Chapter 7: Crafting the Red Armored Shield and Experimentation

During his time at his sister-in-law's house, Lin Feng had experimented extensively, finding that items identified by the system as upgradable were quite rare and typically simple weapons. His smartphone, a purely auxiliary technological device, was appraised as red quality but offered no upgrade path. It wasn't as if he could use it to fight bugs.

Fortunately, these matters weren't of immediate concern. Lin Feng's focus was on the red carapace in his hands, the key to survival.

The makeshift iron shield he had crafted earlier hadn't triggered any appraisal, deemed too rudimentary to even qualify as white quality. However, the red armored beetle's carapace seemed promising.

Surprisingly, the four-centimeter-thick carapace, impenetrable and extremely hard, felt remarkably light, akin to a foam board, weighing only four to five pounds. It emitted a metallic sheen, unlike the chitinous exoskeletons of Blue Star insects, more akin to a biological alloy.

Striking it with a knife produced a crisp sound.

Upon appraisal, the results were as expected:

"Red Armored Beetle Carapace, White Quality"

"Evaluation: This is the only valuable part of the red armored beetle, extremely hard. It can be used to craft a shield."

Although it didn't directly upgrade, the final words of the evaluation brought a smile to Lin Feng's face.

The ability to craft a shield meant there was potential.

However, the carapace was so tough that even a handgun bullet barely left a dent on its surface. Crafting it into a shield would require a small electric drill.

While searching for wire earlier, Lin Feng had come across several toolboxes in the balcony's storage cabinet, including the needed electric drill powered by modular lithium batteries, eliminating the need for external power.

These were basic tools for construction work. Though Lin Youzhi had passed, he had left behind many useful items, part of the reason Lin Feng initially came to his sister-in-law's house.

Besides promising to take care of her, Lin Feng also sought the convenience of tools left by Lin Youzhi.

Unfortunately, he hadn't found a chainsaw, which could have served as an additional melee weapon.

Lin Feng, carrying the carapace, handed the cleaver to Chen Yanyan, instructing:

"If you're not squeamish, dissect it and see if there's anything else inside."

Chen Yanyan had wanted to ask about his parents' disappearance, but seeing his disinterest in the topic, she took the cleaver and began cutting open the beetle's membrane.

Meanwhile, Lin Feng went to the balcony, retrieved the electric drill, and fitted it with an eight-millimeter bit to start drilling.

After thirty minutes and one ruined drill bit, he managed to bore about ten holes in the carapace. Using nylon rope from the storage cabinet, he threaded and secured a section of belt, crafting a handheld shield.

Lin Feng named it the Red Armored Shield.

Appraisal confirmed his expectations:

"Red Armored Shield lv2/9, White Quality"

"Durability: 9/10, Defense: 10"

"Evaluation: A simply crafted shield. Be mindful of its durability. Collect similar materials for upgrades."

Lin Feng smiled, noting that upgrading defensive items required collecting more carapaces, unlike upgrading weapons.

With the Red Armored Shield in hand, he no longer feared direct insect attacks, significantly enhancing his defense.

The previous iron shield couldn't withstand the beetle's mandibles, nearly failing after a single strike.

Returning to the living room with the shield, he found Zhang Yuruo had emerged from the bathroom. She watched Chen Yanyan crouched on the floor, stirring the beetle's remains with a knife.

The internal organs were a mess, emitting an indescribable stench.

Despite the effort, Chen Yanyan found little, only a gray-white sac resembling a fish bladder, empty inside.

Zhang Yuruo, looking concerned, asked:

"Xiaofeng, what should we do now? The building is surrounded by bugs; it's not safe to go out."

Lin Feng took out his handgun, ejected the magazine—having fired three shots, one bullet had reloaded, leaving ten remaining—and swapped in a fully loaded spare magazine, then said to his sister-in-law:

"Yuruo, what about the other car?"

Zhang Yuruo's eyes lit up. After Lin Youzhi got a new car, the five-year-old Land Rover he used wasn't sold but left for her to use for errands.

That old Land Rover was parked by the building. Driving would undoubtedly be safer on the road.

Understanding Lin Feng's plan, Zhang Yuruo quickly went to the entrance, retrieving the car key from a box—this was their key to escape.

