"The phone has no signal, and the inte is already down, but there''s still electricity, and water hasn''t been cut off yet. I don''t know how long we can hold out."


    An Zhijie rummaged through the room and found the previous owner''s cell phone. Although he couldn''t unlock it, he saw the no-signal icon.


    Theputer had been left on; the inte connection had been severed, but the browser still disyed the pages the homeowner had opened with warnings and tips about the emergent situation.


    "Indeed, the source is that infectious disease. Why has this happened..."


    An Zhijie seemed somewhat helpless.


    Falling into the Abyss was already bad enough!


    But at least the majority of Nan Bang managed to plummet down. If they could maintain the original systems and order, they would be better able to resist and coordinate.


    But when it rains, it pours!


    This sudden outbreak of infection is truly adding insult to injury!


    Gazing at the messages, An Zhijie also felt somewhat at a loss.


    "Do you know how to fly a helicopter?"


    Tao Yu locked the door to the room with the monster corpses, instructed Little ck to find food, and emerged with the bodies of Cao Shaolin and Wino, the two zombies.


    "I know how to, but I''m not proficient. Helicopter controls are actually more cumbersome, and it''s difficult for beginners to learn."


    An Zhijie nodded and exined briefly.


    Jet pilot physical requirements are definitely higher, but in terms of operation, helicopters are quiteplex and not universally applicable. However, An Zhijie could fly one.


    "That''s good. It means you have value."


    Tao Yu thought of Judy, whom he had once saved on a whim because she knew how to drive a truck—in a sense, a good deed had returned a favor by earning him a considerable amount of money.


    If they could get a helicopter here, it would be really convenient.


    Currently, he estimated that the Rainforest was within helicopter range from their location.


    Although the safety factor of helicopters is lower than that of fighter jets and the failure rate is higher.


    But it probably wouldn''t just crash from crossing the barrier like a jet would.


    Flying lower, close to the trees, at least ensured a basic level of safety. It was worth a try.


    As long as they could transport goods to the roadside outside of the Rainforest, they could use trucks to haul the cargo back.


    An intact nation at present—entire sets of military equipment could likely be obtained!


    And although Nangao Li''s industrialization was not well-developed with many weak areas, their heavy industry seemed to have some strong points.


    In the new settlement where everything needed to be built from scratch, machinery likethes would certainly be valuable.


    The potential gains were even greater than the profits from emptying Las Vegas.


    Tao Yu set preliminary goals for himself upon entering this world and had outlined a few contingency ns based on different situations.


    First, he wanted to acquire that strange skill and see what it was about, then find a way to contact the military.


    If the military system was still intact, he would bridge connections; if not, he would be grateful for nature''s gift.


    "This world is still too small. I wonder if it can give rise to a ''Heart of the World'' or ''Chosen One''."


    Tao Yu had benefited before and was somewhat hopeful this time but sighed deep down soon after


    "What a pity, I''m not familiar with this world''s storyline. I only know that a protagonist can turn into a monster and seems to be able to turn back into a human?"


    While thinking this, Tao Yu also sat cross-legged on the sofa in the living room, letting Cao Shaolin and Wino stand beside him like guards as he began to practice the Meditation Technique.


    In this world, food should still be sufficient so the reserves he''d brought along could be swiftly consumed, speeding things up...


    ...


    Aoaoao~


    Little ck, covered in wounds, kept crying in front of Tao Yu.


    You could see a hole punctured through its exoskeleton on the abdomen, still stained with some acid blood that had lost its corrosiveness.


    Seeing the wound, Tao Yu knew it must''ve been the work of some monster, not a gunshot wound.


    "Little ck can easily overwhelm zombies, but it struggles a bit with the monsters here, thankfully it''s agile..."


    Tao Yu stroked Little ck''s head tofort it, then inspected the bag it had carried back, filled with plenty of canned lunch meat and beef.


    "It can find food too?"


    An Zhijie watched enviously from the side.


    How nice, having such an obedient pet in these times would save so much trouble.


    "Yeah, rest up for now. We''ll start moving tomorrow, first to check out your camp."


    "Okay, I was actually wanting to take a look too."


    An Zhijie spoke up but then hesitated before adding,


    "Could I make a detour home on the way? I''m a bit worried about my family, and it''s on the way to the military camp."


    "If you''re going to work for me in the future, then that''s possible."


