Time flew.
Three days passed since taking over the subway station.
Sector C Shelter and the Subway Sub-Base ran at full capacity. The [Intermediate Production Workshop] machine barely stopped. With ample power and raw materials, the first batch of "Standard Gear" finally rolled off the line.
Subway Station. Level B2 Arsenal.
Mechanical arm sounds stopped. Air smelled of oil and fresh-cut metal.
I stood on the platform, looking at the ten people lined up in front of me.
These were the "Elites" Quinn picked from the hundred-plus survivors, put through hellish training. Their faces were still thin, bodies not yet at peak, but their eyes had changed.
No longer numb, dodging, rat-like eyes.
Replaced by confidence and sharpness—the look of men with a backer and weapons.
They wore uniform black tactical stab-proof vests (modified riot gear I bought in Reality, steel plate inserts), riot helmets with tactical lights, and thick-soled combat boots.
Most importantly, the weapons in their hands.
No more rusty pipes or kitchen knives. Tech-heavy Carbon Fiber Compound Bows (brought from Reality). Sharp Machetes fresh from the factory hanging at their waists. Quivers full of tri-blade armor-piercing arrows on their backs.
From a group of beggar scavengers, transformed into a special ops squad.
The visual impact made Quinn, standing at the front, straighten her back. She wore the best tactical gear, carrying the high-end Tang Dao I gave her. Like an unsheathed sword.
"Boss, 'Shadow Blade Squad' assembled."
Quinn reported loudly, voice full of unprecedented confidence. "Ten members. Gear check complete. Ready for combat!"
"Good."
I walked in front of them. Scanned every face. They looked at me with awe. To them, I was the god who gave them food, weapons, and dignity.
"Listen."
I spoke, voice echoing in the empty workshop. "Where we are going today is the deepest part of the subway. No sunlight. No retreat. Only unknown monsters."
"I don't ask you to fight like supermen. I ask one thing."
I pointed at my ear.
"Listen to commands. I say shoot, you shoot. I say run, don't look back. Understood?"
"UNDERSTOOD!!" Ten voices roared in unison.
Not loud enough yet, formation not perfect yet, but morale was usable.
I looked at Shadow, yawning nearby.
"Done inspecting?" Shadow telepathied. "If we don't go, I'm falling asleep."
"Move out."
I waved my hand. Turned toward the tunnel leading to the deep underground.
...
Subway Station. Deep Tracks.
Crossing the warning line Black Shark set up, we walked along the abandoned rails.
The air changed noticeably here.
Cold. Damp. A chill that seeped into bones. Smell of heavy rust—old blood mixed with rotting organic matter. Stickier than above.
Click.
I turned on the rifle-mounted tactical light.
Beam pierced the dark. Illuminated the deep tunnel ahead. Rails covered in dark red moss, like dried blood scabs. Billboards on the walls peeled off, revealing concrete covered in scratch marks.
"Shadow, lead the way."
"Stay close."
Shadow took point. Still arrogant, but I noticed his muscles were tight. Tail low. Center of gravity low.
"Careful." Shadow's voice in my head, serious. "Smells messy here. Besides the big guy with the key, there are lots of... small ones."
"Small ones?"
"Lots of them. Fast little things."
We walked about 500 meters along the tracks.
A massive blast gate appeared ahead. Heavier than any door above. Painted with striking yellow hazard stripes and a giant skull logo. Rusted, but radiated a killing aura.
[WARNING: Deep Maintenance Zone (Sector D)] [Danger Level: HIGH] [UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY PROHIBITED]
Gate shut tight. Electronic lock dead. Only a mechanical keyhole.
"This is it."
I took out the Red Bone Key found in Black Shark's safe. It glowed faintly red in the dark, as if answering a call from home.
"Quinn, perimeter."
"Yes!"
Quinn waved. Shadow Blade Squad fanned out, kneeling. Compound bows up. Tactical lights crossed, watching the darkness and vents overhead.
I inserted the key.
Bone-chilling cold transmitted to my fingers.
Click.
Turned hard.
Heavy mechanical clanking echoed in the silent tunnel. Harsh sound. Like an ancient trap activating.
CREAAAK—
I pushed hard. The heavy gate groaned, opening a crack.
Whoosh—
Visible white mist poured out. Temperature dropped degrees instantly.
"So cold." Quinn shivered, gripping her sword.
Not normal cold. Yin energy. Like opening a giant freezer, or... a morgue.
"Lights on. Max power." I ordered.
