Chapter 17: Liu Yueqi, Lv6, Insect Swarm Attack

The schoolgirl, gripping a standard long knife, appeared tense, likely startled by the human-like figure clad in giant insect armor.

Lin Feng tilted his head, peering through the visor's eyeholes, catching an unexpected glimpse beneath her pleated skirt.

"Human, lv4/9"

"Health: 25, Constitution: 18, Spirit: 17"

His appraisal skill inconveniently displayed her stats, blocking his view.

Quickly recovering, Lin Feng reversed his grip to seize the long knife poised at his forehead.

Long knives are ineffective for thrusting or cutting; they're meant for slashing. Pointing downward, they lack the space to swing forcefully...

Aside from intimidating, they pose no real threat.

As Lin Feng reached for the knife, the schoolgirl realized, but raising a knife is slower than swinging it, so Lin Feng easily caught it.

The lv4 Red Armored Shield's defense was 20, even in shield armor mode. Lin Feng's hand, covered by a thin armor layer, was unafraid of the blade's pressure.

With his lv5 physique, he could easily snap the long, flimsy blade.

He recognized it as a cheap industrial knockoff, suitable only as a stage prop.

Its quality and combat effectiveness were inferior to the wide-backed long knives forged from rebar wielded by the two women.

Long knives are vulnerable to side flexing, prone to bending or breaking.

Grasping the blade, Lin Feng yanked down, applying wrist strength to bend it.

Flimsy blades resist breaking but deform.

As the girl raised the knife to retreat, Lin Feng lunged through the door gap into the tenth-floor corridor.

He aimed his gun, speaking calmly:

"Little one, didn't your mother teach you not to point knives at people?"

The girl stepped back, shocked, raising her bent knife at the armored figure:

"You... you, are you human?"

Lin Feng shrugged, removing his red and white faceplate to reveal his handsome face, a smile forming:

"Not human? Am I a bug?"

Behind him, Zhang Yuruo and Chen Yanyan squeezed through. Yuruo, with her ample chest, struggled a bit.

Lin Feng aimed his gun, crouching to help Yuruo through the 30 cm gap.

The schoolgirl, seizing the distraction, rolled to grab a red carapace as a shield.

Lin Feng had no intention of killing her, hoping to learn about other survivors from her.

Finding her here explained the many beetle corpses on the stairs.

She likely killed them, quite a few.

Her lv4 level indicated she'd killed at least ten.

Such courage intrigued Lin Feng.

Seeing two women join, the girl relaxed, raising her carapace, apologizing:

"Sorry, I thought you were a monster. That outfit... doesn't look human."

Lin Feng lowered his gun, surveying:

"This is made from bug carapaces."

"I'm Lin Feng. Why's a high schooler in Haicheng University's faculty dorm?"

"Are you the only survivor here?"

With Lin Feng lowering his gun, the girl sighed but remained wary, holding her red carapace:

"I'm Liu Yueqi, from the adjacent high school. My aunt teaches at Haicheng University, so I stay here for school convenience."

"Are you a Haicheng University student?"

Lin Feng shook his head, pointing to the tall young woman behind him:

"I'm not, she was."

"What about the professors here? They didn't all die below, did they?"

"And do you know how to reach the rooftop? The stairs end at ten."

The man's odd response and barrage of questions made Liu Yueqi frown. After hesitating, she chose silence, slowly retreating.

Just then, a line of apartment doors opened, and several people holding red carapaces emerged.

In the dim corridor, their faces were obscured.

One spoke:

"Your gunfire attracted the bugs, and they climbed to the tenth floor. You broke the locked safety door below, right?"

"Whoever you are, whatever your purpose, we have ten minutes before those damned bugs break in. We need to work together now."

Lin Feng holstered his gun, raising his hands with a smile:

"You're right."

"We mean no harm. We were chased here by bugs while escaping by car and just happened to find shelter."

Seeing this, the group slowly lowered their carapaces, and a slick-haired young man stepped forward:

"I'm Zhang Xuan, an assistant professor at Haicheng University. Welcome, Mr. Lin."

Lin Feng had no memory of him, but Chen Yanyan whispered:

"Former student council VP, two years ahead of me, with some background."

Chen Yanyan, recently graduated at 25, and a 27-year-old assistant professor...

Lin Feng's lips curled slightly, intriguing.

As someone turned on their phone's flashlight, they finally saw each other.

Seeing the women behind Lin Feng, Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up, smiling warmly:

"Chen Yanyan? Weren't you working at Haicheng Construction? What brings you here..."

He waved to those beside him:

"This is my junior, graduated two years ago. We're all Haicheng people here, no worries."

He stepped forward warmly:

"Is Mr. Lin and the lady your colleague?"

Familiar with Zhang Xuan's approach, Chen Yanyan frowned, stepping behind Lin Feng.

Lin Feng nodded, playing along:

"Yes, we fled the city when bugs erupted from the ground, found a car, and drove here."

He shifted the topic, smiling:

"Outside, the door's about to be breached by bugs. We can't hold long; we should head to the rooftop."

Zhang Xuan's face cooled:

"This is your fault?"

"The bugs lost interest in this building, and you led them here..."

Before he finished, a loud bang echoed, making everyone tense, holding their breath.

Ten seconds later, a panicked male voice emerged from the rear:

"Mr. Chen! Mr. Chen, the door's down, the swarm's in! Too many! We can't hold..."

Zhang Xuan's face changed, retreating:

"Mr. Lin, the rooftop access is narrow, no stairs. Someone needs to assist below."

Reaching the group's carapaces, his voice rose:

"The situation's worsened, your fault."

"You must stay and buy us time! It's your responsibility!"

He signaled the panicked crowd, and some caught on, raising carapaces, retreating.

Lin Feng, watching their antics, shrugged, turning to the women:

"Go with them. I've got this."

The women looked worried, Yuruo approached:

"Can you handle it? So many bugs, this door won't hold long..."

Lin Feng, holding his upgraded legendary handgun, smiled confidently.

"Legendary Handgun lv6/9"

"Upgrade Points: 12/10, Damage: 20, Effective Range: 500 meters, Remaining Bullets: 653/1500"

"Extra Attribute: Bullet Recovery, 1/min, Space Magazine, 1500 Reserve Bullets"

Damage increased by five, averaging twenty; at close range, Lin Feng could headshot with one shot, retreating from the door to the hallway.

No pressure.

Embracing Yuruo, Lin Feng kissed her, reassuring:

"Don't worry. If I can't handle it, I'll run faster than them. Just get up there, use the Red Armored Shield as I taught."

He turned to Chen Yanyan:

"Protect Yuruo."

Chen Yanyan nodded, leading Yuruo away.

Before leaving, Yuruo handed Lin Feng a lv2 long knife, her tone firm:

"Take it! Just in case!"

Taking the knife, Lin Feng watched them leave the corridor.

Seeing them join the retreat, climbing a skylight at the hallway's end, Lin Feng turned to face the rumbling door.

As the noise grew louder and closer...

Lin Feng slowed his breathing, initiating his lv6 upgrade, feeling the heat within, then upgrading his legendary handgun to the next stage!

Gun in one hand, knife in the other,

Ready to fight.

Suddenly, a figure appeared beside him.

Liu Yueqi, brandishing her bent long knife, approached:

"Hey, you broke my knife. You're responsible."

She extended her hand:

"Compensate me."