NOVEL NEXT CHAPTER 91: Day 4
POV : EARTH’S CHILDREN SETTLEMENT
Back at the settlement of the Earth's Children, the sun rose on Day 4, casting a reddish hue over the desolate landscape. The group stood outside, staring up at the sky, where the faint shimmer of the Mana Dome of MegaAwesomeness still flickered, a reassuring barrier between them and the horrors of the Wasteland.
Yesterday had been almost peaceful, a rarity in this brutal world. The Mana Dome had done its job perfectly, keeping the demon dogs at bay. Ever since they had put it up, no one had suffered any significant injuries. Spirits were higher than usual, and the group had even indulged a little with the coins they had earned.
Clark stood among them, his eyes narrowing slightly as he surveyed the settlement. Yesterday might have been easy, but he wasn’t about to let his guard down. He’d been one of the few to venture out, not out of any particular bravery, but because he knew that appearances mattered. If he was going to position himself as Olivia’s replacement, he had to be seen as capable, as someone who contributed more than just talk.
But for now, his ambitions took a back seat as he watched the others. They had spent most of their coins on musical instruments—frivolous, in his opinion—and plenty of SoyLent: Green. At just a fraction of a coin per serving, SoyLent: Green was the most cost-effective food available, even if the taste left much to be desired. Some had argued for the more expensive vegetarian sandwiches, but at one coin each, the price was too steep. Practicality won out over luxury. Besides the Soylent: Green came in chocolate bar form, a drink or a powdered porridge mix. Lots of choices for the vegan crowd.
The theme song was catchy too. It played on the Food-O-Matic when you bought it.
[Verse]
Soylant: Green sweet and true
Nourish me and you
Tasty in every bite
Morning noon and night
[Verse 2]
Green and full of fun
Good for everyone
Sip it on the go
Healthy glow will show
[Chorus]
Soy! Soy! Joy! Joy!
Life is full of flavor
Sip and let it savour
Soy! Soy! Joy! Joy!
A treat that you’ll adore
[Bridge]
Green machine in sight
Future feels so bright
Every sip delight
Happiness ignites
[Verse 3]
No secrets here to hide
Soylant on your side
Energy to spare
Goodness everywhere
[Chorus]
Soy! Soy! Joy! Joy!
Life is full of flavour
Sip and let it savour
Soy! Soy! Joy! Joy!
A treat that you’ll adore
Remember it one hundred percent doesn’t contain Peeple.
https://suno.com/song/411ad435-6dfb-40b2-b30e-030ea1f4b5b5
In fact Clark had found himself humming the song unknowingly.
Clark’s gaze shifted to Ronald, who was hovering near Olivia. As usual, Ronald had stayed inside, avoiding any real danger. The man wasn’t a coward, exactly, but he was certainly no hunter. Clark didn’t blame him, but it didn’t earn him any respect, either.
"Olivia," Ronald called out, his voice laced with concern. "It’s been a couple days. Aren’t you going to get more weapons and prepare?"
Olivia, ever the pacifist, didn’t even bother to look up from where she was sorting through their remaining supplies. "We’re paying for the Mana Dome of MegaAwesomeness," she replied, her tone dismissive. "It says right in the description: 100% no monsters or demons can get through. That’s all we need. Weapons? Weapons are for barbarians. We don’t need them, and you shouldn’t either. Words can solve our current crisis. Peace is what’s important."
Clark bristled at her words. It was just like Olivia to rely too heavily on the Dome, to believe that a magical shield was all they needed. Sure, the Dome had worked so far, but Clark knew better than to put all his trust in a single defence. He’d seen enough in the Wasteland to know that safety was an illusion. An illusion that could shatter at any moment. He had personally seen the results of the Day of Massacre.
Still, he held his tongue. Arguing with Olivia wouldn’t help his cause. If anything, it would only make him look bad in front of the others. He needed to be smart, to wait for the right moment to make his move.
Just then, a shimmer of light appeared in the sky above them, catching everyone’s attention. The leaderboard materialised, hovering in the air, its familiar glow pulsing gently. The group watched in silence, anticipation building.
A tiny, brightly coloured fairy zipped into view, her wings fluttering so fast they were a blur. She stopped mid-air, her hands on her hips, a mischievous grin on her face.
“Did you miss me, bitches?” she called out, her voice high-pitched and mocking. “Here’s your current leaderboard!”
The numbers began to scroll, revealing the top players, their points, and the latest standings. The group watched eagerly, some with excitement, others with a growing sense of dread. The leaderboard was more than just a ranking—it was a measure of their survival, their progress, and for some, like Clark, a tool for ambition.
Clark’s eyes scanned the list. He knew that every point counted, every action scrutinised. But as the names continued to scroll, Clark felt a knot of anxiety tighten in his chest. The competition was fierce, and the Wasteland was unpredictable. He couldn’t afford to let his guard down—not for a second. Peace might be Olivia’s priority, but for Clark, survival was all that mattered.
And as the fairy laughed and the commotion over the leaderboard finally settled, Clark couldn’t help but wonder how long their luck would hold, how long before the Wasteland’s cruel reality would catch up to them all.
TOP 10 SETTLEMENTS
1. Portal Crushers: Atlas 3.1 points
2. Canucks: Wayne 3
3. Cell Block 21: Klempkin 3
4. The Coven Clique : Emma 3
5. Faith: Kumar 3
6. Belief: Oliver 3
7. Cocoon: Amelia 3
8. America United: Charlotte 3
9. Blackstrike: Noah 3
10. Help Everyone: Sophia 3
As the leaderboard glowed in the air, showing Atlas’s Portal Crushers in first place, Ronald glanced nervously at the others, "Isn’t that a little weird? I mean, how is Atlas ahead of everyone? We've all been working hard, and the rankings are still so close."
Clark scoffed, crossing his arms, "You think he's just doing this fairly? Come on, Ronald. Look at the gap—3.1 points when everyone else is tied at 3? Atlas is up to something sneaky and underhanded. It’s the only explanation. How else would he be ahead? He’s probably pulling all kinds of stunts behind the scenes."
Olivia shook her head, her voice calm but firm, "Clark, we don't know that. The leaderboard reflects who’s doing well, sure, but that doesn’t mean there’s anything shady going on. Maybe Atlas and his group are just more efficient—or luckier—than the rest."
Clark's eyes narrowed, "Lucky? Or maybe they’re playing the game in a way we can’t see. That extra 0.1 could mean the difference between us getting the 100 tokens or not. And you really think they’re just lucky? I don’t buy it."
Olivia sighed, "The leaderboard matters, yes, but it’s not the only thing that matters. We’re safe here with the Mana Dome. Let's focus on maintaining that, rather than pointing fingers without proof."
Ronald hesitated, glancing between them, "But if Clark’s right, if Atlas is doing something underhanded... shouldn't we be prepared? We can’t let them pull too far ahead."
Clark nodded, satisfied that Ronald was starting to see things his way, "Exactly. We need to stay sharp, stay ready. The Wasteland’s cruel, and if Atlas is playing dirty, we can’t afford to sit back and trust that everything will work out in our favor."
Olivia frowned, but didn’t respond, her focus shifting back to the supplies. The leaderboard continued to hover above them, a silent reminder of the stakes they were all playing for.
***
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