Jonas remained silent as he observed Kael, allowing the young man the time he needed to digest everything he had just heard. He made no attempt to interrupt his thoughts. Information like this wasn’t something one could simply hear and immediately accept. It challenged everything a person thought they knew about the world.
He understood that better than anyone.
After all, years ago, when he had first learned this very truth, he had worn the exact same expression currently sitting on Kael’s face.
Confusion.
Disbelief.
Curiosity.
It had taken him quite a while before he was finally able to wrap his head around it.
Several moments passed in silence before Kael finally lifted his head. His brows remained knitted together as countless thoughts swirled through his mind.
"So..."
He looked directly at Jonas.
"This news you told me about the Safe Zones and the existence of other human civilizations..."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"Isn’t that a good thing?"
"If we’ve discovered other surviving human civilizations, why hasn’t the Hunters Association made it public? Shouldn’t everyone know that our civilization isn’t alone?"
Jonas slowly nodded.
"They should."
Kael’s expression relaxed ever so slightly.
Then Jonas continued.
"But it would do more harm than good."
Kael’s brows furrowed once more.
"Why?"
He genuinely couldn’t understand it.
"If humanity can reestablish contact with one another, conduct trade, exchange knowledge and resources..."
"It sounds like nothing but good news."
Jonas let out a quiet sigh before speaking.
"Because it’s impossible to reach them."
Kael blinked.
"...Impossible?"
Jonas nodded.
"Tell me, Kael."
"Do you think the Rift phenomenon is unique to our Safe Zone?"
Kael immediately shook his head.
"No."
"Exactly."
Jonas folded his hands together before continuing.
"The Rifts appeared across the entire world."
"Every piece of land."
"Every corner of humanity."
"They weren’t exclusive to us."
His eyes remained fixed on Kael.
"Now think carefully."
"The world expanded countless times over after the Apocalypse."
"The continents merged into one gigantic landmass."
"Now imagine that enormous world."
"Imagine countless Rifts scattered throughout it."
"Now imagine nobody clearing them."
"No Hunters."
"No Guilds."
"No Association."
"For over fifty years."
"What kind of place do you think that world has become?"
Kael’s pupils slowly contracted.
A realization struck him.
Within the Eastern Safe Zone, Rifts had gradually become... manageable.
The Hunters Association monitored them.
Guilds cleared them.
Hunters entered them every single day to hunt monsters, gather materials, and level up.
To modern hunters...
A Rift represented danger.
But it also represented opportunity.
Resources.
Money.
Strength.
Over the decades, people had slowly begun overlooking the true horror of what a Rift actually was.
The first generation hadn’t.
Back then, the appearance of a single Rift could erase an entire city from existence overnight.
Humanity had nearly gone extinct because of them.
Only after decades of relentless fighting had they finally managed to establish some level of control.
But outside the Safe Zones...
There was no one maintaining that balance.
No one suppressing the monsters.
Kael slowly imagined the wilderness Jonas was describing.
A land stretching thousands upon thousands of kilometers in every direction.
An endless continent where Rifts had remained active for over fifty uninterrupted years.
A world where monsters had been left completely unchecked.
They would reproduce.
Evolve.
Expand their territories.
Fight amongst themselves.
The strongest would continue growing stronger while the weaker either adapted... or were devoured.
How many monsters would exist out there now?
Millions?
No.
Billions.
Perhaps even more.
Simply imagining a journey across such a place sent an involuntary chill down Kael’s spine.
Seeing the realization appear in Kael’s eyes, Jonas slowly nodded.
"You understand now."
His voice remained calm.
"It took the effort of a Pioneer just to cross that wasteland and establish contact with another Safe Zone."
"And even then..."
His expression became noticeably heavier.
"It was unimaginably difficult."
Kael remained silent for several seconds before speaking again.
"But..."
He frowned.
"I still don’t understand why the information can’t be released."
"Even if reaching them is impossible..."
"Wouldn’t people still feel relieved knowing humanity survived elsewhere?"
"Knowing there are still other humans out there?"
Jonas slowly shook his head.
"It wouldn’t bring relief."
"It would bring chaos."
Kael frowned even deeper.
"...Chaos?"
Jonas nodded.
"You underestimate human emotions."
He leaned back in his chair.
"Tell me."
"If tomorrow the Association publicly announced that another Safe Zone exists somewhere beyond those monster-infested lands..."
"Do you think everyone would simply accept they could never reach it?"
Kael opened his mouth.
Then slowly closed it again.
Jonas continued before he could answer.
"What about the mother who lost her child during the Apocalypse?"
"What about the husband separated from his wife?"
"The father who never found his daughter."
"The brother searching for his sister."
"The friend who watched his companions disappear amidst the chaos."
His gaze remained steady.
"What if they suddenly learned there was a chance..."
"A chance that those people hadn’t died."
"A chance they had survived somewhere far away."
Silence filled the private room.
Kael’s expression slowly stiffened.
He hadn’t thought that far.
Not even once.
To him, the existence of other human civilizations had sounded like nothing but good news.
But now...
He finally understood.
The Apocalypse had begun only five decades ago.
Fifty years sounded like a long time.
But it wasn’t nearly long enough for every wound to heal.
Some people never truly moved on.
Some simply learned to live with the pain.
If they were suddenly told that their loved ones might still be alive somewhere beyond the wilderness...
Hope would ignite once more.
And hope, could drive people to madness just as easily as despair.
Jonas watched Kael quietly before continuing.
"Do you think we could stop them?"
"The people desperate enough to leave the Safe Zone?"
"The people willing to gamble their lives for even the smallest possibility of seeing their loved ones again?"
He slowly shook his head.
"We couldn’t."
"No one could."
Kael lowered his gaze.
His imagination painted the picture all too vividly.
Thousands of civilians leaving the protection of the Safe Zone.
Some traveling alone.
Others forming caravans.
Families venturing into the wilderness together.
Each carrying faded photographs.
Old letters.
Wedding rings.
Children’s toys.
Anything that reminded them of the people they had lost.
Every single one believing the same thing.
Maybe they’re alive.
Maybe they’re waiting for me.
Maybe... if I can just reach them.
Then reality would greet them.
An endless wilderness crawling with monsters that had spent fifty years evolving without restraint.
Creatures far stronger than anything most hunters had ever encountered.
Entire territories ruled by beings powerful enough to wipe out armies.
Against such horrors...
Hope meant nothing.
Love meant nothing.
The wilderness would devour them all the same.
Kael slowly closed his eyes before letting out a long breath.
Only now did he truly understand why the Association had chosen silence.
Some truths inspired courage.
Others inspired recklessness.
And sometimes...
The price of giving people hope was measured in countless lives.
# #
Oh, I owe you guys a lot of Chapters now... I’m fucked😅