The following is an excerpt from the book, City of Ruin, by Naria Heft. [Originally published five years ago.]

Even before the earthquake, the mountain terrain of Kurtow’s Yakaros subdistrict was regarded as treacherous. As unforgiving as the urban remnants of Kurtow have become, the living conditions are even harsher in Yakaros, where signs of modernity are nearly non-existent and survival is based solely on foraging.

It is believed that after the earthquake, some survivors fled to the mountains in an attempt to distance themselves from the increasingly desperate inhabitants of the city. For most, however, venturing into Yakaros was, and still is, viewed as an immediate death sentence. The rocky, uneven ground, steep inclines, and elevated peaks are difficult to traverse by foot, and the lack of roads make it near impossible to navigate by vehicle.

GunRiot. Story by Midnight. Art by Kuraikabe1990.