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墨書 Inktalez
The morning sun lazily shone down on the ruins as I opened my eyes, realizing I had fallen asleep leaning against the wall.
"Wow! Wei Na, you're awake!" Zhong Dali's hearty voice startled me, bringing me fully to consciousness.
"Keep it down, you fool!" Little Rain had somehow already taken over the night watch and was vigilantly observing the situation outside from the window.
I rubbed my eyes and noticed that Xie Yutong had already packed her gear and was checking a silver device. Her words from last night, "Be careful with your desires," echoed in my mind, leaving me feeling somewhat uneasy.
"Looks like everyone is awake," I stretched lazily, feeling the metallic strength within me stabilize. "Where are we headed today?"
Little Rain turned her head. "We need supplies. Food, water, and medicine are running low."
"Wow! My stomach is protesting too!" Zhong Dali exclaimed, patting his belly as it let out an exaggerated growl.
Xie Yutong closed the device in her hands. "There's a survivor market nearby; we can go there for supplies."
"A market?" I raised an eyebrow. "There’s such a place?"
"The human society in this apocalypse hasn't completely collapsed," Xie Yutong explained. "Some clever people have realized that establishing trading posts is more efficient than mere plundering."
"Wow! Like a medieval market?" Zhong Dali asked excitedly.
Little Rain rolled her eyes. "We're not time travelers!"
"Actually, it's quite similar," Xie Yutong said with a slight smile. "Bartering is the main method of trade, but some people use certain scarce items as currency, like bullets or high-proof alcohol."
"Then we need to be careful; there are all kinds of people at the market," I said cautiously, calculating what valuable items we might have to trade.
"Wow! What if we run into gangsters or thieves?" Zhong Dali asked, his face filled with excitement.
"Have you lost your mind?" I couldn't help but retort. "Encountering those kinds of people is a bad thing, you know?"
Zhong Dali scratched his head. "Wow! I just think it sounds thrilling!"
"Alright, enough arguing," Xie Yutong interrupted us. "The market does have its dangers, but it's also the best place for us to gather information and supplies. Later, I'll teach you some survival rules for the market."
We quickly organized our gear and confirmed that the area was safe before cautiously leaving the building. Xie Yutong led the way toward the market she had mentioned.
On the way, Xie Yutong shared some "market survival rules": don't trust anyone easily, don't show off wealth, always verify items during trades, and if trouble arises, retreat immediately instead of confronting it head-on.
"Wow! That sounds complicated!" Zhong Dali said, scratching his head in confusion.
I sighed. "Just remember one thing: keep quiet and follow me."
"Wow! That's easy!" Zhong Dali patted his chest proudly.
Xiao Yu chuckled quietly beside us but quickly composed herself, returning to a state of vigilance.
After about an hour of walking, we arrived at a clearing on the edge of the city's ruins. In the distance, various makeshift tents and stalls came into view, bustling with crowds, surprisingly reminiscent of a market from before the apocalypse.
"Wow! This is amazing!" Zhong Dali exclaimed, his eyes wide with wonder. "I can't believe there are so many people here!"
I was also taken aback. "It seems that humanity's instinct for trade never disappears, no matter the circumstances."
Xie Yutong led us into the market, explaining in a low voice, "This market is held every five days and is the largest trading place in this area. Survivors bring the supplies they've gathered to exchange for what they need."
"What about safety measures?" Xiaoyu looked around cautiously. "Who ensures fair trading?"
"The market has its own rules." Xie Yutong pointed to several burly men armed with guns nearby. "Those are the 'market administrators,' essentially the strongest armed force in the area. They collect a certain 'protection fee' to ensure the market runs smoothly."
"Wow! It's just like a gang collecting protection money!" Zhong Dali said innocently.
"Shut up!" Xiaoyu and I replied in unison.
