mesbooks Chapter 9 Upgrade Opportunity: Fortify the Shelter!
Chapter 9 Upgrade Opportunity: Fortify the Shelter!
The hissing sound grew louder and louder, drifting closer and closer on the evening breeze.
The creaking sound of claws scraping against the wooden board followed closely behind, sharp and piercing, making one's teeth ache.
Qin Lan tensed up instantly, panicking completely. She leaned awkwardly to the side, her hands gripping the hem of her skirt tightly, her whole body trembling slightly.
Her face was deathly pale, and her voice was filled with obvious panic and fear: "Su Nian, the commotion outside is too great, it's too dangerous, we have to go back immediately."
Su Nian's face instantly darkened, and his sharp eyes locked onto the direction of the park entrance.
He reached out and steadily supported the unsteady Qin Lan, shielding her in front of him, gripping the entrenching tool tightly with one hand, his vigilance at its peak.
My gaze traveled through the sparse, withered woods to the dilapidated wooden fence on the outskirts.
In the darkness, countless eerie green lights flickered and swayed, drawing ever closer.
The old wooden fence was repeatedly struck, causing it to shake violently and emit a dull thud as if it were about to break.
Su Nian stared intently at the screen, his brows furrowed deeply.
Outside the fence, hundreds of grotesque, twisted monsters were gathered, frantically ramming, biting, and scratching at the fence.
Their bodies were hunched over, their skin was grayish-black and cracked, their heads were bald and glowed with an eerie green light, they had no facial features, only a huge mouth that split to the base of their ears.
It was covered with fine, sharp teeth, and murky saliva dripped constantly, making it a sight that caused physical discomfort.
The sharp, long fingernails repeatedly tore at the wooden planks, each impact further weakening the already fragile defenses.
Su Nian's heart sank. He had never expected that the first round of nighttime attacks marked by the system would come so swiftly and so unexpectedly.
They had originally estimated that they would have plenty of time to rest and reinforce, but after only a short delay, the monster horde had already fully arrived.
The outer wooden fence won't hold for long; once it's completely breached, the entire park will be lost.
Their hastily constructed, makeshift wooden shelters were rudimentary in structure and offered limited protection.
They were no match for the collective attack of a hundred mutated creatures.
Qin Lan followed his gaze and saw the group of monsters in the darkness. She was instantly terrified, her body stiffening and her legs going weak.
Having worked as a lawyer for many years, living her entire life within rules, laws, and a stable city life, she had never seen such a hideous and terrifying monster.
A wave of overwhelming fear washed over her, and she instinctively gripped Su Nian's arm, her voice trembling:
"There are too many... We can't stop these monsters at all. We need to get back to the shelter, quick!"
Her ankle was already severely sprained, red, swollen, and bruised. She had barely managed to stand up after being frightened, and now she was too weak to support herself. With the slightest movement, excruciating pain would sweep over her entire body.
Su Nian glanced down at her swollen ankle, then at the crumbling outer fence, and no longer hesitated.
He bent down and steadily lifted Qin Lan into his arms, his movements restrained and upright.
The sole purpose was to prevent her injuries from worsening and to quickly evacuate her from the danger zone; there was no unnecessary ambiguity whatsoever.
Caught off guard, Qin Lan gasped softly and instinctively reached out to support his shoulder.
I instinctively avoided eye contact, my mind filled with fear of the monsters outside.
[At this point, I hope readers will remember our domain name: 20 ...
Su Nian moved with lightning speed, carrying the person as she rushed towards the shelter, remaining highly vigilant throughout, keeping an eye on the surrounding shadows to prevent any possibility of being ambushed.
The journey of just a few dozen meters was completed in an instant.
He kicked open the gap, grabbed Qin Lan, and quickly went inside. He then used his other hand to re-secure and fix the heavy wooden planks, firmly blocking the entrance.
Inside the shelter, a dozen or so women were already in a state of complete panic, terrified by the screams and crashes outside.
Everyone huddled together, their faces pale, their breathing rapid, and their eyes filled with despair and fear.
The sounds of scratching, gnawing, and the monster's low growls from the outside world constantly pierced through the wooden planks, relentlessly assaulting everyone's nerves.
Upon seeing Su Nian bring Qin Lan back safely, everyone clung to them as if they had grasped at a last straw, immediately surrounding them and bombarding them with questions, their faces filled with anxiety.
"What's that outside? The noise is terrifying!"
"Is the fence not enough to stop them? Is the monster about to get in?"
"Can our shelter hold out? Will we survive tonight?"
A barrage of questions followed, and a sense of panic spread through the small space.
