Chapter 214: Canvas City (I)
Canvas City had always been a bustling metropolis, teeming with life and activity. Before the apocalypse, it was a sprawling urban center known for its diverse population, vibrant markets, and busy streets filled with people from all walks of life. Skyscrapers and residential buildings stood tall, and parks and recreational areas were scattered throughout the city, making it a lively and dynamic place to live.
One of the city’s most prominent features was the Great Shield Military Base. This massive installation was a symbol of security and strength, fortified with large, imposing black walls and buildings strategically positioned at the end of major highways. The base was equipped with advanced defense systems and had served as a bastion of safety and order before the world fell into chaos.
Currently, the Great Shield Military Base was packed with humans. Thousands of people were gathered around the walls of the base, all in formation and holding weapons. At first glance, it appeared to be a military force ready to defend, but a closer look revealed the harsh reality.
The people were malnourished, trembling, and holding only basic machetes and metal shields. They had no armor, and most were not even Level 1. It was clear that these civilians did not want to be there, but they dared not move. The fear was not due to the unknown enemies but to those who had taken control of the Great Shield Military Base and forced them into this predicament.
Inside the military base were nearly three hundred men, all exuding a sinister aura and possessing vitality far greater than those forced to protect the walls. These men were covered in tattoos, many sharing similarities that marked them as part of various gangs or groups. Their eyes were filled with malice, and their movements radiated a predatory confidence.
On top of the wall stood two men. One was nearly two meters tall, with large muscles, and the other was thin with very pale skin. Both men wore military uniforms that should belong to colonels, their bodies brimming with vitality, indicating their great strength.
"Marlon, how sure are you about the arrival of this force?" The bulky man spoke with a cold and solemn voice, his eyes narrowed as he looked into the distance.
"Tomas, I don’t believe a force capable of taking down one of our squads would make empty threats. I feel they will soon appear." The thin man’s voice was cold, and his eyes were sharp.
Marlon and Tomas were part of a small gang, nothing special, and they had been in prison when the apocalypse started. The duo awakened very powerful Gifts and used their power to take control of the prison, kill the demons that appeared, and rally the rest of the prisoners.
The duo then led the criminals to the only place they believed had the defensive power to help them face the demons: the Great Shield Military Base. The soldiers in the base had been fighting when the criminals arrived.