"If that's the case... then it means... *slurp*... these monsters can probably reproduce and form a species."

But eating like this felt awkward. I paused my thoughts, looked down at the half-finished instant noodles, and took another big bite.

In minutes, the entire pot was gone. Most importantly, I didn't feel even a hint of fullness. That meant...

"...I didn't cook enough."

I sighed helplessly. Still, after the noodles, my strength steadily returned. I decided to shower first—no matter how urgent things were, I had to take them one step at a time.

Grabbing the combat knife and keys by the door, I headed to Brother Liu's place next door.

I took a refreshing cold shower, scrubbing my private parts carefully. Shyness made my cheeks burn hot as I stepped out. I dried off quickly, grabbed the combat knife again, and returned to my room.

Why always carry the combat knife? Simple: I was scared. If a wandering Zombie showed up weaponless, it'd be disastrous.

Back inside, I opened four more noodle packs. Without rinsing the pot, I added water and dumped them in.

Water was precious now—every drop saved mattered. I'd only used one basin for my shower. Unimaginable before.

*Snap!* The blue flame *roared* back to life. As I cooked, I sank into deep self-reflection.

After all... I'd put myself in danger.

"Not counting past mistakes, just this time: testing the crossbow, I didn't load a second arrow immediately. From the moment I met that gecko Mutant Monster, I was on the back foot. If I'd prepped arrows sooner, it wouldn't have been so bad."

"Also... I got careless. I assumed 'out of sight' meant 'gone.' But these monsters now camouflage themselves. Even weirder things aren't impossible."

I tossed another ham sausage into the pot.

"Maybe... I need a small notebook to log this."

Stirring noodles absently with chopsticks, I recalled a fountain pen and notebook at home—originally for a diary, now a logbook.

*Snap!* I turned off the gas burner and started eating.

Minutes later, four packs—broth and all—were gone. Only then did I feel a trace of fullness.

Back in the bedroom, I pulled out a Changbaishan cigarette. A crisp *click* of the lighter's flip-top, then *whoosh*—the flame ignited.

"*Hiss... exhale.*" I took a deep drag, closed the lighter, set it on my desk, sat down, and rummaged through the drawer.

Sure enough—the diary was still there.

I filled the fountain pen with ink, spread out the notebook, and sketched the two Mutant Monsters I'd faced. My drawing was rough, but I noted their key features.

After scribbling everything down, I slowly closed the notebook. I stubbed the cigarette butt in the ashtray and let out a long breath.

"Next time, be more careful. And... I might need a firearm—not too powerful, just for emergencies. If the crossbow misses, I can pull a gun in a pinch."

"Also... this special state... let's call it the 'Extraordinary State' for now."

I lit a second Changbaishan.

"A vehicle... is essential. Saves energy for other tasks, lets me carry gear."

"But not too big. I have to guard it—in this world, people will steal anything. If it's gone, I'll be crying."

I tucked the notebook and pen into my backpack, changed clothes—same tattered jeans (different color), a snug top—and geared up for the villa district again.

First, I wiped the Great Black Eagle with burlap cloth and loaded an arrow.

"Maybe... I should recover my arrows first."

I made up my mind. I slung the Great Black Eagle over my back, strapped on the quiver, hung the Samurai Sword and combat knife on my chest, slipped on slippers, locked the door, and headed downstairs.

Minutes later, I reached yesterday's spot. Few Zombies lingered—I spotted them by the swarming flies. The gecko monster's corpse crawled with them too.

I approached, covered my hand with a tissue, and pried open its mouth.

"Hmph!" I grunted, yanking out the arrow. A foul stench hit me, and I backed away fast.

Before leaving, I glanced back. The gecko monster's body was huge—nearly two meters long. Standing, it must've been three or four meters tall. No wonder it lifted me so easily.

I wiped dried blood scabs off the arrow with a wet wipe. The tip was still sharp—good. Cleaned, I returned it to the quiver. Then I walked to the Zombie I'd killed yesterday during the Great Black Eagle test. Same routine: pull the bolt, wipe it, stow it. I turned toward the villa district.

Now... only hundreds of meters away. From afar, I saw the buildings and the nearly three-meter-high wall.

I stayed alert—any rustle, and I'd notice. My theory said Mutant Monsters had territories, but...

No solid proof. What if they paired up?

Still, when I safely reached the wall's base, I exhaled deeply. My theory was likely right.

I looked up at the three-meter white wall. I sheathed the combat knife on my chest, stepped back half a pace—and *with all my might*—I leaped!