ALL NOVEL Chapter 1: No Prey
Chapter 1: No Prey
The sky was darkening, and nightfall was approaching.
Chen Fan stood among the crowd, tiptoeing and gazing into the distance, just like the vast majority of people.
Occasionally, the roar of beasts echoed from the depths of the wilderness.
If the hunting team failed to return to the camp before dark, they would face endless darkness and the beasts’ attacks.
Chen Fan’s mother grabbed his arm, her pale face filled with helplessness.
“Don’t worry, Mom,” Chen Fan comforted her softly. “Dad will be back soon.”
The woman nodded and looked up, her eyes eagerly scanning the distance.
As Chen Fan swept his gaze around, he saw the anxious faces of over a hundred people.
He sighed inwardly, still trying to understand why he had been transported to this world after dozing off on the subway.
This world was similar to his previous one, but with a twist: ten years ago, a strange phenomenon changed the sky and earth, causing all living things, including plants and trees, to become larger and more ferocious.
Among humans, there emerged Awakened individuals who possessed extraordinary mental powers, far surpassing ordinary people. They could control the elements, summoning wind, rain, and lightning. Some top-tier Awakened individuals could even wield hot weapons with ease, capable of destroying an entire city from the previous world with a single strike.
However, Awakened individuals were extremely rare, and they gradually formed cities that attracted survivors. Some large cities even had electricity, internet, delicious food, and clean water, making life seem like it was before. People could even take the subway to work, maintaining a routine of 9 am to 5 pm.
Despite these comforts, resources were ultimately limited, and most ordinary people were not qualified to enter cities, not even small ones. They could only settle outside and defend against beasts. Basic safety and food were luxuries, and people lacked essential items like medicine, energy, and daily necessities. They walked the thin line between life and death every day.
The original owner of the body had died from extreme hunger, sneaking out to eat unknown fruits in the wild, which led to a three-day high fever and eventually death, allowing him to occupy the body.
He clenched his fists, wondering if something had really happened.
Just then, an excited shout came from the 7-8 meter high wooden watchtower,
“They’re here! They’re here!”
The crowd eagerly asked for confirmation,
“Really?”
“Where? Why can’t we see them?”
“They’re far away, but we’ll be able to see them soon.”
“Great, they’re finally back!”
The crowd erupted in a frenzy, gazing far into the distance. Small black dots slowly appeared on the horizon, growing closer and closer. The people’s faces lit up with joy, their smiles thickening.
However, as the team approached, the smiles on the people’s faces gradually froze. The team of over a dozen people, carrying bows, arrows, and spears, looked disheveled. Some were supported while walking, and others bore injuries. At a glance, it was clear that they had no prey. Moreover, some keen observers noticed that there were fewer people than before.
The team slowly approached, stopping in front of the suspension bridge. The leader, a man with a square face and a cold expression, had several bloody wounds on his right arm. His face was filled with remorse.
Time seemed to freeze at this moment.
“I’m sorry,” he spoke in a low tone, “we encountered two mid-level beasts. They suddenly attacked us, and we lost not only our original prey but also Zhu Zi, A Hua, Xiao Gao, they all…”
Before he finished speaking, several people in the crowd felt dizzy and fainted.
The crowd was in an uproar, with people rushing to lift up the fainted individuals and send them back home. The other members of the hunting team lowered their heads in shame, not daring to meet the eyes of the elderly, women, and children.
Chen Fan’s body trembled slightly.
Dead?
Three people had died this time. It seemed that this was the most significant loss in the original owner’s memory.
The man with the square face, leader of the group and father of Chen Fan’s original body, led the team into the camp.
Sounds of sorrow filled the air, with soft weeping, sighs, and comforting words. The hunting team slowly entered, and the suspension bridge was lifted. Surrounding the entire camp was a wall over three meters high, giving a sense of security.
The wives and children of the injured men gazed at their loved ones with heavy hearts, feeling pain and regret. They remembered how they had set out together in the morning, but some had not returned in the evening, and they felt grateful for their safe return.
The suspension bridge lifted, and the three-meter-high wall surrounding the camp provided a sense of security. The wives and children of the injured men gazed at their loved ones with heavy hearts, grateful for their safe return, unlike those who hadn’t come back.
As the sky darkened, the camp fell into darkness, illuminated only by faint moonlight.
“Guodong, your arm,” a woman said, grabbing his arm and shedding tears. Chen Fan approached, still adjusting to his new identity.
“I’m fine,”
Chen Guodong said, shaking his head in self-blame. “If only I had discovered those two beasts earlier, Zhu Zi and the others wouldn’t have…”
Here is the text, corrected and arranged in paragraphs for easier reading:
SFX: Slap!
A strong and powerful hand slapped his shoulder, and a bald, burly man spoke comfortingly, “Guodong, this isn’t your fault. If anyone’s to blame, it’s this damn world. We survivors will eventually have a day like this too.” He continued, “Get some rest early.”
He patted Guodong’s shoulder again and smiled at Chen Fan, who had a serious expression, before leaving with his family.
“Dad, let’s go back first,” Chen Fan said, “Little brother is still at home.” Chen Guodong hesitated and nodded.
The entire camp fell into a deathly silence, with only occasional crackling sounds and weak voices coming from the nearby houses.
“Mom, I’m hungry, I want to eat some more,” a child complained.
“Sleep, and you won’t be hungry,” a woman replied.
“But I’m really hungry,” the child protested.
“Listen, if you eat those things, you’ll really have nothing to eat,” the woman warned. The voices grew weaker.
Chen Guodong’s face filled with guilt. Chen Fan caught a glimpse of this scene and sighed inwardly. His father, though taciturn and few in words, was a kind and honest person. Every time there was prey, he shared it equally among the people in the camp, taking care of the elderly, women, and children, to the point where his own family had barely enough.
Recently, luck had been bad, and there was little food in the camp. If this continued, they might face a catastrophic fate where people would eat each other. Winter was approaching, and if things went on like this, it would be a disaster.