Midnight.
The sound of torrential rain outside served as an unending backdrop, drowning out all subtle noises.
The entire apartment building was eerily silent, with only the occasional flash of pale lightning outside bringing brief illumination.
Han Ning opened the security door, with Snowflake following closely behind.
"Let's go."
Man and lizard moved soundlessly to the entrance on the first floor.
Compared to their first outing, the floodwaters had risen several more steps.
"Go ahead." Han Ning crouched down and stroked Snowflake's scales.
"Awoo~"
"Plop."
At the sight of the water, Snowflake seemed instinctively drawn to it, eagerly sliding in.
First, it curiously sniffed the surface, then submerged its entire head into the murky water. A few seconds later, it jerked its head back up, shaking off droplets with an excited gurgling sound in its throat.
"Dive and swim outside."
Han Ning pointed toward the area beyond the apartment building, issuing the command through their mental link.
At the same time, he used his Animal Companion skill to synchronize with Snowflake's senses.
In an instant, a strange perception replaced his vision, flooding his mind like a tide.
It wasn't clear imagery but more like a radar map woven from touch and emotion.
The slight resistance of water flowing over Snowflake's scales, the thick sensation of disturbed silt, the faint vibrations of distant ripples—everything Snowflake's body could detect was relayed back to Han Ning's mind through their spiritual connection.
Once submerged, Snowflake moved with astonishing agility, gliding through the murky depths like a dragon in the ocean or a tiger in the deep forest.
Its streamlined body slithered forward silently, almost snake-like in motion.
"Keep swimming forward."
Under Han Ning's direction, Snowflake accelerated toward the apartment building's main entrance.
It effortlessly passed through the lobby and into the wider world outside.
More information poured into Han Ning's mind.
A massive billboard floated half-submerged, the hollow echo of water reverberating inside an overturned bus…
All debris was shrouded in oppressive silence, with only the movement of water and the distant, muffled sound of rain serving as the eternal background noise.
[Animal Companion (Beginner) Proficiency +1, Current: 30/100]
Han Ning noticed that while he was actively perceiving, directing, and gathering information through their mental link, the Animal Companion skill's proficiency increased much faster.
"So that's how it works…"
Normally, interacting with Snowflake also raised proficiency, but at a sluggish pace.
Now, it was increasing by nearly one point per minute.
…
After Snowflake had swum about two to three hundred meters—
"Hiss…"
A sudden alert pulsed through their connection.
Han Ning tensed.
His senses detected three relatively large, intensely vital creatures swiftly approaching from the murky waters ahead, moving in a triangular formation.
Three Crocodile Lizards!
"Avoid them." Worried about an unexpected encounter, Han Ning instinctively ordered Snowflake to evade.
.
Just as the three Crocodile Lizards approached Snowflake, nothing happened.
The three Crocodile Lizards only briefly "glanced" in Snowflake's direction.
In Han Ning's perception, it seemed more like a method of communication within the Crocodile Lizard species—perhaps through water vibrations or scent.
It appeared they had confirmed Snowflake was one of their own.
The three Crocodile Lizards swam past Snowflake, a few meters to its left, the disturbed currents even causing the small creature to wobble slightly.
Their target was clearly somewhere farther away—Snowflake posed no threat to them.
"Snowflake, stay alert if you encounter them again," Han Ning reminded.
He believed Snowflake and those wild Crocodile Lizards were no longer the same species.
Those Crocodile Lizards were driven by violent aggression, impossible to reason with. In human terms, they were more like zombies infected with a virus.
Snowflake, on the other hand, could be compared to a normal human.
Normal humans and zombies were entirely different.
Moreover, even among their own kind, they would kill each other.
Han Ning had witnessed Crocodile Lizards devouring their own dead, proving that in times of hunger, they would turn on each other. Those three simply weren't hungry right now.
"Rrrow~"
Snowflake continued following Han Ning's instructions, venturing farther out.
It darted through the water with agility, sometimes brushing against walls, relaying the rough texture of concrete.
Other times, it slipped through open windows into flooded homes, weaving between floating furniture.
The "radar map" in Han Ning's mind expanded and refined as Snowflake explored deeper.
He heard the faint noise of water rushing through narrow pipes.
Felt the cold metal shell of a sunken trash can.
Smelled the putrid stench of a large animal carcass rotting slowly in the distance.
This city swallowed by floods, now a ruin, assaulted Han Ning's senses in a raw, unfiltered way through Snowflake's perception.
But when Snowflake swam past a pointed, church-like building, Han Ning felt their soul connection shudder violently.
Like a rubber band stretched to its limit, suddenly thin and fragile.
The once-clear perception grew hazy, the feedback intermittent, Snowflake's emotions now muffled as if obscured by static.
"That church should be about 500 meters from the neighborhood… 600 meters from home in total."
"This means the sensory limit of a primary Animal Companion is around 600 meters…"
Living nearby, Han Ning knew exactly how far the church was—he passed by it often.
"Limit reached…" Han Ning quickly issued a command. "Come back, Snowflake."
"Hsss~"
A reluctant emotion echoed from the other end of the link.
Snowflake seemed intensely curious about something in a submerged corner.
But without hesitation, it obeyed, turning back toward home.
Moments later.
Splash!
A gray-white head, dripping with murky water, burst through the surface.
Snowflake shook its head, sending droplets flying, its yellow slit pupils gleaming with excitement.
It reached out with its front claws, gripping the slippery edge of the steps, and hauled itself up.
The little creature couldn't help shaking its body vigorously the moment it landed, splattering cold, foul-smelling water everywhere.
It let out a satisfied "gurgle" from its throat, then affectionately rubbed its head against Han Ning's calf, continuously conveying its joy.
"Snowflake could perfectly serve as an underwater drone. Moreover, with its Crocodile Lizard appearance, it can effectively deceive other wild Crocodile Lizards and lower their guard..."
As Han Ning recognized Snowflake's tactical value underwater, numerous plans began surfacing in his mind.