Chapter 7

"It looks like I've gotten myself into big trouble!"

Qin Ran said with a feigned calm, but his words carried a hint of probing.

The experiences of the young man's survival had long made him wary of trusting anyone completely, especially in matters of life and death!

"It's not just you who's in big trouble, but all of us! Last night, there were quite a few guys there! Those guys will definitely inform on us to curry favor with 'Vulture'! Once they know that two of his subordinates were killed by us, starting from tonight, 'Vulture' will mobilize all his subordinates to look for us! Only by getting rid of us can that bastard maintain his reputation!"

Karin said through gritted teeth.

"How long will your food last? What about yours?"

Karin looked up at Qin Ran.

"About the same as yours!"

Qin Ran opened his backpack candidly, allowing Karin to clearly see the two remaining cans inside.

Faced with such frankness, Karin did not hide anything either. She quickly walked to a corner of the storage room, took out a can and a pack of cookies from under a shelf.

"Even if we ration it, we can only last another day or two!"

Karin frowned as she looked at the food in her hand. Clearly, she was unwilling to do this.

Neither enduring hunger nor staying here to die was what Karin wanted.

"How many people can you handle at once?"

Karin looked at Qin Ran and asked seriously.

"In a situation where the other side is unarmed or not holding firearms... two to three people!"

Qin Ran, instantly understanding what Karin was getting at, replied with equal seriousness. Although he had successfully ambushed two armed thugs yesterday, Qin Ran was well aware of the significant element of luck involved.

If it weren't for Karin's help, he would have already been a dead man.

Moreover, the limitation of his [Stamina] was still fresh in his memory.

Once [Stamina] reached its limit, he wouldn't be able to fight, let alone survive.

"Do we have to face them head-on?"

Considering his own strengths and limitations, Qin Ran suggested to Karin.

"What do you mean? Are you planning to ambush them?"

Karin was taken aback but quickly caught on.

"Yes, they are numerous and armed, while we are only two. A head-on confrontation would be hopeless! Ambushing them is our best option!"

Qin Ran nodded and analyzed, "Didn't you say they originally operated around Sixth Avenue? They probably don't know the terrain here as well as you do. Moreover, to find us, they will need to spread out their forces. Even if they are numerous, they won't be many once dispersed!"

"Karin, please don't tell me there are hundreds of them!"

Qin Ran said with a more relaxed tone at the end.

"Hundreds? Impossible! They're not an army! 'Vulture' has only about twenty subordinates! If there were really hundreds, that arrogant guy would have attacked the rebel camp long ago!"

Karin seemed to be influenced by Qin Ran's relaxed demeanor and started joking.

However, she quickly sobered up.

"Karin, 'Vulture's' men are not familiar with this area, and you, coming from another district, are also not familiar with it!"

Qin Ran didn't hide this fact, shrugging his shoulders in acknowledgment.

"Moreover, you are very skilled with daggers, but are you sure you can successfully ambush them, given that I discovered you by chance?"

Karin continued, her gaze scrutinizing.

Qin Ran knew she was referring to the incident last night when he had stepped on a piece of wood and made a sound while facing two opponents.

"That was an accident! I promise it won't happen again! Besides, we have no other choice. I don't want to stay here and starve to death or be found by 'Vulture's' men!"

Qin Ran explained, trying to convince Karin again.

He didn't want any unexpected issues with their plan.

Qin Ran was not averse to fighting 'Vulture's' gang!

If it were just ordinary thugs or survivors, Qin Ran would choose to avoid them, as he was uncertain if they had anything worth fighting for.

However, 'Vulture's' gang was different.

Just look at the firearms he had on his waist; these thugs were bound to 'drop' equipment.

Although he didn't know the value of these firearms in the underground game, it didn't stop Qin Ran from wanting to collect more, as he had entered the game for money.

In short, as long as there was enough gain, Qin Ran was willing to take risks!

Moreover, he had already provoked 'Vulture's' gang and still had six days to survive here to pass the level.

Rather than living in constant fear for the next six days, it was better to take the initiative and resolve the crisis.

Qin Ran was not a passive or cowardly person.

Living with the genetic virus for three years had not only hardened his will but also matured his character, especially his mental fortitude, far beyond that of his peers.

