Chapter 19

Chapter 19

"The situation... seems a bit grim."

Approaching, Lu Feilan, who could now see inside the small shelter B-021, said.

Unlike the impregnable walls and light nets of the four major shelters, small shelters lacked the resources to construct such extensive defenses. They typically had only short perimeter walls. Now, Ark and Lu Feilan observed that the door appeared to have been forcibly pushed down, the place was eerily silent, and the two guards at the entrance looked utterly dejected.

Having grown up in such small shelters before being taken in by shelter 001, Lu Feilan knew all too well what it was like inside.

"It seems they've experienced a raid."

Ark confirmed, "You mean a conflict between shelters?"

The resources periodically distributed by the Paradise are far from sufficient for the population of the major shelters. They need to find ways to trade with the Paradise for more resources, or... plunder resources from other shelters.

"Yes, in such cases, they might not be willing to take in travelers."

"Alternatively, we could spend the night in the car and look for another shelter tomorrow." Frankly, in such situations, if there were alien creatures invading, Ark didn’t think it would be much safer inside than outside.

"Aren't you hungry?" Lu Feilan asked somberly, "And we don’t have enough fuel in the car to reach the next shelter."

Ark, who hadn't eaten much all day, suddenly felt hunger and narrowed her eyes at Lu Feilan, "You brought your bracelet, didn’t you?"

Hearing this, Lu Feilan’s handsome face showed disbelief, "That’s my retirement fund."

This world had its own trade rules, centered around the point system of the Paradise, with transactions stored via bracelets distributed by the Paradise.

Due to her special status, Ark never needed to purchase anything in shelter 001; everything was charged to Fang Xunjiang's account, so she had never dealt with this system before and only now remembered its existence.

She said, "I’ll repay you later."

"…You'd better keep your word."

Just in case, she took her own silver handgun and handed over the spare weapon she had taken from Kaiser during their fight to Lu Feilan, "Do you know how to use it?"

Lu Feilan took the gun, her tone unusually playful and boastful: "My ability is 'recomposition.' I clearly understand the structure of the target when using it. I'm better with mechanics than with recomposing human tissue."

This, of course, included firearms.

"Understanding the structure doesn't help you hit the target," Fang Zhou patted him on the back, "but never mind, as long as you can use it for self-defense."

Lu Feilan: "..."

At that moment, he deeply reflected on whether his decision to leave the shelter with Fang Zhou was too impulsive.

……

……

The situation at the B-021 shelter was terrible today; they had just experienced a plundering war launched by another shelter in the afternoon.

As the defenders, B-021 had a definitive advantage, but unexpectedly, the attackers deliberately lured discovered alien creatures here. They had to fight both the invaders and the alien creatures, resulting in heavy losses for B-201.

Jiang Qi was the night watchman of this small shelter. Apart from her and a few colleagues, everyone else was incapacitated due to the plundering war.

Seeing a vehicle stop not far from the entrance, Jiang Qi immediately became alert, praying that no more trouble would arise.

Soon after, two figures got out of the car. It was dark at night, and Jiang Qi couldn't see their faces clearly, promptly aiming her gun at them.

"Who's there, don't come any closer!"

"We are travelers," came the reply from the other side.

Travelers, typically unaffiliated wanderers in this world, make their home wherever they go, seeking temporary shelter and resource exchanges in nearby shelters.

However, travelers are also the most dangerous, as to survive in the outside world and earn paradise points, they must possess exceptional qualities, like “strength”, beyond the average person.

Hearing their reply, Jiang Qi became more vigilant and did not lower her gun. Instead, she had a companion check the surroundings to confirm that there was indeed only one vehicle.

Only after the confirmation did she allow them to approach, though she kept her gun at the ready.

As the two figures drew closer, she got a clear view of the newcomers.

The man in front had delicate and handsome features, with phoenix eyes and gold-rimmed glasses. Tall and wearing a white shirt, he also sported exaggerated white gloves – a color that would easily get dirty but seemed impeccably clean on him. Apart from his face, hardly any other skin was exposed, making him appear nothing like a typical unaffiliated traveler.

The person following him looked much more disheveled. Slightly shorter, with a black hood and short hair, Jiang Qi could only see half of their face. Experience allowed her to notice dried bloodstains on the cloak.

The exposed features of this person made it hard to discern their gender, leading her to initially think they were a teenage boy.

The man spoke first, "We wish to stay for the night."

"I'm sorry, as you can see, our shelter isn't very accommodating."

The person she thought was a “boy” stepped in front of the man and spoke.

"We mean no harm. If you're unwilling to shelter us, please allow us to buy some food and fuel for our vehicle." Her voice was distinctly feminine, soft and soothing, which seemed incongruous with her appearance.

Jiang Qi was momentarily taken aback, realizing her mistake, but fortunately, no one knew her thoughts. She responded, "We don’t have excess resources."

