After Surviving the Apocalypse, I Built a City in Another World

The teams immediately went to work, enduring the heat as they hit their skins. They knew that this was unavoidable, and doing this at the soonest was the only way to cut their suffering short—whether it was death by heatstroke or by actually managing to build some shades.

She had seriously considered covering their bodies with wet mud to protect themselves from the direct heat. After all, they didn’t have many workable trees, which meant not everyone could fit in, but at least the stream would provide ample amounts of mud.

However, there were too many risks, especially if the mud dried out.

Mud had insulating properties to keep the heat out, but it could also trap it in. After it dried, the helpful effects of evaporation would disappear and would just add body temperature instead.

It would also hinder their movements, slowing them down, and making them suffer even more in general.

Anyway, everyone worked hard and as fast as they could. Granted, their weaknesses made it so they couldn’t move so agily, but their desperation to find shade certainly helped with their speed.

More and more people found them and followed their lead. They took down tree after tree, some of which broke down as they landed on the ground, though fortunately many were usable. They used the mud to connect them, strengthened by the thin vines produced by their only wood elementalist, Tot, who really looked like he was on the verge of dying.

They also had an architect there, another earth user with the name of Limbo. He made sure to maximize the very very limited resources they had with his heat-addled brain.

The end products were a bit flimsy and would not hold against, say, a beast tide, but it was better than nothing.

There were also a few hundreds of them there, and not everyone could fit. Instead, they opted to take turns, with the higher leveled ones in the second batch.

They walked along the dried stream, so they could dip in the cooler mud occasionally, and also reinforce the roof when they had to. Those without roof would also be in front to manage the pacing, making sure no one was left behind.

Many of these people would occasionally cover their bodies with mud to cover and cool themselves, but they’d immediately take it off once it dried.

Regardless of whether they had roofs or not, they were all weak and had trouble to breathe, but they trudged on.

The people who had weak hearts had long perished, and those who had been left after so long had some grit, so even if they were suffering—they dragged their bodies.

They went downstream in the end. One, because it was easier to walk on, and second they’d prefer river to mountain springs if they had a choice.

Fortunately, as time went on, they’d encounter some usable wood and, after collecting a few, they’d have enough to build another roof. Eventually the majority had some sort of roof above their heads.

Thor, a young blonde (though his hair was so dried up it looked white now), looked at the design of the latest-built roof. Because they were in such a rush—it was mid-freaking-day—it was even flimsier than the other ones.

The wood couldn’t be finished properly as well, so there were gaps everywhere so some rays would get through. It happened that there were two gap lines that would hit him.

”I’ll be getting very weird tan lines…” he mumbled, tone filled with distaste. An hour of this and he’d literally have two lines stamped on his face.

If the others had energy, they’d have rolled their eyes.

Faye smiled a bit and continued to lead the group. ”Continue moving! I’m sure we’ll find a territory—somewhere!”

…

The group traveled for another hour, smack in the middle of the hottest time of the day.

It was torture. It was hot, and suffocating, and they were parched and hungry as they trudged.

”Shit...” Crump mumbled. The rest also cursed internally, but they couldn’t bear to actually open their mouths.

Too tiring. Too hungry. Too parched.

Since they traveled far, they also managed to hoard some plants to chew on. It was horrible and dry, much like eating brittle paper, but one had to do what one had to do.

Anyway, in order to prevent deaths from her group, Faye and the others decided to find a place to rest.

They eventually found some rock outcroppings, that provided shade, using their roofs to extend it. They took this break to drink and eat, regaining some of their energy before heading forward.

As much as they wanted to stay there for longer, it would get dangerous if they didn’t find a territory soon.

”Dusk should arrive in another hour or two,” Cree said, voice croaky. Faye nodded, fanning herself with some dried leaf she managed to get (and eventually to eat). It felt horrible but they’ll survive.

They forced themselves up and they continued to drag their bodies following the stream. There were a lot of people who had to be dragged, and no one could talk anymore.

It felt like making any sort of vibration in their throats would turn it to powder.

Eventually, they encountered a bit more plants than usual. They could notice even the slightest change—after all, they were so dependent on them to live.

The vegetation here was also a bit denser and was just a bit healthier, to the point that they could actually taste

something

instead of powdery grossness.

This fact lit a fire in their hearts.

This was a good sign, and their dying legs suddenly felt alive, and their pace increased even by a little bit.

Squelch!

They paused and looked down, realizing the muddy stream they had been stepping on was wetter, their legs sinking a bit deeper than before.

Their eyes widened and they rushed forward. The mud soon became wetter and wetter, until there was actual water—and soon a river was finally in sight!!

The younger ones immediately ran to drink water, not caring about whether or not they left the roof behind. Everyone sobbed and followed them, rushing towards the strong body of water.

However, their feet were stopped as several yells exploded.

”AHH!”

”Ouch!!”

The youngins were fine and alive, but they looked in pain as they raised their hands, which was blistering as if they were just boiled.

”Shit!” Thor gasped as he looked at the blisters, almost gagging.

Faye also rushed forward, eyebrows furrowed.

Because the river in these parts was shallow, even if it wasn’t stagnant, it still reached a boiling point!

Faye cursed a bit. It was literally right at their fingertips! Were they supposed to just stare at it?