them dirty.

Instead of the action-filled war, they’re here, miserable clinging to survival for the sake of not being eliminated.

The only fight they’ve been into was the fight for their own survival. They haven’t even seen a soul of someone from other teams.

They’ve got no food to eat or water to drink. Hell, they don’t even have a decent roof above their heads.

Their inventories and equipment were taken away from them. They didn’t even have decent clothes! How were they supposed to survive in a place that dispenses natural calamities on a weekly basis?

And to make matters worse, the system never cared about their opinions and arguments at all. It didn’t even dignify them with a response to their complaints.

It observed, as it usually does, and did just that. It informed them of what will happen and what’s to come, but it never gave them any assistance at all.

They were left to their own devices. And clearly, that wasn’t enough. That much was clear in their current living conditions.

With how bad everything was, they might not even make it before they see another person from other teams.

**

In contrast, the situation within the base of the Heavenly Bronze Team was relatively stable.

The rock was impenetrable by pollution or radiation. There were multiple filters that cleaned the environment and protected everybody inside. This also extends to the river surrounding it.

Because of this, the team had clean food and water to drink.

Temperatures were stable and regulated inside. Everybody was comfortable and at ease knowing that they have a solid shelter to call home for now.

Of course, the situation outside still affects them a little bit.

They did have to go outside to hunt for food. They’ve already drained the river of its bounty, after all.

Each time a group went out to hunt, they had to come to Ren first.

He will give them temporary tattoos—portable runic formations that could safely be inscribed on skin and clothing that could filter all harmful substances—before sending them out.

The monsters outside have all turned strange and more unpredictable because of the mutations that happened to them. Moreover, their flesh were also contaminated thoroughly.

But again, fortunately, they had a way to deal with that. And that way had turned into a little exercise for everybody to participate in.

See, Ren—long with the help of others—created this large furnace, which they placed in an empty room inside the rock.

This furnace is the tool they use to purify the food and resources their hunting teams bring back every day.

The method of purification was difficult and complex. It demands more hands and skill to do so.

Since most of the team had nothing better to do most of the time, especially when the hunters were out to gather supplies, Ren taught them all how to use their furnace.

This wasn’t just some job that allows them to earn their place within the rock. It’s also a form of training for them.

The difficult and complex way of purifying food and resources demands focus, control, and skill, all of which are fundamental disciplines for martial artists.

More importantly, this involves chakra. So, it also serves as martial arts training.

It wasn’t as glorious as fighting, sure. But this ensures them that the food they’ll consume later will be clean and safe. And their involvement makes them integrate deeper into the team.

As such, the whole team takes this task seriously.

The hunting teams rotate every day. There was no single squad. Everybody gets a turn eventually. Even Ren himself goes out to hunt; he doesn’t exempt himself from responsibilities even though he absolutely could, and nobody would’ve complained about it.

Diana herself also follows the pecking order. And if these two were playing by the rules they set up, what excuses do others have to not do so?

Of course, it’s not all gloom and doom inside this rock. It’s not just about responsibilities and the creeping despair of survival.

Actually, despite the world becoming considerably more fucked each passing day, the atmosphere within the rock was completely different, as if it were an entirely different world.

There was hope, laughter, peace, and joy within. Sure, there was some lack of entertainment, but humans can be creative when they’re bored.

Even Ren participates sometimes.

There’s time for work, and there’s time for leisure. Balance, as it should be.

Therefore, the morale of the Heavenly Bronze Team remained high, and their hope of surviving the cruelty of this secret realm never fell low.

So long as there’s that guy—Ren—and Princess Diana leading them. Those two will prop up the skies and will lead them to a road of survival and growth through difficult times.

They were the true pillars of this team. Without them, this team would’ve collapsed in day one.