Chapter 33

Chapter 33: Psychological Trauma

“Growl growl growl growl……”

A deeper and rougher low growl came from the platform above the hall, which was precisely the direction where Uncle Lin had pointed out the Headhunter Wild Dog leader was located.

Previously, we had not seen its figure; it was most likely resting in an unseen position.

But this time, seemingly alarmed by the sound of footsteps, it finally came to the edge of that platform, looking down from above at the stairwell from which the footsteps emanated.

When it entered our line of sight, everyone found it difficult to suppress the changes in their expressions.

Compared to ordinary Headhunter Wild Dogs, this leader was more than twice as large.

The long, sharp fangs in its mouth could no longer be covered by its lips and were thus exposed, crisscrossing in the air.

The bloodstains covering their surface appeared incredibly grim.

Its brown fur was not messy and even reflected an oily sheen.

“Hiss…… Second stage……”

Uncle Lin drew a long, sharp breath and softly uttered two words.

Although the previous analysis of the leader’s stage had considered the possibility of it being second stage, we still couldn’t suppress our emotional shock when it was truly confirmed.

Our only consolation now was that its pair of crimson pupils was not pointed at us, but had its attention completely drawn to the stairwell over there.

Who was the owner of these footsteps?

And why would they appear in this subway?

I was very certain that when the ground collapsed, only our squad was in this area.

This meant that this person had actively jumped into the subway after the ground collapsed…… Could it be Si Ling and Crow, the other two squad members?

No, it couldn't be.

We were merely a hastily assembled mercenary squad.

Apart from the direct kinship between Uncle Lin and Xiao Liu, everyone else was unacquainted with each other.

Even the high reward offered by Han Nianling was not worth them risking their lives.

They wouldn't be the kind of fools who die for money like birds die for food.

Moreover, these unconcealed, crisp footsteps were enough to prove the point.

Anyone with experience venturing into the outside world would absolutely not do this.

I really couldn't think of anyone who would dare to stride so casually in the central urban area of the JD Ruined City Nuclear Wasteland Area, let alone in a subway with extremely limited known information.

However, none of that mattered anymore; this accident seemed to have resolved the deadly predicament our squad members were currently facing.

I and Uncle Lin exchanged a glance, our gazes reaching a consensus in that instant.

Then, while the Headhunter Wild Dog pack’s attention was diverted……

“Don’t move!”

Just as I was about to make a move, Han Nianling suddenly reached out and grabbed my arm, her grip so strong that it even made my arm ache.

“You……”

“Don’t make a sound! Don’t move recklessly! Stay quiet!”

Before I could voice my question, Han Nianling’s short and rapid succession of three commands shut my mouth.

I hesitantly opened my mouth but ultimately said nothing.

I chose to obediently retreat to my position and observe the situation.

I believed that in such a life-threatening situation, Han Nianling must have had her reasons for doing so.

At the same time, it was because I saw an emotion called fear on Han Nianling’s face.

Unlike the fear I had encountered during the corpse tide, which was still suppressed by rationality, this time her fear was unconcealed, or rather, it had reached a point where it was difficult to suppress.

At the same time, I also noticed that Han Nianling’s gaze was fixed on the watch-like device on her right wrist.

I subconsciously reached up and touched the back of my collar, even though I knew the tracker there had been removed.

The incomprehensible numerical values on that small electronic screen were changing at a high frequency.

Each flicker and jump would raise the Arabic numerals on it to a higher value, from two digits to three digits, and even four digits.

Each significant increase made Han Nianling’s expression turn a shade uglier.

But I didn’t know what these were.

However, I was certain that this thing’s function was probably not just that of a tracking signal receiver, and it must also be related to those approaching footsteps.

For some reason, the footsteps, blurred by distance and echo, sounded somewhat familiar to me.

I also didn't understand if I was infected by Han Nianling’s emotions or if it was simply an inexplicable surge from my heart.

As the footsteps approached, even my heart became intensely uneasy without any warning.

I didn't know if it was an illusion, but I could clearly feel the oppressive feeling approaching and intensifying from that direction, making my heart beat violently.

As the footsteps became clearer, the physical and psychological stress reactions gradually far exceeded my expectations.

Even my gaze couldn't help but turn towards that direction.

Just like these Headhunter Wild Dogs, that dark stairwell was like a black hole, devouring and forcing people to be unable to shift their gaze according to their own will.

Although not reacting as intensely as I did, the others were also affected by this oppressive feeling.

Their instincts sensed the arrival of danger.

Without Han Nianling needing to say much, even Uncle Lin and Xiao Liu, who had wanted to move quickly just moments ago, consciously maintained their concealment, not even daring to breathe loudly.

“Growl growl growl growl……”

The threatening low growls of more than twenty Headhunter Wild Dogs gradually grew louder and more urgent, but their steps were retreating bit by bit, constantly maintaining a crouched attack posture.

Finally, the footsteps reached the stairs, stepping on glass shards, adding a few more jarring, dissonant sounds, and at the same time becoming increasingly clear.

The echo of those footsteps could be faintly heard throughout the enclosed hall.

Along with it came a chill that permeated the entire hall; the temperature within the hall seemed to plummet by several degrees in an instant.

Han Nianling, her eyes wide, stared at the garbled characters displayed on the electronic screen due to malfunction and opened her mouth, but no sound came out, not only to avoid making noise but also because there was no longer any need for a verbal explanation.

“Roar—”

One of the Headhunter Wild Dogs in the front rank suddenly lunged towards the stairwell entrance.

However, the next second, its body flew back, only it was split into two different parts and followed two different flight paths.

Dark red blood splattered down like rain, spattering the nearby walls and ground.

It was at this moment that the object entering my line of sight caused my pupils to contract sharply.

That giant scythe, seen only once, had long been deeply etched into my memory, and the dark figure beneath the scythe gradually revealed itself.

This scene was one I would never be able to forget for the rest of my life.

It was this very existence that had ended my incredibly real dream.

The icy sensation of the blade cutting into my neck and the experience of suffocation replayed crazily in my mind over and over again.

At this moment, I felt as if I had returned to the moment of being on the verge of death.

I could only gape my mouth futilely, like a drowning person, desperately trying to draw in that tiny bit of oxygen amidst my body’s stress response, yet I was still powerless to stop the ebbing of life.

‘Stay calm, deep breaths!’

Just as my consciousness was gradually descending into chaos, two hands suddenly reached out, turned my head, and forcibly moved my gaze away from the figure.

Replacing it was Han Nianling’s face, which occupied my entire field of vision.

She had even taken off her own gas mask and was continuously conveying this message to me with exaggerated, silent mouth movements.

Deep breaths… deep breaths…

Han Nianling’s actions successfully awakened me from that nightmare.

I suddenly realized that the act of reliving death in my mind was truly leading me towards death.

I immediately gritted my teeth and struggled to overcome my loss of control, regaining control of my breathing and oxygen.

I finally managed to calm down that extreme fear.

Seeing my state return to normal, Han Nianling’s tense nerves also relaxed.

She immediately put on her gas mask and exhaled the breath she had been holding in her chest.

My performance just now had indeed given her quite a scare.

My series of actions before had already proven that my psychological resilience was not that poor; on the contrary, it was outstanding among ordinary people.

The fear I had displayed just now was truly too abnormal.

This made her once again connect it with the dream I had described.

If that was indeed the case, then it was most likely a stress reaction after psychological trauma.