Lying in a cave, barely breathing, no food or water for three days straight. Beside me were the twins, Sulie and Suya, the prettiest girls in school. They looked miserable, completely covered in dirt, exhausted, lying barefoot on the ground in torn clothes. Hunger nearly drove me insane. I started hallucinating. The twins turned into two cows right before my eyes. And cows mean milk. Milk simply meant survival. I tried crawling toward them, but my heavy body refused. Then Sulie screamed in my face, snapping me out of it. Just a hallucination. Damn it. This place definitely wasn't Earth. When I jumped, I launched a full meter into the air, way higher than normal. The gravity here was maybe 80% of Earth's. The cave walls glowed with some weird metal, acting like natural nightlights. The one tunnel led deep underground where these bat-like monsters lived. The only exit was a tight crawl space leading to a forest. The trees were 60 m tall with vines as thick as barrels, six-legged beasts bigger than tigers, and fist-sized mosquitoes. We blocked the exit with rocks, surviving only on water drops leaking from the cave walls. It wasn't nearly enough for three people, but I noticed something weird. The portal that brought us here was still glowing faint red in the cave, pulsing like it was breathing, maybe once a minute. I realized it was recharging its power. Maybe we'll go home once it's fully charged. How did we even end up here? 3 days ago, it was just a completely normal Friday afternoon. I'm the twins classmate and private tutor. I was walking them home because their mom punished them for failing their fitness test, a fact I honestly reported to her. and Sulie kept blaming me for it the whole walk there. While arguing, a glowing spot appeared in midair at the crosswalk. Su Yao, who literally can't resist shiny things, ran over and curiously touched it. The portal swallowed her instantly. Sulie immediately jumped in after her sister. I wanted to run away. I'm just a tutor. I hadn't even gotten paid yet. But that thing targeted me, too, dragging me inside by force. That's how we ended up stuck in an alien cave, dying a slow death. Eventually, I lost my temper and just exploded at Suli. He kept blaming me for everything, insisting it was my fault we were here because I told her mom they failed that fitness test. I called her an absolute idiot. Told her she wasn't a princess anymore, just another person about to die in this dark cave. I unleashed all my anger. I reminded her how I tutored her for an entire semester and her total score only went up five points from 245 to 250. That only earned me a,000 yuan. I could have made more collecting scrap. She said I was a terrible tutor. I argued. I explained the same problem five times straight and she'd completely forget it by afternoon. All she did was play Genchin Impact and Su Yao was way worse. She literally dropped 20 points. If you combine both scores, technically I owe their mom money. Douly was shaking, almost crying from sheer frustration. I told her if she wanted to cry, she better cry right into her shoes so we could collect her tears as drinking water. I was dead serious. We couldn't afford to waste a single drop. Then silence fell over the cave. I don't know how much time passed, but suddenly I noticed the portal's light changing from red to green. Adrenaline shot through my veins. I dragged myself onto all fours and touched the glowing membrane. It felt soft, almost like jelly. Then my hands started turning transparent. Fingers vanished first, then my entire arm. Couldn't move, couldn't speak. My body just faded away right before them, gone. Behind me, I heard Sui and Su Yao screaming my name, pounding on the unresponsive portal. Su Yao sobbed, thinking I went home and left them to die there. Di barely held it together. She was the older sister after all, even if only by 10 seconds. Then Sulie remembered what I always said about wasting water. She grabbed one of the little leather shoes we used to collect filtered water drops from the ceiling and held it right in Su Yao's face, telling her firmly, "If you're going to cry, cry into the shoe." They sat there in total darkness, listening to the dripping water, just hoping I would come back. After disappearing from the cave, I was pulled into this completely empty white space. No gravity, no sound, absolutely nothing else. Information suddenly flooded my brain. The portal had bonded with me. I just got time travel powers. The bad news I only have three minutes on Earth before I'm dragged back to that alien cave. 3 minutes. The system detected my subconscious craving for high calorie food. So, it sent me to the closest available source. After this first trip, future portals would drop me randomly into human cities. I landed on something soft, a carpet, and I smelled premium sandalwood. Cold AC air hit my sweaty, filthy body. I looked around and instantly realized this was the Sue family mansion. That ridiculously massive hillside villa where I used to tutor the twins. The portal read my starving mind and sent me right where food was. Happiness washed over me for 1 second. Then a countdown appeared in my vision. 