In a dim, cramped space lit by nothing but the wavering glow of a candle, seven people in tattered clothes crouched by the wall, facing it as they carved something into its surface with knives.
Looking closely where the candlelight fell, one could just make out the haphazard words carved into the wall.
"How much longer do we have to stay here?"
"Just wait a little longer. It'll be all right."
"I, Ling Cixi, will fight my way out and kill those damned monkeys!"
"Keep dreaming!!!"
"R-r-r-one."
"Hungry."
Similar words covered the walls, their despair making the entire space feel even more oppressive. Only one wall bore something longer and more useful: a record.
"January 8. The ten of us were assigned by the county to form a team and explore southeast, gathering information about monsters and the environment."
"January 9. We reached the Huo Textile Factory, three kilometers from the safety zone, without incident. We found no survivors in the factory. A group of Glazed Snow Cats had settled there. They were low-level Soldier-level Monsters and posed no threat."
"January 10. We reached the Qida Logistics Company site, eight kilometers from the safety zone. The company had also been overrun. We found some unused vehicles and drove away after killing two Mane Wolves that had reached the peak of the low-level Soldier-level Monster rank."
"January 11. We reached this place. We'd planned to collect some good wine to satisfy our cravings, but a group of monkey-like monsters appeared and surrounded us. We had no choice but to take shelter in the warehouse and rely on its defenses to protect us from their attacks."
"January 12. We failed. Fortunately, we found this place to hide, but we lost three teammates."
"Cao Jingjing, Li Manlin, He Qian."
"January 13. We heard the sound of wine barrels being knocked over in the warehouse, but all we could hear otherwise was the monkeys making a racket."
"January 14. We secretly checked outside. The monkeys were still celebrating. To stave off boredom, I suggested carving something into the wall."
"January 15. He Le, He Qian's older brother, tried to leave. We thought it was a good opportunity, too, but even though the monkeys were drunk, they were still easily roused. We had to retreat, and He Le lost his left arm."
"January 16. He Le survived the operation, but we've lost another fighter. Only two of us can now fight mid-level Soldier-level Monsters, and only two can handle low-level ones. Why are the two of us so weak?"
"January 17. We've given up. We're not going out. We'll wait for rescue. I've clearly observed that the monkey has grown stronger again, while our rate of improvement is nowhere near its own."
"January 18. Nothing happened."
"January 19. Nothing happened."
"January 26. It seems to have gone quiet up there again. The monkeys must be drunk once more."
"January 27. He Le's acting a little strange. But given our situation, I'm afraid I'll be next."
After carving the final character, the bespectacled man stared blankly at the exit overhead, then shook his head once again, closed his eyes, and leaned against the wall.
After an unknown amount of time, a sudden crash rang out overhead. Dust sprinkled down from the ceiling of the small space, and the candle flame flickered.
Everyone in the space was startled. They looked up in shock, trying to figure out what had happened.
A few seconds later, the sound of weapons clashing in battle and many hurried footsteps came from above.
Everyone grew excited. It was very likely that the county's safety zone had sent out another team after waiting in vain for their return.
The seven of them stood up and began gathering their belongings, ready to leave this damned, cramped space at once.
Just then, the bespectacled man who had recorded everything on the wall seemed to think of something. "Don't rush. Li Xu, Zhang Xiaoyang, you're the strongest among us. Go out first and support our allies. Xia Mingdi, Ling Cixi, wait and see whether you should join the fight."
Li Xu was a burly man. He picked up the long blade that had been leaning against the wall and gathering dust for nearly ten days, then ran his hand over its hilt and blade. "We've got to make the most of an opportunity like this. I'll show that monkey what I can do again."
Zhang Xiaoyang merely nodded in silence, then picked up another long blade much like the first and headed for the exit.
As the manhole cover overhead was quietly pushed aside, Zhang Xiaoyang got a view of the warehouse.
He climbed out quickly, ducked behind a stack of wine barrels, and carefully observed the battle.
When Li Xu climbed out of the manhole as well, Zhang Xiaoyang signaled for him to take cover and come over.
Having worked with Zhang Xiaoyang for a long time, Li Xu understood his meaning at a glance. He moved through the shadows cast by the boxes stacked near the manhole and joined Zhang Xiaoyang.
Zhang Xiaoyang pointed to the other side of the row of wine barrels, then brought his two fists together from either side.
Li Xu gave Zhang Xiaoyang a thumbs-up, then quietly made his way to the other end.
Seeing the monkey surrounded by more than a dozen people, attacked from all directions yet never taking a serious hit, Zhang Xiaoyang couldn't help feeling puzzled. Their strength was clearly only at the Beginner Warrior level; not one of them had reached Intermediate Warrior. Yet they'd managed to keep a monster that was clearly at the peak of the Mid-level Beast Soldier rank under control by swarming it. That was no easy feat.
Zhang Xiaoyang began to suspect that these weren't people sent by the county. They might be other survivors who, unable to contact the outside world, had no way to learn how to improve their strength.
After all, according to the researchers outside, under current conditions, training alone would likely leave people stuck at the Beginner Warrior level forever.
Suddenly, a man who had fallen off to one side stood up with an axe in each hand. While a teammate behind the monkey swung a hammer into its back, he rushed at it and brought both axes down toward either side of its head, trying to block off every direction it could go.
Zhang Xiaoyang understood the man's plan and immediately signaled to Li Xu. He sprang to his feet, and the two of them charged into the fight with their long blades.
The people in the fight were startled by the two unexpected arrivals, and their attacks faltered for a moment.
The monkey seized the opening and escaped toward the rear right. Only its right ear had been sliced off by Ma Tianxing, and Zhang Xiaoyang and Li Xu had also hacked sizable gashes into either side of its waist.
The pain finally jolted the monkey awake from its drunken stupor.
In that instant, its entire bearing changed. It became vicious beyond measure, blood running down its fur and giving it a savage look.
The monkey's gaze swept toward the warehouse entrance, taking in everything outside. A trace of sorrow passed through its eyes.
Then the monkey leaped up, clung to the warehouse ceiling, and sped toward the exit.