After Annie had taken out the two steel behemoths—the two "Terrorsauruses"—Li Kui, the search team leader, took a moment to collect his thoughts before making a snap decision. They had to move before dark, in case the racket from all the shooting and explosions attracted more steel monsters that might be lurking in the city ruins.
And so!
While Li Boli still looked rattled and stunned, the group piled into their vehicles and sped off for dozens of miles. At last, they found shelter in the remains of some dilapidated building whose original purpose was anyone's guess.
By the time Li Kui had assigned sentries, set up detection and warning devices within several hundred meters, and returned to rest, night had completely fallen.
"..."
Even now, Li Boli still felt dazed.
"Uncle..."
"Do you think I'm useless?"
As she spoke, she glanced unconsciously at the off-road vehicle parked some distance away—and at the troublesome little girl who had claimed its back seat and was now curled up there, fast asleep without a care in the world.
"Oh?"
"What makes you say that?"
After a long stretch of work, Li Kui had only just found time to sit down for dinner. He scooped up a chunk of meat from his canned food, chewed noisily, and asked in surprise.
"No particular reason..."
"You saw what happened earlier. I can't match her at piloting, and I'm terrible at fighting on foot. I can't even keep my gun steady..."
"But she..."
"Do you think I'm useless?"
Thinking back to how Annie had dispatched the two powerful steel behemoths with such ease—creatures Li Boli thought could only be fought with a mecha—she let out another sigh.
"No!"
"I think you're doing all right. You're at least a little better than the rest of us."
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