He walked into the hall and looked up. The ceiling was covered with spider webs, and some places were even dripping with water. The floor of the hall was covered with thick dust, and every step he took left a clear footprint.
Xiao Yi continued to walk inside. The handrail of the stairs was damaged, and the steps were covered with cracks and debris. He held on to the wall and climbed up step by step, silently praying in his heart that this abandoned high-rise building could become his shelter.
This tall building, like a weathered old man, stands tall despite its dilapidated exterior. While many of the masonry on the walls have fallen off, leaving behind mottled marks, the overall structure has not shown any noticeable tilt or distortion, demonstrating its solid structural foundation.
Xiao Yi stepped into the dim stairwell. The steps under his feet were covered with dust and gravel, and each step could bring up a small cloud of dust. He held the handrail of the stairs tightly with both hands. The handrail had long been rusted and even loose in some places.
He struggled to lift his leg and took the first step, feeling as if a heavy burden weighed on him. With each step, his breathing became more rapid, his chest heaving violently. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, streaking down his cheeks and dripping onto the dusty steps.
At every corner of the floor, Xiao Yi had to stop for a while. He supported his hands on his knees, gasping for breath, and a heavy breathing sound came from his throat, as if a bellows was being pulled with difficulty.
His legs felt as heavy as lead, and his muscles ached, but his eyes were full of determination and indomitable will. Xiao Yi gritted his teeth, lifted his heavy feet again, and continued to climb to higher floors, with a persistent pursuit of safety and hope in his heart.
Finally, after a long and arduous climb, Xiao Yi's feet touched the rooftop. His legs softened and he almost collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath, his chest rising and falling like a bellows.
After a long while, he finally recovered and slowly stood up. When he looked around, the scene before him made him gasp.
From here, he felt as if he were standing on top of the world, overlooking the vast surrounding area. In the distance, rolling mountains loomed in the mist, like sleeping giants. At the foot of the mountains, a vast forest stretched, its lush trees intertwined to form a sea of green.
Looking closer, the ruins of the city spread out beneath his feet. A network of dilapidated streets crisscrossed like a vast spider web. Most of the once towering buildings had collapsed, leaving only broken walls and piles of rubble.
Abandoned vehicles lay scattered along the roadside, some reduced to mere skeletons by fire. A thick layer of dust hung over the streets, rising gently in the breeze.
In this ruin, you can occasionally see some moving figures, who knows whether they are survivors or wandering monsters. Xiao Yi squinted his eyes, trying to distinguish them clearly, but the distance was too far and he could only see vague outlines.
His gaze continued to move, and he saw a river winding through the city. The water was no longer clear, but had become turbid, with all kinds of debris floating on the surface.
Xiao Yi stood on the rooftop, feeling a mixture of emotions. The ruins filled him with despair, yet also ignited a glimmer of hope. He knew that in this ruined world, to survive, he had to find a way out, and the scene before him might be able to guide him.
Xiao Yi took heavy steps and carefully explored the rooftop, his eyes eagerly looking for a corner where he could temporarily feel at ease. Finally, near the edge of one side, he found a relatively hidden corner.
There were a few worn wooden boards and some piled up debris there, forming a small sheltered space. Xiao Yi walked over quickly as if he had found a treasure, and slowly put down the heavy backpack on his back.
As soon as his backpack touched the ground, he collapsed onto the dusty ground, feeling as if his bones had been pulled out of him. His chest heaved violently as he breathed in deep gulps of fresh air, as if trying to replenish the oxygen he had lost during the climb.
Every breath he took was filled with an almost greedy urgency. The air rushed into his lungs, bringing him a sense of coolness and comfort. A heavy gasp escaped his throat, echoing in the silent corner.
Sweat continued to drip from his forehead, flow down his cheeks, gather into drops at his chin, and then hit the ground, forming a small wet mark. Xiao Yi did not bother to wipe it off, but just focused on breathing, allowing his extremely exhausted body and mind to get a moment of relief.
After a long while, his breathing finally calmed down, but his body still leaned weakly against the wall, his eyes revealing a sense of exhaustion and relaxation after being relieved. At this moment, Xiao Yi was like a sapling severely damaged by a violent storm, every inch of his body screaming with fatigue. His eyes were bloodshot, his eye sockets sunken, and his eyes revealed a deep weariness.
His once straight back now bent, as if he could no longer bear the invisible pressure. His clothes were soaked with sweat, clinging to his body, and stained with dust, their original color unrecognizable.
The dirt mixed with sweat on his face flowed down in streaks, but he didn't even have the strength to raise his hand to wipe it away. Every breath seemed so heavy, and every tiny movement seemed to require a huge amount of his energy.
However, even though his body was exhausted to the extreme, a temporary sense of security quietly rose in his heart.
This sense of security does not come from a solid fortress or powerful weapons, but simply because this relatively hidden corner gives him a small breathing space in this world full of crises.
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