In the distance, a few Awakeners in tattered clothes and disheveled hair gazed at the well-equipped Patrol Team members with complex expressions.
These few individuals belonged neither to those who hindered the Sanctuary with Ding Qiang nor to those willing to be bound, thus not becoming permanent residents of the Sanctuary.
As transient personnel, they could freely accept employment tasks issued by the Sanctuary every day in exchange for rewards.
This arrangement allowed them to get by and even eat their fill, leading relatively decent lives.
...That was what they consoled themselves with before seeing the Patrol Team members.
Upon seeing the Patrol Team's gear, they felt utterly pitiful.
"The Patrol Team gets way too good treatment," one complained, "Normally everyone just carries a melee weapon; having a pistol means you are team leader level. But look at them, each one has a rifle, and they're all uniformly dressed. Isn't that a bit too much!"
"So what!" another Awakener retorted enviously. "These uniforms are just for show. We're in the apocalypse, who cares about uniformity? They think they are part of some grand Sanctuary army! Real armies wear bulletproof vests or stab-proof gear. What use are these outfits? Just wait, once they make a round outside, their clothes will be just as tattered."
"Exactly. And no matter how well equipped they are, it's survival that matters. We didn't join the Patrol Team because it's too dangerous. Going out to gather resources or even hunting Demonized Beasts could easily cost you your life. If the Demonized Beasts were so easy to kill, would we still be stuck at the First Layer of Awakening?"
The others fell silent.
Upon becoming Awakeners and learning that killing Demonized Beasts could enhance their strength, many were restless with excitement—it was just like leveling up in a game to reach the peak of life. Influenced by online novels, some youth believed in 'one step ahead is every step ahead,' and right after their Basic Awakening, they wished to swiftly kill Demonized Beasts to be at the forefront of the Awakeners.
But then... they were quickly dispelled of that notion.
Lacking refined combat skills and suitable weapons, how could an ordinary Awakener match a Demonized Beast?
They were well aware of this and had seen far too many confident individuals die at the claws of Demonized Beasts instantly. By now, they had long lost the courage to confront Demonized Beasts directly. Instead, their skills in fleeing were honed to perfection.
"Let's follow and see, I don't believe they can kill the Demonized Beasts. Iron-faced Luo is powerful, but he's only one person. He can't possibly manage everything, especially considering there are ordinary people in the team. I want to see how many of them can make it back."
Lu Xiaopeng held his longsword, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding low buildings.
The team was about to enter the county city, and sparse buildings began to appear, making the environment even more dangerous. Demonized Beasts could pounce from any corner at any moment, and a delayed reaction could easily spell death, even for an Awakener.
A soft noise came from a nearby store, followed by several shadowy figures dashing out at an incredible speed, quickly closing the distance.
Lu Xiaopeng felt panicky; facing several Demonized Beasts at once was a first for him. Even surrounded by many teammates, his instincts made his mind swirl, unsure of what decision to make.
"Raise your guns, shoot."
Captain Luo's calm voice came through, and Lu Xiaopeng quickly regained his senses, raised his gun, aimed it ahead, and the gunfire spat out flames.
After the initial panic, the others also reacted quickly, raising their guns to shoot.
Their marksmanship was poor—Lu Xiaopeng had never handled firearms besides in college military training, and his shooting was terrible. But now, with the Demonized Beasts so close, accurate aiming hardly mattered, and the bullets thudded into the beasts' hides.
These several Demonized Beasts looked like oversized rats, much larger than a Demonized Steel Rat, but they were still ordinary Demonized Beasts. Under the relentless gunfire, the beasts quickly fell and struggled painfully on the ground.
The Patrol Team members were no longer panicking. Holding their guns steady, they aimed at the vital spots of the Demonized Beasts and delivered the fatal shots.
Soon, the Demonized Beasts completely lost any signs of life.
The trailing group of Awakeners were also shocked.
One envied, "As expected of firearms, especially rifles, the lethality is different."