As we wandered through the market, we observed various stalls. Some sold food, others sold medicine, and some offered weapons; there were even vendors selling pre-apocalypse electronic products, most of which were no longer functional.
"Let's head to the food section first," Xie Yutong suggested. "The trading there is relatively fair."
As we passed one stall, I noticed a man wearing a black mask selling potions of various colors.
"What is that?" I whispered to Xie Yutong.
"Black market drug dealers," Xie Yutong said, glancing around warily and lowering her voice. "They sell all kinds of potions, claiming miraculous effects, but most of them are just scams."
"Wow! Like those potions that enhance abilities?" Zhong Dali leaned in with curiosity.
"Come back!" I pulled him back firmly. "Don't stir up trouble."
We arrived at the food section, where various canned goods, dried rations, and some fresh fruits and vegetables were displayed on makeshift stalls.
"Wow! Oranges!" Zhong Dali exclaimed, pointing excitedly at one stall.
"Hold on, let's check the prices first," Xiaoyu said calmly.
The vendor was an elderly woman with a face full of wrinkles. As we approached, she squinted her eyes. "What do you want, young ones?"
"How much for these oranges?" Xiaoyu asked.
"One orange for two bullets or a small bottle of alcohol," the old woman replied bluntly.
"Wow! That's way too expensive!" Zhong Dali gasped.
The woman sneered. "This is vitamin C, young man. In the apocalypse, it's worth more than bullets. Without vitamins, you'll get scurvy, and then not even a hundred bullets will save you."
"We don't have that many bullets," I said, looking at Xie Yutong. "What about you?"
Xie Yutong shook her head, "My resources are limited."
"Wow! What do we have to trade for food?" Zhong Dali asked anxiously.
I thought for a moment, "Something valuable..." Suddenly, I remembered the small piece of metal I had obtained from the armored zombie last night.
I pulled the metal fragment from my pocket, and it shimmered oddly in the sunlight.
"What about this?" I asked, "It's a special alloy, very hard, suitable for making weapons."
The old woman’s eyes lit up as she took the fragment and examined it closely before biting into it. "Interesting, this is not ordinary metal." After pondering for a moment, she said, "Alright, this piece can be traded for ten oranges and five packs of dry rations."
"Wow! It's that valuable?" Zhong Dali exclaimed in surprise.
Xiao Yu poked him, "Shut up, don’t expose our ignorance."
"Deal." I nodded, secretly relieved that the fragment from the armored zombie was worth so much.
After the transaction was completed, we continued to stroll through the market, looking for other necessary items.
"Look, there's someone selling medicine over there," Xie Yutong pointed to a small stall in the corner.
We walked over and found that the vendor was a middle-aged man wearing thick glasses, looking like a former laboratory worker.
"Is there anything you need?" the bespectacled man asked, his tone calm and uncharacteristic of a merchant.
"Do you have antibiotics?" Xiao Yu inquired.
"Of course." The man retrieved several bottles from his box. "Penicillin, erythromycin, cephalosporin—everything you could want."
"Wow! Are you a pharmacist?" Zhong Dali asked curiously.
The bespectacled man adjusted his glasses. "I used to be a university professor, specializing in biochemistry."
I was about to ask for the prices when I suddenly heard a commotion nearby. A burly man was threatening a frail young man, and people around were keeping their distance.
"Do you dare come to my territory to do business?" the burly man roared, knocking over the young man's stall with a single swipe. "You still haven't paid last time's protection fee!"
"Wow! Someone's causing trouble!" Zhong Dali exclaimed, pointing excitedly in that direction.
"Don't look; it's none of our business," I said, pulling Zhong Dali back as I continued discussing the prices of the medicines with the bespectacled man.
But the commotion escalated. The burly man had started beating the young man and even pulled out a knife.
Xiao Yu frowned. "That person is going to get killed."
Xie Yutong shook her head. "This is the norm at the market; we shouldn't get involved."