2 minutes 56 seconds, 2 minutes 55 seconds, dropping fast, only 3 minutes. I had to gather supplies, water, food, food, literally anything, or the three of us would die in that cave. The kitchen is on the first floor, and I'm currently on the third. This mansion is insanely huge. Back in my 30 square meter apartment, 3 minutes was enough time to move everything outside twice. But here, just running down that spiral staircase took an absolute eternity. Legs shaking, heart pounding like crazy. Reaching the first floor, I spotted someone curled up alone on the sofa. Su Chenuan, the twin's mother. She was wearing a purple silk robe, tightly clutching a framed photo of her daughters. It looked utterly exhausted, like she had cried for days. Then I saw the document on the table, my face printed huge with bold red text. a 50 million yuan reward for information on the prime suspect, Lynbby. It pulled every string to pressure the police, making me the prime suspect in her daughter's disappearance. Ready to tear the whole city apart to find them. I tried sneaking past her to the kitchen, but after 3 days empty, my stomach betrayed me with the loudest growl imaginable. She snapped around, eyes locking right onto mine. Did she recognize my filthy face instantly, the very face she hated and hunted for three whole days? Lynbby, her voice trembled. She looked ready to murder me right there. Panic hit and I blurted out the dumbest thing imaginable. Auntie Sue, I am not Lynbi. Calling her Auntie Sue right after denying my identity. Probably the stupidest move in recorded history. It lunged like a wild predator, protecting its young, screaming at the top of her lungs for her daughters. The timer showed 1 minute and 45 seconds. No time to explain. I yelled, "Auntie Sue, we got transported to another world." And I sprinted for the kitchen, slid inside, and bolted the heavy wooden door tightly behind me. She slammed against the door, crying and begging, swearing she would pay any amount of money if her girls were alive. It hurt to hear, but I had zero time for feelings. Opening the massive fridge, I nearly passed out from pure joy, packed with all kinds of food. Grabbing an expensive bottle of mineral water, I took quick sips anymore, and my 3day starved stomach would just throw it all back up. I spread my shirt on the floor and started looting chocolate, cheese sticks, steak, caviar, canned meat. Anything small and calorie dense went onto the shirt. Then I spotted a shopping cart the maid likely used. I piled everything inside. Food, water, emptying the entire fridge. Roughly 50 lbs of supplies right there. I snatched a kitchen knife block. Weapons are crucial out in the wild. I grabbed a blowtorrch by the oven, too. Salt. People die without salt. I quickly stuffed the entire spice rack directly into my underwear pocket. Outside, Suchin Wan had called the cops. They were already in the mansion. With 15 seconds left, I shouted through the door, "We were never kidnapped. We got transported to a weird alien planet. I only came back for supplies to save them. They are alive and well. Trust me, I will bring them back. She didn't believe a word. Figured I was completely traumatized or brainwashed by the kidnappers. Timer hit zero. The cart and I vanished completely. One minute later, police smashed the kitchen door with a heavy battering ram. The weapons drawn. They found an empty room, the fridge wide open and bare, chocolate wrappers scattered around, windows completely sealed, locked from the inside. A whole person and 50 pounds of supplies had entirely vanished from a fully sealed room. Duchenan collapsed onto the floor, sobbing, utterly convinced I had been abducted by the very same gang. The detective stared at that impossible locked room, realizing this was no kidnapping. Within half an hour, a special government agency took over the case. I was cleared as a suspect and the whole incident got classified as a top national secret. I reappeared back in the cave with the loaded shopping cart. Sadly, the fridge did not teleport, but everything else made the trip. I was gasping for air, drenched in cold sweat. But looking at 50 lbs of real food and water, I finally felt like a true hero. Vi and Su Yao just stared at the cart. Su Yao<unk>s eyes were filled with an unspeakable, desperate hunger. Vi tried hiding her gaze, but I definitely noticed. I cracked open a water bottle and chugged half right there. Time to have some fun. I laid down the rule. Call me big brother and you get water. Simple deal. But Sulie tried negotiating, claiming she was the heir to the Sue family empire. She offered far more than just respectful words. But I already knew I could never return to Earth. Her promises meant nothing here. Su Yao gave in first, speaking in her absolute sweetest tone. Big Brother Lini, please give Yao Yao a tiny sip. I handed over the water and half a sausage to reward her obedience. She ate like a starving animal. Suli completely refused, saying she would rather starve to death or get eaten by monsters than call me that. She turned her back, trembling, but incredibly stubborn. Her mother always taught her that once you lower your standards, they keep dropping forever. I told her I would definitely bury her when she died, just for her sister's sake. Then I grabbed my chocolate to study that mysterious portal, but while I looked away, Su Yao secretly smuggled her remaining half