Have fun in time

Su Chen didn't deliberately conceal his actions. Despite the battlefield being shrouded in gun smoke, he hadn't turned a blind eye to his surroundings. He skillfully evaded potential dangers, navigating through the chaos.

However, at this moment, as long as Su Chen didn't interfere with others and didn't exhibit any remarkable abilities, he went unnoticed. In the grand scheme of things, they were all just ordinary individuals amidst the cataclysm. The world had seen its fair share of strange lunatics and fools, so onlookers quickly shifted their focus to the ongoing battle.

At most, a few security guards from different fronts called out to Su Chen, an unscheduled combat unit, urging him to return. But their voices became lost amidst the deafening gunfire, barely audible even to themselves. Seeing Su Chen's defiance, they decided it wasn't worth the effort. After all, in these dire times, who truly cared whether someone lived or died?

Yet, to his surprise, someone in the midst of the battlefield took the initiative to approach Su Chen and strike up a conversation.

By the time Su Chen had swiftly touched the third black scale monster's corpse, infusing it with five units of energy, he raised his head to see the formidable individual who had "detonated" the black scale monster from within. This person had retreated from the battle, choosing to venture alone. As he passed by Su Chen, he noticed the latter sneaking next to the corpse.

Amidst the relentless gunfire, the individual asked in astonishment, "What are you doing?"

Su Chen hadn't expected someone to approach and inquire, but he quickly formulated a response. "I too possess extraordinary abilities. I have never witnessed anyone single-handedly slay a black scale monster. I couldn't help but come out and witness it for myself. I wanted to see not only how these damn creatures meet their end, but also how effortlessly you dispatch them... You truly are the most talented person I have ever encountered."

"Haha..." The talented individual, being an ordinary person themselves, found Su Chen's flattery somewhat amusing. Especially considering their own strength, which was undeniably formidable. They dismissed Su Chen's compliments, saying, "It's nothing... It's just assistance from the military... It's inconsequential..."

Su Chen nodded, saying, "You should go back and rest. These monsters have ruined countless lives. I share a deep hatred for them. While I cannot vanquish them while alive, I can at least derive some satisfaction from mutilating their corpses... This one here..."

Many survivors had tragically lost loved ones at the hands of these monsters. While not everyone resorted to desecrating the corpses, there were those who did. The talented individual, feeling a wave of melancholy wash over them, patted Su Chen on the shoulder and turned away, departing first.

Observing the individual's departure, Su Chen swiftly retrieved the energy unit and hastened his retreat.

It was the talented individual who suddenly realized halfway through, "Wait, the black scale monster was killed by the military, not by me..."

When they turned around, Su Chen had vanished.

The fourth black scale monster's corpse lay in shambles, and Su Chen no longer approached it. Instead, he retreated.

Black scale monsters, or slender specters as they were sometimes called, varied in strength despite containing a relatively consistent amount of dark energy. There were weaker individuals and more formidable ones. Over the past few days, Su Chen had discerned certain patterns. For instance, when a monster's body suffered severe damage, the energy within its corpse intensified. Typically taking several minutes to dissipate, the energy loss could occur within ten seconds for a severely damaged corpse. Su Chen saw no reason to linger any longer.

After the encounter with the black scale monsters, Su Chen acquired a sudden windfall of 14 energy units, reaping an instant harvest without any effort. When he finally returned to the team, Ma Hongbo couldn't help but question his actions.

"Why did you... just now?" Ma Hongbo asked, his voice filled with curiosity.

Su Chen glanced at him, his gaze piercing. "I have been evading and running away all this time, never getting the chance to touch the black scale monster corpses. So, I took the opportunity to examine them, hoping to discover any weaknesses they might have."

Ma Hongbo's mouth twitched, struggling to comprehend Su Chen's reasoning. "But wouldn't the military have already discovered any weaknesses if they existed? Did you find something?"

"No," Su Chen replied, his expression devoid of emotion. He could feel the warm, dark energy coursing through his body, but he hadn't discovered any weaknesses in the monsters.

However, Ma Hongbo seemed to grasp something deeper. He sighed quietly, patting Su Chen on the shoulder, and said, "Brother Su, like you, I am also a talented individual. I understand what you're thinking. We often fantasize about becoming great heroes, possessing incredible powers like those portrayed on TV. But the reality is different. We have varying levels of strength, and even with our abilities, we are only marginally better than ordinary people. The truth is, ordinary people are at the bottom of the hierarchy. We must accept this reality and not let our fantasies cloud our judgment. Your talent lies in your exceptional speed, as I witnessed earlier. With that ability, you have a greater chance of survival, as long as you don't do anything foolish. You will live longer than most."

Su Chen raised an eyebrow, feeling a mix of surprise and confusion. "Did you misunderstand something?"

Just then, Qiao Zheng approached, his eyes reflecting a complex emotion that Su Chen couldn't quite decipher. He chuckled and said, "Team leader, I think it's time for us to retreat. Staying here won't do us any good, right? Su brother, let's go."

Ma Hongbo nodded in agreement. Although he suspected that Su Chen had ulterior motives, it was of no concern to him. In this ruthless world, survival mattered above all else. He rallied the others, and they began their journey back.

Su Chen remained silent, utilizing every moment to circulate the energy within his body, strengthening himself. The increased energy allowed him to enhance multiple areas simultaneously, significantly boosting his efficiency. However, further strengthening required a substantial number of energy units and couldn't be achieved in an instant.

He devised a sensible plan, allocating a portion of the energy to reinforce his body and using his extraordinary skills to modify two power banks with remarkable speed.

But their respite was short-lived, as the convoy soon resumed its journey. According to the rumors Ma Hongbo had heard, individuals like Tian Ying had fallen victim to the relentless onslaught of monsters along the road.

Rumors spread like wildfire in these uncertain times, and Ma Hongbo, being a well-informed individual, knew that most of the information circulating was false. Only a small fraction held any truth. Amidst the chaos, Su Chen listened to Ma Hongbo's discussions with the group, discerning the credibility of the rumors. He realized that Ma Hongbo had successfully filtered out ninety percent of the misinformation, leaving only a couple of reliable tidbits.

The military and survivors within the city were in full retreat. Despite the severe signal interference, the military made every effort to broadcast the message throughout the city. This retreat was likely the last major one, as hordes of monsters from other cities were amassing, forming a formidable army under the influence of an unknown force.

Seated in a corner, Su Chen continued to dismantle the second 20,000 mAh power bank, fortifying his body while intently listening to Ma Hongbo's discussions. After a while, he realized that Ma Hongbo had managed to extract useful information from the chaotic babble, distinguishing fact from fiction.

Tension hung in the air, an intangible weight that pressed upon their weary souls. The convoy surged forward, propelled by a desperate urgency, their survival teetering on a precipice of uncertainty. Whispers of impending doom swept through their ranks, painting a grim tableau of the city's plight.

The once-mighty military forces and the dwindling remnants of humanity were locked in a harrowing retreat. Despite the insidious interference that plagued communication channels, the military valiantly endeavored to disseminate a last-ditch message to the beleaguered city. It was a somber proclamation, a resounding cry of the city's impending demise. Monsters, driven by an enigmatic force, surged forth from neighboring cities, coalescing into a formidable army that threatened to engulf all in its path.

Su Chen's heart quickened within his chest, a surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins. The stakes had been raised, and the gravity of their situation loomed over them like a specter of doom. In the face of such overwhelming odds, every decision carried the weight of life and death.