Lin Chen quickly walked to the door, took a deep breath, and opened it.
Standing outside were his parents. His father Lin Jianguo held a cloth bag, and his mother Wang Xiulan smiled gently, full of care for him.
"Xiao Chen, we just got here. Why didn't you tell us earlier?" Wang Xiulan tried to touch his face, but noticed his eyes were unusually determined.
Looking at his living, breathing parents, Lin Chen's eyes turned red. In his previous life, they died on this day, blocking the beasts for him without even saying goodbye.
"Dad, Mom, come in quick!" He pulled them inside and locked the door. "It's not safe outside. Don't go out."
Lin Jianguo frowned. "Not safe? The sky is red. Is a storm coming?"
"It's much worse than a storm." Lin Chen didn't explain further. No one would believe him anyway. "Sit down. I'll get you some water."
He turned toward the kitchen and saw a steel pipe in the corner, brought by his father to repair furniture.
[Ordinary Steel Pipe: Length 1.2m, Hardness 8, Weight 3.5kg, usable as a weapon.]
Holding the pipe, he felt steady. With a Physique of 6, he could swing it easily.
Outside, the red fog thickened. Screams and beast roars grew louder.
Wang Xiulan turned pale and held her husband's arm tightly. "Old Lin, what's happening?"
"Don't be afraid. I'm here." Lin Chen stood in front of them, holding the pipe tightly. "No matter what comes, I will protect you both."
He remembered clearly: the first monster to enter the neighborhood was a mutated wolfdog.
Heavy footsteps and low growls came from the corridor.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The wolfdog slammed into the door, shaking the whole frame violently.
Lin Jianguo grabbed a chair. "Xiao Chen, take your mom and hide!"
"Dad, stay back!" Lin Chen pushed his parents into the bedroom. "I'll handle this."
The panel automatically analyzed the creature outside.
[Mutated Wolfdog: Physique 15, Speed 12, Skill: Swift Pounce, Weak Points: Abdomen, Throat.]
The door burst open. The mutated wolfdog stuck its head in, eyes red and saliva dripping.
Lin Chen rushed forward and smashed the pipe hard into its abdomen.
The wolfdog howled in pain and fell backward.
Before it could recover, Lin Chen struck again, aiming straight at its throat.
A crisp crack sounded.
The wolfdog stopped moving instantly.
Lin Chen breathed heavily and turned to his parents.
"Dad, Mom. From today on, I will protect our family. No one can hurt us again."