Chapter 7

The small alley behind the station is usually deserted, so it has become a secret place for students. I once fantasized about exchanging pornographic books with a group of close friends in the alley, successfully confessing to a girl and becoming her boyfriend, or accidentally encountering a critically injured and dying martial arts master being pursued by enemies, and obtaining a magical cultivation manual before he died, thus living a life of success... The last one doesn't count, but I've imagined all sorts of plausible and implausible scenarios in my mind. However, reality has proven that I am still too naive.

I wonder if it's because we are approaching the year Liu Tao mentioned in the prophecy when the gods plan to destroy the world. For a while, various post-apocalyptic novels were very popular on the internet. I occasionally read a few of them and can't deny that I developed a bit of interest, but I never imagined encountering zombies after school in this alley.

Because it seemed too absurd.

But now, a monster far more agile and ferocious than a zombie stands in front of me and Mengyun. I can't even imagine how terrible the situation would be if these plants spread across the entire planet, but at least I know what I should do now.

The game "Frontline" is very realistic, and I was fortunate enough to have access to a virtual projection device, so every time I played, it felt like I was really on the battlefield. The initial panic was just because the shocking reality made me stare in disbelief, but after regaining my composure, the experience and skills I accumulated from the game gradually came into play.

Although it only lasted for a few seconds.

This monster is faster than a human running and has strong jumping ability. If I pull Mengyun and run, we will be caught by it before we can return to the station and seek help from the army on the road. So, the only way to be saved is for one of us to stay behind, giving the other time to escape.

There's no other way; it has to be me.

"Mengyun, run," I let go of my sister's hand and said urgently, staring at the plant in the distance, "Go back and seek protection from the army. Whatever you do, don't leave them alone. Don't say anything, just go. Let your ordinary brother have one moment of coolness."

"Cool? Brother, your legs are shaking, aren't they?"

You're making a joke at a time like this, you brat!? Is this the time to be sarcastic!?

Feeling both amused and frustrated, I turned to look at my dear sister who was running away, intending to say something, but I noticed that although she was teasing me without a care, her face was already covered in tears.

Forget it, there's no need to say anything more.

Fighting this oval-headed plant monster with tentacles unarmed is clearly not a good idea. Seeing it take a few tentative steps towards me, seemingly ready to attack at any moment, I quickly threw away my backpack and picked up the round iron lid from the nearby trash can, preparing to use it as a shield—though its surface was covered in rust, and it would likely shatter like a cookie at the slightest touch from the monster's vines, it was better than nothing.

Speaking of which, why did I think of Senior Lan Yu at this critical moment? Could it be that, as they say, people always recall their lives or think of the most important person to them just before death? Could it be that I subconsciously like Senior Lan Yu?

The bizarre tentacle monster didn't give me much time to think. It suddenly raised all its vines except those supporting its body, spreading them out like a peacock's tail in a terrifying display, and leaped at me.

If nothing unexpected happens, I will be killed and torn into pieces by the plant after a few seconds or even a dozen seconds of desperate resistance. Mengyun will use this precious time to escape and receive protection from the army. She will grow up in the last human refuge after these plants, which should not exist in reality, take over the planet, and together with another survivor, bear the responsibility of continuing the human race—okay, that's a bit far-fetched, but as long as Mengyun is safe, that's all that matters.

After multiple "battles" in the game, I found that I could actually predict the monster's movements and react to them. I was sure that if I were in a mecha or, better yet, had a rifle, I could turn it into a sieve before it landed.

But I only had a trash can lid, and it was rusted beyond recognition.

A huge explosion and a cloud of dust rose from the direction of the city. Has the "bombardment" from that island already extended to the city?

I didn't pay attention to these things. I just jumped back in time before the tentacle monster landed, narrowly avoiding its attack. Now, the distance between us was neither too close nor too far, and neither of us could reach the other, making the situation somewhat awkward. But it didn't matter; I still had a projectile.

I threw the trash can lid at the monster's head with all my might. Although it didn't hurt it, I still harbored a tiny hope that it might knock it out. Unfortunately, reality was cruel. The lid left many rust marks on its face (if you could call it a face), making it look like it had hives. However, the monster showed no signs of fainting and instead charged at me, extending its vines and body, and slowly opening its mouth full of yellow teeth.

Those weren't teeth; they looked more like cactus spines—though much larger.

It was trying to intimidate me.

The tentacle monster's vines were less than half a centimeter from my throat, and in the next second, they would tightly wrap around my body and tear me apart. Although I wanted to run, the previous attack had drained all my courage, and I was now trembling uncontrollably, unable to move.

But in the next second, it disappeared from my sight.

There was a manhole cover in the alley that connected to the city's sewer, right where the plant had been standing. Although I didn't expect four turtles standing on their hind legs and skilled in martial arts to help me deal with the monster, I had hoped the manhole cover wouldn't support its weight and it would fall into the sewer.

Reality proved that I was too naive. The plant wasn't heavy, and the manhole cover could easily support it.

But it still disappeared—only to be carried into the sky by a whirlwind from below.

"Belloc Turner—!!" A sweet, honey-like voice came from above me, filled with anger, "How dare you set a trap to make me fall into the sewer! I will never forgive you!"

What's going on? I couldn't help but look up in shock.

It was a girl of about fourteen or fifteen with skin as smooth as pearls, large azure eyes, a straight nose, and thin lips, forming a face of breathtaking beauty. Her long golden hair shone like wheat in the sunlight, blooming like a flower in the wind. She wore a blue dress in a classical kingdom style, with white lace at the neckline, cuffs, and hem, and a large red rose on her right side. In her right hand, she held a one-handed sword that emitted pale blue electric arcs, matching her classical style, with a red gem embedded in the hilt. I had no idea if it was real or not.

However, that wasn't the most important thing. The girl was now above me, and she was wearing a dress.

"Ah, honey-colored panties," I forgot about the near-death experience and couldn't help but admire the unexpected sight, murmuring, "What a cute design."

The girl finally noticed my presence, and her face, which had been full of anger, immediately turned red. After landing, she burst into tears and raised her sword to her neck, trembling, "Wah, I never thought I would be seen by a local native in such a place. Mother, I am very sorry. At this point, I can only die to cleanse my honor."

"It's just being seen in your underwear, you don't have to go to such extremes!" I rushed over and held her hand, feeling both frustrated and helpless, "Are you from some ancient medieval era!?"

"But, but, Mother told me," the girl clearly lacked the resolve to commit suicide, and her hand holding the sword drooped, "If a boy I don't like sees my underwear, I can never get married."

"What kind of strange ideas has your mother instilled in you!?" I covered my forehead in exasperation, feeling utterly drained, "In a certain sense, it's not entirely wrong... Anyway, this was an accident caused by irresistible force. I am very sorry, and I will take responsibility. After this disaster is over, you can ask me to treat you to shopping or give me a slap. Speaking of which, didn't we forget something?"

A large black shadow fell from the sky and landed in the trash can I had removed the lid from. The metal can immediately tipped over and rolled a long distance until it hit the school wall and stopped.

The plant monster, covered in garbage, slowly emerged from the trash can, struggling to stand up, looking like a drunk man staggering out of a hotel to hail a taxi.

Although I knew it was inappropriate, I couldn't help but burst out laughing.

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