Chapter 4: Surviving in a Ruined World (1)

"So that's how it works, I'm the only one that can see this screen." Liu Kai mumbled to himself then proceeds to check the screen again.

"What is that?" Jin Chow asked. He is looking at Liu Kai while he is checking the screen that Jin Chow can't see.

"What the heck is he doing? Some sort of ritual?" Jin Chow whispered.

"It's nothing I'm sorry, by the way, what's your skill?" Liu Kai explained after seeing Jin Chow's confused face.

"I call it Indestructible." Jin Chow proudly answered the question and forming a fist on his chest.

"It sounds like a tank's skill, can you explain how that works?" Liu Kai can't help but ask.

"Well it's just simple, I'm indestructible for a short period." Jin Chow emphasized the 'Indestructible' when he explained.

"I see, so that's how you survive, by plainly activating your skill?" Liu Kai asked to confirm his thoughts.

"Yeah, the Giant Centipede left after trying to eat me multiple times." Jin Chow is hesitating

'That's an awful experience.' Liu Kai imagined Jin Chow's situation at that time. A Giant Bug trying to devour you but it can't.

"But I didn't execute my role properly to protect my comrades that's why they...-" Jin Chow is hesitant.

"Don't finish it. No one liked what happened." Liu Kai stops him from knowing what he wants to say.

"Let's burn the Giant Cockroach." Liu Kai hurriedly said to change the topic.

They cut down some trees and pulled the dead body to open space then burned it.

"The meat is about 10% only of the whole body. But that's a lot considering how big it is." Jin Chow explained for a new woken Liu Kai.

Liu Kai is trying to look for meat in the burnt body and having a problem with it.

"Here check this, you can found it near the exoskeleton." Jin Chow added.

Liu Kai took a bite and a status window appeared.

[You are trying to intake a foreign object]

'What' Liu Kai complained in his mind.

[Points will be added to your Stats]

-The system is currently generating the points.

[It is too low, the system failed to generate points]

"You know Jin Chow you are right earlier, insects are highly nutritious." Liu Kai said then grabs more meat to eat after seeing the screen. In reality, the taste is far better than Liu Kai's worst expectation about it.

"You just don't want to admit that it's tasty, idiot." Jin Chow exclaimed on him.

The status window grabs Liu Kai's attention earlier so he didn't pay attention that much to the taste, but thinking back it does feel tasty.

[Points will be added to your Stats]

-The system is currently generating the points.

After seeing the status window Liu Kai tried to eat as much as he can to gather more points.

Liu Kai saw the status window appeared multiple times while eating. After eating it stops for a while then appeared again.

[The system successfully processed generating the points]

3 points will be added to Perception.

1 point will be added to Power.

1 point will be added to Agility.

[Stats updated]

[Status Window]

Agility: 9(+1)*

Power: 6(+1)*

Stamina: 10

Mentality: 15

Durability: 7

Perception: 3(+3)*

*Permanently added.

Liu Kai felt the changes that happened on his body after the points added on his Stats.

"Something is coming." Jin Chow is looking side by side trying to know its direction.

Liu Kai is a few seconds late to sense it. He only managed to notice after focusing all his senses.

"I can't pinpoint its location." Liu Kai also started looking side by side as he tried to sense the presence.

"Me too. This is..."

"The same presence of the Giant Centipede that killed my squad." Jin Chow worriedly said.

Liu Kai realized the gravity of the problem after hearing it from Jin Chow.

"We need to run now hurry, I don't know the place that you're talking in about earlier so you'll go first and I'll follow you from behind." Jin Chow hurriedly told Liu Kai.

Liu Kai understood the situation and hurriedly ran. Jin Chow followed him while forcing him to move faster.

"Where are we heading? We already came here earlier and I didn't see a cave or any good place to hide." Jin Chow confusingly asked.

"Just follow me." Liu Kai didn't even bother to look at him and looking for something in the forest.

After some time Liu Kai stops and starts to dig.

"Hey help me." Liu Kai demanded.