The woman didn’t give up but extended her hand, smiling and gesturing a "two" with her fingers: "We can offer double the price."

"This..."

Paradise points could be used to purchase resources directly from the Paradise. Typically, when travelers bought resources from shelters, the shelters would mark up the price. If she was offering double the price...

For them, at this point, every little bit helped.

Jiang Qi put away her gun, "Alright, please follow me."

The two people following her were Ark and Lu Feilan, who had just succeeded in their request.

Lu Feilan's pupils shook when Ark mentioned “double”, maintaining a calm façade to avoid suspicion from the vigilant night guards.

Ark nudged him with her elbow, whispering, "I’ll pay you back later."

He adjusted his glasses and sighed, “Ah…”

At this point, spending the points was inevitable.

As Jiang Qi led them inside, Ark began to survey the shelter’s environment. Many of the buildings were not newly constructed like in shelter 001 but were remnants from the old world, showing signs of weathering.

Having just experienced a battle, the residents tidying up along the way cast wary glances at their unfamiliar faces.

Ark was unfazed by this. Many areas still bore the scent of gunpowder and blood, along with some unidentifiable traces that didn’t seem typical of human combat. Her first identity's radar also made her sense an unusual presence.

After a moment's thought, she asked, "Did you have an alien invasion here?"

Jiang Qi paused before replying, “Yes.”

“Did you capture it?”

Jiang Qi shook her head, “The alien creature was of a higher level, conservatively estimated as B-grade, and it escaped.”

Although their small shelter could handle alien creatures below A-grade, anything above was challenging. Today was particularly difficult with the attack from two fronts, substantial resource loss, and the alien's escape, resulting in heavy losses all around.

Based on the scene, Ark speculated it was a large alien creature. So far, the two types of aliens she had subdued were smaller. The wire python was nearly invisible to the naked eye, and the vine bug, true to its name, was only the size of a “bug.”

Sensing her thoughts, the vine bug inside her emitted a series of protesting squeaks.

And not very smart either.

Ark added this, then put the vine bug on mute.

In terms of abilities, while useful, they are more suited for support rather than direct attack. The wire python's repair capabilities, the vine bug's illusions and mimicry – none of these alien abilities are geared towards direct combat.

Her recent battle with Kaiser made it clear that she stood no chance against stronger opponents. Not everyone would be as overconfident as Kaiser, giving her so many opportunities.

What she urgently needed now was an alien creature capable of delivering direct, powerful attacks to enhance her own strength and provide more means of self-defense…

This was an excellent opportunity.

According to Jiang Qi, the alien creature was injured, and at B-grade, a pure attack type was relatively easier to subdue. Anything beyond her current capabilities was simply out of her league.

Ark made her decision.

“Please let us stay for the night. Given the recent alien invasion, we’re worried it might still be lurking nearby.”

Hearing her words, Lu Feilan immediately gave her a meaningful glance.

Ark understood his concern.

According to the settings of the old ruined city, most alien creatures were vengeful. Having been repelled by B-021, it might well return to the area. Staying here increased the likelihood of encountering it again, while leaving might be safer.

“We are willing to pay the points for lodging,” Ark said, seeing Jiang Qi's hesitation.

Jiang Qi: “No problem.”

Lu Feilan: “…”

Was his decision to leave with Ark the right one? Lu Feilan sincerely questioned himself again.

After Jiang Qi had paid the points for their lodging and food, they were arranged to stay in the guest area. Compared to the battle-ravaged outside, the shelter's guest area, which Ark thought of as a “very clean hotel”, was significantly better.

"You can do as you please now; I have to stand guard tonight," Jiang Qi said before leaving.

Watching Jiang Qi depart, Ark lost the opportunity to inquire about the specific details of the alien creature.

In this world, information on aliens is a valuable resource, not to be shared with outsiders. Asking might lead Jiang Qi to treat her as an enemy.

"What exactly are you planning?" Lu Feilan, having held back all this while, immediately asked after Jiang Qi left.

Ark handed Lu Feilan a pork floss bun from the food they had exchanged, "Eat first."

She also chose something for herself and, while eating, summoned the wire python to check the room for any surveillance devices. Only after confirming there were none, she retracted them all.

Ark didn't hide her actions from Lu Feilan, who could clearly see the alien creatures continuously emerging from her body.

Lu Feilan clicked his tongue, his anger suddenly extinguished, refraining from asking too many questions about things he perhaps shouldn't know.

He opened his food package and began eating with slow, graceful movements, chewing thoroughly – a sight that made Ark almost want to hand him a knife and fork.

After finishing the last bite of her bun, Ark asked, "Lu Feilan, why did you decide to leave with me?"

Her question made Lu Feilan pause and ponder.

He had watched the entire battle between Ark and Kaiser, initially thinking coldly, “Ah, she's definitely done for,” never intending to intervene. Even when he drove over at the last minute, Lu Feilan himself wasn’t sure what he was thinking.

