Without a second thought, Ning Yu grabbed Mu Xue's hand and ran deeper into the cave. The cave was winding and twisting, and they stumbled and crawled forward. The bear behind them let out a low roar, which made the whole cave vibrate and caused rocks to fall down.
"Quick! Block the entrance!" Ning Yu shouted to Mu Xue as he found a relatively narrow passage.
The two men didn't dare to delay. They hurriedly moved nearby stones and branches and piled them at the entrance of the passage. There wasn't enough light in the cave, so they could only feel their way around. Rough stones cut their palms, and thorns from the branches pierced their skin, but they ignored the pain and only wanted to seal the entrance as quickly as possible.
The wolf pack outside still lingered at the cave entrance, emitting chilling howls. Meanwhile, the giant bear's footsteps grew closer, their heavy thuds causing the ground to tremble slightly, like the drumbeats of approaching death.
Finally, the cave entrance was barely blocked, leaving only a few narrow gaps. Ning Yu and Mu Xue leaned against the pile of rocks, panting heavily, their clothes soaked with sweat. The cave was pitch black, so dark that they couldn't see their own hands in front of their faces. Only a sliver of light seeping through the gaps allowed them to make out each other's blurry outlines.
The howls of wolves and the growls of bears outside mingled together, like a symphony from hell, chilling everyone to the bone. Ning Yu could feel Mu Xue's body trembling; he held her hand tightly, trying to give her some strength.
"We... will be alright." Ning Yu's voice was a little hoarse, even he himself wasn't sure if those words were true.
Mu Xue did not answer, but simply gripped Ning Yu's hand in return, her palm icy cold.
Time ticked by, and the air in the cave grew increasingly heavy, as if frozen in place. They could hear the wolves scratching incessantly at the cave entrance, the sounds of rocks and branches clattering together, and the occasional low growl of the giant bear—all reminders that the danger was far from over.
Suddenly, a rustling sound came from the depths of the cave, breaking the suffocating silence. Ning Yu and Mu Xue jerked their heads up, held their breath, and stared nervously in the direction the sound was coming from. The sound grew closer and clearer, as if something was crawling towards them…
"What...what is it?" Mu Xue's voice trembled, tinged with fear.
Ning Yu didn't answer, but slowly reached for the dagger at his waist, his eyes fixed on the depths of darkness. A bead of cold sweat slid down his forehead and dripped onto the cold stone.
In the darkness, a pair of bright green eyes slowly lit up... "It seems there's more than one..."
The rocks blocking the cave entrance were still trembling slightly, and the wolves' relentless scratching never ceased, occasionally interspersed with the angry growls of a giant bear. Inside the cave, Ning Yu and Mu Xue leaned against the cold pile of rocks, the darkness like a monstrous beast, swallowing them whole. The beam of their flashlights had long since disappeared, leaving only a faint light seeping through the cracks in the rocks, outlining their blurred faces.
"We need to think of something." Ning Yu's voice was low, carrying a hint of barely perceptible tension. He fumbled for the dagger at his waist; the sharp blade brought a cold touch, but also a strange sense of security.
Mu Xue clung tightly to him, her breathing rapid, yet she tried her best to remain calm. "The wolves and bears outside shouldn't be able to get in anytime soon, but we can't stay here forever." Her tone carried a hint of determination; in this desperate situation, she displayed a resilience completely different from her usual foodie self.
Ning Yu nodded; he understood Mu Xue's meaning. This rudimentary defense couldn't hold out for long; the wolves' patience would eventually run out, not to mention the enormous bear. They had to take the initiative or find another way out.
"System, do you have any suggestions?" Ning Yu silently asked himself, trying to seek the system's help. Since transmigrating to this post-nuclear war world, the system had been his greatest reliance.
"The system has detected that the host is in an extremely dangerous environment. It is recommended to find a safe area as soon as possible and replenish energy." The system's cold, mechanical voice rang in Ning Yu's mind.
"Safe zone? Where is the safety in this godforsaken place?" Ning Yu smiled bitterly, looking around. There was nothing but darkness, nowhere to be safe.
"Unknown energy fluctuations have been detected deep within the cave. The host is advised to explore with caution," the system prompted again.
Unknown energy fluctuations? Ning Yu's heart skipped a beat. Could this be the key to their escape? But the system also warned of "exploring with caution," indicating that there were unknown dangers deep within the cave.
"Did you hear that?" Mu Xue suddenly asked in a low voice, interrupting Ning Yu's thoughts.
Ning Yu listened intently and, in addition to the scratching of wolves and the low growls of bears, there seemed to be a faint sound mixed in, like the sound of some creature crawling, coming from the depths of the cave.
"It seems... there's more than one..." Ning Yu's pupils suddenly contracted, and he gripped the dagger in his hand tightly. The green eyes flickered in the darkness, like will-o'-the-wisps, getting closer and clearer.
He abruptly stood up, shielding Mu Xue behind him, his eyes warily fixed on the direction from which the sound came. In the darkness, the rustling sound grew closer and louder, as if countless reptiles were closing in on them. A stench filled the air, making them want to vomit. Ning Yu felt Mu Xue's body trembling; he gripped her hand tightly, trying to give her strength and also to give himself courage.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here," Ning Yu said softly, his tone firm.
Just then, a sharp screech shattered the cave's silence, followed by countless green eyes that lit up in the darkness, like twinkling stars in the night sky, surrounding them... Ning Yu's dagger reflected a faint light, illuminating his resolute face. He took a deep breath, preparing for battle.
“It seems…” Ning Yu’s voice sounded exceptionally calm in the darkness, “We have no choice but to fight this battle with our backs against the wall.”
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