Jin Chow assists him in removing the grasses and digging.

After some time, an odd-looking manhole appeared.

"Here it is." As soon as Liu Kai said that he opened the cover using the same pin when he opens it before.

"Is this a well?" Jin Chow asked.

"It isn't, follow me." Liu Kai answered then jump into the hole.

Jin Chow having no choice jumps too.

The sound of the cover closing can be heard after they both fell inside the underground.

"It's so dark here." Jin Chow complains.

"There's no other safe place to hide." Liu Kai tries to imitate his voice and reaction when he complained about eating the meat of the Giant Cockroach and Jin Chow didn't appreciate it.

"How do you know about this place?" Jin Chow asked.

"Let's start creating fire first." Liu Kai didn't bother to answer him.

The two of them pick up stones and branches to create fire. After some time, Liu Kai's stones fired up and he threw it to the branches. He looked for the torch he left before and light it up with his fire.

Jin Chow suddenly realized how Liu Kai knew the place.

"Hey, don't tell me..."

"That's right I woke up here."

Liu Kai cut him off knowing what he's gonna say.

"You can stop now, I think this will do." Liu Kai said to Jin Chow who is still trying to start a fire.

"There's only one bed here so you will-" Liu Kai is saying something but then Jin Chow cuts him.

"THERE'S A BED?" Jin Chow asked excitedly.

"Yes, why?" Liu Kai answered.

"My team traveled from the Monarchy so we can only sleep in the ground while traveling." Jin Chow answered.

Liu Kai's eyebrow's twitched as he looks at Jin Chow who's like a kid running excitedly. But he is a bit happy that Jin Chow forgot about what happened to his squad for the moment.

"By the way, is this a maze?" Jin Chow asked.

"No, there's no other way around so keep moving forward." Liu Kai answered.

They started their long walk.

After sometime...

"Man, how far it is? It feels like this won't end. Are you sure there's a bed? Jin Chow asked suspiciously.

"Yeah there is, so stop complaining and just keep moving forward." Liu Kai said irritatedly.

After a while, they've arrived in front of the room. Jin Chow opened it and lie down on the bed.

"Hey kid move, that's my bed." Liu Kai stares at Jin Chow.

"How can you be so sure that I'm younger than you?" Jin Chow asked Liu Kai.

"You're a Knight Apprentice you said." Liu Kai answered.

"You have a point. How old are you then?" Jin Chow asked.

"I'm 22 now since I'm born on the first day of the year." Liu Kai answered.

"Ohh I see. By the way, what are you planning to do tomorrow?" Jin Chow is curious.

"I don't know yet." Liu Kai answered.

"Don't you have a family?" Jin Chow asked.

"My mother died when she gave birth to me and I was abandoned by my father." Liu Kai looks furious when he mentioned his father.

Even if he answered that he didn't know, Liu Kai is curious about a few things about the world, not a specific person after waking up.

"How about you? what are you planning to do tomorrow?" Liu Kai asked Jin Chow.

"I need to continue my mission and go East to survey the lands there. Since you don't have a plan yet, why not accompany me for a while?" Jin Chow requested. He purposely said that because he is afraid to continue his mission alone.

"I'll think about it. For now, I want to rest and get out of my bed." Liu Kai answered while demanding Jin Chow to move out.

"Tsk." Jin Chow frowned but he still moves out of the bed.

Liu Kai lies down on his bed and thought to himself. 'What do I want?'

***Underground Dungeon***

They both woke up and grab stones to start a fire.

"Have you decided?" Jin Chow excitedly asked.

"Yes, I'll accompany you for now." Liu Kai nonchalantly answered.

Liu Kai thought about it the whole night and realized that it would benefit him after all.

[Optional Quest: Accompany Jin Chow survey the lands in the East]

-Rewards will be given afterward.

"Hmm." Liu Kai looks at the screen emotionless.

Liu Kai is still wondering about the 'window' that always appeared in front of him but he is more curious about the world. Last night, he manage to set a goal to himself and that is to know the truth about what happened to their world.