The ruined city stretched before them, its once-bustling streets now silent, desolate, and scarred by the chaotic appearance of monsters that had spilled through the gates. Chen Lin followed Liu Yurong as they moved cautiously through the broken roads, his thoughts racing with the reality of the new world around him. Everything felt surreal—the monsters, the otherworldly gates, and most unsettling of all, the mysterious Counter System that had inexplicably saved his life. The strange power had protected him from the Flame Wolf's fire attack, but Chen Lin knew better than to speak about it. Not yet. Not to anyone.
His footsteps were hesitant, but determined. Every part of him screamed to understand what was happening—how had he received this strange power? But for now, he chose silence. His survival depended on not revealing any weaknesses, and revealing the Counter System would undoubtedly expose him to dangers he couldn't yet predict.
"You're still in shock," Liu Yurong said, glancing over her shoulder at him. "It's understandable. Most people freeze up when they first get here. But we don't have time to coddle you."
Chen Lin nodded, masking his thoughts. "Where are we going?" he asked, trying to sound normal despite the weight pressing down on him.
"We're heading to a safe house," Liu Yurong replied. "Get some rest, gather supplies, and figure out our next move."
She didn't say much more as they continued their journey, weaving through crumbled buildings and past shattered windows. Chen Lin noticed the way her eyes remained alert, scanning every corner as though expecting an ambush at any moment. It was clear that the world they lived in now had no room for hesitation or weakness. Survival was everything.
As they reached the outskirts of the city center, Chen Lin couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. His senses were heightened—perhaps a result of whatever strange power had surged through him when he'd been attacked. But he kept his mouth shut. No one needed to know that he had been gifted with an ability to resist elements. It wasn't something he fully understood himself, and he wasn't about to share it.
After some time, they arrived at a decrepit building, a structure that looked more like an abandoned storehouse than a safe haven. Inside, a few people were gathered around, sharpening weapons or tending to makeshift fires. The air was thick with tension, and everyone's eyes shifted toward Liu Yurong as she entered.
"This is Chen Lin," she said, introducing him briefly before turning her attention to the group. "He's just arrived. Survived his first encounter with a Flame Wolf."
The others exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable, but there was a definite curiosity in their eyes. One man, standing near the window with his arms crossed, surveyed Chen Lin quietly. His face was marked with a deep scar running down one side, a visible testament to the dangers of this world.
The man nodded, his voice low but steady. "Flame Wolf, huh? That's no small feat. Most people are cooked alive in their first fight. Guess he's got potential."
Chen Lin said nothing. How could he explain that it wasn't his strength that saved him? That it was some unknown force inside him—a force he didn't even understand? He wasn't about to share that with anyone. The Counter System was his secret, and as far as he was concerned, it would stay that way.
"We'll have to train him," Liu Yurong continued, her tone businesslike. "We don't have time for you to learn the basics, Chen Lin. You'll need to catch up quickly. Everyone here has fought monsters, and you're no exception."
Chen Lin nodded again, but his mind was elsewhere. He was already starting to think of ways he could use the Counter System to his advantage, but he needed more time to figure out how it worked. If he revealed any part of it now, it could complicate things. His best chance at survival was to learn everything he could while keeping the truth to himself.
Lan Xue, a woman sitting at the table near the fire, studied him intently. Her gaze felt calculating, as though she was sizing him up. "I'm Lan Xue," she said, her voice sharp and efficient. "I'll help you with supplies and basic combat training. You'll need to learn fast, or you won't last long out there."
Chen Lin met her gaze briefly, nodding in acknowledgment. He didn't trust anyone here—not yet. But he had no choice but to rely on them for now. He didn't even know where to begin with the weapons they used or how to fight monsters. He had to learn quickly.
The scarred man at the window turned his attention to the group. "We'll head out at dawn," he said flatly. "There's another gate opening in the city. We'll need to clear it before anything worse shows up."
Chen Lin didn't respond, but his heart began to race. The looming danger outside this crumbling safe house was real, and he wasn't prepared for it. He wasn't even sure how the Counter System would react to new kinds of attacks. What if he couldn't resist them?
Liu Yurong's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be a long day."
The others nodded in agreement and began preparing for the next day's mission. Chen Lin found a quiet corner in the room to sit, trying to gather his thoughts. His heart was pounding as he thought about his encounter with the Flame Wolf—the fire, the searing heat, and how, when the flames reached him, they hadn't harmed him at all. He didn't understand how it had worked, and the more he thought about it, the more questions piled up.
The Counter System had activated when he was attacked by the flames, but he had no idea why it had given him fire resistance. Was it based on the attack he received? Was it just a random occurrence? And what if he couldn't rely on it in the future?
But as much as these questions gnawed at him, Chen Lin knew there was one thing he was certain about: no one could know. Not yet.
The sound of distant growling broke the stillness outside, followed by the faint rumble of something large moving in the city. The others tensed, their hands instinctively reaching for weapons.
Liu Yurong's voice was calm but firm. "Get ready. There's a monster out there. Don't let your guard down."
Chen Lin's body tensed in response. The real test was coming, and he wasn't sure he was ready for it. But for now, he would do what he had to do to survive.