sausage and some water to her sister. I had accidentally dropped three chocolate pieces near Su Yao, too. Sulie ate it all, scarfing it down fast, yet somehow still looking elegant. Then Sulie noticed something weird. The chocolate was the exact same imported brand her mother brought back from overseas just last week. That water bottle had her family's company logo laser engraved right on the bottom. She figured it out instantly and confronted me. You went to my house through the portal, right? I just told her the truth. Yeah, I raided her family's kitchen. I almost got caught by her mom. And no, I can never take them back to Earth. I cannot even stay there myself. If I could, why would I return to this absolute hell hole? I told her straight up. Acting like a princess here means dying before her sister. She swallowed her pride and quietly offered me absolutely anything I needed. You just beg to keep them alive and take them home. The portal sat at 0.1% energy, needing 72 hours. The rule is simple. 24 hours of natural charging gives me 1 minute on Earth. At 3 minutes, I can teleport to a random city this time, not her house. 3 days of waiting just for 3 minutes of gathering supplies. The efficiency was terrible. I had to find a way to maximize every single second. My phone battery still sat at 30%. During those three minutes on Earth, the phone caught a signal and downloaded a massive flood of messages. I sat scrolling in the cave. The school administration completely flooded my inbox. The dean actually thought I kidnapped two classmates. My home room teacher begged me to avoid doing anything reckless. Hundreds of messages carried the exact same panic. Even the police texted proclaiming my location was totally surrounded demanding I release the hostages immediately. The promising leniency since I am just a student and a first-time offender. surrounded. I am in a cave billions of light years away. Good luck sending a spaceship out here. Most of those messages came from Anu. I played one of her voice notes out loud. Her crying echoed through the cave. Linbai, your aunt begs you, please do not hurt them. I will give you anything. Yao recognized her mother's voice instantly and crawled toward me, crying. Sui rushed over too, completely forgetting all her usual dignity to let them listen. Another message played. You want money? 50 million, 100 million? I can provide cash right now. She just wanted to hear her daughters. Su Yao tried grabbing the phone to speak with her mother. I gently pushed her hand away. I explained we had zero signal here. I told them to save the battery for recording videos and I noticed Sulie watching me carefully. She saw the wanted poster notification on my screen and her whole expression completely shifted. You treated me like a cornered criminal ready to snap. So, she softened her tone, trying her hardest to calm me down, claiming this was a simple misunderstanding, and her family had enough influence to clear the arrest warrant if I just took them home. She was clearly testing me, trying to see if I actually had the power to send them back whenever I wanted. I laughed and told her the bitter truth. The portal stores energy for just 1 minute of Earthtime daily. One single minute, it completely froze. She assumed I could open the door whenever, but now she realized we were trapped here for a very long time. That arrest warrant never scared me. Nobody on Earth can catch a teleporter, but they were not going back home either. For weeks, or maybe longer, they would stay trapped inside this monster-filled cave, relying entirely on me just to stay alive. I watched the hope fade from her face. She nodded weakly and whispered very softly that she understood. I pointed at a clean corner and told them to rest. I ordered them to stop dreaming about returning. Surviving tomorrow was all that mattered. I tested the flamethrower taken from the kitchen. A 20 cm blue flame shot out, completely lighting up the pitch black cave. The sisters panicked. I told them to relax. This wasn't for them. It was our only real weapon against whatever growled in those deep tunnels. I aimed it away and warned them. Fuel here is more precious than life. Nobody touches it unless something tries to kill us. And absolutely no using it to cook food or boil water. Then I unpacked the cart like opening loot boxes. 20 water bottles, enough for a week if we stay careful. A kitchen knife set featuring a solid bone cleaver. Then I pulled out a heavy vacuum-sealed black bag covered entirely in foreign writing. They didn't recognize it, but Su Yao knew instantly. 