NOVGO.NET Chapter 32 Leaving behind the bunker
Chapter 32: Chapter 32 Leaving behind the bunker
The clattering of equipment echoed from the opposite end of the bunker while the rich aroma of roasted beef and simmering soup drifted through the air, reaching every corner.
Kai stopped what he was doing and sniffed deeply.
"Damn... whatever she’s cooking smells so damn good."
He spoke to Adrian, who had just finished collecting the remaining supplies scattered around the bunker. With the use of his dimensional ability, everything disappeared one after another into Luna’s bag until the entire bunker had been emptied.
"You’re right. I can’t wait to eat a proper meal because whatever I’ve been eating here has been absolutely disgusting. Like, can you imagine?" Adrian snorted.
Kai looked around, his eyes widening in disbelief after realizing every single item had vanished.
"Holy shit... you actually did it! I can’t believe we’re finally done!"
He jumped happily, relieved that they wouldn’t have to continue stockpiling, at least for now.
"True. Come on, let’s go help Luna with whatever she’s doing."
Adrian started walking away, but Kai blinked in confusion, unsure of what to do.
"Why aren’t you coming? We’re all eating the food, so it wouldn’t be fair to leave her doing everything alone."
Kai shrugged before reluctantly following him.
The moment they entered the makeshift kitchen area, they saw Rowan already beside Luna. He was crouched over a kettle, patiently waiting for water to boil while constantly glancing around as if hoping someone would rescue him. The moment he spotted them, he waved them over.
"For goodness’ sake, Rowan, are you done with that water yet?" Luna asked without turning around. "It’s just water you’re boiling. You’re not roasting zombies."
The three men grimaced immediately at the image.
Kai instinctively turned around to leave, only for Adrian to grab him by the collar and drag him back.
"Nice try," Adrian chuckled. "We’re all helping."
Kai pouted before walking over, only to freeze at the sight before him.
Cooking gas cylinders...
Pots of different sizes...
Bowls...
Knives...
Spoons...
Cooking utensils covering almost every aspect of preparing a meal.
"...Don’t tell me all of this came out of that bag?" Adrian asked in disbelief.
Luna simply nodded, her back still facing them as she stirred the final pot of stew.
"The food’s ready. Someone arrange those empty cartons into chairs so I have somewhere to serve everything."
Adrian immediately picked up several sturdy boxes while Rowan carried plates over to the makeshift dining area.
A few moments later, Luna placed the final dish down before letting out a satisfied sigh.
"Didn’t I tell all of you to wash yourselves first?"
The three men looked at one another before awkwardly shaking their heads.
Luna slowly facepalmed.
No wonder she had been smelling something unpleasant this entire time. She had assumed it came from somewhere inside the bunker when, in reality, it was her companions.
"Do me a favor. After we’re done eating, carry the water back there and wash yourselves properly. We’re leaving soon, and I’d rather not travel with three walking garbage dumps."
The three men looked embarrassed.
"Tomorrow, I think we should leave."
That single sentence immediately shocked them.
"So soon?" Rowan frowned.
"Where are we even going? Everywhere is dangerous now, and we don’t even know what’s beyond these walls."
Although the bunker was becoming unbearably hot and suffocating, it still felt much safer than the refugee camp outside, which had become nothing more than a nest of death.
He couldn’t even imagine what waited beyond the protective walls.
Luna glanced at him calmly.
"So... you’re willing to stay here until this shield explodes?"
Silence.
"Because that’s exactly what’s going to happen. Once it fails, everyone around this place is going to die."
Her words weren’t exaggerated.
They were a simple declaration.
The three men froze where they stood as fear settled into their hearts.
"Oh God..."
Kai rubbed the back of his neck.
"No place is safe anymore."
Luna merely shrugged.
"Well... my place is."
That immediately caught their attention.
"I can guarantee it’s safe."
She paused before adding calmly,
"The real question is whether all of you can survive long enough to make it there."
Without saying another word, she sat down and began eating.
She was starving.
If there was one thing she absolutely refused to experience again in this world, it was hunger.
The boys had their own large plate while Luna kept hers separate.
Call her selfish if they wanted.
She had provided the ingredients, the equipment, and cooked everything herself.
The least she deserved was her own plate.
Kai wasted no time.
He grabbed a piece of roasted beef and stuffed it into his mouth.
The tender meat practically melted on his tongue.
"Oh my God..."
His eyes widened in pure bliss.
"This is so good! I want more!"
Within minutes, the three men completely wiped out their serving.
They leaned against the cartons afterward, rubbing their stomachs while gasping for breath.
