NOVEL WEB CHAPTER 137
Day 140 of the Apocalypse Calendar, Saturday.
At 10 p.m., on a whim, Lu Ming ascended his 400-meter observation tower, a structure he hadn't visited in several days.
From this lofty vantage point, he surveyed the city below. The Black Mist loomed ominously in the distance, a suffocating curtain inching ever closer to Good Hope Village.
In the areas already consumed by the mist, Lu Ming observed zombies, guided by their higher-ranking brethren, willingly or unwillingly entering the Black Mist Zone.
Exotic beasts stalked the fleeing zombies, feasting on them before inevitably being swallowed by the encroaching darkness.
Monstrous figures occasionally emerged from the Black Mist, wandering aimlessly until they were swiftly dispatched by Lu Ming's slingshot.
He also saw groups of people, members of the official migration teams, carrying their belongings as they entered the Black Mist Zone under the direction of their leaders, knowing they would never return.
Descending from the tower, Lu Ming turned to Wang Xiong with a curious question. "Has the relocation begun?"
"Yes, it started yesterday," Wang Xiong replied, his voice tinged with resignation.
Unlike Lu Ming, who grew stronger with each passing day, the other survivors lacked his unique ability to thrive in the face of adversity. Huo Sheng had made the difficult decision to organize a gradual evacuation into the Black Mist Zone.
Lu Ming didn't express much about the situation, but a wave of melancholy washed over him during his afternoon nap. He reflected on the past 140 days of his life in the apocalypse, a bittersweet journey filled with trials and triumphs.
A sigh escaped his lips as he realized his old house would soon be lost to the encroaching Black Mist. It was a poignant reminder of the impermanence of even the most cherished sanctuaries.
Day 141 of the Apocalypse Calendar, Sunday.
After completing his morning training routine, Lu Ming decided to postpone his Explosive Fist practice. Instead, he climbed to the top of the observation tower, his gaze drawn to the ever-shrinking Black Mist.
It was now less than ten kilometers from Good Hope Village.
Lu Ming sighed, a sense of foreboding settling upon him.
Returning home, he surveyed his belongings, a wave of nostalgia washing over him. After a moment of quiet reflection, he decided to take action.
He retrieved all the food stored in his basement, intending to donate it to the Guangping Street gathering place and the officials. He also gathered other useful supplies like fuel and metal scraps.
Finally, he stood before the desk on the second floor, his eyes fixed on the computer and diary resting upon it. After a moment's hesitation, he dismantled the computer, meticulously smashing the hard drive and motherboard into tiny fragments.
He then picked up the diary.
As he flipped through its pages, his eyes traced the words that chronicled his life in Nanxiang over the past 140 days. It was a record of struggles, triumphs, and the mundane moments that made up his daily existence.
A smile tugged at Lu Ming's lips as he read.
After carefully reading through each page, Lu Ming tore the diary into shreds. It was a symbolic gesture of farewell – not just to the diary and his old house, but also to his past life and all that had transpired.
He descended the stairs, approaching the front door.
Click, click, click, click, click.
With five distinct sounds, the five locks disengaged. Lu Ming stepped outside, his gaze falling upon Zhang Chengcheng and Wei Lan, who stood waiting patiently beside a military vehicle, their belongings packed and ready.
A warm smile spread across his face as he joined them. He turned, taking one last look at his surroundings, his heart heavy with a mixture of nostalgia and anticipation.
After a long silence, Zhang Chengcheng asked, "Are we leaving now, Brother Lu?"
Lu Ming nodded slowly.
Yes, it was time to depart.
But they wouldn't be heading directly into the Black Mist Zone.
Instead, their destination was the tower.
The Black Mist's contraction centered around the tower, meaning the areas closest to it would be the last to succumb to the encroaching darkness.
Given the nature of Lu Ming's system, the later he entered the Black Mist Zone, the stronger he could become.
Both logic and sentiment dictated that Lu Ming should remain in Nanxiang until the very last moment.