    Tao Yu didn''t mind lending a hand to a well-trained, ready pilot. After all, they needed to collect monster materials.


    And upon hearing Tao Yu''s words, An Zhijie only hesitated for a moment before nodding gravely.


    "I''m willing to work for you."


    As a pilot, he had his own pride.


    But the world had turned into such a ghastly ce, from ne crashes to understanding the Abyss, and witnessing those monsters, multiple shocks had already made it clear to him that the times had changed.


    He thought that seeking refuge with a strong entity that had established itself in the Abyss early on was not a bad choice!


    At the very least, this individual could tame those monsters, whether it was the big one or the one that would forage for food, all of which sufficed to inform his judgment.


    The attitudes of the people he had encountered towards this individual were quite respectful, and that zombie-faced one and the ugly monster had been silent and obedient throughout, so this was not something uneptable.


    At this time, it was still a priority to ensure one''s own safety…


    ...


    Caw caw caw~


    Early the next morning, opening the curtains revealed a sky full of crows, flying through the city and darkening the skies.


    Looking out, there was the deep Rainforest, and the streets below stillcked any ''human'' activity, the ones moving were those strange monsters.


    "To avoid trouble, let''s take the rooftops. You lead the way, let''s check your home first."


    "Okay, my home isn''t far, I''ll guide us."


    An Zhijie''s heart lifted, and he followed Tao Yu to the rooftop.


    The iron door on the rooftop was locked, but Little ck scratched it with its w, easily opening it, and therey the Alien Queen on the rooftop.


    Upon seeing Tao Yu arrive, Da Hei also got up and came over with a solicitous nuzzle of itsrge head.


    Tao Yu also patted it in response.


    "Which direction?"


    The building density here was not low, and although they were mostly ten to twenty-floor buildings, they were generally quite old, a product of Nan Bang''s rapid development phase.


    Many rooftops were adorned with clotheslines and the distance between buildings was very small, with rows connected to each other.


    "That way."


    An Zhijie made a quick assessment then pointed out the direction.


    "Get on, hold tight."


    Tao Yu hoisted An Zhijie onto Da Hei''s back, instructing him to grip the spines.


    Cao Shaolin and Wino, the two zombies, this time were left to make their own jumps, following along with Little ck.


    Their eerie mode of lotion, hopping and leaping, sent chills down An Zhijie''s spine every time he nced back.


    How do they not look like any decent being!


    With Da Hei''s size, even a gap of over ten meters could be cleared with a sprinting leap.


    The considerable impact often caused vibrations on the rooftops, sometimes even depressions.


    asionally, ws tore through concrete, revealing the rebar underneath.


    Many clotheslines were flung about, not knowing where they mightnd.


    And for Little ck and the two zombies, such distances posed little challenge.


    Little ck''s Dexterity as an Alien was obvious, capable of climbing walls and reaching the rooftops without needing tond directly on them.


    Despite their stiffness, the two zombies, which had been cultivated for so long, had sufficient explosive power and strength, though their movements were rigid with each leap.


    Initially, An Zhijie was nervous on Da Hei''s back, but as a pilot, his training allowed him to quickly settle down and even afforded him the opportunity to observe his surroundings.


    Now the entire city seemed lifeless; no living people on the streets!


    Only various types of monsters roamed.


    Moreover, they were a diverse mixture, with no two of the same kind, and all with very abstract appearances.


    "There are too many types, but they are probably an effect of that high-pollution Skill, shouldn''t be a big problem…"


    Tao Yu felt somewhat hopeful; these monsters had strong vitality.


    Even if it might be rted to the heightened vitality of this world, it wouldn''t bepletely ineffective once away from this world.


    After all, he could Deify his Skills!


    If Deification could maintain close to the same effect of the Skill after leaving this world, it would be quite good, and future security could be greatly increased.


    Unfortunately, these creatures were indeed tricky to deal with, killing them was also energy-draining, and even Tao Yu, as he was now, did not take the risk to venture into the streets to hunt these monsters for materials, wary of being besieged.


    After all, they were everywhere, bound to overflow sooner orter.


    "Wonder what will happen if I use an Alien to incubate them."


    Tao Yu pondered, knowing that although the Alien couldn''t enter, he could let Da Hei try.


    But he quickly dismissed the thought.


    Too hard to control!


    If his strength couldn''t suppress it, it would be the end of everything; there was no need to take such a risk…


    ————