"They can absorb soul power at this distance, right?"
"Soul power! That means, after this trip, the Awakeners in the Patrol Team will probably become much stronger. I'm so envious; I wish I had joined the Patrol Team earlier. I still don't know what it feels like to absorb soul power."
"Pfft! Look how many bullets they used to kill these few Demonized Beasts. Do you think they can keep using this method?"
One Awakener scoffed, pointing out the Patrol Team's weakness.
Indeed, the Patrol Team members had limited marksmanship, and the killing of the few Demonized Beasts relied on the cover of a wide barrage of bullets, not knowing how much ammunition was wasted. Bullets were already scarce, and some Sanctuaries had completely useless firearms. They were curious to see just how long such wasteful use of bullets could be sustained.
The Patrol Team continued to advance, with the experienced Luo Zhe leading. The team executed their movements methodically, affording themselves enough reaction time whenever Demonized Beasts charged at them.
The team members, gaining experience, held their rifles with steadier hands.
One by one, the Demonized Beasts fell dead.
The Awakeners behind them: "??!!"
Why could they always detect the Demonized Beasts in advance!
Why haven't they run out of bullets yet!
Why are they so excited, is absorbing soul power really that exhilarating!
Lu Xiaopeng and other Patrol Team members were unaware of the plethora of thoughts brewing in the minds of several distant Awakeners.
After truly killing Demonized Beasts and absorbing their soul power, their courage had significantly bolstered... These Demonized Beasts, though frightening in appearance, were merely experience fodder. As such, there was nothing to fear.
Around another corner, a four-legged Demonized Beast with antlers spotted the Patrol Team and charged at them with a ferocious roar.
Lu Xiaopeng looked toward Luo Zhe, and this time, they were not instructed to fire but heard, "This Demonized Beast is roughly at the Awakening First Layer, very suitable for your training, who wants to come?"
Training? One-on-one combat with a Demonized Beast?
So this was the special training Captain Luo had mentioned!
Lu Xiaopeng stepped forward, only to see several other Awakeners opening their mouths, only to swallow their words, visibly having the same idea but being just a step slower.
Distant Awakeners couldn't understand what was happening.
"What are they doing?"
"It looks like they want to fight the Demonized Beast one-on-one?"
The speaker could hardly believe his own words. A one-on-one fight with a Demonized Beast? That must be a joke!
Even at the same level, unless armed with firearms, several Awakeners teaming up against one Demonized Beast could still face lethal danger, yet now, they were giving up hot weapons in favor of cold ones, aiming for a one-on-one fight with a Demonized Beast?
They watched intently.
In the distance, other members of the Patrol Team, including Iron-faced Luo, stood back, supporting only one person armed with a longsword stepped forward, seemingly intending to face the Demonized Beast alone.
"Do all Patrol Team members have such hubris? I know that guy; his name is Lu Xiaopeng. He always boasts about how strong he is, but in reality, he can't even defeat the most ordinary Demonized Beast. How come he has the courage to face a Demonized Beast alone now!"
"I bet ten seconds, and that guy with the surname Lu will be sent scrambling by the Demonized Beast."
"Heh, ten seconds, you're giving him too much credit. If he handles this poorly, it won't even take three seconds before he's down, and Iron-faced Luo might not even make it in time to rescue..."
However, the speaker cut off mid-sentence, not because he suddenly choked on his saliva, but because the scene unfolding in the distance was truly beyond his comprehension.
At first, Lu Xiaopeng's tentative attacks had succeeded in provoking the ferocity of the Demonized Beast.
The Demonized Beast attacked fiercely, and Lu Xiaopeng dodged in panic.
In just a few seconds, the situation seemed perilous, but ultimately, Lu Xiaopeng, with no escape, was pounced on by the Demonized Beast, and then... the Demonized Beast died.
They appeared to see a flash of silver light slicing through the Demonized Beast's head, nearly splitting it in two.
What on earth happened?!
Why couldn't they understand!