Chapter 57: Massively Dead and Injured

Phoenix watched the crowd gathered outside his fortified home, their chatter about strategies and plans barely reaching him. He had no intention of being merciful now. These were neighbors he barely knew, and their fate seemed sealed either way in this harsh new world. So, when he decided to take action, Phoenix didn't bother with precise aiming. His hand moved swiftly, loading and firing the crossbow with lethal efficiency.

The first shot whistled through the air, its sharp crack followed by a scream of agony. A man clutched his neck, a rusty crossbow arrow embedded deep, and collapsed with eyes wide in terror. Panic ensued among the crowd as they realized Phoenix was armed and dangerous. They scrambled to escape, but the cramped corridor offered little room for maneuver. The panic caused chaos, with people tripping and falling over each other.

Phoenix, undeterred, continued his relentless assault. The professional-grade crossbow, coupled with the lethal arrows, ensured that each hit was potentially fatal. The corridor echoed with the sounds of his rapid firing and the screams of the injured and dying. The neighbors, in a desperate bid to escape, pushed and shoved towards the stairwell, only to find their way blocked by Alexander, who brandished a gun to force them back into the line of fire.

Alexander's cold eyes and the menacing gun deterred any thoughts of escape. He wanted them to serve as cannon fodder, to exhaust Phoenix's defenses. Meanwhile, Sun and others had wisely stayed away from the fray, avoiding the deadly arrows.

The effectiveness of Phoenix's barrage was undeniable. In such a confined space, almost every shot found a target. Dozens were hit, their injuries ranging from severe to fatal. But even in their desperation, someone noticed the source of the arrows - a hole above the door. Quickly, they used mops and brooms to block the hole, temporarily halting Phoenix's attack.

Phoenix responded by sealing the iron door behind the firing hole, a precaution that made it impenetrable from the outside. This brief respite allowed the neighbors to regroup. They assessed the damage: many were injured, and at least three were dead, their wounds inflicted by the tetanus-ridden arrows.

The atmosphere outside Phoenix's door turned to one of grief and anger. Curses and threats were hurled at Phoenix, but the only response was the sound of a hi-fi song playing from inside his home, a chilling contrast to the chaos outside. Phoenix, feeling a bit sore from his exertions, casually went to his kitchen, grabbed a coke, and enjoyed a refreshing drink while continuing to monitor the situation outside.

The neighbors, realizing the futility of their current tactics, were struck with a new idea. Sun, despite his injured leg, suggested targeting the walls

of Phoenix's house. "The door is alloy, but the wall is just brick and cement. I don't believe we can't break through it," Sun declared, igniting a spark of hope among the crowd. The idea quickly gained traction. If the door was impenetrable, perhaps the walls would offer a way in.

Armed with this new plan, the neighbors rallied. They grabbed hammers and axes, lining up in front of the outer wall of Phoenix's house. The first blow to the wall brought a burst of excitement as the plaster cracked and flaked away. But their hope turned to shock when the second strike revealed the truth: beneath the thin veneer of plaster lay a wall of solid steel.

The crowd was stunned. "This wall is also made of steel inside!" someone exclaimed in disbelief. The realization that the walls were as impregnable as the door was a crushing blow to their spirits. Desperation set in as they tried attacking different parts of the wall, only to find the same unyielding steel barrier.

Meanwhile, Phoenix watched from inside, his expression a mix of amusement and disdain. He had anticipated this move, ensuring that every inch of his fortress was reinforced with thick steel plates. "Cannonballs can't even blast through it, let alone your hammers and axes," he thought to himself.

The noise of the futile attempts to breach his fortress eventually prompted Phoenix to activate the noise reduction function in his home, cutting off the clamor. The owners of the building, now facing the reality of the impregnable metal walls, were left in utter despair. Their dreams of accessing Phoenix's supplies were shattered against the cold, unyielding steel.

The atmosphere outside was one of devastation and helplessness. Some residents, unable to bear the thought of their failed endeavor, cried out in anguish. The neighboring young couple, who had known about Phoenix's extensive renovations, were saddened by the extent of his preparations. They hadn't imagined someone would fortify their home to such an extreme.

Sun, Peng, and Liang, their eyes bloodshot with frustration, realized the grim truth. If they couldn't break into Phoenix's home, they were doomed. Sun, in a fit of anger, accused Phoenix of knowing about the impending snowstorm and preparing solely for his own survival, disregarding the well-being of others.

The neighbors' accusations and curses continued, some even resorting to self-consolation, believing that divine retribution would eventually befall Phoenix for his perceived selfishness. But Phoenix, secure and content within his fortress, was unmoved by their words.

In a last-ditch effort, Alexander suggested targeting the ceiling and floor, refusing to believe that Phoenix had encased his entire home in steel. But as the neighbors exhaustedly tested every possible entry point, their hopes were dashed. The entire apartment was indeed a steel box, impenetrable without advanced tools.

The sound of futile hammering eventually ceased. The residents, confronted with the inescapable truth of Phoenix's impenetrable fortress, were left in a state of shock and despair, their last glimmers of hope extinguished against the cold, unyielding metal that encased Phoenix's sanctuary.