Harem Legion: Queens of the Apocalypse-Chapter 36 Something Is Calling Me

Looking at Dunwich Hollow now, Magnus couldn’t even call it a village anymore - it was more like a damn meteorite museum.

Chunky rocks, big and small, covered every inch of ground. Some were the size of buildings, others towering ten stories high. Not a single house was left standing - either smashed to bits or shaken apart. Total ruin.

They couldn’t get into the village itself. The convoy was stuck on the narrow concrete road leading in. Magnus had the big trucks stop in a tight column; the SUVs were driven into the rice fields on both sides, forming a rough perimeter. They’d camp overnight right at the entrance.

Inside one of the sleeper trucks, Sophia let out a snort. "This is your idea of a defensible spot?"

Magnus kept quiet. He knew she had a point, but he wasn’t about to argue.

Charlotte put down the night-vision scope she’d been using and asked, "Isn’t it weird, though? Why the hell did all the meteorites hit just this place?"

"Who knows." Sophia wasn’t letting up. "Only a real idiot would think this place makes a good base."

She had a sharp tongue and a soft heart - she did save his life earlier. Magnus didn’t snap back. He just cleared his throat. "We’ll sleep here tonight. Charlotte, you - "

"Who said I’m sleeping with you? Pervert." Sophia cut him off instantly, face full of fire.

"I will!" Madison chimed in like she’d been waiting all day. Her big eyes sparkled with mischief. "Come on, Magnus! I’m flexible, I don’t take up much space... and I know a few positions that make sharing a bed way more efficient."

"Screw off, Madison!" Sophia exploded. Her eyes burned hotter than Madison’s grin.

*****

After setting up camp and prepping for dinner, the girls decided they wanted beef stew with tomatoes. Magnus winced internally. Cooking out here was a pain - mosquitos would swarm like crazy. They might not even finish the stew before being eaten alive.

But with over 400 new recruits from Havencrest Medical Academy, all of them starving for proper food, he gave in. He got down from the truck and started giving orders.

He found Emily and Liana. "Emily, it’s a mess cooking out here. Head over to the Havencrest girls and pick a hundred of them to gather firewood from the village."

Then he turned to Liana. "We’ve got a lot more mouths now. Do we have enough pots and dishware to go around?"

Liana thought for a moment before shaking her head. "Not enough dishware."

"Then we eat straight from the pot," Magnus said without hesitation. "Liana, find two hundred of the new girls. Have them dig one-meter-square pits every five meters out there in the rice field. Place three iron rods across each. Put the pots on top. Then pitch outdoor tents over the setups to cover them..."

Liana stared at him like she was seeing him for the first time.

When did her student become so damn resourceful? Magnus hadn’t finished speaking before adding more, "If there’s cloth under the tents, cut it apart with a knife. And the smoke - once you light the fire, if the smoke gets too thick, don’t wait inside. Toss everything in, water and all, then wait outside..."

"I got it," Liana nodded. Honestly, she was starting to admire this teacher of hers.

"Charlotte, grab a hundred of our old squad members, set up patrol near the cars. Skip the drivers, they’ve had it rough. Let ’em rest and wait for food."

Charlotte nodded, side-eyeing Magnus. This guy seemed more used to survival than she was.

Magnus exhaled slowly. Nothing left to cover. He turned to Sophia, "Sophia, find a few people, go to the cold truck and bring back fruits. Warm them up first, don’t eat them cold or folks’ll catch something. Start with what spoils easiest."

He talked like an old nag, one instruction after another. But with no real-world survival experience under their belts, they needed this. Once everyone learned, future camps wouldn’t need so much hand-holding.

"And what about you? Just gonna stand there looking important?" Sophia shot back, her tone half-sarcastic, half-curious. "Or you planning to sneak off with Madison to get cozy?"

"Me? I’m the driver," Magnus said with a straight face. "Didn’t I say? Drivers don’t work. We’re pitiful creatures."

"You - " Sophia choked on her words, stomped her foot, then turned and left in a huff. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

But with a crowd that size, work went fast. What looked overwhelming was done in an hour. The stew was boiling, rice cooking, everything running smooth.

The smell was overwhelming.

For the 400-plus new students from Havencrest Medical Academy, it hit like a punch to the gut. They hadn’t had a hot meal in two days. Rationed goods from the supermarket weren’t enough.

Now, the rich scent of beef broth was enough to break a few. Several girls wiped at their eyes. Could’ve been hunger. Could’ve been homesickness. Could’ve just been too much all at once.

Magnus lay on the sleeper bus, smoking. One cigarette after another.

Then came the unease. A tight squeeze in his chest. Sweat pricking at the back of his neck, then evaporating. But it kept coming - sudden waves of anxiety hammering his heart.

What’s going on with me?

His hand twitched around his cigarette. When he brought it to his lips, the fingers were trembling. He opened his palms.

They were cold. Like freezer glass. Not just cool - ice cold in the center, like he’d dipped them in crystal frost. But the backs? Still warm.

What the hell is this? What kind of illness does this?

A stronger wave of palpitations slammed his chest. He pressed his hand over his heart - cold. Not warm flesh, but like his chest was pressed against glass.

Are these even still my hands?

Panic surged. He yanked his hand away and tried again with the back of his hand.

Warm. Normal. But his palms? Still freezing cold.

Was he dreaming? It felt too real for that.

What is this? Am I hallucinating? Or... losing my mind?