CHAPTER 464: CHAPTER 229: BEACON

"We can’t get out..."

The Scout lay on the ground face up, his chest heaving violently.

Outside the building, the monster’s heavy panting sounded like a raging wind, even causing the glass on the windows to tremble slightly.

The light flickered at the window, alternating between light and dark, a massive shadow flashed by, then quickly disappeared.

What was projected through the window into the building was not just shadows, but also an intense, unfathomable fear.

Lin Yu had already sat up, instinctively retreating backward, away from the direction of the door.

Only after confirming that nothing came through the door did he slightly relax his fingers tightly gripping the knife handle.

"Protocol Three...."

"What is Protocol Three??"

"Is it that the monster can’t come in because it can’t damage the building here?"

Lin Yu, still terrified, murmured to himself.

Clearly, the rule of "not allowed to damage disaster recovery facilities" saved his life.

But, how long can such safety last?

The area around Mountain City is not just filled with giant monsters!

The small machines they encountered on the outskirts, and the kind of force that can silently set people ablaze and charred.....

Even if the buildings aren’t destroyed, could this city devour itself in another way?

They must hide.

They must find a truly safe place!

Lin Yu stood up and walked to the Scout, then reached out to him.

"Get your spirits up!"

"We’re still alive, at least we are still alive!"

"We’ve entered Mountain City, something that no one has ever accomplished!"

"We must continue to survive!"

"Even living one more second is a huge achievement!"

"Get up!"

"In the name of your father, you must take responsibility!"

At the end of the words, the Scout slowly lifted his head.

His eyes flickered several times before finally grasping Lin Yu’s hand.

"How much time do we have left?"

"I don’t know."

Lin Yu shook his head.

"I don’t know how much time we have left or where we can go."

"But at least, we can be sure that as long as we stay in this building, it’s temporarily safe."

"Follow me."

"This building only goes upwards—let’s go up and take a look!"

"Understood."

The Scout closely followed Lin Yu, the two heading towards the side staircase inside the building.

This wasn’t their first time exploring "ruins," and they were familiar with the structure of the buildings inside them.

They climbed the stairs all the way up, Lin Yu pushed open the door to the second floor.

But when he stepped inside, he froze in place.

There was nothing inside.

Completely empty.

Clean, tidy, even spotless.

Everything visible was brand new, as if time had stopped in this city.

This was completely different from the ruins he had seen before.

In those ruins, even if some buildings appeared relatively "new" for special reasons, the "traces of life" inside were undeniable.

He would find decayed tables and chairs, paper that crumbled to ash with a breeze, utterly strange devices of unknown purpose, as well as... some bones not fully weathered yet.

But here, there was nothing.

As if the entire building was newly built and never inhabited by anyone.

A strong sense of unease surged in Lin Yu’s heart, causing him to quickly turn, leading the Scout upwards.

Third floor, the same.

Fourth floor, the same.

The entire building exuded an "eerily stagnant" feeling. The higher they climbed, the more intense Lin Yu’s heartbeat became.

"What on earth happened here..."

"Perhaps not what happened, but that nothing happened."

The Scout said softly:

"I have a feeling----this city is waiting for something."

"It’s like a newly built city, but its owner... has not yet arrived."

"Therefore, it’s just left empty... forever empty."

At the end of the words, Lin Yu frowned.

Waiting?

The description was indeed quite accurate.

That’s right, this feeling of "awaiting occupation" is exactly what this city exhibits.

But what is it waiting for?

Huaxia Army?

No, impossible.

If it were waiting for the Huaxia Army, there would’ve not been such a violent conflict between the two sides.

The "crater" left by that nuclear weapon was still vivid in Lin Yu’s mind, he believed that even if there was any chance of reconciliation, the Huaxia Army wouldn’t have used such fearful weapons on this city.

But if not the Huaxia Army, then who could it be??

Lin Yu continued upward, and the last door appeared before him.

Continuing up would lead them to the rooftop.

Lin Yu looked at the Scout, and they exchanged glances, simultaneously pushing the door open and stepping out.

"Bang!"

The door hit the wall with a loud noise. Lin Yu intended to use the building’s height to quickly scout around, to confirm the surrounding terrain.

But when he saw the scene in front of him, he was utterly stunned.

There was no rooftop.

He had returned to the ground level.

He stood in the center of a massive plaza!

A sense of immense absurdity swept over him, even slowing Lin Yu’s forward steps.

He stopped blankly in the center of the plaza, unsure of where to go.

"Go back!"

The Scout shouted loudly, turning to run back.

But at that moment, Lin Yu suddenly understood.

Mountain City.

He was now at the mountain’s summit.

"No!"

"We’ll continue upward!"

He ran forward with determination.

Each building was a stairway; as long as they kept crossing these densely arranged buildings, they could reach the highest point of this city!