Su gently helped Qin Lan sit down on the blanket, carefully examined her sprain, and only after confirming that the injury had not worsened did she get up and walk to the wooden door of the shelter, listening intently to the sounds outside.
Outside the door, the monster's attacks grew increasingly fierce; the sounds of crashing, scratching, and biting were almost within reach, and the defense line was in imminent danger.
He knew perfectly well that a makeshift shelter made of ordinary wood would have very low defense and would be torn apart sooner or later in the face of a large-scale monster horde.
To survive, you must immediately use your core talent.
His SSS-level Affection Talent, relying on the Affection accumulated by others, can trigger talent synergy, granting him a precious opportunity for enhancement and upgrade.
According to the rules, this opportunity allows you to choose to enhance your personal attributes, upgrade other people's talents, or modify and reinforce your survival base.
Just now, Qin Lan took the initiative to have a heart-to-heart talk with him, pouring out her feelings about her years of tedious and cold work as a lawyer...
He also admitted that his D-level talent was weak and that he had leg injuries, which made him feel guilty and afraid of dragging down the whole team.
Logically speaking, using this upgrade opportunity to improve Qin Lan's detection talent would be a reasonable choice.
It can make up for the team's shortcomings in investigation and also soothe her inferiority complex and anxiety.
But at this critical moment of life and death, there is no room for personal feelings or compromise.
All lives depend on this sanctuary.
Once the stronghold is breached, no matter how strong one's personal talent or how wide one's reconnaissance range, one will still be unable to escape death when surrounded by a massive number of monsters.
Su Nian made up her mind instantly.
This one and only upgrade slot will not be allocated to anyone else, nor will it be used to enhance the sanctuary's own combat power; it will be entirely devoted to the sanctuary itself.
He turned to look at Qin Lan in the corner, meeting her anxious yet expectant gaze.
Qin Lan truly longs to shed her lackluster talent and to have the ability to integrate into the team, no longer becoming a burden; a faint hope lingers in her eyes.
Su Nian simply shook her head calmly, her gaze sweeping over all the panicked aunties present, her tone steady and clear:
"The biggest weakness right now is the defense of the shelter. There are too many monsters. Prioritizing the reinforcement of the stronghold is the key to everyone's survival."
Qin Lan was taken aback, and instantly understood his choice.
The expectation in her eyes slowly faded, but there was not a trace of resentment or dissatisfaction.
As a lawyer, she is best at weighing pros and cons and distinguishing between priorities.
In the face of this crisis, safeguarding the collective's survival is far more important than upgrading individual talents.
She nodded gently, her expression calm: "I understand, you did nothing wrong, it was my thinking that was too one-sided."
The people around instantly understood what he meant, fell silent, and turned around to make room for Su Nian so as not to disturb him from activating his talent.
There were no wild fantasies, no ambiguous atmosphere; everyone was tense and anxious, waiting for the shelter to complete its enhancement.
The cramped shelter was silent, except for the terrifying roars and crashes coming from outside the door.
Su Nian focused his mind and calmed his spirit, mobilizing the innate power within his body and drawing upon the accumulated favor and affection energy of everyone over the past few days to form a stable talent linkage.
The gentle energy spread out slowly, without any strange movements or close contact; it was purely driven by energy.
Warmth flowed down the ground, through the wooden planks and beams, permeating every part of the shelter's structure.
Outside, the monster had completely smashed through the park's outer fence, and a large number of mutated creatures poured into the park, heading straight for the sanctuary.
The heavy impact slammed into the wooden wall, causing the whole house to shake violently, with wood chips falling off and cracks spreading rapidly.
As the first wall was about to be breached, an atmosphere of despair once again enveloped everyone.
But just as the crack was about to break, the invisible energy that enveloped the shelter was fully activated.
The cold, impersonal system notification echoed in Su Nian's mind:
[Ding! Talent synergy successful!]
[Ding! This enhancement option has been confirmed: Abandon personal attribute improvement, abandon Admirer talent upgrade]
[Ding! All linked energy consumed, temporary survival base fully upgraded!]
[Ding! Simple wooden shelter → Reinforced shelter]
[Defense strength significantly improved, with enhanced wall hardness, structural toughness, impact resistance, and tear resistance.]
[It can withstand attacks from swarms of low-level mutated creatures for extended periods, significantly enhancing the stability of the blockade.]
hum-
A slight tremor spread from beneath my feet.
The originally thin and fragile wooden wall instantly became thick and sturdy.
All cracks automatically closed and reinforced, and the joints between beams and columns were firmly locked.
The door panel and the blocking wooden planks create a solid energy barrier.
next second.
The giant, mutated monster charging at the forefront slammed its head against the wall.
The anticipated breakage and collapse did not occur.
