Zhao Jiayan hurriedly handed her pistol to Yang Yuan, then took the two Spirit Monster Cores that Yang Yuan handed over.
Previously, most of the Spirit Monster Cores had been used for customizing Power Armor and awakening and detecting superpowers. These were the last two, but they should be enough.
In any case, with strength, there would never be a shortage of food, and with food, water can be easily exchanged for.
Yang Yuan quickly disassembled Zhao Jiayan's pistol, pretended to check it over, and then reassembled it.
Once reassembled, he gained a bit of personal experience.
At the same time, this pistol now had upgrade data, with initial data just like his own.
"Yiyi, do you still have the arm-crossbow I gave you earlier? Give it to me, I'll fix it up for you." Yang Yuan turned to Jiang Yiyi.
"Yes, yes, I do."
Jiang Yiyi hastily took out the small arm-crossbow Yang Yuan had given her the previous night.
When Yang Yuan took it, he noticed that the experience was already full, even exceeded by quite a bit.
Clearly, Jiang Yiyi had indeed practiced while he was asleep the night before.
[Arm-Crossbow LV.2: 31/4 (Upgradeable)]
He directly chose to upgrade continuously.
[Arm-Crossbow LV.3: 27/8 (Upgradeable)]
...
[Arm-Crossbow LV.4: 19/16 (Upgradeable)]
...
[Arm-Crossbow LV.5: 3/32 (Effective range: 120 meters)]
After it was upgraded to level five, the small arm-crossbow, initially made casually, transformed into something like an artwork, no longer rough and crude.
Now, aside from the drawback that it can only fire one arrow at a time, the power has been greatly enhanced with almost no flaws.
"Yiyi, keep it safe." Yang Yuan handed it back to Jiang Yiyi.
"Yes, yes, thank you, big brother."
Jiang Yiyi played with the now much prettier arm-crossbow, unable to part with it.
Just then, the gate of the safe zone opened, and a soldier with a loudspeaker shouted, "Listen up, everyone: a Drought Fiend has appeared 600 miles away. Although it has begun to affect this area, it won't pose a threat in the near future."
"However, the safe zone also plans to continue migrating. You can follow the direction we took before. Everyone will do the same. We will now sell some supplies, take enough with you and set off. We will catch up soon. As usual, we cannot attend to everyone, nor do we stop for any one person, so take care of yourselves."
As the soldier finished speaking, a large quantity of water, bullets, and other common supplies was brought out.
At times like this, the military would only sell ordinary pistols and bullets. Custom-made orders like the ones Yang Yuan had placed would have to wait for the military to settle down at another location.
In hindsight, Yang Yuan's actions the previous night proved wise. Had he been even a day late, he would have missed the opportunity. It was uncertain how long it would take to custom-order next time.
Yang Yuan nodded to Zhao Jiayan, who immediately went to line up for supplies.
Upon squeezing her way in, Zhao Jiayan noticed large water coolers submerged in large quantities of fist-sized, cube-shaped coolers.
Anyone who bought enough water—at least a pound—was entitled to one cooler for free.
About seven or eight minutes later, Jiang Yiyi suddenly pointed at the safe zone's wall and shouted, "Big brother, look..."
Yang Yuan looked up to see a large number of soldiers climbing the wall.
At first, he thought they were going to dismantle turrets. But instead, he saw these soldiers moving artillery shells up, while keepers hastily calibrated and aimed at a certain direction.
"Could there be danger?"
His complexion changed slightly.
Not only him, but everyone outside the Safe House panicked at the scene.
"Those who have procured supplies, evacuate quickly. The safe zone is on the migration route of a herd of strange beasts. The military will provide rear cover, so please do not cause confusion!"
The previously loudspeaker-wielding soldier shouted again, urging urgency.
The moment he finished speaking, everyone felt the ground tremble as if a massive army was thundering past.
"Damn, is a beast tide coming?!"
"Run!!"
"Just go first!"
Those who procured supplies hastily set off, grabbing their goods and sprinting away.
Some attempted to seek refuge within the safe zone, but were stopped.
The military Superpower Users directly hurled those who refused orders out, showing no courtesy whatsoever. Providing rear cover was their ultimate act of kindness.
Yang Yuan and Jiang Yiyi frantically searched for Zhao Jiayan's figure.
"Boom boom boom boom boom boom!!"
Suddenly, countless cannons roared to life, with numerous missiles launched into the sky, drawing parabolas and landing far behind.
"Kaboom!"
"Kaboom!!"
Explosions erupted in that direction, accompanied by angry roars of powerful beasts—the battle began instantly.
"Yang Yuan, let's hurry up and go!"
Zhao Jiayan returned at this moment. "I got everything, let's get moving quickly!"
"Alright. You hold onto the supplies, leave the fighting to me. Keep your gun safe."
Yang Yuan handed Zhao Jiayan her pistol, attached the portable Safe House box to his armor, and then took Jiang Yiyi's hand, quickly following the Superpower Users' team ahead.
Zhao Jiayan hurriedly kept pace.
"Ow ow ow!!"
"Roar!!"
Thunderous beast roars filled the air from afar, as if countless armies were charging past.
But numerous beasts were bombarded by artillery, forcing the beast tide to divert.
Only a handful of beasts, frantically rushing forward, managed to slip through the gaps and get close to the safe zone, only to be turned into sieves by dense machine gun fire.
Yang Yuan glanced hurriedly behind him, spotting many terrifying, towering beasts looming in view.
Yet, these colossal beasts received focused attention, bombarded by missiles and killed by military Superpower Users employing long-range strikes.
These military Combat Superpower Users were extremely formidable—not a single powerful beast could get near the safe zone's perimeter.
Only a very few 'small' beasts slipped through the net, unable to directly assault the safe zone, instead fleeing frantically forward.
These beasts weren't even interested in bothering with them, seemingly escaping from something even more terrifying.
"It feels like the temperature rose!"
Yang Yuan's face darkened.
"Indeed, it's increased. Could the Drought Fiend be drawing nearer?" Zhao Jiayan tensed up.
"Don't scare yourself unnecessarily; if it were the Drought Fiend approaching, the temperature increase wouldn't be just this."
Even as Yang Yuan spoke, he suddenly raised his hand and fired a shot.
"Boom—"
An escaping beast's head exploded, sending its over-two-meter body flying.
Superpower Users witnessing this scene recoiled in fright, instinctively veering away from Yang Yuan and his group, abandoning any intentions of forcefully overtaking the front runners.
"What a pity for the trophy; we definitely can't take it with us now. Yiyi, go on by yourself, and call me if you tire."
Yang Yuan released Jiang Yiyi's hand and reloaded his pistol.
Even after firing just one bullet, the best time to ensure a full magazine, when not under immediate threat, is now.
"Kaboom!"
"Boom boom boom boom boom boom!!"
The military continued shelling the migrating beasts, akin to a spear slicing through, splitting the beast tide into two streams and killing most in the middle, carving a path for the fleeing Superpower Users.
Yang Yuan's group, along with the other Superpower Users, continued to distance themselves, eventually losing sight of the safe zone behind them.
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[First day of the month, asking for monthly votes!]