Chapter 8: The Terrifying Alien Creatures

In the final second of the video, a massive head suddenly appeared in front of the live broadcast equipment. It was a creature that resembled a ferocious wolf, standing upright on two legs with enormous claws extending from its arms. Its glowing green eyes were bone-chilling, and its mouth revealed sharp fangs, dripping with fresh blood. 

In that last moment, the wolf-like creature turned directly toward the camera, its vicious gaze seemingly intent on tearing apart anyone watching through the screen. 

Lin Cheng's father, upon seeing the scene, was left dumbfounded, while his mother, with weaker nerves, collapsed onto the sofa in shock. Lin Cheng's father, though shaken, didn't lose his composure as much, yet beads of sweat dotted his forehead. They had never seen, nor even heard of, such a horrifying and savage creature.

"Xiaocheng... that thing on the screen just now..." Lin Cheng's father stammered.

Lin Cheng nodded slowly, "Those are the creatures we're up against. From the bottom of the global pits, millions of alien creatures like that will emerge."

"And that's not even the worst of it... Compared to the truly terrifying creatures, this wolf-like beast is just an appetizer!"

Lin Cheng wasn't exaggerating. The more bizarre a creature's form, the greater the threat it posed. Creatures like the wolf-like beast, whose form was still somewhat recognizable, were only classified as a Level 5 threat.

In the last cycle of the Great Reckoning, the remnants of the human alliance divided these creatures into different levels based on their danger to humanity. The creatures were categorized into five threat levels, with Level 5 being the weakest. The wolf-like creature they had just witnessed was one of the Level 5 threats.

Yet, even a Level 5 threat was capable of annihilating the entire military stationed near the pit. The thought of more dangerous creatures left Lin Cheng and his parents on edge.

Lin Cheng's parents, unfamiliar with this catastrophe, were understandably overwhelmed and couldn't calm down for a long time. If these beasts could wipe out the military so swiftly, what could happen if they were left unchecked for longer? And with countless pits scattered around the world, who knew how many of these creatures were going to crawl out?

They could no longer access live broadcasts or any outside news. The city, by now, could have already turned into a wasteland. Fortunately, the shelter provided them with safety for the time being, protecting them from becoming prey to the creatures outside.

"Xiaocheng, with the world outside becoming so terrifying, how will we ever return to the surface?" Lin Cheng's father asked, filled with concern.

Lin Cheng reassured his parents, "For now, we shouldn't go up to the surface. I've stored enough supplies to last us for a while. These monsters are dangerous, but they aren't invincible. Every living creature has a weakness."

"We'll keep an eye on the situation for the next few days, see if the military can get a handle on things."

Though Lin Cheng was trying to comfort them, deep down, he knew better. From his experience of the previous Great Reckoning, he understood that it wouldn't be long before the entire world descended into chaos and became lawless.

That night, none of them returned to their rooms. They all stayed in the living room, sleeping on the couch. Lin Cheng was able to sleep, but his parents had trouble resting. Despite the security of the shelter, the overwhelming anxiety kept them awake.

---

The next morning, Lin Cheng logged onto his laptop to check the forums and gather information. Thankfully, the internet was still working, allowing him to access the outside world.

Across social media and forums, the usual celebrity gossip and entertainment news had vanished, replaced by desperate cries for help.

"I'm at No. 602, Building 11, Unit 3 in Beidou Gardens. Is there anyone who can come save me? I have water but no food left!"

"I'm at Unit 304, Building 6 in Qingxin Community. I have plenty of food but no water. Is anyone willing to trade?"

"Help! Red Mansion Villas, Unit 502, Area A…"

The internet was flooded with messages like these. There were also photos of the horrifying creatures, which Lin Cheng saved. Though he had already experienced the Great Reckoning once, his understanding of these monsters was still limited. By collecting these images and later analyzing them with more data, he could better understand his enemies' capabilities.

Official updates had been silent for a full day. The cities were now essentially left to fend for themselves without any form of government control.

Lin Cheng's parents managed to contact a few relatives through the internet, but most of them were unreachable. Only a handful of relatives were still alive and able to communicate, some of whom had sent out distress signals to them.

Since Lin Cheng had built the shelter, his parents respected his decision and asked him first before making any promises.

"Xiaocheng, your great-uncle's eldest cousin just asked if their family could join us in the shelter."

Lin Cheng immediately shook his head. Those distant relatives would only waste precious resources. The supplies in the shelter were already limited for the three of them, and adding more people would only create more burden. Moreover, in such a harsh post-apocalyptic world, being overly compassionate could lead to fatal consequences.

"Dad, Mom, I'm not being heartless. You've seen the shelter's resources yourself — they're barely enough for us."

Lin Cheng's parents didn't press the matter. They understood that he was right. Their close family ties were few to begin with, as Lin Cheng's grandparents had passed away long ago. Aside from some distant relatives, they had no immediate family left. With no close family to worry about, they had fewer emotional ties to weigh them down in this grim new reality.