Fang Cheng’s gaze swept over the dazzling blue gemstone, shaking his head slightly:

"I don’t need these ornaments."

"Please, you must accept it."

Ira’s eyes held a hint of stubbornness as she softly explained:

"This is a sensing stone that has been nurtured with telekinesis."

"The wasteland is vast, storms frequent, if you ever change your mind and want to come to Iron City to find us, just hold it and silently call my name in your heart, I will be able to sense your location and come to guide you promptly."

Fang Cheng heard this and was moved.

He would definitely return in the future, indeed needing a native guide in the wasteland who is familiar and contactable.

Moreover, after a brief interaction, Fang Cheng had a good impression of the members of this Hunter Squad.

They acted with measure, knew to repay kindness, worth trying to deepen the relationship.

Thinking of this, he no longer refused, reached out and took the gemstone that still carried body warmth, tucking it into his jacket pocket.

This stone was worn closely, evidently a greatly cherished item by this young lady.

Fang Cheng’s character had always been clear on matters of gratitude and grudges, disliking taking advantage of others.

He pondered briefly, then reached behind to the marching pouch, retrieving a blood core found from a corpse earlier, handing it to Ira.

"Take it."

Seeing Ira’s stunned expression, Fang Cheng’s tone was gentle:

"You are a telekinesis user, surely needing this to replenish mental consumption, cultivating yourself."

"Since we’ve made friends, let’s observe reciprocity, I’m not used to accepting others’ goodwill without reciprocation."

Ira slightly parted her lips, somewhat shocked at the blood core handed before her.

The value of a Third-stage Blood Core was astounding; she offered the sensing stone simply to repay a life-saving favor, never expecting such a valuable return gift.

Ira instinctively wanted to refuse, but upon meeting Fang Cheng’s calm and frank gaze, she finally swallowed back her refusal.

She carefully extended her hands to receive the precious blood core emitting a faint light.

Seeing her accept it properly, Fang Cheng smiled and waved at Kael and others:

"I’m off, see you."

With those words, he turned around, grabbed the heavy iron door handle, and his right arm muscles suddenly exploded.

Accompanied by a teeth-gritting metal screech, the half-ton explosion-proof iron door was forcibly pushed open a gap.

Fang Cheng squeezed out sideways.

Bang!

Losing the support of external force, the door slammed shut under gravity, raising a cloud of dust, completely isolating inside and outside the subway station.

The maintenance passage fell back into gloom, only the flashlight beam gently swaying in the dust.

The beast tide outside seemed to have gradually receded, leaving only the howl of the storm.

Roken leaned against the wall, releasing a long-held breath of foul air.

"Oh my God... today’s work will let me brag in the camp for half a lifetime."

His voice carried the relief of surviving a disaster, full of incredulous marvel:

"Who would’ve thought not only did we not die in the storm, we even encountered such an Immortal-level figure."

Pike stared at the tightly closed iron door, muttering softly:

"Uncle Kael... who exactly is he? Can even tear Crawling Beasts and Black Monsters apart with his bare hands..."

Kael’s gaze was profound, not answering immediately.

He quietly looked at the footprints remaining on the ground, his mind replaying the shocking scene of Fang Cheng surrounded by golden flames, easily slaying monsters.

After a long silence, he took a deep breath, spoke solemnly:

"Do you remember that passage from the apocalypse revelations?"

"When the land ignites with war, the sky bleeds black..."

In the dim light, Kael’s expression appeared particularly solemn as he slowly recited that ancient prophecy long circulating in the wasteland:

"The Savior shall descend from a distant Star, adorned with the fire of the blazing sun, stride upon the scorched earth with mortal flesh."

"He shall dispel the shadows of the Abyss, incinerate the demons of apocalypse, allowing true light to shine again upon this shattered world."

The burly man’s voice echoed deeply within the empty corridor, carrying a near-fanatical prayer-like tone.

Listening to him recite the ancient scripture, everyone fell into silence.

Ira lowered her gaze, clutching tightly the warm blood core gifted by the other.

Roken silently straightened his wounded back, holding a rifle firmly in his arms, unprecedentedly lacking his usual slickness and laxity.

Pike opened his mouth, his dirt-covered face showing a hint of confusion, seemingly enlightened, blinked.

In the faint glow, the four hunters struggling for survival in the wasteland remained silent for a long time.

Only the steady and powerful heartbeat in each other’s chest echoed.

It was a certain hope quietly ignited on this dark, sunless scorched land.

..................

Fierce wind carried volcanic ash, roared wantonly under the dark red sky.

The entire world seemed like a massive dead corpse, a picture of desolation.

The air was filled with swarming yellow sand and an inescapable pungent smell of sulfur.

Amidst the sandstorm, a tall figure steadily walked against the wind.

He carried an olive green military bag, single-handedly holding a heavy package.

The rough fabric bottom was dripping dark red blood.

In the dim flying sand, those deep eyes emitted a faint golden glow, like two never-extinguished flames.

"Hoo—"

Fang Cheng exhaled murky air mixed with dust, paused at the base of a hundred-meter-high cliff. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Looking up, the dark red rock face resembled a broad sword piercing the clouds, its surface weathered into pits and hollows.

The cliff face was nearly vertical, even birds found it hard to cross.