Fish

Without further hesitation, Lu Heng strode into the Portal. The light and shadow shifted instantly, and he arrived directly at the Lakeside Base.

He strode to the window, his gaze piercing through the camouflage barrier, locking firmly onto the dark lake below.

The malicious fluctuations are clear and dense, constantly impacting the rocky foundation of the base.

After a moment's thought, Lu Heng had a rough idea of what was going on.

The recent unusual activity is most likely caused by something underwater, mistaking the newly built main base for an invading foreign entity.

This is a good opportunity to thoroughly test the combat power of the mutated King Snake bound by the Companion Pact.

With a thought, Lu Heng activated the Companion Pact.

Dark shadow patterns lit up on his wrist, and Mutant King Cobra with icy, chilling scales silently appeared, sliding down the base's stone wall into the lake.

Underwater visibility is dim and murky, making it impossible for ordinary people to see anything. However, Lu Heng, by using his shared vision with his companion, was able to see the entire underwater scene.

Beneath the lake's surface, two enormous Blackfish were taking turns ramming into the base's foundation. They were jet black, with scales as rough as sand and gravel, and their front jaws turned outward, revealing fine, serrated teeth. Each fish was nearly a meter long, and their aura was fixed at the Black Iron Tier.

As the King Snake circled around, Lu Heng saw fish eggs in the recessed area at the base of the wall—dark-colored eggs densely packed together, numbering at least a thousand.

Fish nest.

These two are protecting the nest.

Lu Heng frowned. The foundation of the base had destroyed their spawning grounds, and the two Blackfish were retaliating by charging forward.

He raised his Wristband, and scanned the nearest one.

[Name: Blackfish]

[Rank: Black Iron Tier]

[Description: A freshwater species, highly solitary, with a surge in aggression during nest-guarding season, willing to charge at anything that approaches its nest without regard for consequences. It possesses an extremely strong bite force.]

Black Iron Tier.

Lu Heng glanced at the black Bronze Tier wall—it was completely still, without even a scratch.

The two Blackfish rammed against each other for a long time, their heads bleeding, but the wall remained completely unmoved.

It's useless.

But these two creatures won't stop. During the nest-guarding period, the Blackfish will fight to the death, even if it breaks its skull, it will keep charging forward.

Just as Lu Heng was about to control the King Snake to clean it up, a movement suddenly appeared at the edge of the King Snake's field of vision.

On the other side of the wall, a school of fish, noticeably smaller, was swimming in from the murky water. They were jet black, their scales gleaming darkly, and they moved in close formation, like a pack of hunting dogs that had caught the scent of blood.

They weren't coming for the base.

They came for the fish eggs.

Lu Heng raised his hand and scanned the fish at the very front of the school.

[Name: Ink-Scaled Fish]

[Rank: Black Iron Tier]

[Description: A gregarious freshwater species whose habits have changed after mutation. They often move in schools and have a very strong sense of territory. Individual combat strength is not high, but their numbers are large and their swimming speed is fast. They feed on small aquatic organisms and fish eggs.]

It's also of the Black Iron Tier.

Unlike snakehead Blackfish, Ink-Scaled Fish are gregarious, numerous, and fast swimmers. They rely on teamwork rather than individual brute force, but only the leader is of the Black Iron Tier.

Lu Heng stared at the group of Ink-Scaled Fish for a few seconds, then sorted out the logic.

The Blackfish guarded its nest, ramming against the wall, but couldn't break through.

The Ink-Scaled Fish, attracted by the scent of the fish eggs, swam over in groups to steal them.

Two groups of fish, one guarding its nest and the other scrambling for food, bumped right next to the base's foundation.

The foundation of the base is right in the middle.

Lu Heng watched coldly, his heart unmoved.

In the apocalypse, survival of the fittest prevails, and there is no logic to it.

Now that we've come this far and the feud has been established, there's no need to hold back. Letting these strange fish roam the bottom of the Lakeside Base there in the future; it's better to wipe them out completely once and for all.

Lu Heng remained steadfast and launched a surprise attack, controlling the King Snake in the water.

Using the water flow as cover, the mutated King Snake moved with ghostly speed, instantly closing in on a Blackfish.

The Poison Fang fangs pierced through the hard scales and flesh in an instant, and Lu Heng's mental energy flowed into the beast's body simultaneously through the symbiotic link. With the combined burst of potent venom and mental suppression, the ferocious Blackfish's body suddenly stiffened, struggled twice, and its fins drooped limply.

The second Blackfish noticed its companion had fallen and suddenly turned to pounce on the King Snake. The King Snake twisted its body to avoid the attack, then bit its side, its Poison Fang piercing the rough scales and injecting venom.

In less than five seconds, both Blackfish were rendered unable to move.

But the Ink-Scaled Fish did not disperse as a result.

Seeing the Blackfish fall, they instead charged forward at full speed—for this group of fish, with their nest protector gone, the eggs were easier to eat.

