Su Yun looked at their shocked expressions and felt exactly as she had when she first heard the news. She could not help sighing. "Experts estimated that, at its growth rate back then, that tree would cover half the city within three months at most!"
"So, to protect Mountain City, most of the police force was deployed to deal with that tree."
"But that tree was alive. It fought back. Anyone or any animal that approached it was killed!"
"Even helicopters were shot down by its branches."
"Th-then why not use fire? Trees should be afraid of fire, right?" Zhou Wan'er asked curiously.
"Yes, some experts did suggest using fire."
Su Yun nodded, then continued, "But the place where that tree took root was a densely populated area in the city center. If we used fire, there would be massive civilian casualties."
"So the authorities delayed giving the order. They could only use fire after the civilians had been evacuated."
"But by then, it was already too late."
"It grew too quickly."
"In just one day, it had become many times larger than before."
"When we finally began using fire, no one expected that tree to actually break off parts of its own branches to put out the flames. It even extended its branches to prioritize attacking the weapons that threatened it."
Su Yun looked utterly helpless as she spoke.
Only those who had witnessed that battle firsthand could understand how terrifying that tree was.
"It actually has intelligence!?"
Zhou Wan'er and the long-haired girl were both stunned.
Breaking off branches to survive!
Distinguishing its enemies!
Was that really intelligence a tree could possess?
Su Yun sighed and nodded, her eyes filled with sorrow. "By the time we tried to think of other solutions, it was too late, because most of the police officers had died in that operation..."
After listening, Shen Yi felt an unprecedented tension rise in his eyes.
If that giant tree was still growing wildly, it could cover all of Mountain City in half a year at most.
By then, everything in this city would become nourishment for the tree, including humans!
Shen Yi pondered gravely for a moment before asking, "Didn't the military come to rescue us? Weapons like missiles should be able to deal with it, right?"
"I'm not sure. I only know that someone from above contacted the military, but the military seemed to be dealing with some kind of mutated creature too."
Su Yun shook her head gently.
She was not a high-ranking official, after all, and did not know much.
But even this information made Shen Yi feel an enormous sense of danger!
At present, the most dangerous thing in all of Mountain City was the ever-growing tree in the city center.
If it was not dealt with, then no matter how well he hid, he would eventually be swallowed by it and become its nourishment.
But dealing with it was nearly impossible.
The police had mobilized who knew how much manpower. They had even deployed helicopters and armored vehicles, yet they still failed. What use was his little handgun?
It seemed he needed to make plans early, leave Mountain City as soon as possible, and head for another city.
Although this apocalypse had engulfed the entire world, surely other cities did not have such a terrifying tree, right?
Otherwise, humanity really would be wiped out!
Besides, since the military had not come to rescue Mountain City, they must have gone to cities that were closer or more important.
For example,
Modu,
Didu,
These two economic and political capitals of Xia Country would definitely receive priority protection.
With the military's firepower, they should at least be able to save several cities and establish safe zones, right?
If even that was impossible, Shen Yi truly did not know how he could protect himself.
Unless...
He could unlock more supplies, and those supplies included Ability Fruit. Then, if he gained several badass abilities, perhaps he would be able to deal with that ever-growing tree.
At that thought, Shen Yi could not help looking at Su Yun.
It seemed he needed to claim her reward as well.
Before this, Shen Yi had only wanted to lie low. As long as he had food and drink, he was content to take it easy.
But now, the fire had truly reached him, and he felt the urgency.
Even if he could not gain the power to deal with the tree, he at least needed the absolute ability to protect himself!
Instant Movement was powerful, but a range of only twenty meters was still too short.
"Are you all ready? I'm going to open the door now. Once I lure that lizard away, you need to leave as quickly as possible! Don't waste any time!"
Su Yun took out her gun and prepared for battle.
"Sister Su Yun, you need to be careful too..." Zhou Wan'er and the long-haired girl were reluctant to part with her.
They might have had selfish thoughts, but they were genuinely grateful for everything Su Yun had done.
