Chapter 294: Human Breeding Ground?
The man quickly shook his head, "They don't have any unique abilities... These vampires aren't particularly special. The only thing unique about them is perhaps their intelligence, knowledge, and longer lifespans compared to us. The lifespan of vampires is generally around 300 years.
From what I know, the oldest ancestor has seemingly lived for 800 years and probably achieved immortality through technology."
"But compared to us humans, they don't have many special traits. They also have significant weaknesses—fear of sunlight and silver."
Alex was slightly surprised. So, these vampires are basically weaklings? They don't have anything particularly special! If vampires had powerful abilities or extraordinary combat strength, it would make sense. However, if they are just ordinary weaklings like humans, how could they enslave humanity when they are outnumbered?
"So, how did humans become livestock for vampires? Vampires should be at a disadvantage, right? They can't possibly outnumber humans?"
According to Alex's deduction, since vampires need to consume human blood to sustain themselves, they should not outnumber humans. In fact, vampires might be significantly fewer in number. In that case, how could vampires enslave humanity?
Upon being questioned by Alex, the man shook his head in confusion.
Humans have been enslaved by vampires for over three hundred years, and he can no longer remember how vampires gradually took control. "I don't know... Since I was born, I've been hiding with the resistance in the mountains. The only one who might answer your questions is our prophet."
The man gazed into the distance, muttering to himself. Alex was now curious about this resistance.
"If I rescue you, can you help me contact your resistance? I want to know what happened over three hundred years ago that led to humans being enslaved by vampires."
"Rescue me?" The man looked at Alex in surprise, showing a delighted expression, but soon he spoke with disappointment, "We can't escape, and even if I get out, it's difficult to find the resistance organization again."
Alex nodded, somewhat disappointed but not entirely surprised. After all, this person seemed to have been imprisoned for a long time, and surviving as part of a human resistance in a world dominated by vampires would require extreme secrecy.
The man being captured inevitably meant losing contact with the resistance. Even if he knew, he might not reveal the information.
However, there was something that pleased Alex. Perhaps the Eushen skill was taking effect. This world seemed to be a low-martial world. Despite the presence of vampires, the difference between them and humans wasn't significant. Although they had firearms, Alex had no need to fear conventional weapons.
Alex walked over to the livestock manager, took a bunch of keys from him, and then disposed of the vampire's body by enveloping it in his spatial ability. Although this body seemed weak and even inferior to a regular zombie, Alex still intended to collect it, considering it was the corpse of a vampire from another world.
Glancing again at the humans lying on the ground near the door, Alex couldn't help but shake his head. He activated his invisibility skill and walked out.
Once outside the iron gate, Alex was momentarily stunned. The scene before him was shocking. It was a colossal prison with rows of prison cells stretching endlessly. In each cell, humans, treated like pigs, were densely packed. Vampire caretakers moved between the rooms, occasionally selecting healthier humans to be taken away or returning some weakened, almost lifeless individuals.
Alex took a deep breath and walked towards the outer part of the prison, following a dozen or so humans chained with iron. The journey was torturous for Alex.
The humans living in these cells were in a truly pitiable state. Their lives were worse than that of pigs or dogs. Alex couldn't fathom how the favored beings of God, humans, had fallen to such a point.
If this realm could be described as humanity's purgatory, it wouldn't be an exaggeration. The vampire caretakers, with their debased and filthy behavior, could freely humiliate and whip these humans. In return, the humans, appearing oblivious, numb, and robotic, seemed accustomed to everything, as if it had become a part of their routine.
Newly born human infants were also individually raised in separate rooms resembling hatcheries, similar to how piglets or lambs are raised. Alex could imagine the environment in which these human children would grow up, gradually becoming more ignorant and regressing, akin to livestock that, after several generations of human breeding, eventually became standard livestock.
Witnessing his own kind transformed into such a state filled Alex's heart with sorrow, yet he couldn't help but feel curious. What had humanity gone through to end up like this? And what kind of creatures were these vampires? Where did they come from? With these questions in mind, Alex followed the group ahead at a brisk pace.
Turning a corner, a massive room suddenly came into view. Despite having some mental preparation, Alex was once again astonished by the scene before him. It was a gigantic machine composed of countless coffin-like vessels connected by colorful pipes.
Just a cursory glance revealed there were easily over a thousand of these coffin-like vessels in this part of the machine alone. Alex could only imagine that a room of this size could accommodate at least ten thousand such vessels. And within these vessels were humans.
Observing a staff member open one of the vessels, flashing red alarms, and removing the tubes that were plugged into the person's body before lifting them out, Alex couldn't help but feel shocked. Then, another person was placed back into the vessel, and the tubes were reinserted.
