Chapter 20: Seeing the Light of Day Again

A high-speed, swirling vortex of water roared around Xia Tong, sweeping up the beetles that tried to cling to her and grinding them into a gory mess of fluids and remains.

Yet, Xia Tong did not falter. Protected by her watery shield, she flashed forward, completely indifferent to the fate of the others behind her. Whether they lived or died was no concern of hers; her own survival was the only priority.

Besides, she had to maintain her momentum. Turning back was impossible—she knew better than anyone that there was no exit behind them. She had explored that entire path herself, and the area ahead was where the moisture sensor readings were thinnest. Moreover, that grotesque "sewer cleaner" might still be rolling along behind them, making its signature gurgling sounds.

...

On the other side, hearing their captain’s roar, the survival instinct of the others overcame their fear and suspicion. Gritting their teeth, they followed close behind Xia Tong, struggling to break through the tide of insects. The sound of their weapons hacking into the swarm filled the tunnels, and the stench of blood grew thick.

The swarm became increasingly frenzied. The "click-clack" of mandibles and the rustle of beetles crawling pursued them relentlessly, like the approach of death itself.

"Damn it!" Wang Dong spat, crushing a beetle that had latched onto his leg with a stomp. But as they pushed deeper, more and more beetles crawled up from beneath their feet. The bloodthirsty swarm, craving the scent of flesh, fought to tear into them.

Just as they were about to be submerged by the tide, a faint outline of a vertical metal ladder appeared at the edge of their flashlight beams. At the top of the ladder, the silhouette of a circular manhole cover was visible.

Could that be... an exit?

A spark of hope ignited in everyone's eyes. However, as they stumbled to the base of the ladder, their hearts plummeted once more. The ladder was severely corroded, with several rungs deformed or missing entirely. Worse, the manhole cover above was sealed tight, seemingly jammed from the outside by some heavy debris; it wouldn't budge an inch.

"It won't open!" Li Sishui shouted in despair after pushing against it with all his might.

Meanwhile, the bone-chilling "click-clack" grew louder and closer. Those iron-shelled beetles, drawn by the scent of blood, had gathered into a black flood, surging down the tunnel and threatening to swallow them whole.

"Damn these filthy beetles!" Wang Dong roared in fury.

"Don't just stand there! Push together!"

Lu Mingcheng’s eyes were bloodshot. He let out a primal shout, pushing his strength-based ability to its absolute limit. The final hope was right before them—if not now, when?

His arm muscles bulged, and thick, knotted veins stood out under his skin like serpents as he thrust upward against the heavy cover. The metal lid trembled slightly, but remained firmly wedged.

Wang Dong, Liu He, and the others didn't hesitate. They grabbed their steel pipes and crowbars, frantically prying at the edges of the cover, creating a piercing screech of grinding metal.

Seeing this, a flash of determination crossed Xia Tong's glass-like cat eyes. The cover was likely weighed down by the collapsed building above; it would be incredibly difficult for her to move it alone, especially with the ceaseless swarm beneath them.

Without further hesitation, she focused her intent, and her swirling water shield suddenly split off a concentrated jet of water.

The stream moved as if it had a life of its own, striking with pinpoint precision at the rusted gap between the cover and the rim. The high-pressure water blasted away layers of grime, rust, and debris, attempting to clear the obstacles jamming the lid. At the same time, the continuous force of the water provided an upward lift, sharing the burden with the others.

...

As time passed, the tension grew. Xia Tong had to keep one eye on the approaching swarm.

"Clang!"

A dull, thunderous boom echoed. Under the combined efforts of the group and the water ability, the heavy cover finally shifted, opening a gap. Lu Mingcheng seized the moment, pouring every ounce of his remaining strength and ability into his fists, and threw the cover aside.

A sliver of hazy moonlight spilled down, bringing a cool, desolate breeze into the foul-smelling sewer. Xia Tong looked up; it was indeed a collapsed building above. No wonder...

"Go! Move!"

Lu Mingcheng was the first to scramble up the rusted, swaying ladder. Liu He and Li Sishui followed, tumbling and clawing their way up. Wang Dong brought up the rear, hacking at the iron-shelled beetles that had already begun to climb the ladder as he struggled upward.

Xia Tong, bringing up the very end, seized her chance. Her body instantly transformed into a concentrated blue shimmer, flowing silently up the pipe wall like liquid. She followed right behind Wang Dong, slipping out of the manhole cover almost at his heels.

"Hah... hah... huff..."

Barely out of the hole, Lu Mingcheng and the others collapsed, gasping for air. The relief of survival hadn't even had time to take root before they were overcome by crushing exhaustion.

Wang Dong looked back, instinctively wanting to seal the manhole, but he watched in horror as the black mass of beetles surged out of the opening like gushing ink.

"Run! Get out of here!"

He shrieked, abandoning the attempt to seal it, and scrambled away from the opening. They helped each other limp a distance away before daring to stop, looking back with lingering fear.

Countless insects washed ashore like a capsizing wave, then swarmed into the piles of shattered debris, devouring the surrounding greenery.

"Oh god!" Liu He covered his mouth, gagging, but managed to choke it back.

...

The group hobbled to a relatively safe spot. Looking around, they realized this was not the abandoned square where they had entered the sewers.

Before them lay a street even more desolate and ruined. The commercial district had been utterly destroyed; amidst the broken walls, tall, twisted mutant plants grew wildly, their dark green vines covering almost every surface, dragging everything into an eerie, suffocating silence.

And with it being the dead of night, the atmosphere was even more terrifying. The air was heavy with the scent of rotting vegetation, mixed with a strange, cloying, sweet-smelling odor. Xia Tong sniffed carefully; it smelled like plant sap.

Fortunately, the crisis in the sewers had been temporarily averted.

Lu Mingcheng caught his breath, his eyes complex as he gazed at the black cat looking around in the distance. It had reformed its shape and was standing on a broken concrete pillar, flicking its sleek, glossy black tail, its glass-like pupils scanning the strange environment with vigilance. Its fur remained impossibly clean, standing in stark contrast to the filth and decay surrounding them.

What should they do now?

Wang Dong, clutching his blood-seeping hand, looked at Xia Tong with undisguised greed and murderous intent. He stepped toward Lu Mingcheng, lowered his voice, and hissed:

"Brother Lu, that damn cat..."

Lu Mingcheng raised a hand, stopping him. He, too, was weighing the situation.

This mutant cat was powerful—beyond imagination—and incredibly intelligent. It understood how to read a situation and even knew how to cooperate. Its very existence felt uncanny, as if a human soul were trapped inside.