The snow dances in the air.
The snow falls like a curtain, covering all the shelters in this Otherworld with a layer of white, though this white carries a hint of pale red.
The biting cold wind ravages the entire Otherworld, and the temperature keeps plummeting.
The once summer-like heat has vanished like an illusion.
This snow silently reaps lives.
Countless mutant creatures, upon sensing the firelight from the direction of the shelters in the snow, rush madly towards it, causing the bodies of survivors, who barely warmed up, to turn cold forever.
Some survivors rushed outside to eat snow in big bites, only to lose consciousness in pain and confusion.
Some survivors burned so much firewood that it ignited the shelter, adding a blaze to the snow…
The snow shows no sympathy, no pity; it just continues to fall relentlessly.
From a few centimeters, it gradually accumulated to tens of centimeters, then half a meter.
Some shelters gave a deafening crash, unable to bear the heavy snow, they collapsed in an instant!
The sky brightened, the blizzard poured like rain.
In the Desert, however, a particular shelter presented a stark contrast to others.
Plumes of steam rose from the stone roof, and a trail of smoke ascended from the chimney into the sky.
Not a trace of snow was on the roof.
Around the shelter, dozens of relatively larger mutant creatures huddled close against the outer wall, their entire bodies almost lying against it for warmth.
Beside them were countless corpses of mutant creatures; some were still dragging on after stepping into traps, while others were bitten to death trying to seize the warmth from the shelter surroundings.
These corpses were overrun by numerous mutant insects, relentlessly gnawing at them.
Lin Yue stretched extensively.
Last night's sleep was alright, just too hot; if not for the basement's cold air, the temperature might have been even higher.
Seems like too much firewood was put into the fireplace, gotta be mindful of that tomorrow, or else he might just pass out from the heat.
"Pichi! Pichi!"
The just-awake Little White was still barking fiercely at the door, ready for battle.
"What's wrong, Little White? Is there an enemy?" Lin Yue quickly dressed, donned wooden armor, and picked up the Fine Iron Spear.
"Pichi!" Little White continued barking at the stone door.
Lin Yue knew well, this little guy's enemy-sensing ability was strong; back in the Secret Realm, it could even sense the flying tentacled Winged Dragon ahead of time. Judging by the current situation, there must be some mutant creature outside the door!
"Little White, get ready too!"
"Pichi!" Little White hid by the door, its small body puffed up quite a bit.
He took a deep breath, grasped the stone door handle with his left hand, and gently pulled open a gap, while Little White blew a Frost Breath through the less-than-twenty-centimeter gap!
"Awooooo!!"
A howl erupted, a powerful impact struck the stone door, while Lin Yue's Fine Iron Spear thrust forward!
Instantly, with a thud, a frozen, severed wolf head appeared at the door gap!
[You have obtained a Copper Treasure Chest]
There really was a mutant creature!
Lin Yue immediately shut the stone door, using a boulder to brace it.
Almost simultaneously, thuds resonated from the stone walls!
Damn, how many are there outside?
Lin Yue pondered, realizing why.
It must be cold outside, so these mutant creatures gathered at his shelter to warm up!
"Pichi!"
Little White still barked outside, seeming to urge Lin Yue to open the door again, sticking close to it.
"Little White, can you do another Frost Breath?" Lin Yue handed a skewer of mutton to Little White to replenish its energy.
The inventory feature is much better than a fridge; even after a whole night, the food comes out steaming.
Little White lightly blew a bit of Frost Breath to cool the skewer, then devoured it, instantly rejuvenated with an intensified desire to fight.
Lin Yue didn't hesitate, gently opened the door again, and in that instant, Little White froze the shadow outside!
[You have obtained a Silver Treasure Chest]
Lin Yue's spear severed the head of the mutant creature trying to break in, revealing a Silver Treasure Chest!
Oh wow, this encounter wasn't a loss!
He closed the stone door again, and the pounding resumed.
Goodness, am I exploiting a bug here.
"Little White, are you alright?"
"Pichi!"
"Then let's do it again!"
Lin Yue repeated the process twice more, with Little White eventually exhausted and himself significantly drained of strength.
How many mutant creatures are still out there?
Lin Yue wanted to go out and observe, also to retrieve the three Copper Treasure Chests and one Silver Treasure Chest outside.
The door pounding continued, Lin Yue noticed the shelter's durability was declining rapidly.
However, upon checking the shelter status panel, Lin Yue noticed a note appearing.
[Materials can be placed to restore shelter durability]
Was this hint always here?
Lin Yue placed a piece of stone, restoring 10 points of durability instantly.
He consecutively placed five pieces for temporary defense.
But… stones were running low.
If these creatures keep pounding from morning till night, I'll indeed need to buy some rock.
Bang! Bang!
So annoying.
Lin Yue fed Little White some meat chunks: "Still got strength?"
"Pichi…" Little White seemed drained, sprawled on the ground lazily.
Repeated use of Frost Breath, it truly gave its all.
However, always relying on Little White isn't a solution either.
Though Lin Yue felt impulsive to drive away those annoying mutant creatures, reason told him that was absolutely unfeasible.
Charging in requires having the capital.
Currently, he's just an ordinary person wielding a weapon, not someone trained or previously a soldier, going out recklessly would be suicidal.
He wasn't even aware of how many mutant creatures were outside, nor what kind they were…
Wait, there seems to be something that can reveal the types of creatures outside?
Lin Yue went to the basement, taking out something he got from the Secret Realm.
Organic Glass!
Then looked at the previously-crafted, dust-collecting item — a wooden window frame.
Combining these two, can they make a window?
He brought the two together.
[You've obtained a Wooden Frame Window (Organic Glass) Blueprint]
It works!
Lin Yue immediately used the blueprint.
[Wooden Frame Window: Wooden Frame X1, Organic Glass X1]
Clicking manufacture, a one-square-meter new item appeared in Lin Yue's inventory!
Now, the question is where to place it.
He returned to the ground level, surveyed around, then looked up at the ceiling.
Fighting on the rooftop seems to be his forte?