He knew that some things could not be solved by running away.

It was better to take a chance early than to face a crisis at the last moment.

Just like his decision to enter this underground game with no protection.

And now, facing 'Vulture's' gang, it was the same.

Of course, if possible, Qin Ran would prefer to have a greater advantage.

In reality, there was very little information about the underground game, and he had exhausted all efforts to find any valuable information to help himself.

However, facing 'Vulture's' gang was different.

From Karin's tone, Qin Ran could guess that she was very familiar with 'Vulture's' gang, and had even had some dealings with them, and been betrayed.

Otherwise, she wouldn't be so angry.

Moreover, her familiarity with the surroundings made her an excellent ally.

Qin Ran naturally didn't want to miss such an opportunity.

"Of course, I don't want to stay here and starve to death or be found by 'Vulture's' men either! I agree with your plan, but I think it needs to be more detailed!"

Karin said.

"How can we make it more detailed?"

Qin Ran asked directly.

"Like I said yesterday, I'm very good at evasion. I think I should teach you some techniques so you have more options when facing those guys! Unfortunately... I'm not very good with firearms!"

Karin said, shaking her head regretfully.

Without sufficient physical strength or skill, firearms were the choice of most people.

A person who had trained in martial arts for ten years would lose to someone who had learned firearms for three months if the latter was smart enough to maintain a certain distance.

"Are you willing to learn evasion techniques from me?"

Karin asked next.

[Karin is teaching you evasion techniques. Do you want to learn? Yes/No]

At the same time, a game message appeared.

"Skill instruction? Beginner skill mentor? Or hidden favorability requirement met?"

Qin Ran was momentarily stunned, various speculations began to arise.

However, he answered directly.

"Very willing!"

For Qin Ran, who had undergone a complete transformation with just one skill, he was eager to acquire more skills. As a former proxy player, Qin Ran knew that in the absence of specific levels, attributes and skills were clearly one of the standards for measuring strength.

Moreover, the two were definitely complementary.

The next scene confirmed Qin Ran's guess.

When Qin Ran gave a positive response, Karin immediately began explaining evasion techniques and demonstrating them. After the demonstration, the system prompt arrived as expected.

[Agility reaches F, meeting the requirement for the Evasion skill...]

[Learned skill: Evasion]

[Name: Evasion (Basic)]

[Attribute: Agility]

[Skill Type: Auxiliary]

[Effect: You know how to dodge in combat, increasing your evasion by 10%]

[Cost: Stamina]

[Learning Requirement: Agility F]

[Note: You can use techniques such as sidestepping and rolling to dodge your opponent's attacks!]

"Indeed, attributes and skills are complementary!"

Comparing the system prompt with his existing skills, Qin Ran confirmed his guess.

Moreover, Qin Ran had a further speculation that skill improvement might also enhance attributes.

However, with limited information, Qin Ran couldn't be entirely sure.

"How about it? Have you mastered it?"

Karin, who had just finished demonstrating, looked at the somewhat dazed Qin Ran and reminded him, her brows furrowing slightly.

Clearly, she was dissatisfied that Qin Ran had been distracted during her demonstration.

"I think I've mastered the basics!"

Qin Ran noticed her dissatisfaction and, to ensure the smooth execution of the plan, immediately demonstrated his skills to dispel Karin's dissatisfaction.

He effortlessly performed side steps, forward and backward rolls, and even two consecutive one-handed side flips.

Karin was stunned by this display.

"Have you studied gymnastics?"

Karin asked.

Karin, who had been a member of the school gymnastics team, knew that achieving such a level required at least two to three years of training. A beginner might not even perform a standard forward or backward roll, let alone a difficult move like a one-handed side flip.

"No, but I like martial arts, so my body is quite flexible!"

Qin Ran gave an answer that could be accepted.

Although the underground game did not restrict Qin Ran from keeping his 'player' secret, in such a realistic game, he would be crazy to reveal such information that would make people think he was insane.

"I see!"

Karin clearly accepted this answer.

Qin Ran, however, was somewhat distracted again.

His gaze fell on the [Stamina] attribute in his status bar.

The original 100 stamina had now dropped to 80.

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