I initially intended to ignore the situation, but when I saw the despair in the young man's eyes and thought about the power I now possessed, an impulse suddenly surged within me.
"Wait a moment," I said to everyone, then walked toward the center of the commotion.
"Wow! Wei Na, what are you going to do?" Zhong Dali called out from behind.
I didn't respond; I simply approached the burly man. "Hey, big guy, let's talk this out instead of resorting to violence."
The man stopped his assault and turned to glare at me. "Kid, are you tired of living? Do you dare interfere with Tie Tou's business?"
"Tie Tou?" I almost laughed. "Did you give yourself that nickname? It's quite childish."
Tie Tou's face flushed with anger. "You’re asking for it!" He threw the young man aside and charged at me with a knife raised.
I stood my ground, recalling the abilities I had gained after devouring the armored zombie last night. A metallic sensation surged within me, and I could feel it yearning to be unleashed.
Just as Tie Tou's knife was about to strike me, a thin layer of metallic texture suddenly covered my arm, blocking his blade.
With a sharp "clang," the knife scraped against my metallic arm and then snapped in two.
Tie Tou stared at me in disbelief. "What... what the hell is this?"
The crowd in the market fell silent, all eyes wide with astonishment as they looked at me.
"Wow! That's so cool!" Zhong Dali exclaimed from a distance.
I smiled at Tie Tou and asked, "So, do you still want to fight?"
Tie Tou took a few steps back, his expression shifting from shock to fear, then transforming into a strange grin.
"Interesting. I haven't seen a mutant like you in a long time," he said with a sinister smile. "Do you know how much a mutant is worth at the market?"
"How much?" I frowned.
"Enough to make everyone at the market surrender to me," Tie Tou licked his lips and suddenly raised his hand. "Brothers, we've got a big catch!"
Suddenly, over twenty burly men armed with weapons surged from around the market, surrounding us completely.
"Wow! This is bad news!" Zhong Dali said in panic.
Xiao Yu and Xie Yutong had already drawn their weapons, standing back to back behind me.
"I told you not to cause trouble," Xie Yutong whispered reproachfully.
I cursed myself for meddling but still held my ground. "What’s the matter? A bunch of big men bullying a small vendor? That’s quite an achievement, isn’t it?"
Tie Tou sneered. "In the apocalypse, only the strong have the right to speak. Mutants are indeed strong, but it depends on who you're comparing them to." He stepped forward. "Capture them, especially the one who can turn into metal. Qin Baye will reward us handsomely."
"Qin Baye?" A jolt of surprise shot through me; it seemed that Xie Yutong was right—this madman's influence truly was everywhere.
"What should we do?" Xiao Yu whispered, "We're surrounded."
"Wow! We're doomed!" Zhong Dali wailed.
I glanced around, and the situation indeed looked grim. But then I suddenly noticed that the frail young vendor had vanished without a trace.
"First," I lowered my voice and addressed the three behind me, "Zhong Dali, you find a chance to escort Xie Yutong to safety. Xiao Yu, you and I will create some chaos."
"Wow! Why do I have to be the one to escort her?" Zhong Dali protested quietly.
"Because you're strong enough to protect her," I explained. "And if we get caught, at least you two can seek help."
Xiao Yu nodded, "That makes sense. So what kind of chaos should we create?"
"Wait for my signal." I took a deep breath; the metallic power within me was bubbling over. "I'm going to unleash the full power of the armored zombie."
"Be careful," Xie Yutong warned me, "Overusing it can lead to side effects."
"I don't have time to worry about that now," I gritted my teeth.
Tie Tou impatiently shouted, "Stop dawdling! Surrender or die!"
I lifted my head and forced a casual smile, saying, "Surrender? I don’t even know who you are. Why should I surrender?"
Tie Tou laughed arrogantly, "I am Tie Tou, the leader of the 'Wasteland Wolf Pack.' In this area, I have the final say."
