Chapter Ten: Seizing

Five days quickly passed.

The terrain around Oxhorn Village had been thoroughly explored, and every monster encountered was slain without exception.

Now, Lu Sheng held sixty-six Piglet cards, thirty-one Goblin cards, and a single Stone-Throwing Goblin card.

Once tonight had passed, he would be able to restore his Chrono Ant to blue quality. Not only would this grant an additional skill, but the previous two skills would also be enhanced.

His strength would soon undergo a minor surge.

In addition, over the next few days, the Chrono Ant was likely to advance a small stage, reaching the middle of the first tier.

After these two rounds of improvement, the Chrono Ant’s pace of growth would inevitably slow, and it would be time to consider upgrading his other monster cards.

The first problem to address was the need for more monster cards.

At present, aside from killing monsters, his only means of acquiring cards was through summoning piglets with the Fang Pig.

Enhancing the Fang Pig presented two possible directions:

First: Increasing the number of piglets summoned.

Second: Rather than summoning piglets, he might start getting adult boars.

These were the two possibilities he had considered, so it was by no means a stable method—merely a backup plan.

Beyond acquiring more monster cards, the ones he held needed to be strengthened.

He possessed Goblin and Stone-Throwing Goblin cards.

With his current resources, he could not strengthen both. Given his own prowess in close combat, he decided to focus first on the Stone-Throwing Goblin, so at least he would have a means of ranged attack.

In the end, the real issue was a lack of resources.

He had to quickly find an easily bred species with rapid reproduction.

Morning.

He strolled near Oxhorn Village with Shi Jiu. If there were no tasks or major operations, the squad was free to act as they pleased.

Hunting was voluntary—no one was forced to go. At least, that was the official stance.

But if you truly dared not to show up, to say nothing of Shi Jiu’s petty reprisals, the others would surely look down on you. In a post-apocalyptic world, anyone who clung to life, feared death, or tried to hide at home and slack off was deemed an unreliable companion. No one wanted to befriend such a person.

If you missed a day for a legitimate reason, it was acceptable, but perpetual absence was not.

“There’s movement ahead!” Wang An, the team’s scout, was the first to notice activity up ahead.

The group, who had been chatting carelessly, immediately grew alert. They crept forward, parted the underbrush, and saw a small party of goblins appear before them.

“Take them down—only ten goblins,” Shi Jiu ordered at once when he saw the scene ahead.

For their team, ten goblins posed no challenge; there was no need for elaborate preparations or caution.

Lu Sheng casually picked out a goblin, not even employing his tenfold strength.

The skills he had honed over these several days of battle made dispatching the goblin a simple matter.

A beam of white light rose from the goblin’s corpse, slowly condensing into the shape of a card.

Mu Kui, who happened to be nearby, stared in amazement. “Whoa! Lu Sheng, you’ve hit the jackpot! That’s a skill card!”

Lu Sheng, who had not paid it much mind, snapped back to attention and looked in surprise at the card floating in the air. He hadn’t expected Lady Luck to smile on him today.

The others quickly finished the fight and gathered around.

[Skill: Powerful Strike]

“Talk about lucky! Did you step in dog shit on your way out this morning?”

“Even the most ordinary skill card is worth at least ten source pearls. In the main city, that can buy you all sorts of good things.”

“Envy, pure envy.”

As everyone chattered, a voice sounded from the side.

“Oh? What skill card is that? Let me have a look.” Lei Yan emerged from the side with his squad.

He narrowed his eyes at the team before him, evidently pleased with the day’s patrol. Had it been any other squad, he might not have bothered, but the Seventh Squad...

Lei Yan’s sudden arrival made everyone tense up. The rivalry between the Sixth and Seventh Squads was well-known, and now, caught in a moment of weakness, the situation turned grim.

“Captain Lei, it’s nothing special—just a rubbish skill card...” Shi Jiu stepped forward with a forced smile, signaling to Lu Sheng to put the card away.

But Lei Yan had no intention of humoring Shi Jiu. His presence radiated a crushing force that pressed upon the entire Seventh Squad. “Did you not hear me? Hand it over so I can have a look.”

His icy tone sent a chill through the group. The pressure of his aura weighed upon them all like a boulder.

Lei Yan’s subordinates fanned out quickly at his stern command, surrounding the nine of them.

Lu Sheng, seeing the encirclement by the Sixth Squad, understood immediately that things looked grim. “Let me see” was just an excuse—once in their hands, the card would never be returned. The skill card was as good as lost.

To be robbed face-to-face—this guy certainly had nerve.

Lu Sheng’s gaze grew frosty; for the first time, he felt a murderous intent toward another person.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. He’d spent nearly ten days in this post-apocalyptic world—by now, the idea that resources were a lifeline was deeply etched into his mind.

Now someone wanted to rob him of his lifeline?

“Well, Lu Sheng, if Captain Lei wants to see it, just let him.” Shi Jiu, seeing the situation, had no choice but to signal Lu Sheng to hand it over.

Lu Sheng said nothing and handed the skill card to Lei Yan.

Lei Yan examined the card in his hand, a satisfied grin spreading across his face. Whether it was the card he appreciated, or the sight of the team’s helpless frustration, it was hard to tell.

“Not bad. I’ll buy this for a source pearl,” he said.

“Captain Lei, surely that’s not right? We all live in the same settlement; we see each other every day...” Shi Jiu tried to protest, but Lei Yan glared at him.

“And who do you think you are? I’m offering you a source pearl—consider that a favor. You dare haggle with me?”

Crushed by Lei Yan’s aura, Shi Jiu felt as if a massive stone pressed on his back, his legs heavy as lead. He could not move.

Against the might of a second-tier, he stood no chance unless Lei Yan held back. Yet now, he dared not resist—he could only grit his teeth and endure.

“Don’t be angry, Captain Lei. Consider this my gift to you. Surely a man of your stature wouldn’t hold it against us,” Lu Sheng said calmly, his tone making the others gape in disbelief.

Lei Yan gave Lu Sheng a look of surprise. “Not bad. Since you’re so sensible, I won’t hold it against your clueless friend here.”

“Come on, let’s get back to patrol.”

“Heh, what a coward.”

“I told you, everyone in the Seventh Squad is spineless.”

Lei Yan swaggered away with his men, who didn’t hesitate to mock the group as they left.

Shi Jiu returned to the team in silence, the veins bulging on his forehead betraying his true feelings.

Only once the others were out of sight did anyone dare to speak.

“Bastards! Lei Yan has no shame, bullying us just because he’s strong!”

“Lu Sheng...”

“It’s fine, don’t pity me. My things aren’t so easily taken,” Lu Sheng said, an icy glint in his eyes as he watched Lei Yan’s retreating figure. For now, his strength was lacking—but only for now.