Hunting the elongated specters

Upon entering his room, Su Chen silently ignited a cigarette, the smoke curling around him as he contemplated the recent turn of events.

Although the garments crafted from the two energy units had been reduced to ashes, their combustion had released a substantial amount of energy. Su Chen had managed to salvage half of the expended energy, minimizing the loss. Ah Q, his ever-present companion, acknowledged this outcome with a measure of approval.

The attempted magical transformation had proven fruitless, evident in the transformed piece of clothing that lacked any semblance of armor-like properties. Instead of manifesting as a formidable defense, the ordinary leather jacket had metamorphosed into an icy, temperature-regulating variant.

Su Chen speculated that the failure stemmed from the material employed. Despite its ample surface area, the fabric had proven incapable of absorbing a significant quantity of black energy, suggesting its grade was comparable to that of a common boning knife. Su Chen concluded that for the realization of an Iron Man-inspired armor, a more viable approach would involve starting with genuine armor, possessing inherent defensive capabilities and a complex structure. Through the infusion of copious amounts of black energy, a fully-fledged battle suit could be achieved.

In his pursuit of the ideal armor, Su Chen considered two potential avenues.

Firstly, the military exoskeleton represented the epitome of his aspirations. Given the technological advancements of this era, it was reasonable to assume that exoskeletons existed in Su Chen's native world as well. However, the immediate challenge lay in procuring one, even if he were to encounter a military force. Moreover, their availability might be limited, with no guarantee of their presence in Yuanliao City. Embarking on a global search for such exoskeletons would inevitably expose him to the perilous encounters with the pervasive monsters.

The second option appeared more feasible, involving the acquisition of cosplay outfits or model replicas for magical transformation. Su Chen had discerned the existence of movies and television series in this world, including the likes of Marvel, which he was intimately familiar with. Consequently, it stood to reason that related models and cosplay outfits were also available. Moreover, the Tianjing Building, his current abode, was situated on the outskirts of the city center, with nearby hypermarkets and shopping malls according to his prior research. If any models or cosplay ensembles were obtainable within this city, they would most likely be found in those locales.

While monsters lurked at every turn, Su Chen recognized the imperative of seeking guidance from a local expert. Rash actions could swiftly lead to his demise or substantial losses. Thus, he refrained from rushing headlong into a solution, exercising caution in his approach. He understood that his physical prowess had proven inadequate in the previous battle. Even if he were to acquire a demon-forged battle armor, it was essential to bolster his physical strength to ensure effective maneuverability.

Therefore, Su Chen devised a meticulous plan focused on the accumulation of energy units while prioritizing the augmentation of his physical fitness. Despite the suboptimal cost-effectiveness of employing energy units for physical enhancement, he recognized the indispensable nature of this step, leaving him no choice but to proceed.

Determined to expedite his progress, Su Chen dismissed the notion of arduous training. The passage of time had become a pressing concern, especially since he found himself on the twenty-third floor of a sparsely populated hotel, having already encountered three formidable elongated ghosts head-on.

The city's perilous circumstances had escalated, with the available troop numbers proving woefully inadequate for maintaining control. The future appeared increasingly treacherous, leaving no room for leisurely energy accumulation and gradual development.

Consequently, Su Chen realized the urgency of finding a more efficient means of acquiring energy units. After a brief respite and mental adjustment, he assimilated the energy from a single unit into his body. Once he donned his equipment anew, he emerged from his room, ready to face the challenges that lay beyond.

Although the clock had struck past 7 o'clock in the evening, the outside world remained shrouded in perpetual darkness, oblivious to the concepts of day and night. Blood-colored crevices marred the landscape, casting an eerie, faint glow that left one feeling cold and despondent.

The sight of Su Chen fully armed startled those present in the living room. Xia Ming, rising to his feet, inquired, "Mr. Su, what is your intention?"

Pausing momentarily, Su Chen responded, "I am venturing out to eradicate the monsters within this building. It is imperative that you all remain here and await my return."

Upon hearing Su Chen's resolute words, Xia Ming and the others were gripped by astonishment. Some even questioned their own hearing, struggling to comprehend the magnitude of Su Chen's declaration. He intended to confront and eliminate the monsters within the building!

