Mark Although I have tried hard to tidy up my hygiene in the shortest possible time.
But when he pushed open the hidden alloy door filled with rotten rags with the help of Peter, the strange smell that had completely blended into the air and walls of the basement still made them unable to open their eyes.
For the first time, they felt that their keen sense of smell was sometimes a form of torture.
If it weren't for the sake of maintaining basic courtesy and fear of irritating Mark's fragile mental state due to living alone for a long time, Peter and Bucky would have retreated far away as soon as possible.
Although they have experienced countless disgusting environments, they have even been to the sewers that represent the city's intestines many times.
But the sour smell of rotting food in the basement, the smelly socks soaked in the most disgusting fermented cheese, the vomit and feces being heated together, the musty smell mixed with car exhaust...
They all blend together and smell sour and smelly, stuffy and pink, sharp and hot. They go directly into your nose and rush into your mind, making your nose sore, your head swollen, your eyes itchy, your chest tight, and even your face numb.
Compared to a simple stench, its lethality is directly maxed out, making people's faces change when they smell it, they become speechless in shock, and they dare not breathe!
Fortunately, Mark himself knew that the smell in the basement was unpleasant, so before Peter and the other two could speak, they walked towards the door with excited expressions, not worrying at all about being discovered by zombies.
Peter and Bucky followed behind. Their eyes quickly scanned Mark's bare head and chin, which were covered with stubble and stubble, and had fine bloody mouths still bleeding. I looked at the new clothes with obvious marks and full of creases, and finally glanced at Mark's wet skin that had not yet dried, and I made the most logical deductions about how Mark was fussing around in the basement just now.
After confirming that only Mark I was living in the basement, Peter and Bucky understood why Mark became like this.
A long period of loneliness and despair is no less than the most severe mental torture and can really break down the most determined will.
As soon as he walked out of the door, Mark's eyes were attracted by the two horses with shiny and smooth fur. That kind of beautiful life full of health and vitality is so precious and incredible in today's world.
"Do you like it, buddy? As long as you join us, you can also have it. They are all gifts from immortals."
"You can call me Spider-Man, of course, you can also call me Peter. This is the first time I have told a stranger my real name. And the cold-faced gentleman next to me, you can call him Bucky, so... can you tell us your name, sir?"
"Of course, it doesn't matter if you don't want to say it. We will still give you a share of immortality. Every surviving human being should contribute to saving the world!"
Peter stood beside Mark and expressed his attitude to Mark again in his unique gentle tone. Bucky folded his arms and looked at it expressionlessly.
Mark was tentatively reaching out to touch the horse's head, but the horse did not dodge, but lowered its head proactively.
After listening to Peter's words, he immediately opened a smile that was so stiff that it was almost fake. That was because he had not had anyone to communicate with for a long time, and he had almost forgotten how to control the muscles on his face.
"He...Peter."
Mark said the first words after walking out of the basement. His voice was muffled, trembling, and a little stuttering.
"You... you... ha... hahahaha... cough cough cough cough... cough hahahaha..."
Mark's mouth was grinning wide, as if it was grinning directly to the roots of his ears, and his two rows of yellow-brown teeth were completely exposed to the air. He laughed hysterically, his face flushed with laughter, and clear water gradually condensed in his eyes. His expression was ferocious when he laughed, his chest felt tight, his throat was itchy, and he bent over from laughing.
Excitement, anticipation, hope that rebounded after being suppressed by despair... these emotions could barely be suppressed when they were in the basement. Now, after truly seeing Peter and them, touching the warm horse head, and hearing Peter's narration, Mark finally burst out all the turbulence in his heart.
This emotion is so pure and so real that it is not expressed in words, but directly expressed in the body and laughter.
Peter's narration stopped abruptly, and he looked at Mark with some worry. Bucky's expression also changed for a moment. Through the laughing Mark, they could already think of the hardships other survivors were experiencing.
"Everything that happened before is in the past. We still need to work hard in the future. The world will get better and we still have hope."
Bucky spoke in a deep voice, his voice still so calm, as if he was telling a destined fact.
"Man, put it on, the gifts of the gods are in it, and you will know all the information."
Peter stretched out his hand and handed the Assimilation Ring he had just taken out of the backpack space to Mark, who was still panting. He also showed the Assimilation Ring he was wearing, and pointed at the Assimilation Ring on Bucky's finger, indicating that he did not mean to deceive him.
"Let us work together to save this desperate world!"
"Thank you... thank you, you guys... you can just call me Ma... Mark!"
Mark wiped his eye sockets, a trace of embarrassment flashed in his red eyes, he thanked him seriously, and then said his name, his voice still stuttered.
He solemnly took the ring from Peter's hand. He just looked at the simple appearance of the black and gold ring and put it on his finger without hesitation.
No doubt, no temptation.
The expressions of Peter and Bucky relaxed at the same time. Looking at the slightly red-gray light coming from Mark's body, they were already imagining Mark's fanatical performance after being assimilated.
That kind of life protection at the level of absolute powerful power and rules, that kind of hope that can save all despair in the past, can make anyone who has lived in a desperate world go crazy.
However, accidents often happen at this moment of hope.
"Wha--!"
"Pfft!"
A black shadow cut through the air as fast as lightning, making a sharp sound of breaking through the air. Before Peter and the two of them had time to react, it was directly inserted into Mark's head!
"Mark!"
"Damn it!"
"Who is it! Come out! Come out!"
Peter's body instinct reacted faster than his head. Pulling Bucky, he rolled and hid behind the collapsed wall. His eyes quickly locked on the direction of the arrow and roared out.
Bucky's face also turned gloomy. He was holding an iron sword tightly in his hand, and a square wooden shield half a man's height appeared in his other hand.
However, he did not roar like Peter, nor did he try to find where the attacker was. Instead, he still stared closely at Mark, who had an arrow stuck in his head and had fallen to the ground, as if waiting for some miracle to happen.