Chapter 597 - 587: Sound Source Pollution 39

At the thought, Barry Wallace’s pupils instantly dilated.

’Could our planet have already been conquered by aliens?’

At the same time, scenes from every alien invasion movie he’d ever seen began to play on a loop in his mind.

Only one thought remained in his mind: ’What should I do? Should I tell someone about this?’

’But if I say anything, I’ll die for sure.’

Remembering Moira Lynch’s earlier threat, Barry Wallace couldn’t help but shudder.

Just then, Moira Lynch’s voice echoed in his mind without any warning.

"Stop letting your imagination run wild. We have no interest in your planet!"

Startled, Barry Wallace shot upright, his head inevitably smacking right into the roof of the car with a loud THUMP.

The others in the car saw this and asked with concern, "Barry, are you okay?"

Because Barry Wallace had shared his meditation technique with them, they couldn’t help but feel a sense of respect for him. Such is the power of being a teacher, even for just a day.

At their words, Barry Wallace waved a hand to show he was fine. Then, in his mind, he carefully asked, ’Young Lynn, can you hear my thoughts?’

"No. Your own mind is just too active."

Hearing Moira Lynch’s reply, Barry Wallace fell silent.

’If you can’t hear my thoughts, then who was I just talking to?’

’Was it a hallucination?’

"It’s different. You wouldn’t understand even if I explained. In any case, just drop those silly ideas of yours."

...

About half a day into their journey to Novus, the group unexpectedly encountered another batch of survivors.

And they all shared the same destination: Novus.

As their ranks swelled, Kai York suddenly remarked, "Why does it feel like there are so many more survivors from other cities than from Portmire?"

Other cities had also suffered heavy casualties, but they paled in comparison to Portmire.

After all, for a city that large to have fewer than a thousand survivors was simply inconceivable.

Moira Lynch did a quick scan with her spiritual power. The survivors from other cities numbered in the tens of thousands, at least. A dense sea of people stretched out before them.

"I’m wondering if Portmire was hit so hard because of us."

’Although I’m reluctant to take the blame,’ she thought, ’as the only variable and the ones being targeted by the Cosmic Consciousness, it’s the only logical explanation.’

The arrival of Moira Lynch and her group didn’t attract much attention.

Despite the size of the crowd, everyone was surprisingly quiet.

The faint scent of blood hung in the air, and fresh bloodstains and monster carcasses could be seen nearby.

It seemed this place had already suffered several monster attacks before their arrival.

Most of the survivors were on foot. Only a few had cars, and even those were just inching along through the crowd.

While Moira Lynch’s party hadn’t drawn much attention initially, that didn’t mean they went completely unnoticed.

The elderly and children were a rare sight among the crowd, as both were, after all, vulnerable groups.

Most people were clustered in small groups of family or friends, huddling together for support and warily eyeing the others.

There was no conversation, no expression—only uncertainty and worry for the future, mixed with a deep-seated wariness of strangers.

Upon seeing this, Moira, Hugh, and Kai felt a pang of pity, but that was all. They could barely fend for themselves as it was.

’In a situation like this, it’s best to look after ourselves first.’

From time to time, people in the crowd cast furtive glances at the newly arrived convoy.

In the apocalypse, a car wasn’t just for getting around; it was also a shelter for rest.

Moreover, they could see through the windows that the people inside were in good shape, a stark contrast to their own weary state.

Moira, of course, noticed these scrutinizing gazes, but she paid them no mind.

’What else was she supposed to do? Get out and start a fight with them?’

However, even if they didn’t want to stir up trouble, the world was full of ignorant, self-righteous people who would crawl out of the woodwork.

A commotion suddenly broke out in the crowd up ahead. A moment later, a weaselly-looking man in a black trench coat and sunglasses emerged and headed straight for them.

The man scanned the entire convoy, his gaze finally settling on the car Moira and her companions were in. The reason was simple: it was in the best condition.

The other cars were all a bit banged up, but this one was pristine, looking as good as new.

Watching the man approach, Kai York smirked. He cracked his knuckles, the sound echoing in the car, and said to the two in the front seats, "I’ll go take care of this. Be right back."

"Just teach them a lesson. Don’t go overboard," Hugh Finch said, his eyes fixed on the road as he drove.

"Got it." With that, Kai York’s figure vanished from the car.

A moment later, the sound of fists hitting flesh, punctuated by wails and pleas for mercy, drifted in from outside.

The onlookers, seeing this, had no intention of intervening, just as they hadn’t stopped the man earlier, even though they knew he was there to cause trouble.

About five minutes later, Kai York reappeared in the car. Rubbing his slightly reddened knuckles, he said, "Turns out all those guys had awakened skin-hardening abilities. I gotta say, hitting them feels totally different from a punching bag."

Just then, Moira Lynch suddenly looked in a specific direction. "Something’s heading this way."

The words had barely left her mouth when a piercing shriek split the air. Simultaneously, a sonic wave kicked up a blinding cloud of sand and dust that came surging toward them.

Soon, the entire convoy was lost in the swirling yellow sand.

"Everyone! Stay put! Don’t move, and don’t panic!"

Just then, a red figure flashed through the sandstorm. A bloodcurdling scream followed, and the voice of the person who had just shouted was abruptly cut off.

About ten minutes later, as the sandstorm gradually subsided, people’s vision finally cleared.

The earlier scream was still fresh in their minds, and everyone began looking around to see who had been taken.

Moira, on the other hand, already knew who the victim was: the person who had just told everyone to stay put.

The red figure had a clear target. It struck fast, ruthlessly, and with precision, showing no hesitation. After grabbing its victim, it fled immediately, showing no intention of lingering for a fight.

"I have a bad feeling," Moira said. "That thing will be back."