Chapter 35 Accepting the Mission
The morning chill had not yet dissipated when there was a knock on Ruan Ning's door.
Lin Yan's loud voice rang out from outside the door: "Ruan Ning! Open the door quickly, I'm off to receive a mission!"
Ruan Ning opened the door and saw that Lin Yan and Zhou Min were both wearing combat uniforms that allowed for easy movement. Lin Yan was also carrying a newly issued entrenching tool.
“We’ve already inquired,” Zhou Min said as she walked in, rubbing her frozen hands. “There are two types of base missions: one is the regular missions issued by the military, which are stable but low-paying; the other is missions organized by civilian teams themselves, which are high-risk but high-reward.”
Lin Yan eagerly chimed in, "I've looked at a few cleanup tasks, perfect for practicing. In this awful weather, I won't even be able to afford a thick blanket if I don't accumulate some points."
Ruan Ning noticed that Zhou Min's complexion was better than yesterday: "Has your perception returned?"
"Most of it has been restored." Zhou Min nodded. "It's just what we need to do to mitigate the risks."
The three arrived at the mission hall, where many superhumans had already gathered.
The bulletin board was covered with task lists:
Clean the sewers on the east side of the base (requires a water/earth ability user, reward 80 points)
Collect winter supplies (any ability is acceptable, points are awarded based on the amount collected).
Escort the exploration team to the abandoned factory (Requires a combat-type ability user; reward: 200 points)
A mission administrator in military uniform recognized Ruan Ning: "Miss Ruan, there's a mission that needs a water-based ability user. The water supply system in the western area of the base is clogged and needs to be cleared."
Lin Yan leaned over to look: "Only 100 points? That's too few!"
Zhou Min gently tugged at her and said to the administrator, "Let's think about it."
The three of them went to a corner to discuss. Zhou Min lowered her voice: "I sensed abnormal energy fluctuations in the West District, something's not right."
Lin Yan scoffed: "Which mission doesn't involve risk?"
Ruan Ning pondered for a moment: "The mission is to receive winter supplies. The weather is getting colder and colder, so this mission is both safe and allows us to collect what we need along the way."
They eventually accepted a task to collect clothes from an abandoned shopping mall.
Upon arriving at the base entrance, the guards checked their mission sheets: "Be careful, you must be back by 5 p.m.
Stepping out of the base gate, a gust of cold wind immediately hit her face. Zhou Min wrapped her thin coat tighter around herself: "In this weather, we really should prepare more warm clothes."
The abandoned shopping mall is three kilometers away from the base, and the whole way there is a scene of desolation.
"Stop." Zhou Min suddenly raised her hand. "There are at least twenty heat sources in the mall, distributed on different floors."
Lin Yan gripped the entrenching tool tightly: "Perfect for stretching my muscles."
Ruan Ning felt the water energy flowing through her body: "I'll take care of cleaning the first floor, you guys go upstairs."
Upon entering the mall, a stench of decay assaulted their senses. Five zombies, hearing the commotion, staggered over. Ruan Ning's eyes turned cold, and she lightly raised her right hand:
"Ice cone rain!"
Dozens of tiny ice spikes instantly solidified and precisely pierced the zombies' skulls. The entire process took less than three seconds, and all five zombies fell to the ground simultaneously.
Lin Yan whistled, "Beautiful! When did you learn that move?"
Ruan Ning said calmly, "I figured it out last night. It doesn't consume much energy and is suitable for clearing out small monsters."
Zhou Min's voice came from the second floor: "I need backup!"
The two rushed up to the second floor, where they found Zhou Min surrounded by eight zombies in a corner. Lin Yan was about to go forward when Ruan Ning stopped her:
"Watch me."
She drew an arc with both hands in front of her chest, and the moisture in the air quickly condensed into a spinning water blade:
"Water Wheel Slash!"
The water blades whistled through the air, tracing graceful arcs as they sliced through the necks of three zombies. The remaining five were quickly dealt with by Lin Yan, one shovel at a time.
Zhou Min breathed a sigh of relief: "Your self-control has improved again."
Ruan Ning looked at her palm: "It's not precise enough. That move should have taken out five of them."
On the third floor, they encountered a small problem: ten zombies were closing in from different directions. Ruan Ning tried to simultaneously condense two water-wheel slashes, but her energy control was unstable, and the water blades dissipated in mid-air.
"Damn it!" She quickly changed tactics, launching a dense barrage of ice needles. Although this dealt with the zombies, it was clearly more strenuous than before.
Lin Yan laughed loudly: "You can't bite off more than you can chew!"
Zhou Min then carefully analyzed: "Controlling two water blades at the same time requires multitasking. You can try controlling one water blade first to change its trajectory."
On the way back, all three of them carried bulging packages. Lin Yan was in a good mood: "Today's trip was worth it. I practiced my skills and earned points at the same time."
Ruan Ning seemed to be deep in thought: "My use of superpowers is still too limited. Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. I should develop more forms of transformation."
Zhou Min checked her points card: "The winter clothes we got this time can be exchanged for 300 points, enough for us to buy three thick quilts."
As they passed through a residential area, seeing people shivering in the cold wind, all three fell silent.
Back at her residence, Ruan Ning immediately began practicing. Water balloons, water arrows, water shields, water blades... various shapes transformed in her hands.
“Not enough…” she murmured to herself, “Water takes many forms, and so should my attack methods.”
Through today's combat experience, she clearly realized that in the apocalypse, strength is the greatest guarantee. And she will face not only zombies, but also enemies lurking in the shadows.
Tomorrow, she will take on an even more dangerous mission to hone her abilities in real combat. After all, only by becoming strong enough can she survive in this apocalypse and exact her revenge.
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