"Oh? Do you know who I am?" I stalled for time while secretly gathering my strength.
"Just a lamb waiting for slaughter," Tie Tou sneered.
"Wrong," I replied with a smile. "I’m the one here to smash your little party."
With that, I slammed my hands down onto the ground, and the metallic power within me erupted instantly. A wave of metallic shock radiated outward from me!
"Boom!" The ground shook, dust flying everywhere, and the people around were knocked down by the shockwave.
"Wow! That’s amazing!" Zhong Dali exclaimed from behind.
"Stop dawdling, run!" I shouted.
Xiao Yu immediately sprang into action, pulling out her gun and firing a few shots into the air, causing even more chaos. The people in the market screamed and scattered in all directions, creating utter pandemonium.
Zhong Dali grabbed Xie Yutong and took advantage of the confusion to run toward the edge of the market. Xiao Yu and I charged in the opposite direction to draw the enemy's attention away.
"Catch them! Don’t let them escape!" Tie Tou roared angrily as he got back on his feet.
We wove through the stalls of the market, constantly changing directions to shake off our pursuers. Suddenly, I spotted a hidden alley ahead and immediately pulled Xiaoyu in with me.
"Did we lose them?" Xiaoyu panted, out of breath.
I peeked out to check. "For now, but they're definitely still searching."
"What do we do? We need to regroup with Zhong Dali and the others," Xiaoyu said anxiously.
Just as I was about to respond, a wave of dizziness hit me, and it felt like the strength within me was slipping out of control. I leaned against the wall, gasping for air.
"What's wrong with you?" Xiaoyu asked, concern etched on her face.
"The side effects that Xie Yutong mentioned..." I felt utterly weak. "It seems to be real."
"Hang in there. We need to find a place to hide," Xiaoyu said, supporting me as we moved deeper into the alley.
At that moment, footsteps echoed from the entrance of the alley, accompanied by Tie Tou's arrogant laughter. "I know you're hiding around here. Why not just come out and surrender? I can make your deaths a bit more painless."
Xiaoyu and I exchanged a glance, silently agreeing to keep moving forward as quietly as possible.
"Not coming out, huh?" Tie Tou's voice grew closer. "Then don't blame me for using special methods."
Suddenly, a strange wave emanated from the alley's entrance. I felt the metallic power within me surge violently, almost slipping from my grasp.
"Ah!" I couldn't help but cry out in pain as the metallic power within me began to leak uncontrollably, irregular metallic patterns emerging on my arms.
"Found you here!" Tie Tou's triumphant voice echoed from the alley entrance. "I knew my 'Force Field Wave' would draw out your abilities."
Xiao Yu pulled out her pistol and aimed it at the entrance. "Don't come any closer!"
"Hahaha, do you really think a little handgun can scare me?" Tie Tou stepped into the alley, flanked by several of his subordinates. "My 'Force Field Wave' can render you powerless; don't waste your energy."
He raised his hand, and an invisible wave surged toward us. I felt the metallic power inside me grow more chaotic, threatening to tear my body apart.
"Ah!" I fell to my knees, gritting my teeth in agony.
"Wei Na!" Xiao Yu exclaimed, but her hands began to tremble as if she too was affected by the wave.
Tie Tou approached with a smug grin. "It seems Qin Baye's intel was correct; you truly are a special mutant. He will reward me handsomely for this."
I struggled to lift my head, filled with despair yet unwilling to give in. Just as Tie Tou was about to seize me, a familiar voice suddenly rang out:
"Wow! Found you guys!"
Zhong Dali's hearty voice had never sounded so delightful. His tall figure appeared at the other end of the alley, followed by Xie Yutong and the frail vendor who had been bullied by Tie Tou earlier.
"What are you doing back here?" I asked weakly.
"Because of him," Xie Yutong pointed at the stall owner, "he knows me and is aware of Qin Baye's situation. He is a liaison for the Holy Shield Knights."