It felt like, in the moment he saw her turn the tables, he saw a sprout breaking through the soil, a glimpse of "vitality."

Perhaps finding this explanation too vague and abstract, after a long pause, Lu Feilan answered.

"I don’t know."

Receiving such a vague answer, Ark didn’t press further. With her stomach filled, she had more important things to do.

"Aren’t you curious about what I'm going to do?" Ark asked Lu Feilan. "You can follow, but I must warn you, what comes next is dangerous, and I can’t guarantee your safety."

"Then never mind, I'm not that curious," Lu Feilan replied with a smile.

After leaving the reception area, Ark quietly released the wire python to search the surroundings for the B-grade alien creature, instructing them to report back to her at the first sign of any movement.

Each wire python is tiny and moves swiftly, making them nearly undetectable when dispersed, a utility Ark only recently discovered.

Having deployed the wire pythons, she checked the bullets in her handgun. It could hold fifteen specially made bullets, a large capacity for such a compact handgun.

Unfortunately, due to Kaiser’s wasteful use and the two shots she fired at him, only six bullets remained.

She hoped it would be enough.

Ark didn’t rely solely on bullets to subdue a B-grade alien; she also had her vine bug and wire pythons. Bullets were just for finishing the job.

With preparations done, Ark waited for news from the wire pythons.

Time passed without any activity from either the wire pythons or within the shelter.

Late into the night, Ark finally sensed a call from one of the wire pythons and immediately headed to its location.

Lu Feilan, who had previously said "never mind," honestly grabbed the gun Ark had given him and followed her.

By this time, no residents of the shelter were active outside.

The wire python was not far from the reception area, and Ark and Lu Feilan quickly arrived at the scene, finding the vengeful alien creature had indeed stealthily returned.

It was a three-meter-tall alien creature, entirely black, with slender limbs, walking on two feet, no nose or ears on its head, just a single eye and a mouth that occupied half of its face.

If not for the eye and the mouth full of sharp teeth, it could almost blend into the darkness.

Ark saw several lines of information displayed beside this alien creature.

[Alien Creature: Subfacial Demon]

[Danger Level: B-Grade]

[Intelligence Level: B-Grade]

[Status: Recovering]

Not only Ark but also a patrolling member had spotted the alien creature, communicating with the night guards through the shelter's intercom: "It's back! In the north of Zone 2..."

Before he could finish, the alien bit off his head with lightning speed, leaving his body to collapse powerlessly.

Blood poured out as the alien moved and bent down to bite off the man's head in a blur of motion!

Ark instantly deduced its ability must be related to its incredible speed.

Sensing that its existence had been discovered, the eye immediately turned towards the Ark.

Between Lu Feilan and the Ark, it decisively locked onto the Ark without hesitation.

Just as the Ark could subtly sense the presence of the alien creatures, they too could feel her somewhat peculiar uniqueness to them.

Oddly, upon discovering her presence, the alien creature didn't attack her first but tilted its head, looking at her with a newborn curiosity in its eye, as if wondering what kind of being "she" was.

"Is this what you meant by having something to do..." Lu Feilan felt utterly disheartened.

The Ark and it were at a standoff; encountering such a situation for the first time, she was puzzled but dared not act first.

After a few seconds, failing to reach a conclusion, it finally approached the Ark.

It moved extremely fast, covering the twenty to thirty meters between them in an instant.

The Ark immediately summoned a python of lines to form tentacles around the Subsurface Demon's neck; its movements, along with the python and the Ark, caused it to snap at the air with its open mouth.

Annoyed, it reached back to its neck to grab the Ark, causing her to sway left and right, hanging behind it. Lu Feilan seized the opportunity to precisely target its arm.

The pain made the Subsurface Demon pause its movements, then reacted more vigorously, tearing apart the python of lines, sending the Ark tumbling to the ground.

Fortunately, with Lu Feilan's help in holding it back for a moment, the vine insect, using the python as a bridge, had approached the alien creature and activated its ability.

The Subsurface Demon's movements immediately ceased, and it tilted its head back, lost in some kind of illusion.

Seizing the opportunity while the Subsurface Demon was still under the Vine Insect's mental control, the Ark didn't hesitate to shoot it in the eye. Blue viscous fluid burst from its head, spilling everywhere, turning Lu Feilan pale at the sight.

At this moment, Jiang Qi, leading several Night Watchers, arrived at the scene after receiving the communication.

Seeing the Night Watchers, the Ark was startled; she was too late to subdue the creature before their arrival, complicating matters significantly.

Meanwhile, the wounded Subsurface Demon let out a pained wail. It then made a strange sound with its fang-filled mouth, incomprehensible to others, but the Ark heard clearly what it was saying.

It was screaming—

"Mommy!!"

"This is bad!"

Alarm bells rang in the Ark's mind, realizing the source of her unease: this was just an alien hatchling!