"So crowded, Boss..." Amel said, her eyes wide.
In the distance, a crowd filled the side of the road. Most of them looked ragged, clothes torn, faces covered in dust and exhaustion. Some families sat on the sidewalks, eating dry bread while staring blankly at bodies wrapped in makeshift cloth. Sobbing could be heard between the sound of footsteps and engines.
Adam and Amel kept walking. They had been walking through the streets of Jakarta for over an hour. They finally reached the city center area, though the main military building was still faint in the distance.
"Look, we're getting closer," Adam said, his voice full of energy.
The shadow of a tall wall began to appear, standing firm under the morning sunlight. Above it, helicopters circled slowly before flying away.
As they approached the center, the atmosphere shifted. The main road was now filled with military vehicles—green trucks, jeeps, and small convoys marked with military emblems. Groups of soldiers moved quickly, some fully armed. They seemed to be heading out beyond the wall.
Amel clutched her bag tightly. Her eyes scanned the survivors sitting along the road. Some began eyeing her backpack, their stares filled with hunger and desperation.
An old woman slowly approached, her hands trembling as she reached out. "Young lady... please... just a piece of bread..."
Amel's steps slowed. Behind the old woman, a middle-aged man sat holding a limp child in his lap. His wife's face was soaked with tears, her voice cracking.
"Sir... our child is starving... please, sir..."
Amel stopped. Her shoulders rose and fell, her breath caught. She looked at Adam, unsure.
"Harden your heart a little. We're not gods," Adam said softly, his tone calm but firm.
Amel lowered her head. She didn't reply, just nodded slightly.
Adam continued, his voice gentler. "If you really want to help... then survive. Get strong first—strong enough to save more people."
Amel clenched her fists, then started walking again, silently trying to ignore the cries and empty stares around her.
They kept walking along the main road, drawing closer to the military base gates.
Suddenly, they stopped. A military truck screeched to a halt in front of them, blocking the road. On the other side, a black jeep refused to move.
"Small conflict," Adam muttered. He grabbed Amel's arm and pulled her to the side of the road, standing behind a lamp post.
"Move it!" A rough voice shouted from inside the military truck. A soldier sat behind the wheel, waving angrily.
In front of them, the black jeep remained still, blocking the main road. On its hood, six people stood casually. Two of them held rifles, ready to fire. Right next to the driver, a young man in a thick green jacket exhaled cigarette smoke. He grinned, staring up at the sky like the world was perfectly fine.
Adam stood at the edge of the sidewalk with Amel. His eyes quietly observed the scene, analyzing it like solving a puzzle.
"Boss... who's in the wrong here?" Amel whispered seriously.
Adam didn't answer right away. His eyes narrowed, locked on the man in the green jacket. The tip of his cigarette glowed red in the smoke. On the other side, the soldier's face had turned red.
"Whoever dies first... that's the one who's wrong," Adam finally said, light as a murmur. But the words froze Amel.
She looked at him, confused. "What does that even mean?"
Adam didn't reply. He gently tapped her shoulder, telling her to stay quiet. In his mind, Ozan's warning echoed again: never join the military. And now, he could see the reason clearly— the military wasn't a place for thinking. Only obedience... even if it led to death.
Meanwhile, the tension rose. The jeep driver didn't move. The man in the green jacket slowly lowered his sunglasses and spoke calmly.
"I'll give you 10 seconds to vanish."
His voice wasn't loud, but sharp enough to cut through the noise.
People on the sides of the road exchanged looks, mouths half open.
"Is he insane? He's threatening the army?" "Who is that guy? Already evolved or something?"
Whispers started to spread. Adam heard them, but didn't react. His eyes stayed on the man. That kind of confidence didn't come from luck. He either had something... or someone backing him.
The soldier in the truck gritted his teeth. He said nothing, but his face showed one thing—fury and humiliation. In a swift motion, he pulled a bazooka from behind the seat and aimed it directly at the jeep.
The sound of metal echoed in the air. Some bystanders panicked instantly.
"No way! He's serious?!" "He's gonna blow this whole road up?!"
The gang members who had been laughing scattered. Some jumped fences, others flipped their bikes and sped off.
Adam's eyes locked on the bazooka, his brows furrowed. "Shit..." He grabbed Amel's hand. "Back! Now!"
Amel slipped as she turned, but Adam caught her hand and pulled her away. They ran until the noise faded behind them. Only once they were far enough did they stop, gasping and glancing back.
What they saw made Adam freeze.
The military truck stood still, its driver's body slumped out the window—split from shoulder to waist, blood spilling down the door. The black jeep that had blocked the road was gone, only fading tire tracks leading toward the main building.
Adam swallowed hard. What the hell just happened?
No gunshots. No explosions. But those soldiers... were dead.
"Boss..." Amel gripped his arm, her voice trembling. "That guy... he's dangerous."
Adam nodded slowly, still trying to process it all. Something wasn't right. No regular street gang could pull that off so quickly and calmly. That guy had to be a high-level Evolution.
They continued walking, passing the truck now surrounded by starving survivors looting it without care for the hanging corpse. None of them said a word. Everyone was too busy trying to survive.
After around 15 minutes, Adam and Amel reached a large open field. In front stood a 10-meter-tall wall with a massive iron gate, guarded tightly by fully armed soldiers. Around the wall were tents and small posts. Armed people—gangs, Adam thought—gathered there, joking while checking their weapons.
Adam scanned the surroundings, then said quietly, "Let's go in."
They followed a group heading toward the gate. Adam noticed each person showing a kind of card to the guards before being allowed in.
"Boss... we don't have a card," Amel whispered nervously.
Adam turned to her. "Of course not," he said calmly. "It's our first time here."
Amel chuckled, feeling silly for worrying too much. She held onto Adam's arm tighter.
Soon, it was their turn.
"Card." The guard's voice was sharp and brief. His gaze stabbed toward Adam, then shifted to Amel—his eyes narrowing with ill intent.
Adam immediately pulled Amel closer, gripping her hand tightly. "This is our first visit. We don't have a card yet," he said, calm but cold.
The soldier held out his hand. "20 crystals."
Without a word, Adam took out 20 crystals from his pouch and handed them over.
"Go in." The guard jerked his chin toward the gate. "You've got until 8 PM inside."
Adam pulled Amel through quickly, not wanting to linger near the man. But just as they passed, they heard a low, disgusting whisper.
"Sweetheart... how much for you?"
Amel stopped in her tracks. She turned sharply, her eyebrows low, face flushed with anger. "What did you say, sir?" her voice trembled, but her glare was sharp.
The soldier only grinned. No answer. He didn't need to. He knew she understood.
Adam held his breath. His jaw tightened. He leaned close to Amel and whispered something in her ear. Her eyes widened, then she gave a small nod. She turned away from the soldier and walked quickly beside Adam through the gate.
Behind them, the sound of spitting echoed.
"That guy... damn lucky," the soldier muttered with envy.
What he didn't realize was—beneath the skin of his hand, Lein's custom parasite had already infiltrated—slowly crawling toward the sensitive nerves in his most vital area. Just a few seconds more... and his life would never be the same again.