"What?" Tie Tou turned around, clearly taken aback.
The frail stall owner’s gaze suddenly sharpened as he pulled out a small device and pressed a button.
Instantly, Tie Tou's "force field fluctuations" vanished, and he looked at his hands in terror. "What the hell is this?"
"An electromagnetic disruptor," the stall owner said calmly, "specifically designed to target low-level mutation abilities like yours."
"You dare!" Tie Tou shouted angrily as he lunged at the stall owner, but Zhong Dali stepped in front and knocked him down with a punch.
"Wow! That felt great!" Zhong Dali rubbed his fist.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Xie Yutong quickly came to my side and pulled out a small bottle from her pocket. "Drink this; it will temporarily stabilize your abilities."
I took the bottle and downed its contents in one gulp. The chaotic metallic power within me gradually calmed down.
Seeing the situation turn against them, Tie Tou's subordinates began to flee. Tie Tou was pinned to the ground by Zhong Dali, unable to move.
"What do we do now?" Xiaoyu asked, keeping her gun trained on Tie Tou.
The stall owner stepped forward, a slight smile appearing on his face. "Take him with us; the Holy Shield Knights will be very interested in him."
"Are you... are you from the Shield Knight Order?" Tie Tou's face turned pale instantly.
"Wow! Did we really find the Shield Knight Order?" Zhong Dali asked in surprise.
The vendor smiled mysteriously, "No, I'm just a liaison. But I can take you to meet the real knights." He looked at me, "Especially you, this special mutant. The vice commander Wei Zhong has been looking for talents like you."
"Wei Zhong?" I frowned, feeling an inexplicable familiarity with the name.
Xie Yutong's expression also grew complicated. "He is the actual leader of the knight order, although he only holds the title of vice commander."
"Wow! Sounds impressive!" Zhong Dali said excitedly.
Xiao Yu looked at me, "Are we really going?"
I stood up, feeling the power within me stabilize. "If we are to confront Qin Baye, we need more allies." I turned to the vendor, "Lead the way, but..." I pointed at Tie Tou, "What about him?"
"Take him along," the vendor said coldly. "He has connections with Qin Baye and might know some useful information."
I nodded and signaled Zhong Dali to tie up Tie Tou. Watching Tie Tou's fearful expression, a complex emotion suddenly surged within me.
I had initially just wanted to survive in this apocalyptic world, but unknowingly found myself caught in a larger storm. What did Qin Baye, the Shield Knight Order, and the Green Tea Alliance represent? Where would my abilities lead me?
"Let's go," I said to everyone, "and see what this so-called Shield Knight Order is really about."
Just as we were about to leave, Tie Tou suddenly burst into wild laughter. "Did you think this was the end? How naive!"
Suddenly, a piercing alarm echoed throughout the market, and a tremendous roar came from afar, as if some colossal creature was approaching.
"What is that?" Xiao Yu asked warily.
The vendor's face changed dramatically. "It's the Reaper! Qin Baye's latest invention, a mechanical zombie! We need to evacuate immediately!"
"Wow! Mechanical zombies? That sounds terrifying!" Zhong Dali exclaimed in fear.
I gazed at the rising clouds of dust in the distance, feeling an inexplicable mix of anticipation and dread. Could my abilities withstand this new type of zombie? If I devoured it, what kind of power would I gain?
"Stop daydreaming and move!" Xie Yutong urged. "You're not in a condition to fight right now!"
I nodded and hurried to keep up with everyone, but the desire for power within me grew stronger. Xie Yutong's warning echoed in my ears: "Beware of your desires..."
This initial experience at the market was merely the beginning of our journey. The Holy Shield Knights, Qin Baye's mechanical zombies, and the power within me that was constantly evolving... everything was just getting started.
And I, a novice in this apocalyptic world, unknowingly embarked on the path of advancement.
In the distance, the thunderous roar of machinery grew ever closer...
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