5G grade Iberian pork. Their mom dropped 300,000 yuan on it. Best part, no cooking required. Just slice and eat. In a cave where we could not build fires, this meat was an absolute lifesaver. We also had raw beef, some canned meat, and three boxes of ridiculously expensive premium chocolate. After inventory, I laid down the rules. We are one team now. I will handle the supplies, planning and facing any danger. They would manage camp maintenance, cleaning, and organizing to keep us going. Work for food. No work means no food. That law applies to absolutely everyone, including me. Yao raised her dusty little hand, announcing she had absolutely zero objections and offered her unconditional support to me. I tossed her some chocolate for the good attitude. Su Yao's first task was wrapping the food in plastic to protect it from moisture. Then I turned to Suli. Her mission was upgrading the water filter, using empty bottles instead of those shoes. They told her to toss the stinky shoes and rebuild the cave's rock wall with smaller gaps, stopping bugs from crawling inside at night. Finish the work, then eat. She wanted to argue badly. It was obvious on her face, but she held back. The rule was completely fair, though. I grabbed the riskiest job without a single word. She turned and got straight to work with totally bare hands. The exact same hands that used to play piano. I sliced some meat. The blade pierced the vacuum-sealed plastic, and I tossed a small piece into my mouth. The rich, salty fat instantly melted on my tongue. Three days of starving made it the absolute best thing I had ever tasted. 10 minutes later, Su Yao finished sealing everything up perfectly. I handed her a thick slice of meat as payment. She inhaled it. 10 minutes later, Sulie came back, filthy face, scraped hands, and sweat pouring right down her forehead. She stood there in total silence. I cut her a much thicker slice, about half a pound, and handed it over on perfectly clean wrapping paper. No insults, no strings, just a deal. Work done, food earned. She stared at the meat before taking it, muttering something totally new. Thank you. Her voice was faint but incredibly genuine. It chewed very slowly. Her eyes got a little watery, but definitely not out of self-pity. You told me later it was the first time ever she actually earned a meal with her own hands. Somehow in this awful place, that feeling was just incredibly real. After eating, I called a quick meeting. I made it perfectly clear we are a team now. I am captain, they are crew. I asked Sulie if she had any objections. She cringed a bit at being called crew mate Sue, but said no. I told them to rest for an hour while I checked the cave entrance. I went to inspect Suli's wall by the cave entrance. We packed it tight with small rocks, leaving just a fist-sized air hole at the very top. I peaked through, pitch black outside. The forest was absolutely crawling with glowing green eyes and terrifying howls. Nothing was getting in here. I had to admit the princess did a genuinely solid job. I told her so, handing over a clean water bottle. She looked totally stunned. She had a hundred comebacks ready for an insult, but I actually praised her. Flustered, she turned away, muttering, "She just did it to avoid getting eaten." My phone battery was at 25%. I had bigger things to handle. I called Su Yao over the plan. Record a video explaining everything to prove I was no kidnapper. Next time the portal charged, I would leave the phone for the cops. 3 minutes was not enough to explain this face to face, but a video could. Maybe the government could send scientists or a rescue squad. Su Yao went first. He started off fine. Hello, officer's mom. It is Yao Yao. Then the tears hit instantly. I told her to hurry. The battery was dying. He quickly pulled herself together, explaining how she touched that weird light and got sucked inside. Our sister followed and how I ran in to save them. Then she went totally off script. Mom, do not ever blame Linbai, even though he locked us in this pitch black place and will not let us out. I stopped her instantly. That sounded like a hostage confession. You tried again and even though Linbai is really mean, scaring my sister with a gun and forcing her to carry rocks. As long as we obey him, he feeds us meat. I killed the recording instantly. This was definitely not clearing my name. This was victim testimony that would get me shot on site. I asked who taught her to speak like that. You did, she replied. I almost passed out and nudged her aside and recorded the video myself. Pointing the lens right at my face, I introduced myself as the unlucky guy on the wanted posters, firmly stating I was no kidnapper. I filmed the glowing walls to the portal to both sisters looking perfectly healthy in the supply cart. I highlighted the expensive meat as proof I was not mistreating anyone. I even claimed I let them eat first. Sulie rolled her eyes so hard at that, but luckily she stayed completely out of frame. I explained the 72-hour charging cycle for the portal, plus the three-minute time limit. I asked for any scientists or rescue teams they could spare. Then, just in case we never returned, I begged Annie Sue to pay my full tutoring fees, burning the cash as spirit money. I read my bank account number out loud. I powered down the phone to save battery, wrapped it in plastic to block moisture, and tucked it against my chest. That device was now our absolute most valuable possession. It was getting pretty late. The sealed entrance completely blocked the wind, keeping the temperature somewhat bearable inside. I laid my jacket out near the supply cart, telling the sisters to stop huddling in their freezing corner and come sleep a bit closer. There's no need to freeze to death tonight. Billy hesitated, but seeing I had already turned my back, she quietly dragged Su Yao over and lay down nearby. This was our fourth night stuck on this planet. The very first night any of us actually felt slightly