Betrayals unfolded in real-time as desperate people shoved loved ones into the gaping maws of monsters just to gain a fleeting chance at survival.
The survivors huddled on the platform, horror and fear etched on their faces. Many covered their mouths; others covered their faces as they couldn't watch these horrors anymore.
Despair and sadness filled the platform.
"This is the true and grim reality waiting for you outside. This is now the new world we will be living in; that sense of entitlement, choice, and right that you previously had, well now, it doesn't work in this new world, so don't think the world will continue to revolve around you. If you think, or you want to leave this sanctuary, then go."
Cyrus's voice boomed across the platform as he gestured toward the colossal gates looming behind him.
Silence descended on the crowd; not a single person moved. They were not stupid; they all knew what had become of their world.
Walking out now was no different from courting death. They just had to come to terms with this new reality.
Cyrus's lips curled into a faint smile, "Good. You've all made the right choice."
"Now… look over there."
He pointed toward a line of management personnel stationed near sleek booths, each lane illuminated by faint blue light.
Holographic screens magnified the scene for everyone to see.
"These are the registration stations. Step forward, line up, and register your identities. Don't cause any trouble; otherwise, you will get into trouble."
His words cut through the air.
However, deep in his heart, Cyrus couldn't help but laugh inwardly. 'Damn, I really have rhythm.'
The soldiers began directing the crowd towards the booth while the management personnel held scanners equipped with Noah's advanced data network.
The process was straightforward. Each survivor stepped forward, had their face scanned, and instantly, the holographic screen displayed their full identities pulled from Noah's database.
The country's resident information system had already been infiltrated long before the apocalypse.
Name, address, occupation, age, birthdate. Even criminal history was laid bare for all to see.
A middle-aged man with rough hands shuffled forward nervously.
"What's your specialized skill?" asked one of the management personnel after scanning him.
"I… I'm a farmer."
"Next."
The man was waved aside and directed toward another booth where his information would be filed for future assignments.
One after another, the survivors passed through,teachers, engineers, students,all processed quickly under Noah's efficient system.
But just then...
Beep… beep… BEEP!
A scanner suddenly erupted with a shrill alarm that pierced through the station.
The crowd jumped in shock. The screen above glowed red as it displayed details about the man standing at the booth.
"David Jones… Male… 44 years old. Address: East Dockline, Apex City, Block 17, Apartment 42B. Criminal Record: Imprisoned for murder, arson, rape, drug trafficking. Sentence incomplete, escaped custody. Status: still at large."
"I repeat, David Jones: imprisoned for murder, rape, arson, drug trafficking..."
The chilling announcement reverberated throughout the platform three times...
The survivors were shocked...
"W-what?!"
"That man… I saw him help someone onto the bus earlier!"
"Yeah! He saved me when I fell!"
But before anyone could react...
A dozen soldiers swiftly surrounded David Jones, the muzzles of their guns pointed at his head.
"I'm not...! The system's wrong!" he shouted desperately, his body trembling with panic.
"I'm not guilty... I'm just an ordinary man!" Murmurs of confusion rippled through the crowd.
Cyrus, seeing this, walked over, his eyes calm as ever with a faint smile on his lips.
"Noah does not make mistakes," he shook his head and said.
The crowd watched on, but some of them remained silent, while others looked at each other as murmurs filled the crowd.
Cyrus was calm, his eyes dead cold. Noah is the AI brain of a Level Nine Cosmic Civilization; how can it make such a low-level mistake?
With a dismissive wave of his hand, he ordered, "Lock him up. I'll decide what to do with him later."
David was immediately put in handcuffs as he was dragged away amid his desperate cries and pleas.
Cyrus didn't even spare him another glance at all.
Turning toward the crowd with eyes sharp as ice, he warned them, "I am doing you all a favor by sheltering you here. But mark my words, never question my decisions. Otherwise…"
His gaze scanned over the crowd as he said coldly, "…you'll end up as food for the zombies outside."
The crowd collectively held its breath as they swallowed hard.
Even those who had defended David shrank back in fear, pale and trembling at Cyrus's chilling words.
---
At a distance stood Professor Albert, Selene, James, and Rose, all witnesses to this scene.
Rose narrowed her eyes and said softly, "This man... he is really cold and ruthless."
Selene crossed her arms over her chest, which jiggled slightly, her voice cold as ice, "Cruel? He watched a pregnant woman being dragged into a horde and eaten without blinking."
Rose froze in place, her face went white with horror.
"...What?!"
She let out a small startled scream.
Professor Albert nodded and added, "Yes, it's true. So listen closely, little Rose... you better keep that temper of yours in check. A man who can watch a pregnant woman being eaten in front of him without batting an eye... imagine what he might do to you if you push him too far."
Rose's body was stiff with fear, her expression shifting between various emotions, but mostly fear and horror.
Her lips were tightly pressed together as her gaze looked at Cyrus's back.
Cyrus, who was standing at a distance, felt someone looking at him and then turned to face Rose.
Their eyes immediately locked onto each other. Cyrus smiled, an innocent and sweet smile.
But in Rose's eyes, that innocent and sweet smile was more terrifying than those zombies outside.
Her knees buckled, her heart started pounding loudly in her chest as if it might jump out.
Cold sweat trickled down her back. She suddenly felt too cold as she shivered, her face turning even more pale.
The fear that gripped her was too intense; she opened her trembling lips and whispered.
"Too... scary!"