The squad leader, accompanied by a young soldier, approached Wang Li with evident enthusiasm. Their eyes darted frequently towards the off-road vehicle, seemingly searching for the legendary black scale monster hunters—the main force they were hunting.
In the outskirts where the city's influence waned, the military's communication system remained remarkably functional, swiftly disseminating news. Soldiers who had witnessed Su Chen's remarkable marksmanship had already spread the word. The squad leader and his young companion were no exception; they had heard of the lone warrior within the off-road vehicle, donning what appeared to be advanced military gear. Rumor had it that this individual possessed the extraordinary ability to single-handedly slay over a dozen black scale monsters.
Wang Li, astutely observant, halted abruptly and began, "We require gasoline. We made contact with your unit earlier. I am from..."
Wang Li paused momentarily, caught between his desire to shield Su Chen from unnecessary disturbances and his apprehension that Su Chen might descend and seize the troops' resources.
The squad leader, though somewhat disappointed at not being able to catch a glimpse of the legendary figure, nodded and replied, "Come with me. We are prepared. You have disrupted the black scale monsters' formations and strategy. They're our adversaries on the battlefield. We will certainly meet your requirements."
"Thank you," Wang Li expressed his gratitude as he followed the squad leader.
The gas station's resources were limited, but it teemed with survivors. A large gathering of individuals deliberated on resource allocation, employing a system primarily based on strength and leadership. Given the scarcity of troops, it proved challenging to establish effective coordination and deal with such matters. Consequently, the squad leader led Wang Li and the others directly to secure the gasoline resources—an action that sparked considerable discontent among the survivors. Particularly, Wang Li's acquisition of substantial amounts of gasoline raised eyebrows. Sensing Su Chen's possible possession of spatial equipment, their dissatisfaction grew more pronounced. Wang Li even approached Su Chen, seeking a storage solution for the vast amounts of gasoline to ensure long-term endurance. Consequently, Wang Li's demands were exceptionally high, to the point where they monopolized the resources of some significant survivor factions at the gas station.
These survivors remained oblivious to Wang Li and his team's identities. All they saw was a vehicle arriving, and even if they acknowledged the military's presence, they deemed the supply requests excessive. Displeasure was a natural response.
However, their discontent was constrained. After all, how many among them had survived to this day without the military's assistance? Whose lives had not been safeguarded by the military's sacrifices? Even if they momentarily disregarded this, did they dare provoke the military? When the chips were down, they would realize they were still dependent on the military's protection.
Those who possessed the power and influence to voice their discontent remained silent, while those who dared to speak out were largely the lowest-ranking members of the survivor teams. Devoid of any significant authority, their words held no weight and would never reach the ears of the military.
Consequently, despite the undercurrent of dissatisfaction, no one took action or voiced their concerns.
In this new world, the old social order had crumbled, and among the surviving populace, status was determined solely by one's abilities. Gone were the days of inherited resources, social connections, and the influence of ancestors. In this era, opportunity and luck were discarded, making one's capabilities the sole determining factor for survival.
This echoed the sentiments of many before: one's own abilities were paramount.
Meanwhile, Su Chen diligently worked on modifying the fire extinguisher inside the vehicle, employing his mastery of magic.
His first task was to enhance the half-empty dry powder fire extinguisher he had salvaged from the city. Infusing it with his own energy, a gradual transformation unfolded. The energy permeated the device, enveloping it and causing a profound alteration.
Although this fire extinguisher appeared unremarkable, its modification consumed a staggering three units of Su Chen's energy, surpassing even the seldom-used Thor's Hammer in terms of energy expenditure.
Su Chen surmised that the remaining dry powder fire suppressant within might be the reason for such a significant drain.
Upon completion, the fire extinguisher had shrunk considerably, now resembling the onboard fire extinguisher Su Chen had salvaged from discarded vehicles. Its bloated appearance had diminished, lending it a more substantial and weighty aura.
