"Are you ready?" he whispered.
Mu Xue gripped the makeshift wooden spear in her hand and nodded firmly...
Ning Yu took the stone, weighed it in his hand, then stood up and walked deeper into the cave. He looked up at the protruding rock on the cave ceiling, took a deep breath, and a resolute glint flashed in his eyes. "Ready?" he whispered.
Mu Xue gripped the makeshift wooden spear in her hand and nodded firmly. At the same time, she didn't stop what she was doing. The cave was dimly lit, but she continued to search diligently for any usable resources. Suddenly, her gaze sharpened as she noticed some broken branches scattered in a corner. Although these branches were dry, they were hard; with a little polishing, they might become weapons.
She immediately sprang into action, picking up a thicker branch and vigorously scraping its surface with a stone to peel away the rough bark, revealing the hard wood beneath. She then found a sharp stone and carefully sharpened one end of the branch, making a simple spearhead.
One, two, three… Mu Xue repeated this action until she had made several simple wooden spears. She tested the sharpness of the spears; although they couldn't compare to real weapons, they were better than nothing in this situation. She gripped the spears tightly in her hands, as if she were holding onto a glimmer of hope for survival.
Ning Yu saw Mu Xue's actions and a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes. He knew that in this perilous world, only by constantly searching for resources could one better survive. He wanted to do something too. He began collecting the surrounding stones, piling them around himself so he could throw them if the wolf pack attacked again.
The firewood in the campfire was almost burned out, and the flames were growing weaker and weaker. The howling of wolves outside the cave rang out again, this time clearer and more urgent, as if echoing right next to their ears. The wolves' patience seemed to have run out; they were preparing to launch a new attack.
Ning Yu held a relatively large stone in his hand, weighing it and feeling its texture. He knew this might be their last line of defense. He took a deep breath, trying to remain calm.
Mu Xue was also ready for battle. She held the wooden spear to her chest, her eyes warily fixed on the direction of the cave entrance. Her heart was pounding, but she felt no fear. She knew that fear would only make her weak, and in this world, weakness meant death.
Suddenly, a deafening wolf howl shattered the cave's tranquility. Immediately afterward, a massive black shadow appeared at the cave entrance, its green eyes gleaming menacingly in the darkness.
"They're here!" Ning Yu roared, forcefully hurling the stone in his hand... Mu Xue followed closely behind, thrusting her wooden spear at the shadowy figure... The last glimmer of light from the campfire went out, plunging the cave into darkness...
"Watch out!" Ning Yu suddenly pulled Mu Xue behind him.
Ning Yu's thrown stone struck the wolf's head accurately as it lunged into the cave, producing a dull thud. The wolf howled, staggered backward, and crashed into the rocks at the cave entrance. Mu Xue's wooden spear followed closely, piercing the wolf's side. Although the spear's power was limited, it made the wolf howl in even greater pain. Using the last faint light of the fire, Ning Yu swiftly grabbed a burning piece of firewood and hurled it towards the cave entrance. The flames traced a bright arc in the air, landing on the dry haystack at the entrance. The dry haystack instantly burst into flames, forming a wall of fire that sealed the cave entrance.
The crackling of the flames and the terrified howls of the wolves mingled together, echoing outside the silent cave. The wolves, frightened by the sudden burst of fire, lingered at the cave entrance, too afraid to approach.
"Phew..." Ning Yu let out a long sigh and slumped to the ground. He felt weak; the fight had almost exhausted all his strength.
Mu Xue also sat down against the cave wall, her wooden spear hanging limply in her hand. "We're safe for now." Her voice trembled slightly, but there was a hint of relief in her tone.
“It’s only temporary.” Ning Yu looked at the dying embers of the fire, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes. “The wolf pack won’t give up easily; they’re just waiting for an opportunity.”
Mu Xue nodded; she understood this too. Wolves are patient hunters; they strike when their prey is at its weakest.
“Moreover,” Ning Yu looked around, his gaze falling into the depths of the cave, “this area may also hide other unknown dangers.”
In the post-nuclear war era, mutated creatures have emerged in droves, and danger lurks everywhere. This cave may offer temporary refuge, but it could also become their grave.
Ning Yu took out some energy bars and water from his system space and handed them to Mu Xue. "Eat something and recover your strength."
Mu Xue took the energy bar and ate it silently. Her gaze never left the cave entrance, as she vigilantly watched for any movement outside.
Ning Yu also ate an energy bar and then began to check his injuries. His arm had been scratched by wolf claws; the wound wasn't deep, but it still needed immediate treatment. He took out some ointment from his system space and applied it to the wound.
"How is your superpower recovery going?" Mu Xue asked.
Ning Yu shook his head. "It's still a little short; it needs time." His ability to control metal is a crucial guarantee for their survival in the apocalypse. However, using his ability consumes a lot of energy, and he is currently facing an energy shortage.
“Mine is the same.” Mu Xue sighed. Her special ability is to manipulate plants, which can play a supporting role in battle.
The two remained silent for a while, both pondering their next move. The wolf pack was still lurking outside the cave, and their food and water were running low.
“We need to find a way to get out of here,” Ning Yu broke the silence.
“But…” Mu Xue hesitated for a moment, “it’s too dangerous outside.”
“I know,” Ning Yu nodded, “but we can’t stay here forever; sooner or later the wolves will find us.”
He stood up, walked to the cave entrance, and peered through the cracks in the fire. The wolves hadn't left; they were still lurking not far away, their green eyes gleaming with a chilling light in the darkness.
"It seems they're determined to block us," Ning Yu said in a low voice.
"Then what do we do?" Mu Xue also stood up and walked to his side.
Ning Yu looked at her, a resolute glint in his eyes. "We..."
Suddenly, he grabbed Mu Xue's arm and pulled her behind him. "Shh..." he gestured for her to be quiet.
Mu Xue followed his gaze and saw a dark shadow flash by not far away.
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