Johnathan Grey, Dick Heywood and Charles Bennings somehow survived the apocalypse. How a metalworker, a carpenter and a farmer exactly managed to survive is a mystery to the men as well. Their shelter was being assaulted by a massive horde of undead things, when a massive detonation shook the world outside. They had remained in their shelter for a while longer, until they heard the broken whirring of machinery outside. A man made of metal was patrolling the area, and John managed to fix the thing up until it was able to walk again. After their narrow survival, it didn't take long for them to hear of a city not too far east of them having survived.
Having gathered in a car, they headed past many areas. A bombed out town, a burned down town, a forest full of spiders that... didn't pursue them. So far, the weirdest location was definitely their destination.
Warshawa, 'the city of light' stood tall in front of them. A bright light shines from the top from some magical device, and the entire city is covered in plants. Normally one would assume such a place is abandoned, if it wasn't for the frequent patrols. The patrols consisted of just about anything really, former Lost, former paladins, robots wearing... skins (Bennings puked when he saw them) and cybernetically enhanced pseudo-humans.
One such patrol approaches from the north, carrying bodies of all kinds. All the bodies get dumped at the edge of the wall, and as one of the robots reaches for one of the corpses only to get carried away by its comrades, the trio of men wonder if they really made it to a safe haven. Long vines grab the corpses, and with the help of someone in necromancer garb is pulled to the top of the wall.
The men slowly drive up to the gate, and are halted by one of the Lost and a paladin. The paladin circles their car, while a light emanates from his gauntlet.
"Unless they have a high-tier magic item that obscures inspection efforts, these men are clean." The paladin looks to his apparent partner as he says so.
"Unlikely, I'm guessing these guys just got really lucky considering they look like... well civilian is such a large word these days, I'd say... militia? Yeah, let's go with that." The Lost sergeants scribbles something on his notebook, and gestures for the vehicle to continue.
"Go in righteousness, and may Judgement preserve you." The paladin clutches his chest as he gives a small blessing to the men, clearly most invaders had a change in heart after taking such an active part in an event that could... would start religions.
Driving through the renovated gate, the men quickly notice that the city changed a lot. No building isn't wrapped in plants, and glittering spiderwebs connect the enormous growths. However, despite the wild growths, no plants block the paths, they merely seem to form a massive roof. Below the plants is... suprisingly nice. The entire road here is effectively being sheltered from the sweltering sun. Sometimes spiders crawl between the plants, adding more bioluminescent strings to the roof.
This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.
They drive slowly, but not for a lack of road safety. The entire city is clearly in the process of active recovery, the type that gives hope for the future, rather than a sadness for what was lost. Johnathan and Dick are both staring at the many workshops they pass by, and Charles is driving slowly so they can all appreciate the sight. Laborers lounge around, enjoying their lunch breaks. There isn't a single man woman or child who isn't armed in some capacity, but the stark contrast between the people inside and the patrols outside explain why the sergeant had referred to the men as militia.
A loaded van stops at a nearby checkpoint, unloading fresh weapons and armor. Soldiers of all kinds stand at the checkpoint to update their equipment, an Oni adventurer gets herself a giant tungsten club, a Lost lieutenant picks up a glowing anti-material rifle, a Paladin switches his chain mail for Kevlar. The car was moving so slow, that the men are now stuck behind the van as it leaves, and from there they notice that the silk strings don't just act as light, but as traffic control as well.
The sergeant had given them a note that had their staying arrangements, a temporary shelter until they found something more fitting. There would be plenty of free housing owing to competent administration, active expansion... and the effects of disasters that had left the city being a bit dusty from the lack of people. Regardless, once the man arrive at their destination they are awed, the building is practically untouched considering the recent apocalypse, albeit a bit covered in vines. Charles points at a woman at the side of the building, who seems to be... growing the plants?
They stop the car, and start unpacking their things. The woman also leaves the building alone once they arrive, and a radioman covered in spiders rushes to meet her.
"Governess Alura! There's been an accident! More outsiders have come from the gate!" The radioman doesn't elaborate any further, but no one cares for what purpose Earth gets visitors nowadays.
"Send Delta company, and make sure to bring plenty of necromancers. Echo company had significant issues hauling back the corpses last time. Contact our spaceborne allies as well, see if any of them can lend a hand." The radioman gives a short bow, before running off. Alura herself departs as well, in the direction of the light affixed above the city.
The men go inside their new home when it all concludes, and put the few things they still owned at their places. Johnathan is looking out of the top floor window of the house, which has view of the roof of the city. Dick arrives in the room while Charles is still unpacking.
"You think we made the right choice?" Dick asks Johnathan while he is still staring out of the window.
Johnathan simply gestures for Dick to look out the window before speaking up, and there Dick sees a beautiful sight of a city intertwined with nature, while a bright light shines on everything from above. Flying machines of war move about, returning and dispatching on missions. Far above a growing planetoid of flesh, and a repairing battleship keep a close eye on the people below, the planet has no lack of protectors for the foreseeable future.
"Just this once, I'd like to think we made the right choice."