The Extinction Era

1-3

-Won't you come down? Were you not injured?

-No injuries, Ganji replied. But he was in no hurry to land. He re-examined the people below, once he was sure they're physically healthy he slowly descended.

The short-haired, tall, strong young man who was standing in front greeted Ganji,

-My name is Khan. These are our warriors. We seek healthy living people and unite them with ourselves. Our castle is seven days away. May I know where you came from?

-You can call me Ganji. I come from "the community". It's half a day from here.

-Do you call yourself a community? Interesting. Would you believe that in ancient times, people lived in a community or rather in a society of millions?

-Phew, millions? Were there so many people used to live in the world?

-Even millions are insulting low number. It is said that ten billion people once lived on earth.

Ganji didn't know what billions means, so he got stuck. He doesn't even know the meaning of the number million. He thought countless things referred as "millions". For example, the stars in the sky, the trees in the forest, and so on.

-Maybe you don't know. Billion is several times a million. How many people are there in your community?

-There are more than two hundred people.

-Oh really. Why did you leave?

-I didn't leave voluntarily. We have a tradition. From time to time, Shaman sends people across the valley to the highlands.

-Is Shaman your leader?

- Yes, he is the leader of our community.

A lady intervened in their conversation.

-Khan, if we don't go to safety place, the mutated bear will come back and cause us some trouble, don't you think so?

-You're right. Anyway, we have a very short time left. Wounded bears are dangerous, but wounded "mutated" bears are a real disaster. It is better to return to the base.

They moved in a line without making any sound. Together with Ganji, there was exactly eleven people. Ganji had a lot to ask. Apparently, Khan was much more knowledgeable than he was, so his tongue was itching to ask questions. So, he went around the people in front of him, and came beside Khan.

-How many of you are there?

-We keep our numbers secret. If the hybrids find out, the situation will be difficult.

-Who are hybrids?

Khan paused and stared straight into Ganji's eyes.

-You don't know about hybrids?

-I don't know

-Hybrids genetically engineered half-human and half-mutant. They are just as powerful and savage as the mutants, but as intelligent as humans.

Ganji couldn't believe it because he was hearing about hybrids for the first time. Khan must have noticed the shock in his eyes when he heard that there are other species than humans and mutants.

-Hybrids are very dangerous. An enemy of mankind and an ally of mutants. Usually, they're the leader of mutants Hybrids believe that humans should be destroyed. How much do you think their mental capacity is? You can hardly imagine.

- Do you fight them?

-I would hardly call it a fight. They are hunters, we are their food. So, we always have to run and be careful.

-Do you also have a Shaman as leader?

-There is a leader. But we don't call him "Shaman". I understand that your shaman is, in my opinion, a representative of many ancient religions. We call our leader "General". He is the leader of the warriors. But there is another person above him. As for the General, he is an atheist.

-What that means?

-It means he doesn't believe in any religion or God. He is not a Christian, a Buddhist, or Muslim, religions that has long flourished in this world. He believes in science. He worshiped medieval scientists such as Galileo and Newton, as well as Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking, who lived in the heyday of mankind.

-Are those people some kind of gods?

-For scientists, you can call them gods. However, they presented their discoveries to mankind on the basis of many natural laws and theories.

Ganji and Khan's warm conversation was interrupted by a bear's roar. "Khan," said the man who was walking at the end of the line.

-Was it the mutated bear?

-I guess it is, what should we do, Khan? Should we hide?

- If it overtakes us, we will all be finished. Let's set a trap. Then everyone climbs up a tree and hide.

-Can our trap handle the bear?

-I'm not sure but there is no other way. Hurry up.

Khan's group responded quickly, took out barbed wires from their backpacks and pulling a pair between the trees. At the two ends, a small square box, which Ganji had never seen before, was attached. Then he saw a blue lightning and a small thunderbolt on the wires. Khan gives a nod to Ganji and climbed a tree together.

Not long after, five minutes later, the wounded mutated bear, stormed into the ambush while looking around cautiously. People were hiding among the leaves on the branches of the surrounding trees.

When the mutated bear accidentally stepped on a pair of wires, a blue spark flashed and the iron net trapped bear from both sides. The giant bear seemed to faint for a moment, but soon regained consciousness and began to growl, trying to break the net.

-"Now attack," Khan ordered. Armed with various spears and bows and arrows, they attacked from all sides. With each sting and shot, the bear screamed in terror, gradually slowing down and lying on the ground. The bear stopped moving after closed its small red eyes and took a deep breath for the last time.

-"Thank god, we killed it" said the man at the end of the line overjoyed and approached bear to pick up the trap.

-"Wait!" Before Khan could say it, the bear escaped from the trap and grabbed the man by the waist like a toy doll, then shook him into the air.

The man screamed in horror; mutated bear threw him on the ground. The bear tore off poor man's one leg with its sharp teeth in no time.

Khan and the others started to attack, but the panic-stricken men were missing their arrows and spears. At that moment, the man used last of his strength pulled out a small green ball from his belt, and screamed:

- "Don't forget me, Khan." Then he unlocks the pin and put his hand in the bear's big mouth. Khan shouted:

-"Everyone lay down!!!" Khan dragged Ganj with one hand and jumped behind a thick tree. An explosive sound was heard as the mutated bear swallowed the man's hand together with iron ball. Right after that explosion, bear and man's torn flesh and blood splattered in all directions. Ganji's ears seemed they became deaf, and at first, he didn't understand what was happening. It was at this moment, when he came out from behind the tree and saw the body of the man, which had been torn to pieces with the headless body of a bear, he realized what had happened.