safe if midnight I was barely sleeping. Deep sleep out here is basically suicide. So when an ice cold hand poked my shoulder, I jolted awake instantly. Doue was crouching right in front of me. Pale face, cold sweat clutching her stomach. She looked to be in serious agony. Dua was still knocked out behind her, drooling in her sleep like a log. Suli could not even force the words out. She stood there stammering for ages until she finally whispered she really needed to use the bathroom. I pointed toward the dark corner deep inside the cave where we usually went. She flat out refused. It was pitch black over there. Plus, she just heard monster noises coming from that spot. You couldn't wake her sister, so she asked me. Imagine the prettiest girl in school asking to be walked to the bathroom. Back in our normal lives, nobody would ever believe this. I turned her down at first. Then, she dropped the terrifying nuclear option on me. She warned that if I didn't come, she would just go right there in front of me. That horrifying mental image made me grab my cleaver and move instantly. I wasn't about to sleep next to that stench for days, so I dug a pack of tissues out of my school bag. The only useful thing inside besides my worthless textbooks and test papers. I handed her two sheets, warning her to use them wisely. It's a strategic resource. Every sheet matters. She snatched them and sprinted to the dark corner as fast as she could. I stopped roughly 10 m away, turned my back, and stood guard, gripping my knife. I started reciting classical Chinese poetry in my head just to distract myself. Then came the noise, a loud sound followed by a series of noises I will never describe. The kind that permanently shatters your image of a perfect goddess. I kept quiet and pretended I heard nothing. 5 minutes later, she stepped from behind the rock, hair totally hiding her face. She barely whispered that she was done. Then we headed back in complete silence. Halfway back, she suddenly stopped and thanked me not just for walking with her, but for not laughing at her. I told her I was just protecting the cave's air quality, and next time she better wake her sister instead, she muttered to mind my own business. She used her usual arrogant tone, but something had definitely changed. That shared embarrassment had clearly already knocked down some walls between us. Before going to sleep, I warned her not to eat so fast next time. 3 days of starving, then suddenly stuffing herself her sensitive stomach just couldn't handle it. She buried her face in her arms. In the dark, I was totally sure she smiled. I had a horrifying nightmare that night. I dreamt I was a freshly cooked piece of Tangm monk meat, and two female demons were viciously fighting over me. The one had her arms locked tightly around my neck, draining my life force. The other had turned into a massive snake, coiling tightly around my waist and legs. Its head darted toward my stomach, looking for the best place to bite. The suffocation grew worse and worse until I completely stopped breathing. The jolt of panic snapped me awake. I gasped for air, eyes flying wide open. But instead of the rocky cave ceiling, I was staring at a whole scene of pale skin that I absolutely shouldn't describe in detail. In the dim glow of the cave minerals, I finally realized what was happening. Zero demons. These two sisters and their disastrous sleep habits had turned me into a human pillow. On my left, Suya clung to me exactly like a little koala. Both arms were locked around my neck in a death grip. Her face buried in my chest, fast asleep and totally peaceful. Thanks to her wild sleeping position, her already short skirt had ridden all the way up to her waist, clearly exposing everything underneath. The one leg was slung entirely across my stomach without an ounce of shame, pressing down with all its weight. That explained the snake in my dream. But on my right, things were much more dangerous. Suli, the girl who acts so cold and dignified every single day, was hugging my leg like it was just a stuffed animal. Her face was completely pressed against my inner thigh, resting right against a very sensitive area. If she moved just a few more centimeters up, my dignity as a man was done for. That perfectly explained the neck- choking demon. The blood instantly rushed to my head. I consider myself a decent guy. Sure, they were currently covered in dirt, looking like they'd survived in the wild for a week, which they literally did, but ultimately, I'm still a healthy teenager with very active hormones. waking up to this kind of full physical contact first thing in the morning. My body immediately produced a very honest physical response that I had zero control over making this whole situation about 10 times more embarrassing. I gritted my teeth then grabbed the leg thrown over my thigh. It was warm and soft beneath the dirt and I forcefully shoved it aside. Sulie mumbled a sleepy complaint about losing something warm. Then she opened her eyes very slowly. First thing she saw my jeans. The second thing looking just a bit higher, a very obvious bulge. And the third thing to looking all the way up my face, dark as a thundercloud, to glaring down at her in sheer fury. Her brain completely shortcircuited for three whole seconds. Then