Night had fallen.
The eerie quiet that had blanketed the Dragon City Imperial Residence all day was shattered by intermittent gunfire and unearthly howls, the sources indistinguishable between humans and Bacatan.
The presence of Jiang Bin's unit wasn't coincidental.
Over the course of a single day, the Bacatan had spread throughout the city. At the same time, human military forces had begun deploying across the region. Several units had already arrived nearby, but their presence also drew more Bacatan.
Lin Qun made his way back to the Dragon City compound faster than expected, securing his position at third place on the leaderboard.
At the compound gate, the survivors who had gathered earlier were nowhere to be seen. Within the compound, however, more survivors roamed cautiously. Over time, even the timid grew restless, unwilling to stay holed up indefinitely.
Hiding might work for a time, but it wouldn't last forever.
Returning to the compound, Lin Qun chose not to head upstairs. Instead, he sat on a bench near the entrance, removing his Pigsy mask to rest.
The night was dangerous, favoring the Bacatan, but it also suited Lin Qun's tactics. His stamina was nearly depleted, and his energy reserves were critically low. He needed time to recover.
The moment he regained strength, he would resume hunting.
Securing more Contribution Points was essential to maintaining his third-place ranking in the Eastern District warzone.
Although he had narrowly survived earlier, the experience left Lin Qun with a lingering sense of vulnerability. He realized that unless he became stronger, he would continue to rely on narrow escapes. He needed to ensure that no one—Bacatan or otherwise—could threaten his life.
While resting, Lin Qun browsed the Contribution Point store.
The inventory featured a dazzling array of weapons, from pistols, titanium knives, and machetes (1 Contribution Point) to shotguns and rifles (2 Contribution Points). For 3 Contribution Points, one could even redeem a small-caliber rocket launcher.
For a moment, Lin Qun was tempted by the rocket launcher, imagining its destructive power. But practicality won out.
He opted to redeem a shotgun for 2 Contribution Points and 10 rounds of ammunition for 1 Contribution Point.
As with the stamina recovery potions, the redeemed items materialized with a dark flash. The weighty shotgun appeared in Lin Qun's hands.
A Practical Choice
With only 3 Contribution Points, Lin Qun prioritized turning them into immediate defensive capability rather than gambling on the card draw system.
The shotgun was the ideal fallback weapon. Whether against Bacatan or hostile humans, it offered close-range stopping power. Its semi-automatic design, capable of holding up to five shells, complemented his Headshot Lady ability perfectly.
Wrapping the shotgun in his jacket, Lin Qun slung it over his back.
The compound was dark and silent, the air heavy with the metallic tang of blood. Survivors moved cautiously, each with their own purpose. No one spoke, and no one paid attention to Lin Qun resting on the bench.
After about seven or eight minutes, a scream pierced the air from deeper within the compound.
Lin Qun stood, his eyes narrowing.
A lone Bacatan had scaled the back fence and stumbled upon a chubby survivor. As Lin Qun approached the scene, shadows flitted past him—other survivors fleeing in the opposite direction.
To them, the Bacatan was a nightmare.
But Lin Qun moved toward it.
Raising his shotgun, Lin Qun took aim.
The muffled blast echoed through the compound, startling those nearby.
The Bacatan never saw it coming.
Thanks to Lin Qun's stealth and familiarity with the area, the alien had no idea it was being hunted until the shotgun roared.
The recoil was stronger than Lin Qun expected. He had aimed for the head but missed. Fortunately, the shotgun's spread was forgiving. The shot tore into the Bacatan's torso, shredding its chest into a bloody mess.
Bacatan armed civilians weren't as resilient as their military counterparts.
This one, clad in tattered clothing and without armor, staggered back, blood pouring from its wounds. But even gravely injured, it charged at Lin Qun, swinging a spiked club.
Lin Qun fired again.
BOOM!
The Bacatan's head exploded, and its massive, headless body collapsed to the ground.
Lin Qun activated Headshot Lady for the finishing blow, conserving his ammunition.
Nine shells remained.
The shotgun was everything he had hoped for—powerful and forgiving. It didn't require precise aim to deal significant damage, making it a practical choice for someone as resource-conscious as Lin Qun.
+1 Contribution Point
His third-place ranking was now even more secure.
Examining the Bacatan's body, Lin Qun chuckled to himself. This was by far the most pathetic Bacatan he had encountered.
It didn't even have a gun.
"Not every lone wolf is an alpha," Lin Qun muttered. "Sometimes, they're just the stragglers no one wants."
Before he could leave, commotion erupted near the compound entrance.
Lights flickered on, illuminating the darkened streets. Survivors, including prominent figures like Fan Wenchuan and Li Xinghe, emerged from their hiding spots.
Unlike the fear and tension that had defined the past days, the crowd's faces now glowed with hope.
"The army! The army's here!"
"We're saved! I told you the Federation wouldn't abandon us!"
The arriving soldiers were none other than Jiang Bin's unit. After shaking off the Bacatan pursuit, they had circled back to the compound.
Jiang Bin was stunned by the sheer number of survivors—at least a hundred—hiding within the Dragon City compound. Climbing to a vantage point, he raised his voice to address the crowd.
"Everyone, please remain calm! We are soldiers of the 6th Armored Division, 3rd Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 6th Company, 9th Squad. I am Squad Leader Jiang Bin. The Federation has not abandoned you.
"Our main forces are actively engaging the Bacatan and holding their ground. We will do everything in our power to protect your lives, but we need your cooperation.
"Please stay quiet and follow our instructions to avoid attracting large groups of Bacatan. If any of you are capable fighters willing to assist us, step forward and help us resist the invaders."
The crowd murmured uneasily.
"Just a handful of soldiers? How can they protect us?"
"I thought reinforcements would be an army, not a squad…"
"We're doomed!"
"Quiet down! We have to trust them!"
Jiang Bin took a deep breath and continued. "We are the first unit to arrive. Two more squads are en route to this location. Together, we have enough manpower to ensure your safety, but only if you cooperate. Loud noises could draw more Bacatan!"
The mention of the Bacatan silenced the crowd.
Jiang Bin's eyes swept over the survivors. "Who among you is Li Xinghe?"
The crowd froze in surprise.
Everyone turned to stare at Li Xinghe, the so-called "super expert" of the Dragon City compound.
Li Xinghe's face stiffened. He felt a chill as he recalled the scrap of paper that had been shoved into his hand during the earlier commotion.
"If the army asks, just say you did it. Play along, and I'll make sure you survive. Promise."
Li Xinghe felt like crying. That mysterious powerhouse had thrown him under the bus again!
But he couldn't refuse. The fear of offending that shadowy figure outweighed his humiliation. If he dared deny the claim, who knew if his head would suddenly explode?
Clenching his teeth, Li Xinghe stepped forward.
"I… I'm Li Xinghe."