The tension between Selene and Rose hung in the air. Their eyes were tightly locked on each other.
But just then, Cyrus's voice cut through the tension.
"Hey... Ice Princess... and Flatboard Princess...".
His tone was quite calm and almost playful, but his words carried an undeniable weight.
With his eyes flashing with amusement, he glanced between Selene and Rose; a smirk appeared at the corner of his lips.
"Just so you know, this isn't the place for a fight. There are rules here."
Both girls immediately froze for a split second before slowly turning their heads toward him.
Selene's expression was calm; her ice blue eyes just looked at Cyrus.
But as for Rose, her face darkened instantly, veins practically popping on her forehead.
"Who the hell are you calling Flatboard Princess, huh?!" she yelled at Cyrus with angry eyes.
Selene merely shook her head as she let out a small sigh and turned her head.
Cyrus shrugged his shoulders, his smirk deepening, "I never mentioned any names. You're the one who admitted it yourself."
"You....!"
Rose's face flushed crimson as she clenched her fists, ready to unleash another barrage of anger.
But before she could explode....
A soldier quickly approached Cyrus and saluted, "Commander!".
Cyrus raised an eyebrow and stepped aside with the soldier, leaving behind the fuming Rose in place.
Professor Albert shook his head with a weary sigh and looked at Rose.
"Little Rose," his raspy voice sounded in Rose's ears, "that man is the commander of this base. You better be careful and watch what you say; otherwise, you might get into trouble."
Rose immediately stiffened; her brave front crumbled as her eyes darted nervously toward Cyrus's back.
Selene, who was standing at the side, let out a faint chuckle as she said, "See?" She said mockingly, "Maybe next time you'll think twice before opening that damn loud mouth of yours."
Rose just shot Selene a glare but couldn't retort back...
"Everyone....!"
Just then, Cyrus's voice boomed across the platform.
Everyone immediately turned their attention toward him.
Cyrus was now on a raised small circular platform at the center of the Central Station Platform as machinery hummed beneath him, lifting him higher for a better view.
Multiple holographic screens also popped up all around the platform, broadcasting his figure across every corner of the Central Station Platform.
Thousands of eyes looked at him; everyone was silent, except for the hushed breathing.
His silver hair gleamed under the lights, his black operative uniform clung tightly to his frame, his entire body exuding both intimidation and authority.
His expression was calm as his dead cold eyes scanned everyone before him.
"Everyone, as we all know, human civilization is now doomed and on the verge of extinction..."
He paused for a moment as his voice resonated across the platform. His piercing gaze swept over the crowd, locking onto those faces filled with fear, confusion, and exhaustion.
The platform was heavy with silence.
"This is the end of the world," Cyrus continued, his voice calm but chilling. "The old world and order are no more. A new world is about to rise from the ashes of this damned world. Forget yesterday's rules, forget about the government, as they are even struggling to stay alive. From this moment forward, welcome to the new age."
A faint sinister smile curled up on his lips.
"In this new world, humanity, who was the top predator on top of the food chain... well, is now at the bottom; we are now prey!"
The crowd looked at each other as murmurs rippled through the platform; their eyes were full of nervousness.
Cyrus's eyes flashed with a cold glint as he continued, "This is the new age of natural selection where the strong survive while the weak perish. This is now the new law and order of this world... of this apocalypse."
He let those words linger and sink in...
"Some of you have watched as your families were devoured in front of you..."
Some of the faces in the crowd turned pale, as the memories of what they had gone through came crashing back like a flood. Faces filled with horror and fear.
"Some of you saw your children, neighbors, and coworkers being crushed, trampled, and eaten amidst the chaos.
"Some of you..." Cyrus's eyes narrowed slightly as his voice turned cold, "even betrayed their so-called loved ones just to survive."
His words dropped like a bomb as a heavy silence hung above the survivors.
Many people in the crowd's expressions changed; eyes dropped as tears welled up on some faces, shame and guilt appeared on others' faces, and others felt like their hearts were being pierced by daggers.
Cyrus, when he saw this, just smiled; his smile was quite sinister, like a predator looking at prey, which sent chills down the spine.
"But hey... I can't blame you," his cold voice softened, "Well, we do what we have to do just to survive, and that is the current reality."
He paused for a moment as his expression turned cold once again.
"But you must all understand this: This place that you stand in now is a safe place. This place... is Noah's Ark, a sanctuary for humanity to start afresh."
Everyone was looking at Cyrus standing on the elevated platform with mixed expressions and emotions.
"You are lucky to be saved and brought here," he continued. "But listen to my warning; in this place, laziness will not be tolerated. Every single person here must contribute if you wish to stay. So, if you don't and think you can freeload, then you will become dinner for the zombies outside."
Murmurs once again rippled through the crowd as fear took root in their hearts.
Cyrus waved his hand at the holographic screens, which switched on.
As live feeds displayed scenes from outside, the world had already descended into total ruin.
Skyscrapers and tall towers collapsed in flames, hordes of the undead surged through the streets, and cities burned like purgatory. Civilians cried and were relentlessly pursued by zombies.