Su Yun knew she was unlikely to survive, but she still nodded in response to the two girls. Then she looked at Shen Yi and said seriously, "Comrade Shen Yi, I hope you can look after them. In this world, we humans can only survive by helping each other!"
"I know."
"Then get ready. The moment you hear something, leave immediately. Don't waste any time!"
After saying that, Su Yun walked to the door and carefully opened the convenience store's entrance.
Outside, there was only thick Black Fog and the sound of wind. No danger was visible.
Su Yun took a deep breath, stepped out cautiously, and observed her surroundings.
She found no sign of the lizard.
Once that color-changing monster hid in the Black Fog, it was difficult to spot with the naked eye.
Su Yun glanced back at the convenience store, then walked into the Black Fog. She deliberately made noise with her footsteps, trying to lure the lizard out.
"Brother Shen Yi, sh-should we go out now?" Zhou Wan'er hurriedly asked.
The long-haired girl also gripped her backpack tightly, ready to run at any moment.
Shen Yi glanced at her and said, "Go back and hide in the room inside. Only come out when I call you."
"Huh? Wh-why? Sister Su Yun is luring that monster away. Wouldn't it be better for us to leave quickly?"
Zhou Wan'er asked anxiously.
"Shut up! If you don't want to listen, you can leave right now, but don't follow me!"
Shen Yi could not be bothered to waste words. After saying that, he walked out of the convenience store.
If Zhou Wan'er listened obediently, he would not mind saving her life along the way. If she did not, she was courting death.
Zhou Wan'er was too frightened by his rebuke to say anything. Only after Shen Yi left did she angrily stomp her foot.
"Damn it! That stupid straight guy!!"
After cursing furiously to vent for a while, Zhou Wan'er exchanged a look with the long-haired girl. In the end, they closed the door and obediently hid in the storage room.
Without anyone to protect them, there was no way they could survive in such a dangerous world.
Although they did not understand Shen Yi's intentions, they could only obey for now.
After all,
Shen Yi had a gun. Only by following him did they have any hope of surviving!
Zhou Wan'er might have been a little green tea, but she was not stupid.
Tap!
Tap!
Tap!
Within the Black Fog, Su Yun held her gun with both hands and slowly moved forward on her long legs. She deliberately made noise with every step, vigilantly watching her surroundings and barely daring to breathe.
She knew very well that the mutated lizard could ambush her at any moment!
She had to react immediately.
Even if she was attacked, she had to kill that monster!
Su Yun walked very slowly, and her footsteps were loud.
This undoubtedly stirred the mutated lizard's desire to hunt her.
At that moment,
A pair of cold vertical pupils silently watched Su Yun from within the Black Fog.
Their owner's body had almost merged with the Black Fog.
It remained quietly where it was, without moving an inch.
It was waiting for its prey to come to it.
The slowly approaching Su Yun was its prey.
Silence.
No sound.
Just as the prey came within roughly two meters of it, it moved.
The color that had blended into its surroundings was revealed the instant it moved!
It was a huge lizard!
It was incredibly fast. Even if its prey reacted at this distance, it would not have time to put up any effective resistance.
Not to mention that Su Yun was facing sideways, with no way to notice it immediately!
By the time she noticed it, it was already too late...
Bang bang bang bang!
Suddenly,
Several gunshots rang out through the Black Fog.
Su Yun jumped in fright and spun around.
She saw a huge lizard lying only a few dozen centimeters away from her...
Several bullet holes riddled the lizard's body, blood flowing from them as its breath grew extremely weak.
Su Yun did not hesitate. She fired two more shots into the lizard's head, completely killing the mutated lizard.
Then,
She finally let out a long breath and began gulping in air.
Her back was already soaked in sweat!
Even the hand gripping the gun was trembling slightly!
So close. She had come so close to dying!
Anyone who said they felt no fear was lying.
She was human too.
But once she had put on this uniform, she had to live up to the responsibility it represented.
She could not retreat, nor could she allow herself to retreat.
If she could avoid dying, she did not want to die either. She really did not!
"Thank you..."
Su Yun looked at the armed man walking out of the Black Fog, gratitude shining in her eyes.
Before you continue