OLD-WORLD EXTRA

Chapter 5: The New World

Emir furiously scoured the network, searching for any shred of evidence that the world he now found himself in was similar to the one he had read about in 'Born in Ruins.'

It became increasingly clear that while there were similarities, there were also many stark differences that the novel had failed to mention.

He also searched around for his father's name, hoping to find any mention of him but failing to do so.

Recalling the novel, he remembered that it began by recounting a great calamity that had befallen the world.

This event had been given various names, such as The Great Calamity, Doomsday, and Armageddon.

However, the official name for this cataclysmic event was World War III.

Emir wouldn't really call it a war though, as it seemed to him to be just a bunch of brainless fools pressing buttons and devastating the entire world as a consequence.

A damn nuclear war that almost wiped out the entirety of the human race due to its own leaders.

Though he had a feeling that there was more to the story than what meets the eye.

The public portrays their previous government rulers as highly incompetent, but Emir found it hard to believe that they were that incompetent.

'There must be a bigger agenda at play.' He thought.

The aftermath of the nuclear war was devastating, the old world became heavily contaminated with nuclear fallout.

And it had caused widespread destruction, resulting in the deaths of many people.

Only a small percentage of the human population, around 20 percent, managed to survive by taking refuge in underground shelters.

The world transformed into an icy wasteland, causing the deaths of countless individuals due to the scarcity of food and drinkable water.

People were dying of starvation and dehydration, but that was not the only consequence.

The climate became colder, the nights longer, and death seemed to loom over humanity.

It took humans a considerable amount of time to recover, a very, very long and unspecified amount of time, lasting millennia upon millennia.

But when almost all hope was lost, a miracle occurred, so-called heroes, people from outside the bunkers, mysteriously gained access to old-world technology and smuggled it into the remaining government's hands.

No news from the heroes was given after that fact as if they had disappeared from existence.

And now, armed with this new technology, people have finally emerged from their bunkers and started to venture out to the surface.

It was a momentous occasion, marking the return of humanity to the land they once called home.

The Old World per-se.

As the explorers ventured into the old world, they encountered unexpected dangers in the form of mutated animals, whose bodies were assumed to be altered due to the nuclear fallout.

These creatures had rapidly adapted, turning into vicious beasts that posed a serious threat.

There were alligators as big as houses, spiders the size of trucks, and packs of ravenous dogs that could tear a person apart before they could even think of fighting back.

The terrifying encounters with mutated animals in the old world prompted the remaining functioning governments to initiate the process of unification.

They aimed to recover the scattered technology of the past and fight for their survival in this new world.

The formation of the UEF led to the creation of the Hunter Association, which offered civilians the opportunity to register and become hunters.

As members of the association, they were tasked with exploring ruins to recover old-world relics, safeguarding outposts, and many other job requests.

The old-world ruins were once magnificent buildings that existed before the calamity.

Unfortunately, most of them now lie buried underground due to the destruction caused by the nukes.

In this perilous world of mutated animals and dangerous ruins, hunters must always be on guard against not only the environment but also their fellow hunters.

Greed and self-interest can lead to deadly encounters, making every mission a risk not only for their lives but also for their integrity.

In a dystopian world overrun by cybernetics, hunters are forced to rely on cutting-edge weapons, augmented suits, and futuristic vehicles to survive.

Or that is what is commonly believed, at least.

With the promise of wealth and advanced technology driving them, hunters will do whatever it takes to come out on top, even if it means betraying those closest to them.

'A perfect world to be living in for a potential battle junkie like me.' He thought.

Emir was living in a location that is covered by a huge dome, which wards off all the radioactive particles that are in the air and is protected under the UEF.

The UEF, also known as the United Earth Federation, was created after much negotiation after the war. The remaining leaders of the world agreed to form this new global government to centralize the remaining people.

The leading country of the UEF is the United States of America, with other influential countries such as China, Russia, Japan, Germany, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom as members of the governing body.

Emir's home is in Sector 2-A, which is in the former Alberta, Canada.

Canada, it is now referred to as Sector 2-A within the UEF's range of 1-A to 10-F.