"Damn..." Adrian sighed happily.
"Luna, your cooking is incredible."
Rowan silently nodded in agreement.
Kai could only lift a tired thumbs-up.
Words had completely failed him.
Just as they were about to rest and let the food settle...
BOOM!!
The entire bunker violently trembled.
The walls shook so hard that dust rained from the ceiling while several metal shelves toppled over.
"What the hell was that?"
Rowan shot to his feet.
"In what universe can something this heavy make an entire metal bunker shake?"
Luna’s expression immediately darkened.
She already knew who was responsible.
The government.
They must have upgraded their weapons after obtaining Beast Cores powerful enough to strengthen their artillery.
They were trying to blast open the bunker and reclaim every supply hidden inside.
The stockpile had originally been meant for everyone in the safe zone.
Now it belonged to her.
Desperation had driven them to use increasingly destructive weapons.
"Should we check outside?" Kai suggested.
Adrian immediately covered his mouth.
"Have you lost your mind?"
He stared at him as though Kai had gone insane.
"If they spot us, a single bullet will tear right through your body."
Kai gulped and immediately gave up on the idea.
Just then...
Luna’s system suddenly flashed before her eyes.
[Last Target Found.]
[Target Status: Unconscious.]
[Current Location: Survival Camp.]
Luna’s pupils shrank.
Damn it...
Why now?
And unconscious?
If she remembered correctly...
It was Ethan Vale.
The SSS-Class healer from her previous life.
Yet in this life...
He had awakened as nothing more than an F-Class.
"Check the target’s condition and report back immediately."
The system vanished for only a few seconds before returning.
[Target Alive.]
[Current Condition: Healing Slowly Due to F-Class Ability.]
Luna secretly released a breath.
Good.
At least he was still alive.
She immediately stood.
"Boys."
All three looked toward her.
"We’re leaving."
"There is no point staying here and fighting over an empty bunker."
"Pack your things."
She turned toward Adrian.
"And get your portal ready."
Adrian looked slightly nervous.
"Are... are you sure this is safe?"
"There are soldiers outside."
Luna shot him a flat look.
"I know exactly where we’re going."
"As long as you follow my instructions..."
"We’ll be fine."
Adrian didn’t question her again.
He quickly gathered his belongings while Rowan and Kai hurried to collect theirs.
None of them dared approach the windows.
The constant gunfire outside made that a death sentence.
Meanwhile, the bunker continued shaking violently.
It felt as though it could collapse at any second.
"Hurry up, you snails!"
Luna shouted.
"We’re running out of time!"
Adrian immediately raised both hands.
Purple energy spiraled around his palms before twisting into a swirling dimensional vortex that appeared against the wall.
The portal stabilized.
Luna looked toward the two men standing nearest to it.
"Get in."
Her voice left no room for argument.
Kai stubbornly shook his head.
"I’m not leaving without you."
Before he could finish speaking—
THUD!
Luna shoved him straight into the portal.
His scream disappeared together with his body.
"Tch..."
She sighed.
"You’re way too talkative."
She then looked toward Adrian.
"Let’s go."
The very instant they stepped forward—
CRASH!!
The reinforced bunker doors exploded inward.
A squad of armed soldiers stormed inside while firing wildly in every direction.
But after entering...
They froze.
Every shelf...
Every storage rack...
Every box...
Everything...
Was gone.
Not a single supply remained.
Only empty cartons were scattered across the spotless bunker.
It looked as though nobody had ever lived there.
The commander stared blankly at the empty room.
Billions worth of supplies...
Food...
Medicine...
Equipment...
Every last bit had vanished.
The final hope of the safe zone had disappeared without a trace.
Cold sweat rolled down his forehead.
"...We’re finished."
His voice trembled.
"Whoever did this..."
"...has doomed us all."
Before anyone could respond—
CRACK!!
A deafening sound echoed across the bunker.
Everyone instinctively looked upward.
A massive fracture spread across the protective shield surrounding the safe zone.
Then...
A single beam of crimson sunlight pierced through.
The moment it touched the bunker—
Half of the metal structure instantly began melting.
"AAAAAAAHHHHH!!"
Dozens of soldiers caught within the sunlight screamed as their flesh dissolved before everyone’s eyes.
Bones melted.
Armor liquefied.
Their bodies disappeared in seconds.
The remaining soldiers stumbled backward in horror, desperately avoiding the burning light pouring through the broken shield.
The commander felt every bit of color drain from his face.
"We have to report to the General!"
He shouted while retreating.
"Now!"
"If the rest of the shield breaks..."
His voice shook with terror.
"...we’re all going to be fried alive."