This process continued repeatedly. Almost every section had vampires performing this kind of work—changing the blood-producing individuals. Extracting blood from a person for an extended period would inevitably deplete their life. These vampires weren't foolish, so they installed alarm systems.
Currently, it seemed that the technology controlled by these vampires wasn't inferior to the world Alex had previously known. In fact, it might even be more advanced.
Furthermore, vampires seemed to have developed a mature process for human breeding, blood extraction, and reproduction. Alex took a quick look around. Essentially, this place was a breeding base where humans were raised like livestock, providing blood food for vampires, similar to pigs, cows, and sheep.
Apart from that, Alex didn't notice anything particularly unusual. He also observed some weapons held by guards responsible for vigilance.
Surprisingly, these vampire guards were armed with HK416 assault rifles, a firearm almost identical to the rifles in Alex's previous world. This rifle gained fame after federal soldiers used it to eliminate terrorist leaders during a major terror incident.
Alex learned about this gun during his previous life in the Blue Star world. In that world, the HK416 was considered one of the best assault rifles. The fact that even regular guards here used such weapons indicated that the military technology in this world was likely more advanced than in Alex's previous world. However, it was only marginally superior, given that they were still using rifles.
Alex was most concerned about the possibility that the weapon systems in this world had evolved to a higher level, such as lasers or quantum weapons. In that case, Alex would find himself in a bit of a predicament. Now that he knew the technology here was similar to that of the Blue Star, he had less to fear.
Weapons like rifles couldn't harm him at all. Even projectiles like bullets, aside from the uncertainty of hitting Alex, would only cause minor injuries and wouldn't be able to kill him.
Having explored the breeding facility, Alex now wanted to see what the world under vampire rule was like. Outside the breeding facility, a narrow alley stretched out, and Alex could hear the commotion and car honks from beyond. The alley was shrouded in darkness, with occasional dim lights. Looking up, Alex realized he wasn't on the surface but underground.
It was an underground city, devoid of sunlight. The city mirrored the world above, with tall buildings, roads, bridges, cars, and people. There were traffic lights, shopping malls, and everything you'd find on the surface. The only difference was that this place was perpetually immersed in darkness, and the inhabitants weren't humans but vampires.
Alex leaped onto a higher vantage point, observing vampires queuing to purchase blood and others enjoying blood in restaurants, dressed in decent suits and engaging in conversations. Of course, amidst the vampire populace, there were humans serving as waitstaff in restaurants, mingling in the crowds.
While vampires and humans shared a similar appearance, there were distinct differences, and Alex quickly identified the humans. Some were treated like pets, with vampire owners using chains around their necks as leashes for walks on the streets. Others engaged in dirty and degrading professions, resembling the dogs and slaves in Alex's previous world.
It was a world ruled by vampires, where humans had become nothing more than livestock.
Just like in Alex's previous world, the roles were reversed here, with humans becoming the livestock and vampires assuming the role of rulers. In the world Alex once knew, such a concept would be unimaginable, even in fiction. How could humans be treated as livestock?
Now, he witnessed this surreal world that struck him as incredibly ironic and brutal. As a human, Alex couldn't accept seeing his kind enslaved by vampires. Suddenly, a surge of anger welled up within him.
"Although this world has nothing to do with me, since I'm here, I'll teach these vampires a lesson and restore dignity to humanity!" Alex's face turned cold as he observed humans being treated like pigs and dogs, degraded and consumed.
At this moment, Alex's invisibility had already faded away. Some vampires walking on the street quickly noticed Alex standing on a high vantage point.
"What is that?!!" A female vampire suddenly screamed. She was elegantly dressed, appearing sophisticated and noble, resembling the elite middle class in Alex's previous world.
The other vampires all appeared noble and elegant, exuding charm and sophistication.
"That's a person! How did this person get up there?"
"It must be someone from the resistance! Quick! Alert the authorities! Capture this beast!"
"Seems like a wild human. Whoever catches him can have a good feast. This person looks strong, and they're even wearing clothes! The taste must be excellent!"
Hearing the commotion below, Alex snapped back to reality. He noticed that he was surrounded by vampires pointing fingers at him. The vampires' gazes were filled with greed and mockery, as if they had stumbled upon a pig standing on a rooftop.
"How extraordinary! This person can actually climb buildings! And so high up! Definitely a wild one!"
"How did this wild person get in?"
"I'll be the one to catch him. We can have a good meal of wild game later!"
"Lately, the human blood from the farm has become increasingly unpalatable, and the prices are still high. If we manage to capture this wild one, we can feed on him for quite a while!"
"If this person is wild and so strong, he's easily worth at least 100,000!"
"I'll offer 300,000. Who can bring him to me?"
Alex listened coldly to the discussions below, and the fury in his eyes grew stronger.