The numerical value signifies the area's location, while the letter indicates the standard of living, with A-B being for the elite, C-D for the middle class, and E-F for the working and impoverished.

The remaining functioning bunkers act as the slums where people in poverty live, and where black-market dealings thrive.

Over time, humans also developed mutations that aided in their adaptation, including increased cold resistance, improved night vision, and a particularly important mutation that could only occur during the first few years of a child's life.

However, since this mutation was only mentioned in the novel, the details of it remain unknown to most, making him guess that it was likely due to a government conspiracy.

The government's manufacture of Nanobots, which were effective in fighting off radiation, led to their rapid rise to power in the Western region of the world.

The injection of nanobots is a rare privilege, reserved for the wealthy middle class and up, especially those with government or corporate affiliations.

The same nanobots are also given to the hunters under the Hunter Association, but they have to pay for them or work under a signed contract.

Emir had only gotten the nanobot injection due to being affiliated with a high-ranking hunter, his father Oliver.

It's a powerful advantage, as these nanobots enhance an individual's healing abilities, provide protection against radiation, increase their life span, and simply advance their growth rate along with their mental capabilities to a high degree.

But it's also a reminder of the stark class divide that still exists in their society and the unfair advantages that come with it.

The lawyer that visited long ago passed whatever his father left behind, and with it, they could live as a high-class family for one generation due to the government.

…

Funnily enough, every time his mother came by, she saw Emir using the terminal, so it seems that his mother thought that he was playing around, It's understandable though, given his age.

'At least it's a good cover, I don't mind her thinking that I'm a genius of sorts, but what I'm researching is too abnormal for a child, even after considering the brain enhancement caused by the Nano-bots injection...'

'And although I call it a terminal, it's basically a thin piece of glass that is connected to the network.'

The technology in this thing was beyond him as it could also display high-tech interactable holograms, which he used to play games on with his sister, and it was quite fun for him, to look at her reactions to losing to a child two years younger than her.

Discarding those thoughts, Emir eyed his mother, whose looks hadn't aged a bit, and said:

"Hey Mom, good morning."

Laura smiled at him.

"Good morning, dear. How did you sleep?"

He gave a small shrug, not wanting to reveal that he stayed up very late last night, searching things up on his terminal, like usual.

"I slept okay, I guess. I was up a little late... Reading."

Laura nodded and glanced over at the terminal.

"You're using that thing quite a bit. What are you doing on it?"

He hesitated for a moment, not sure if he should tell her the truth.

'I guess I'll tell her some of what I've been doing, I can't do what I did with my last family, and she also deserves to know.'

"I've been searching for some info, trying to learn more about the world and technology."

Laura's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"Wow, that's impressive for someone your age! Are you sure you're only five years old, Emir, or did someone hijack your brain?" She let out a snort, still surprised by her son's technological prowess.

He let out a small laugh at her words.

"It's really me, Mom. You know me, I haven't changed, have I?"

'Too close, Mom, too damn close, but I guess she knows me alright, touché.' He mused to himself.

"Sure, what have you been learning?" She asked with a teasing smile.

Taking a deep breath and looking her right in the eyes, he began to explain what he'd been studying.

'Only the basic stuff though, I don't want her to question my existence.' He added in his mind.

Laura listened intently, clearly impressed.

'Hmmm...maybe Mom could help me out. She could be a valuable source of info. She is the wife of a hunter after all. I'll ask her when I grow older though, it would be more appropriate.'

He made a mental note of that thought, as he looked at Laura who still appeared to be surprised.

"Well, I'm glad you're finding it useful. Just make sure to take breaks and not strain your eyes too much, okay? Although I guess with the nanobots, it wouldn't be harmful, but you understand what I mean, right?"

He nodded in agreement.

'There is no need to argue anyway since I know Laura is always looking out for my well-being, and well, I'm almost done using it. I need to start my next step.'

"I will, Mom. Don't worry." He said in between laughs.

Laura smiled and headed off to the kitchen to begin making breakfast, leaving him alone with his thoughts and trusty terminal.