Chapter 48: Wasteland

I drifted away from the Titan, flying through the sky with no destination.

How the hell do I take him down? Or should I just give up and head to a different country...? Then, right in the middle of my thoughts, I sensed multiple humans in the “Spatial Awareness.”

Looks like a whole bunch of people took shelter in this massive car factory. I edge closer, trying to get a look at the refugees up close...

"Come to take shelter? Unusual... unusual..."

I was called out to by a man near the big shutter. Looks like there’s no military here—just regular civilians and cops.

Back in the day, there were still a few people fleeing here and there... but lately, it’s dropped off sharply.

"Are the giants getting more active or something?"

It’s that too… I think the whole nation just lost hope, you know… At first, even with everything falling apart, we still believed the strong America would fix things… but months go by, nothing changes… no, it’s actually getting worse.

"Starting to give up already?"

"Can't help it... I heard humans are dwindling fast... and lately, there was this huge attack on refugees at Miller Park..."

A chill ran down my spine...

"Mirror Park?! The giant attacked it? When was this?!"

Uhh... can't tell you the exact time, the signal's been messed up bad... but we've been keeping in touch with the shelters around here through all kinds of ways... if you really wanna know, you should ask the others... wait, huh?

Gone...!?!

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I popped into Mirror Park in an instant. Everywhere… it’s all ruins… a mountain of blood and corpses inside.

I was too focused on the Titan… should’ve thought more about the safety of the siblings I saved, the soldiers, the refugees here…? Now, too late, regret hits me hard.

A bitter taste spreads across my mouth…

I cast Thousand-Mile Eye and Spatial Awareness in every direction, searching for survivors. Human presence—about ten kilometers ahead. I teleported there instantly.

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Michelle was exhausted… cried so hard she might’ve run out of tears.

“El… El…?”

Below her, her brother El lay motionless, sprawled on the ground. His face was pale, body torn to shreds. Emergency treatment had been done, but he was barely alive—miraculous, really.

“He won’t last much longer…,”

That was Joshua, the soldier who’d escaped with her. Only around two hundred of us made it here—soldiers included.

“Don’t know if anyone else got out… but as long as that group of giants is still around, escaping’s nearly impossible.”

They came as a group, led by a single giant. Giants rarely gather like that—so it was worse. Coordinated. That made them terrifying.

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We were heading for the nearest evacuation shelter—the public museum. Evacuation sites are kept as far apart as possible. That way, if one gets hit, the others stay safe.

But that also means no help’s coming. We’ve got to make it to another shelter ourselves. Even if we do… there’s no guarantee everyone’ll be protected… Each shelter’s got enough trouble just surviving on its own…

“Joshua, how much longer ‘til we get there?”

Michelle asked, voice tight with worry. She wants to save her brother… But moving now? That’s dangerous!

Giants slow down at night. We wanted to wait till dusk…

Clatter…

I spin around. A three-meter-tall giant’s perched on top of a half-collapsed building. It lets out a deafening roar.

“Giiiiieeeeeeeeee—!!!!”

“Shit! Scout!”

They found us…!!