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Thud!
With a dull clang of metal, Chen Xu's left foot, encased in an exoskeleton, stepped on a dark red brick.
Chen Xu halted, gazed into the distance for a moment, then turned and said to Xia Jinse, who was walking unsteadily, "We have a few more kilometers to go. Let's rest here for a bit."
As he spoke, he pulled out a cement beam from the rubble pile, turning its smooth side upward. He sat on one end, took out a water bottle, poured some into the cap, and took a few sips before placing the bottle in the middle of the beam.
The points-exchanged backpack was multifunctional, equipped with many small tools, including the water bottle. There was only one, forcing them to share.
Xia Jinse breathed heavily, sweat continuously beading on her forehead. Regardless of the dust, she sat heavily on the other end of the cement beam, panting as she reached out to grab the water bottle.
She tilted her head back, keeping a few inches between the bottle's mouth and her lips as she sipped gently.
Although Chen Xu was sitting, his eyes continuously scanned his surroundings. He had intentionally chosen a spot with an expansive view to rest.
They had been walking for nearly three hours, covering around ten kilometers.
Primarily due to frequent breaks; Xia Jinse clearly wasn't accustomed to exercise, her stamina lacking. After walking for over half an hour, she was too exhausted to continue, necessitating a rest.
Other than that, they had endured without incident.
On the way, he had once spotted signs of a monster. As he raised his gun to shoot, it quickly took advantage of the terrain to escape. With Xia Jinse beside him, he didn't dare to give chase.
Worried that the monster might return with others, he quickened his pace, feeling anxious all the way.
After another half hour without a horde of monsters appearing, they finally relaxed.
Since then, he became even more cautious, choosing routes offering better visibility. The monster wasn't the green-skinned gorilla he'd seen before but another species. Smaller in size, with strange speed, it likely specialized in ambushes.
"We've walked nearly ten kilometers."
After drinking, Xia Jinse returned the water bottle to its spot and unexpectedly spoke.
Chen Xu was somewhat surprised. Since their departure, she hadn't said a word. He thought she was giving him the silent treatment for a while.
"Have you noticed we haven't encountered a single living plant along the way?"
Xia Jinse looked worried. "I observed that the soil here has turned to sand. I'm worried the entire city is like this."
Chen Xu felt a shiver of alarm. He had noticed the plant issue earlier, initially attributing it to the dream setting. Only after hearing her did he realize its severity.
He stood up, walked to a patch of exposed concrete, and swung his mechanical arm down hard. After several punches, the concrete was broken, revealing sand beneath, making his expression grave.
If the city's land had turned to sand, it meant it had become a true dead city, unsuitable for survival.
In fact, there had been precursors. Along their journey, aside from one monster, they hadn't encountered any other life forms.
Xia Jinse approached, seeing the situation beneath the ground, and asked, "How much food do you have left?"
Without thinking, Chen Xu replied, "Under normal circumstances, it's enough for both of us for ten days. If we're frugal, we can stretch it to two weeks."
Xia Jinse sighed, "I hope at the survival outpost, we can get some food supplies."
Otherwise, they were in trouble.
Chen Xu quickly regained his composure, reassuring her, "Don't worry. Since transportation vehicles still pass through here and there are monsters living around, things aren't as bad as they seem."
"Hopefully," Xia Jinse murmured.
Chen Xu looked at her, noting her worried expression but no visible fear, and couldn't help but remark, "You don't seem scared."
"Would being scared help?" she retorted.
Chen Xu shook his head, "Your reasoning is sound, but few can manage that. Fear is a natural reaction, not something you can control at will. At least, most ordinary people can't."
Xia Jinse suddenly smiled, and her delicate face softened, "Are you subtly complimenting yourself?"
She implied that Chen Xu himself didn't show any signs of fear.
Chen Xu laughed, satisfied with her change in attitude. The tone and content of their conversation were devoid of former arrogance.
She finally understood her position correctly, which was a significant start.
...
After resting for half an hour, they set off again. The city's sandification had instilled in them a sense of urgency to reach the outpost and assess the situation.
On the navigator, the outpost was labeled G5232. It was positioned atop a low hill. This area was unfamiliar to Chen Xu; he didn't know what it corresponded to in reality.
Forty minutes later, they glimpsed a wall, realizing they were close to the outpost, and their spirits lifted.
However, as they neared and discerned the state of the main gate, their hearts sank, and they simultaneously halted.
The outpost gate was open, with several small green-skinned gorillas fooling around at the entrance.
"What should we do?" Xia Jinse inquired.
Chen Xu replied sternly, "It seems this settlement has fallen. The people inside are likely... The issue is we don't know how many monsters there are inside."
"Five small ones at the gate, best-case scenario; there are two large ones. Worst-case, it's a horde."
Chen Xu agreed with her assessment. The green-skinned gorillas could either live in family units or entire clans together. It was down to their luck.
Xia Jinse looked to him, waiting for his decision.
Chen Xu gripped his gun tightly, pondering for a few seconds before saying, "We'll fight our way in. Stay close to me."
Xia Jinse gritted her teeth, "Give me a gun."
"Have you ever shot before?" Chen Xu questioned.
"No, teach me," she stated earnestly, "I don't want to watch myself get eaten by a monster."
"I refuse."
Chen Xu took hold of the rifle with his left mechanical arm and the handgun in his right, slowly stood up, and said, "I won't let you die in front of me. Stay close."
Xia Jinse took a deep breath, clenched her jaw, and charged forward behind him.
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