128. Party Preheat
Rat-tat-tat—
Celia raised her machine gun, pulled the trigger, and fired a burst. A 12.7mm bullet hit a beast trying to approach. Its phantom-like form tumbled forward and quickly collapsed to the ground.
The beast howled and lay on the ground. The bullet had pierced its flesh and internal organs, likely exiting through its secondary brain. The cavitation effect wasn't fully utilized, so it didn't die instantly.
Its tentacles quickly flailed, its body struggling slightly. As it fell, its fellow beasts bit its throat, tore open its blood vessels, and immediately began to devour it.
The disturbance in the herd allowed the 'Youth' to quickly widen the distance. The javelin dragon on the hillside puffed up its chest, lowered its head, and launched a bony javelin from its shoulder, hitting the Youth's incredibly sturdy steel plate, leaving only a shallow dent.
"These mutant beasts from the outside world are always attracted by the commotion every time the subway travels, coming to their deaths."
Celia put down the machine gun, smiled, and gestured to the three young men and women infected by the Calamity to try:
"It's not difficult. You'll learn this sooner or later."
One slightly older Frost-Plated youth nervously raised his bolt-action rifle. Under Celia's guidance, he awkwardly adjusted the mechanical sights, slightly protruded from the window, and aimed at the motionless javelin dragon on the hillside, waiting for it to 'reload.'
Bang!
A muffled gunshot rang out, and the full-power bullet cleanly pierced the javelin dragon's chest, causing it to fall with a thud.
"Oh—nice shot, you have talent," Celia encouraged, "What's your name again?"
"Hodro." The young man was somewhat dazed, not even seeing if he had hit the target. But Celia's praise made him immediately puff up his chest and smile: "Hey, not bad—what about Gina and Li Mu, aren't you going to try?"
"No, I'm still afraid of the gunshot," Gina waved her hand.
Li Mu glanced at the ferocious beast tide, the continuous screeching and the flashing bats above dropping phosphorous fire, exploding into splendid markers in the air, filled him with fear. But he was too embarrassed to show it in front of the women, so he forced himself to say:
"I'll pass too. If I miss, it would be a waste of bullets."
To prove he wasn't afraid, he leaned out of the carriage and added, "I prefer using my own Omega Energy over firearms."
"It's better to get rid of those abnormal powers early," Gina said, touching her smooth hand. Reminiscing and sighing, she continued, "My Omega Energy [Sakura Scales] would make my skin crack into hard sakura petal-like scales. It could block bullets, but it was very inconvenient to clean and easily got infected with parasites—it's much better now."
Gina was beautiful. Seeing her speak like this, Hodro laughed heartily and said brightly:
"It's okay, we humans have guns. Ms. Celia, I'll be on guard duty here from now on, shooting the beasts from the outside world every day."
Celia, pleased to have a break, said: "Sure, but this job, while not very dangerous, is quite tiring."
Hodro nodded: "No problem. Although I've lost my Omega Energy, a person should have a skill to rely on."
"You'll progress quickly then. I also want to help," Gina congratulated.
"I think so too. Practice makes perfect. Besides, Gina, you can stand guard with me."
"That sounds good—but hitting a distant target on your first try shows talent. Don't belittle yourself..."
Li Mu glanced at Hodro, surrounded and praised by the pretty girl and Ms. Celia from the Metro Brotherhood. He felt a pang of jealousy—if he had known, he should have stepped up too.
'That javelin dragon is dumb. A beast is just a beast. It didn't even move and got killed by someone barely older than me from Frost-Plated.'
He felt envious. Gina was considered one of the most beautiful among the infected, with golden-brown fluffy short hair full of fantasy, especially her looks aligning with the outside world's aesthetics: pretty rounded cheekbones, smooth and alluring red lips, and deep-colored skin like honey wax, exuding a fragrant sheen.
The outside world had no unified ethnic or tribal culture. After long-term interbreeding among different races, appearances were diverse. Some people looked distinctly Caucasian but had Eastern Asian names, and vice versa. Despite the mixed surname culture, the aesthetic standards were quite uniform: darker skin, smooth skin, healthy teeth, and round baby-fat faces, preferably with freckles, symbolizing abundant sunlight, vitality, and health.
'Frost-Plated guys took so much of our land and resources, and now they're taking the outside world's girls. They're shameless.'
Li Mu thought.
After giving some pointers, Ms. Celia went back to her work, leaving the three of them.
Although there were three of them, Li Mu couldn't get a word in. Watching Hodro quickly blend in after finding a topic, he felt increasingly uncomfortable, especially when Gina occasionally said, 'Nice shot,' 'Very good,' fueling his jealousy. Feeling unhappy, he sulked silently for a while, finally unable to stand it:
"I'm going to the bathroom."
"Come back soon," Gina reminded him.
Li Mu shut the door as if fleeing, lowered his head, and walked through the carriage corridors—cargo box, dining car, purification room, fuel room, mechanical room, power distribution room. Along the way, he heard the survivors from the Abyss Humanitarian Relief talking excitedly. Some were celebrating, some were exhausted, and a few were so overwhelmed with joy and sorrow that they acted out.
Many were discussing the man who rescued them, Li Aozi.
Li Mu leaned against the restroom wall. In front of him was a Frost-Plated woman with her head down, silent, making the atmosphere awkward. But soon, he was distracted by the conversation nearby.
"Did you see Li Aozi yourself? He looks like an old man in his seventies or eighties." A young man from the outside world at the table said excitedly:
"At his age, having the power to challenge the professor's giant is truly legendary."
Hearing this, a man from Frost-Plated adjusted his glasses and said flatly:
"Even so, he took away our Omega Energy. No matter what, that was our thing..."
"What kind of bullshit is that? If Li Aozi hadn't saved you, you'd have been drained by the professor!" An outsider couldn't stand it and reminded him.
"I'm not denying his merits. Li Aozi saved us, yes, but without our Omega Energy, how could he have defeated the professor?"
The Frost-Plated glasses guy sneered:
"In other words, we defeated the professor together—you outsiders don't understand the people's historical perspective!"
Bang!
His words instantly ignited the other young outsiders' anger. One slapped the table and pointed at the Frost-Plated glasses guy, cursing:
"I understand your bullshit. I didn't go to school. Do you feel accomplished showing off your knowledge, you Frost-Plated coward?"
"Speak properly and don't curse! This is why you outsiders get bullied by the Four Nations. You don't understand what rationalism is."
The Frost-Plated glasses guy's tone softened as he met the fierce gazes of the outsiders:
"I'm just trying to get us benefits. Without our help, Li Aozi couldn't have defeated the professor. Isn't that true? Is that wrong?"
Compared to fighting bravely, Frost-Plated men, at the bottom of Frost-Plated's discrimination chain, were like domestic cats facing wild Bengal tigers when compared to the outsiders who struggled in darkness and cold.
"Oh, now you're playing the coward?"
The young outsider sneered:
"Fighting for benefits—do you think anyone dared to confront that giant god? Or do you think the Metro Brotherhood's armored train gave us a free ride?"
The Frost-Plated glasses guy still argued: "Based on humanitarianism, isn't it the right thing to do to help people to the end? It was his choice—"
Bang!
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