18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 495

From the moment Jasper lobbed the grenade, Stella had already darted into the safety of Arcadia. She stayed hidden for only a few minutes before reemerging silently. Nearby, a small squad of armed men murmured as they searched, “Damn it, where’d they go?”

Without a sound, Stella and Jasper sprang from behind, swiftly and efficiently snapping their necks. Even with their caution, a slight noise gave them away. From a distance, the relentless chatter of a machine gun ripped through the air again. It seemed they were split into countless squads, and any hint of movement was met with a barrage of bullets regardless of who was hit.

Stella could breathe easier now. When the gunfire died down, she tossed a shoe into the distance. Another round of gunfire followed. A few minutes later, a handful of figures approached stealthily. She threw another shoe. After repeated friendly fire incidents, the enemy was thoroughly infuriated. “Son of a gun, everything’s been shot to hell, and the enemy is still not dead?” Ammunition was running out.

Anger makes people rash. This time, Stella didn’t throw a shoe; she threw a vial of ether. It was met with the same result: riddled with bullets. Before long, the sound of heavy bodies hitting the ground could be heard. Unsure if it was a genuine knockout or a feint, Stella pondered how to safely finish the job when the ceiling and blinding lights suddenly came to life.

The space was vast and open, resembling a sports arena, with dozens of bodies strewn across the floor. Laughter echoed from above, a voice speaking fluent English with a hint of surprise, “A superhuman? No wonder so many of our men died by your hands.” The voice was arrogant and conceited.

Stella didn’t deny it, her voice cold, “Where’s my wolf?”

“Join us, and not only will we return your wolf, but we’ll also wipe the slate clean of past grievances.”

Stella was surprised, “Even after we’ve killed so many of your men, you’re sure you won’t pursue it?”

The voice was authoritative, suggesting a high rank within the facility, but with a clear thought process, “We need the strongest allies. Those who die by your hands are nothing but trash.” They were adept at winning people over, “If you join us, we can offer you a seat among the Five Eyes Alliance.” But the threat was naked and clear, “Otherwise, you will pay with your lives here.”

“I’ve always liked making threats,” Stella said with a slight sneer, “but I don’t appreciate being threatened.”