The King Snake turned and pounced on the school of fish, its Poison Fang lashing out repeatedly, reaping them one by one. Each bite was precise and deadly, its mental pressure building up layer upon layer.

However, the Ink-Scaled Fish are small and fast swimmers, and the King Snake could not catch them as quickly as they scattered and fled. Several fish, realizing that their companions had been slaughtered, immediately turned and disappeared into the crevices of the rocks at the base of the wall.

The King Snake took two steps, but couldn't squeeze in.

A moment later, they returned empty-handed.

Lu Heng manipulated the King Snake to coil around and gather all the fish carcasses, dragging them to the shore.

He stepped out of the base and personally scooped up a pile of strange fish carcasses weighing several kilograms each.

Looking at the carcasses of strange beasts and fish scattered all over the ground, Lu Heng had no intention of dealing with them in a complicated way. He had never been good at meticulously handling aquatic products, so he continued to use the safest method.

Raise your Wristband to light up the bracelet and start the disassembly process with a single click.

The white light swept across the scene, and the strange fish corpse rapidly decomposed, leaving behind clean, exotic fish flesh and hard fish bones, which were then separated into different categories.

After dealing with everything, Lu Heng looked up at the calm lake surface, a calm and thoughtful assessment forming in his mind.

The main base in the center of the lake has Illusory Camouflage camouflage system that can conceal its presence, allowing it to fool survivors and wandering beasts in the distance, making it extremely well-hidden.

But its weaknesses are equally fatal.

The base had no automatic defense mechanisms, no traps, no guard lines, and no means of counterattack. At least the Fortress had Bloodthirsty Vine to act as living defenses on the perimeter, but the Lakeside Base was completely empty and exposed.

Just now, a few Black Iron Tier fish were able to rampage through the foundation with impunity. If they were to encounter high-level beasts or strange swarms of attacks in the future, they would have absolutely no room for maneuver.

Lu Heng silently kept it in his heart.

Next, we must specifically find defensive cryptic plants suitable for water and humid areas, transplant them and place them around the Lakeside Base to fill this fatal defensive gap.

After considering his options, Lu Heng turned and stepped into the Portal, returning to the Fortress Shelter.

He had harvested fresh exotic fish meat today, so supplies were plentiful and there was still plenty of time. He planned to treat himself to a good meal and make a pot of handmade noodles.

Lu Heng took out the pure dry powder stored in the storage room and scooped it into a large ceramic basin.

In the apocalypse, without precise measuring tools, he relied on his long-accumulated feel for the dough, adding water to the dry powder in small amounts several times, constantly stirring and kneading with his fingertips. The dry flour gradually condensed into fine, fluffy flakes, without lumps or dry powder residue.

Once he confirmed the dough was just the right consistency, he began to press and knead it repeatedly. He pressed firmly with his palms, folded and rubbed, gradually gathering the loose dough pieces into a ball.

After kneading repeatedly for dozens of times, the originally loose dough becomes firm, delicate, and smooth.

To make handmade noodles chewy and delicious, the dough must be allowed to rest and relax the gluten.

Lu Heng covered the basin with a clean linen cloth to isolate it from the air and let it sit and wait for the dough to ferment and relax.

While waiting for the noodles to wake up, he casually took out two firearms.

The Kiss of Nightmare, resembling a shotgun in design, delivers terrifying bursts of power at close range. It's a top-tier weapon for piercing armor, slaying enemies, and hunting monsters, and will likely be a trump card for the future.

The other revolver is now somewhat redundant, not that it's useless, but it's just not very useful to Lu Heng right now.

As his fingertips traced the cold, heavy metal barrel of the gun, Lu Heng's mind flashed back to Song Yunzhong and his group.

In Song Yunjing's hand, giving away this revolver would significantly increase their chances of survival.

But the thought was immediately extinguished by Lu Heng.

He recalled a profound truth about survival, "A small favor is appreciated, but a large favor breeds resentment."

During this time, I can say that I have repaid the life-saving grace, and if I continue to give...

Unconditional kindness and charity will never earn lasting gratitude.

Giving without expecting anything in return will only breed greed in people's hearts, making them take others' help for granted. When the day comes that they stop giving, they will not only fail to appreciate it, but will also easily harbor resentment and sow the seeds of future trouble.

In the end times, people's hearts are at their coldest, most greedy, and least able to withstand temptation.

Lu Heng's eyes regained their cold calm, completely suppressing any extra goodwill.

Discretion is always the first principle for survival in the apocalypse.

He carefully stored away the revolver, waiting for an opportunity to reveal it; if there was a chance, he would give it to her; if not, he would leave it alone. The Kiss of Nightmare was his trump card, and he would never easily show it to anyone.

My mind has completely settled, and the dough in the bowl has just finished proofing.

Lifting the burlap cloth, the dough is soft, supple, and incredibly elastic, with the gluten fully relaxed—perfect for rolling and cutting the dough.

Inside the Fortress, the smell of smoke slowly rose.