After a dull thud, the monster was instead thrown back by the thick barrier, its skull hitting the ground with a muffled wail.
Its sharp claws scratched the wall frantically, leaving only faint white marks; it could no longer gnaw or tear the wooden boards.
The fierce onslaught outside the door was instantly and forcefully stopped.
Inside the shelter, everyone clearly noticed the change.
The violent shaking stopped, the ear-piercing cracking sounds disappeared, and the once shaky little house became as stable as a rock.
The despair on their faces gradually faded, replaced by a sense of relief and peace of mind after surviving a disaster.
Su Nian let out a long sigh of relief, his tense nerves relaxing slightly.
As it turned out, his choice was absolutely correct.
Giving up short-term personal development and giving up preferential treatment to Qin Lan's natural talent.
Prioritize investing all available resources in reinforcing shelter walls and sealing defensive gaps.
They single-handedly built the last lifeline upon which the entire team depended for survival.
This is the clearest choice made in a desperate situation.
Without the slightest hesitation
Su Nian's eyes remained calm and composed.
There was no wavering whatsoever.
He looked at Qin Lan sitting in the corner, his tone calm and gentle.
Every word is sincere:
"I'm sorry to have troubled you, Aunt Qin. Once we get through tonight's intense monster attack, and we can safely gather resources and accumulate enough favor points, when there's another chance to upgrade your talents through the system, I'll prioritize unlocking your Exploration talent first!!"
"Believe me!"
Qin Lan slowly shook her head, her eyes showing no resentment whatsoever.
Her more than ten years of practicing law had honed her to an extreme level of rationality.
"Please don't take this to heart. I completely understand and I'm not wronged at all."
"More important than me alone is that we all survive and protect this shelter together."
"It's okay if I'm less talented and can't help in the fight. There are many things I can do, and I will never hold the team back."
She had long since completely let go of the past issues caused by her leg problems.
The stubbornness and inferiority complex that arises from not being able to help.
Over the past few decades, she has single-handedly dealt with the cutthroat competition in the workplace and the trivial entanglements within her family.
I gritted my teeth and persevered through countless moments of isolation and helplessness.
"It's okay, Su Nian, I'm fine!!"
"There will definitely be other opportunities in the future, so don't focus all your attention on me right now!"
Outside, the mutated monsters' frenzied attack showed no signs of stopping.
The piercing roar made the walls tremble slightly.
Sharp claws frantically scratched at the reinforced steel plate.
Its heavy body slammed against the barrier again and again, producing deafening roars.
No matter how hard they tried, they could not break through this heavily reinforced defense.
A ferocious and terrifying roar echoed through the thick, sturdy walls.
Su Nian quickly walked to the wall inside the shelter and bent down slightly.
Calmly observe the outside world through the narrow observation port.
A pale purple halo of lightning always lingered around her fingertips.
The power of the Purple Sparrow Thunder is ready to be unleashed at any time.
As long as the monsters cannot break through the defenses, he will have ample time to conserve his stamina and adjust his condition.
There is no need to rush into battle; we can wait for the best opportunity to counterattack.
Several aunties also felt safe and secure under this protective measure.
Gradually calmed down from my panic.
They helped each other to sit down quietly, and spoke in hushed tones.
In the dim candlelight
Qin Lan sat quietly in the corner, gently rubbing her injured ankle, her eyes filled with peace.
She recalled the dull and depressing days of the first half of her life.
Day after day, I buried myself in thick case files and cold legal statutes.
Deeply betrayed by love, swept along by the realities of life.
He always held everything together on his own.
There was never a moment's respite.
I thought that coming to this wasteland would only lead to faster elimination and abandonment, making me a burden to the team...
I never expected to meet such a calm, rational, responsible, and sensible young man as Su Nian.
Be respectful and respectful in your dealings with others, and keep public and private matters separate in your actions.
Knowing how to choose is a sign of kindness and gentleness ingrained in one's very being.
Looking at it now,
It seems like they took everything away
But it also allowed her to completely break free from the shackles of her repressive and tedious life of the past few decades.
I found a completely new sense of belonging.
"Su Nian...really, Auntie is so grateful to you."
"If it weren't for you, I really wouldn't know what to do..."
Even though Qin Lan's talent was average, and even though she had a minor leg injury...
As long as the team is stable and the base is secure, she can always find her own value.
outside
The night grew darker and thicker, and an eerie green light flickered in the depths of the distant ruins.
A cold wind seeped in through the tiny cracks in the wall, carrying a biting chill.
The first wave of nighttime monster attacks continues unabated, showing no signs of abating.
Su Nian always stood at the front of the team
Protect everyone behind you.
He absolutely cannot let a single one of those monsters in!