Given their lack of direct encounters with the elongated ghosts, Xia Ming and the others failed to grasp the gravity of the situation. However, the expressions of the middle-aged man and the corpulent individual underwent a drastic change upon hearing Su Chen's plan. The two elongated ghosts had relentlessly pursued and claimed the lives of over a dozen individuals, forcing the survivors to flee in desperation. And now, Mr. Su aimed to take the initiative and rid them of this menace!

Initially met with surprise and skepticism, the corpulent man's doubts gradually transformed into excitement as realization dawned upon him. He became convinced that Su Chen was a cultivator capable of spiritual energy recovery, wielding powerful modernized magic weapons in the form of the imposing warhammer and the pistol!

Before embarking on his mission, Su Chen turned his attention to the corpulent and middle-aged men, inquiring, "Do you possess knowledge of the monsters' whereabouts within this building?"

Su Chen's primary motive for expressing his intention to eliminate the monsters was to glean valuable information regarding their whereabouts from the corpulent and middle-aged men. Understanding the monsters' locations and activity areas in advance would undoubtedly grant him a strategic advantage in his pursuit.

Exchanging glances, the corpulent man and the middle-aged man shared pertinent details. The corpulent man spoke up, "There's one on the sixth floor! Several exits on the first floor are blocked, possibly by three or four of them, but I'm uncertain about the others."

The middle-aged man affirmed the corpulent man's statement with a nod, confirming their shared knowledge.

Su Chen absorbed this information, realizing that the presence of a monster on the first floor had compelled these survivors to seek refuge on higher levels.

After a brief pause, Su Chen posed an unexpected question, "Do you happen to know where I can acquire cosplay suits or wearable models resembling Iron Man or Transformers?"

The room fell into a perplexed silence as everyone exchanged bewildered glances. Xia Ming and the others, being outsiders, were oblivious to the corpulent and middle-aged men's interests, unable to fathom why Su Chen, an enigmatic and formidable figure, would express interest in such trivial matters amidst such dire circumstances.

After a moment's hesitation, the corpulent man offered, "If you're seeking a club, I might be aware of a suitable one. However, as for cosplay suits or wearable models like Iron Man, I'm uncertain. I do recall seeing a display of an Iron Armor Xiaobao statue at the entrance of Xinxia International Store, but it was removed last year due to its immense popularity."

Su Chen acknowledged the response with a nod, signifying his understanding, and turned to depart. Yet, Xia Ming stepped forward and addressed him, "Mr. Su, if you don't mind, we have exhausted our food supplies. Would it be possible for us to..."

Momentarily taken aback, Su Chen swiftly grasped the intent behind Xia Ming's words. He replied, "Of course, that won't be an issue. I have stocked up on provisions in this living room. Please help yourselves to whatever you require."

Realizing that the twenty-third floor would not remain a secure sanctuary for long, Su Chen had diligently amassed a substantial quantity of resources. However, the abundance had surpassed his personal needs, rendering it impractical to carry or consume everything. By distributing the provisions to Xia Ming and the others, he could prevent waste and optimize resource utilization. Additionally, he had secured several bedrooms where he had stowed additional supplies, ensuring sufficiency for his own requirements.

The offer from Su Chen elicited elation among Xia Ming and his companions. The middle-aged man's hungry gaze lingered on the food within the room. Yet, mindful of their circumstances and wary of taking undue advantage of a stranger's generosity, they had refrained from depleting the accumulated provisions in the living room, as the disaster had only recently unfolded, and starvation had yet to set in.

Descending the stairs, as the elevator had ceased functioning, Su Chen navigated the secure passage, purposefully making his way toward the sixth floor, where the corpulent man had indicated the presence of monsters.

Throughout his journey, Su Chen maintained an unwavering vigilance, his senses attuned to potential threats from both humans and monsters on other floors. In this perilous world, death often struck abruptly and unexpectedly. Without remaining constantly watchful, one could never predict the manner in which their demise might befall them.

Fortunately, Tianjing Hotel now harbored only a handful of individuals, as most had already evacuated to the upper floors. Consequently, the number of monsters remaining was limited. Su Chen reached the sixth floor without encountering any unanticipated dangers. Proceeding through the secure passage, he stepped onto the plush carpet, his ears suddenly greeted by the distinct, chilling hiss of an elongated ghost emanating from one of the rooms.

Su Chen instinctively tightened his grip on the firearm in his hand, poised for the imminent confrontation that awaited him.