Chapter 12: Outside the Building

"I've roughly planned out three routes. We'll decide which one to take tomorrow based on the actual situation and Zhou Wan's observations. The general principle is to avoid open water and known high-density monster zones as much as possible, sticking to paths shielded by high-rise buildings."

"Brother Han Ning," Liu Feng said, looking at him. "Your vine control is crucial. When we encounter monsters, especially in groups, your primary task is to restrict their movements and create a safe environment for the rest of us to attack. Prioritize fast, high-threat targets."

Han Ning nodded. "Understood."

"Chen Yan, you'll be the vanguard. You're responsible for holding the frontline and drawing their attention.

"Lu Minghu, you'll roam and provide support. Look for opportunities to deal fatal blows to key targets or clear out any scattered monsters that get too close.

"Zhou Wan, your eyes will be our radar. Give us early warnings and lock onto targets, especially the threats hidden in the dark."

Chen Yan gave a faint "Mm," indicating he understood.

"That Crocodile Lizard Armor is very thick," Lu Minghu said, frowning slightly. "I'm lacking a good weapon, so I'm afraid it'll be hard for me to deal any effective damage."

"That shouldn't be a big problem. To complement your Superpower, I've specially prepared an Oil Saw for you," Liu Feng said with a smile, pointing at a toolbox in the corner of the living room. "With this thing, you should be able to tear through the monsters' Scale Armor quite easily."

"An Oil Saw? How did you manage to get your hands on that?" Even the usually aloof Chen Yan showed a hint of curiosity and couldn't help but ask.

"Heh, it was a stroke of luck, actually. My men found it in the greenbelt downstairs. I'm guessing some landscapers were pruning the ornamental trees right when the transmigration happened."

Han Ning actually thought that an Awakened with immense strength and a Warrior-like role such as Chen Yan could also use the Oil Saw. However, he then considered that the Oil Saw was a "fixed damage" weapon; whether it was wielded by the strong Chen Yan or the swift Lu Minghu, the damage output would be roughly the same. In fact, putting it in Lu Minghu's hands would make him more mobile and far more intimidating.

Thinking this through, he realized there was nothing wrong with Liu Feng's plan. The only drawback was that the Oil Saw might be a bit heavy. He wondered if it would affect Lu Minghu's speed.

"Alright, that's the basic situation." Liu Feng didn't elaborate further. He looked around and asked, "Does anyone have any questions or anything to add?"

The group remained silent. In this kind of environment, no plan could keep up with sudden changes. Teamwork and the ability to adapt on the fly were the true keys to survival.

"Then it's settled. Get a good rest tonight and recharge your energy. We'll meet at the fourth-floor stairwell at ten o'clock tomorrow morning." Liu Feng slapped the table, finalizing the plan then and there.

At ten o'clock the next morning.

The torrential rain showed no signs of stopping; if anything, it had grown even more violent. The five-man team had already assembled at the fourth-floor stairwell. They were bundled up in thick raincoats, covered from head to toe with only their eyes exposed. Beneath the loose folds of their raincoats lay their respective gear.

Chen Yan gripped a solid metal baseball bat in his left hand and a sharp fire axe in his right, looking like a berserker straight out of a video game.

Lu Minghu carried a portable fuel can on his back and held a small Oil Saw in his hand.

Zhou Wan had a waterproof quiver slung across her body and steadily held a sleek, black Compound Bow.

Liu Feng had a fire axe tucked into his waistband and wore thick leather gloves.

Finally, there was Han Ning. He was empty-handed, save for a kitchen knife stamped with the brand "Wang Mazi" tucked into his waist.

Except for Lu Minghu, everyone wore a backpack containing rations and first-aid supplies.

"Check your gear. We're moving out!" Liu Feng's voice pierced through the curtain of rain, carrying a hint of solemnity.

The guards struggled to move the barricades blocking the entrance. Instantly, a wave of cold, damp air—mixed with the smell of dirt and decay—flooded in.

The five of them descended the damp stairwell to the first floor. At the bottom of the stairs, muddy floodwater had already submerged several steps. Various pieces of garbage and suspicious debris floated on the surface.

"Let's go!"

Chen Yan was the first to step into the murky water, followed by Lu Minghu, Han Ning, Liu Feng, and Zhou Wan. The freezing sewage instantly swallowed their thighs, and the biting chill made everyone shiver.

Stepping out of the stairwell, they entered the apartment building's first-floor lobby. By now, the lobby had been completely submerged by the floodwaters brought on by the storm. Countless pieces of debris bobbed along the yellowish surface.

Zhou Wan observed the water ahead with a vigilant expression, signaling the group to keep moving.

The lobby was relatively safe, and they quickly waded their way to the main entrance.

The outside world was far more shocking than it had appeared from upstairs.

The gale-force winds, wrapped in a torrential downpour, lashed out at everything like countless whips. Visibility was incredibly low; anything beyond ten meters was a blurry mess.

The greenbelt outside the apartment building had completely vanished, transformed into a flooded wasteland. The murky water surged rapidly, generally reaching past an adult's waist. Floating on the surface were the wrecks of cars, fragments of furniture, and even the swollen, pale corpses of animals.

The buildings on either side stood crookedly like giant tombstones submerged in mud, and many of the low-rise shops on the ground floor of the complex were more than half-flooded.

Stepping out of the apartment building's main gate, every step they took was agonizingly difficult. The current battered against their bodies while their feet slid on slippery mud and tripped over unknown obstacles beneath the surface. Freezing rain continuously seeped through the gaps in their raincoats, leeching away their body heat.

SPLASH! SPLASH!

WHOOSH!

The only sounds in their ears were the howling of the gale, the roar of the downpour, and the rushing of the floodwaters.

"Brother Minghu, with the environment this terrible, how did you guys even get here?"

The conditions outside were truly horrendous. Han Ning couldn't imagine how the others had managed to travel over from different apartment buildings, let alone move back and forth with such ease.

"I don't know about the others, but I've been staying in this building for the past week," Lu Minghu shouted back, turning his head toward Han Ning. "Old Liu found me right after I got my awakened abilities. Since I'm a lone wolf with no strings attached, I just moved over."

"Oh, that makes sense," Han Ning said, a look of sudden realization dawning on him.

"Watch out for the debris on the right!" Zhou Wan's voice suddenly rang out.

The group followed her voice and saw a white object—looking much like a refrigerator—being swept along by the current in the murky water to their front right, spinning wildly as it crashed into the neighboring building.

"Keep left! Hug the wall!" Liu Feng immediately ordered.

The team struggled to move to the left, pressing themselves tightly against the exterior wall of a relatively intact apartment building next to them. The freezing wall provided a little bit of support, but it also increased the risk of being struck by falling objects from above.

They had barely dodged the debris when Zhou Wan's voice rang out again, this time with a clear sense of urgency.

"Two o'clock direction, the water flow is abnormal.

"No, it's a living creature!"

As soon as the words left her mouth, two blurry, dark silhouettes broke through the current beneath the murky surface, closing in on them as fast as torpedoes.