But Lu Ming couldn't bear to witness his house succumb to the encroaching darkness.
With a heavy sigh, he gently stamped his foot on the ground. The force traveled through the earth, reaching the foundation of his home.
A loud crack echoed through the air as the house crumbled, its structure collapsing in on itself.
Lu Ming had destroyed his own sanctuary.
He climbed into the military vehicle, and the engine roared to life. Wei Lan took the wheel, while Lu Ming and Zhang Chengcheng settled into the backseat. His weapons and essential belongings were stowed safely in the trunk. The rest of their possessions would be transported later by Wang Xiong and his team.
Lu Ming's current priority was to find a suitable temporary residence near the Holy Tower. He had no doubt that the others would handle the logistics of the move.
The Holy Tower was located in a secure zone, the path leading to it already cleared of obstacles.
Within ten minutes, Lu Ming and his companions arrived at the base of the towering structure.
He craned his neck, gazing up at the Holy Tower in awe. It stood tall and imposing, a monolithic pillar seemingly holding up the sky.
Yet, Lu Ming could not sense any information emanating from it.
"So, it only recognizes levels, not true strength," he mused.
That's fine, he thought. I have no desire to interact with that thing anyway.
Choosing a new temporary home in an office building a short distance from the Holy Tower, Lu Ming settled into a spacious and clean office. It wasn't home, but it would suffice for now.
Life settled into a new rhythm. In the afternoon, Lu Ming found a suitable open space and resumed his training. The day's events had eaten into his practice time, and by nightfall, he had only managed to accumulate 6,000 Explosive Fist proficiency points.
The next day, Day 142 of the Apocalypse Calendar, Monday, Lu Ming stood atop the tallest building near his new temporary residence, gazing in the direction of Good Hope Village.
His former home was now consumed by the Black Mist, vanished without a trace.
A pang of nostalgia and regret struck him, but he quickly pushed it aside. Dwelling on the past would be unproductive.
With a resolute sigh, he leapt from the building and commenced his daily exercise regimen.
The day passed without incident.
That night, as Lu Ming lay in bed, he found sleep elusive. Living away from home, even with all the comforts provided, wasn't quite the same.
But exhaustion eventually took over, and he drifted into a deep slumber.
Day 143 of the Apocalypse Calendar, Tuesday.
That night, after a day of rigorous training, Lu Ming's Explosive Fist proficiency reached its maximum, triggering another level up.
Explosive Fist (Perfect) (1/100,000): An origin power technique of the Earthly Realm that significantly enhances punching power when mastered. You have perfectly mastered all aspects of the Explosive Fist, and your overall attributes are increased by 1000! You gain 1000 free attribute points!
His three-dimensional attributes surged once again, each increasing by a staggering 400 points. His free attribute points also received a 400-point boost.
Thus, Lu Ming's attributes transformed into:
- Strength: 2361
- Physique: 2371.8
- Agility: 1938
- Free Attribute Points: 1096
The attribute increase was just one aspect of his progress.
The power of the Explosive Fist had also reached a new level. Lu Ming closed his eyes, feeling a deluge of knowledge and memories related to the Explosive Fist flooding his mind. He absorbed and assimilated the essence, principles, techniques, and practical applications of the skill, integrating them into his very being.
He threw another Explosive Punch.
This time, it lacked the dramatic flair of previous attempts. The punch appeared ordinary, indistinguishable from Lu Ming's regular strikes. But Lu Ming knew the devastating power concealed within.
"I can now confidently say that I've mastered the Explosive Fist completely," he declared.
"In fact," he realized, "I no longer need to be constrained by form or technique when using the Explosive Fist. I can execute it with palms, or even my feet."
The Explosive Fist had evolved into a unique method of force exertion. In its perfected state, it had become as natural and effortless as breathing, an instinctual extension of Lu Ming's will.
This was the pinnacle of the skill.
However...
"Even beyond perfection, there are still levels to achieve," Lu Ming mused, his eyes scanning the tenfold increase in proficiency requirements.