Lin Feng nodded, grateful for the family's wealth. Without a car, he wouldn't know how to escape the neighborhood during a bug attack.

The key was ensuring the twenty-meter dash from the building to the car wasn't overrun by the swarm.

Lin Feng planned to exploit the building's advantageous terrain to farm more upgrade points, especially for carapace materials.

The Red Armored Shield was effective; ideally, each of them should have one.

This would provide extra protection during their escape.

After sharing his plan with the women, they agreed, given that rescue was still 20 hours away, while reaching Haicheng University by car required crossing two blocks, a three-kilometer journey.

Under good conditions, it would take only seven to eight minutes.

With an additional shield for each woman, they could wield their knives without fearing insect attacks.

With a plan in place, the trio prepared once more.

Lin Feng checked his gun, now with 5 upgrade points, just 5 short of reaching lv3, which would enhance its attributes.

No need to worry about bullet count.

After stepping outside with the Red Armored Shield, Lin Feng led the women to the area outside apartment 201, planning to release one beetle at a time for easier and safer handling.

The red armored beetle wasn't particularly strong; its main attack was the rapid hammering of its mandibles, capable of shattering leg bones. By hiding behind the door with the shield low, they remained safe.

Lin Feng found the door key in the deceased woman's pocket, braced the shield, and slowly opened the door. Through the gap, he saw only one beetle inside, the same one that had attacked him earlier.

This one was a lv4 giant, with ten more health points than the previous beetle, making it slightly larger, about 2.3 meters long...

It was currently munching on fruit from the coffee table.

Evidently, the bugs ate anything, but the higher nutritional value of flesh was more appealing.

As the scent of blood wafted through the door, the beetle, previously nibbling on a pear, caught the scent and crawled over, sniffing around the door.

Lin Feng whispered:

"Get ready to retreat!"

He then opened the door wider, standing behind it, creating a space for the beetle to crawl out sideways, then kicked the door shut, toppling the beetle onto its back, exposing its vulnerable belly.

Sensing danger, the beetle struggled to flip over.

Lin Feng, already aiming, fired three shots, severing three legs on one side, leaving it writhing on the ground.

With the shield as a brace, he took the long knife from Zhang Yuruo, severing the beetle's mandibles, dealing 8 points of damage.

With that, the beetle's threat was neutralized.

Seizing the opportunity, Lin Feng invited the women to try their hand.

Using the shield for defense, they struck from the side, chopping the beetle's remaining three legs.

Zhang Yuruo, fueled by pent-up frustration, volunteered to wield the long knife, striking forcefully.

Seeing her boldness, overcoming her fear, Lin Feng felt a sense of satisfaction.

Once she took the first brave step, she could fight the beetles with confidence.

However, he kept an eye on the beetle's health.

"Red Armored Beetle, lv4/9"

"Health: 12, Constitution: 7, Spirit: 2"

The lv4 beetle had 40 health points. Lin Feng's shots had reduced it by 12, leaving 28. The women chopped off 16 more, leaving it with 12 points.

The beetle lay immobilized, hissing weakly.

"That's enough! Don't kill it."

Seeing Zhang Yuruo's relentless assault, Lin Feng quickly grabbed her arm to stop her.

Pausing, Zhang Yuruo panted heavily, her yoga top rising and falling, sweat dripping down her chest, each swing had been exhausting.

As she calmed down, she realized her overreaction due to nerves and, following Lin Feng's command, set the long knife down.

Watching the beetle's futile struggle, Zhang Yuruo took a deep breath:

"Why not kill it?"

Lin Feng shook his head, taking the long knife and explaining:

"We need to study the bugs' weaknesses..."

"Killing one or two doesn't matter. Learning how to kill them quickly is key."

The long knife had gained four upgrade points, reaching 7/10, while Lin Feng's handgun gained three, showing 8/10, just two shots shy of an upgrade.

One headshot would suffice.

But Lin Feng's true goal wasn't merely research. Sparing the beetle was about maximizing its remaining value.

As a seasoned gamer, Lin Feng adhered to the principle of cautious development, grinding levels relentlessly...

He decided to attempt his first experiment in exploiting this opportunity.