Click! Click! Click!
Ten beams lit up the world behind the door.
We saw the scene.
Everyone sucked in a cold breath.
It was a downward maintenance tunnel. But the walls and floor weren't concrete and steel anymore. They were covered in a thick layer of dark red substance. Like a Creep carpet.
The substance seemed alive. Pulsing slightly. Breathing. Walls dripping with slime, reflecting disgusting sheen under the lights.
And on this creep, hung white "Cocoons."
Various sizes. Basketball size. Human size. Some broken, revealing dried remains. Some intact, things moving inside.
"Are those... previous explorers?" A squad member asked, trembling.
"No."
Shadow sniffed. Sneezed in disgust. "That is a pantry."
"Pantry?"
"The thing down there catches prey, wraps them in silk, saves them for later." Shadow looked at the member coldly. "Like you humans canning food. Zombies inside. Mutated beasts inside. And... humans."
Faces went pale.
"Don't panic."
My calm voice rang in the comms. "We have weapons. Whatever it is, if it moves, burn it to ash."
I stepped onto the dark red creep first.
Soft. Squishy. Like stepping on rotten meat. Disgusting. Liquid oozed out with every step.
" maintain formation. Watch the ceiling. Good place for ambush."
Squad moved forward slowly.
Tunnel wasn't long. Maybe 100 meters. Ending in a large underground transit hall.
Halfway through.
Hiss...
A faint sound from above. Like a snake tongue flicking.
Too quiet for humans. Not for Shadow.
"ABOVE!" Shadow snapped his head up. Roared warning.
Simultaneously, a dozen white shadows darted out of the vents and shadows on the ceiling.
Skinless monkeys. Long limbs. Sharp claws. No eyes. Just a mouth full of razor teeth. Running on walls and ceiling like flat ground. Insanely fast. Lunging at the squad with a腥 wind.
[Hostile Encounter: Cave Hunters (D-Rank Variant)] [Traits: Pack, Agility, Venomous Claws]
"LOOSE!"
I ordered calmly.
This is why I gave them bows. In this narrow, flammable gas (methane) filled environment, guns risk explosion or collapse. And noise draws more. Bows are silent. Deadly.
Thrum! Thrum! Thrum!
Bowstrings sang.
Ten carbon fiber arrows shot into the air with massive kinetic energy.
Aim was average, but at this range, with a dense net of fire, it worked.
Shunk!
Three Hunters mid-air were skewered. Fell like rags. Shrieking. Green blood hit the creep, sizzling. Acid.
"Don't stop! Free fire!"
Quinn showed her command skills. She didn't shoot. Held her Tang Dao, watching the flanks for leakers.
One Hunter used the shadows to bypass the arrow rain, pouncing on a reloading member from the side.
"Watch out!"
"Die!"
Quinn stepped in. Flash of motion. [Stone Skin] activated. Skin turned earth-yellow. Tanked the claw swipe.
Scrape!
Sparks. White marks on her skin.
Slash!
Quinn backhanded. Cold light.
Hunter's head flew off. Headless body twitched and fell.
Quinn, with Stone Skin and Strength, was a hard counter to these glass cannon agility monsters. Trade a hit, win the fight.
"My turn."
Shadow moved.
No Wind Blade. Direct pounce. Against these smaller monsters, he chose primal violence.
Golden figure danced like death in the dim tunnel.
Smash one. Bite one.
Crunch! Crunch!
Bone breaking sounds.
Less than two minutes. Fight over.
Dozens of Hunter corpses on the floor. Green blood soaking the creep.
Our squad... two scratches. Being bandaged.
"We... won?"
Members looked at the bodies. Disbelief.
Before, this attack would kill half of them. Now? Zero casualties?
Strong confidence spread. Fear faded. Excitement took over.
"This is the power of gear."
I pulled an arrow from the wall. Wiped it. Looked at the rookies. "Follow me, and you aren't prey. You are hunters."
"Clean up. Dig cores."
I looked at the door at the end of the tunnel. Eerie blue light leaking out. And... a familiar energy fluctuation.
Shadow walked over. Whispered: "I feel it. Behind that door."
"What?"
"The stone's scent." Shadow's pupils narrowed to slits. "Identical to the one on your neighbor Selina's neck."
I shook.
Origin Ore?
Is there really a meteorite hidden deep in this subway?
"Go."
I gripped the Tang Dao. Pushed the final door.
"Let's see what treasure this big spider is guarding."