After some contemplation, Su Chen decided to disembark from the vehicle and seek a suitable location for testing. Additionally, he intended to visit the nearby gas station, hoping to procure some miscellaneous items.
It wasn't that he couldn't ask Wang Li for assistance, but Su Chen sensed a certain unease in the man's demeanor. Ultimately, Wang Li was a member of the military and had no direct connection to Su Chen, Liu Chenye, or Su Wenhao's orders. Recognizing this, and desiring to maintain a harmonious cooperation, Su Chen refrained from troubling Wang Li, who appeared on edge and vigilant whenever they crossed paths.
Su Chen alighted from the vehicle, finding refuge in a secluded corner of the highway. After careful consideration, he deliberately sparked a small controlled fire.
After all, a fire extinguisher's purpose was to extinguish fires. Perhaps it would exhibit a significant effect when faced with an actual blaze?
Su Chen, armed with the modified fire extinguisher, held the spray gun in one hand and grasped the opening ring on the gas cylinder with the other...
And then...
A muffled sound, a faint "puff."
Su Chen witnessed a billowing cloud of smoke billow forth.
The fire extinguisher expelled copious amounts of white, suffocating smoke, quickly amassing into a dense mass resembling a vast swamp. Gradually, the mass sank, enveloping the small area and settling upon the ground, smothering the flickering flame and transforming the surrounding dead weeds. The peculiar substance froze the ground and lifeless foliage, creating an otherworldly tableau.
Su Chen cautiously extended his hand to touch the hardened matter. It had solidified.
Could this be some form of restricted ability?
Throughout the process, only a minuscule amount of his energy was expended, pitifully small, not even reaching one-tenth of the energy required to wield the magically augmented bone-reaving knife.
Observing this scene, Su Chen resolved to find a substantial tree or a slender, elongated object for further testing. This newfound ability seemed to impose significant limitations on creature behavior, and he needed to conduct targeted experiments to ascertain its true potential.
Moreover, the nature of magic-modified objects remained uncertain. Although the fire extinguisher exhibited limited abilities, Su Chen harbored reservations about its safety. He refused to subject himself, Qiao Zheng, or anyone else to live experimentation.
In that moment, Su Chen faintly noticed a presence and turned his gaze towards it. Joe, lying on the rear window of the car, stared intently in his direction.
Qiao Zheng was well aware of Su Chen's abilities. Observing Su Chen's prolonged tinkering and the emergence of the peculiar fire extinguisher, he likely deduced that Su Chen intended to conduct a test. Thus, he silently observed from the car window. As Su Chen caught sight of him, he merely scratched his head and grinned, giving him a thumbs-up in response.
Su Chen had no intention of concealing his abilities. In such circumstances, absolute secrecy was impossible and unnecessary. Within the confines of the locked-down Yuanliao City, he didn't seek to flaunt his powers but enjoyed relative freedom. Rather than wasting time and effort on hiding, he preferred to be open and forthright.
However, what truly occupied Su Chen's thoughts was not the fire extinguisher but the balance car. Its deconstruction precision and mechanical complexity posed a formidable challenge, requiring dedicated time and effort. Su Chen had yet to embark on the second level of his abilities and planned to tackle the balance car as his first magical modification project at that stage. It would serve as both a test of his capabilities and the completion of a significant transformation.
Su Chen gathered his belongings and returned to the vicinity of the off-road vehicle, exchanging greetings before preparing to head to the gas station.
Upon hearing his intentions, Qiao Zheng promptly stepped out of the car and exclaimed, "Brother Su, I'll accompany you!"
He Xuanheng cast a glance at the bustling gas station where numerous people had congregated. Then, he looked at Lao Liu and fell silent for a moment. Finally, he spoke, "Lao Liu and I will keep watch here. It's better to have someone guarding the vehicle."
Su Chen nodded in acknowledgment. He understood the importance of maintaining security, especially in a potentially volatile environment. With Qiao Zheng by his side, they set off towards the gas station, their senses heightened and their guard raised.