realization struck like lightning. Her face had just been pressed hard against my thigh, right against that highly sensitive area. It let out a deafening scream so loud it echoed through every single tunnel in the cave and probably startled monsters sleeping a 100 meters below. She jolted backward like she'd been electrocuted, frantically scrambling on all fours until her back slammed into the rock wall. Her hands instantly covered her face. Fingers spread just enough to glare at me with absolute terror and intense rage through the gaps. To pervert, I rolled my eyes so hard I almost saw my brain. The girl get a grip. You were the one wrapped around me like a total octopus. I could sue for harassment. The yelling woke Su Yao too. She lazily lifted her head off my chest. But what happened? Breakfast time? Then she felt wetness around her mouth. She wiped it quickly. her entire palm totally covered in drool. He looked at my black shirt, saw that massive wet spot right on my chest, her sheer masterpiece. Her face turned so red, I honestly thought she might steam, screaming in apology, she ripped her arms off my neck and hid behind her sister like a terrified rabbit. Completely disgusted, I peeled off my drool soaked shirt. "Yao! Are you a broken faucet? Couldn't you at least shut your mouth while sleeping?" "I can't control it," she grumbled. Sulie, having recovered just enough to attack, simply crossed her arms. He whined. It was entirely my fault for making them sleep nearby. I stared at her coldly fine. Tonight, you two are sleeping at the far end of the cave. I'll sleep here alone. You can freeze to death. I really don't care. No way. Su Yao panicked instantly. The last night's warmth was too precious. Compared to a little embarrassment, freezing to death was way more terrifying. I promise I won't drool anymore. Okay. Watching these two sisters play good cop bad cop was just exhausting. I spread my wet shirt on a rock to dry, standing there shirtless. I play basketball all the time, so even without a perfect six-pack, my body is lean and firm with clearly defined muscles on my arms. I caught Sulie stealing a glance before she quickly looked away. Her ears turned slightly pink. It clearly never expected the annoying teacher to be in such good shape. I ignored it, walking to the vent by the cave entrance, though direct sunlight came through, but the sky outside was bright. A new day, I checked the portal progress bar read 34 1/2%. Roughly 48 hours until the next jump to Earth. I turned to face the sisters still curled in the corner. They looked totally shell shocked from the morning. For the next two days, we have just one job. Sulie tensed. What are we hauling more rocks? I shook my head. No. I pointed at her legs, which were still visibly trembling from yesterday. Then I pointed at Su Yao's tiny frame. She gets winded after running just 10 steps. At your current fitness levels, if we faced real danger, you couldn't even run away. Even if I had three heads and six arms, I couldn't possibly protect two heavy burdens who can't even run. So for these two days, we stay inside. We will prep this cave properly. But much more importantly, I grabbed a stick from the entrance, tapping it against my palm, exactly like a pointer physical training. Dua's eyes widened in shock. Training? We'll start with the basics. Gravity up slowly. Sulie just exploded. Her sore legs buckled. She nearly dropped to her knees just hearing the word. Training? I absolutely refuse. You're going to kill us. I nearly died running 1,000 meters for the school fitness test. Now you want me working out here? Absolutely not. I didn't even argue. I just calmly walked over to the supply cart, grabbed a sealed water bottle and a chocolate bar, then turned to Su Yao. All right, then. Sulie, you can just eat less today. Since you aren't training, you won't need as many calories. It saves our food supply. Honestly, that trick was devastatingly effective. There's someone who knew real hunger. Losing food was worse than a death sentence. She yelled, "Wait." Julie clenched her jaw so hard I could hear her teeth grinding. Fine, I'll do it. Who's scared? So, I started them on the simplest exercises possible. Dua went first with sit-ups. She grumbled about being the guinea pig, but obediently lay flat on the jacket spread across the ground. Then came the push-ups. The cave, quiet for days, was suddenly echoing with non-stop whining and groans. 1 2 3. Sulie, lift your waist doing push-ups. Why are you lying completely flat on the floor? Uh, I can't do more. My back is snapping. Snapping or not? Keep going. That was only your second rep. Done already, Lin Bayou, you absolute devil. You're a total monster. Ugh. Meanwhile, I had already finished my own sets, doubling their workload easily. Just sat nearby eating beef jerky, ruthlessly counting out their reps. Sure, it looked harsh, but I wasn't doing it to torture them. In this low-gravity environment, without regular intense workouts, their muscles would waste away completely. The oxygen levels here seemed way higher than back on Earth. It explained why every plant and animal reached monstrous sizes, trees 60 m tall, and mosquitoes the size of a fist. Understanding the science behind this place was absolutely vital for our survival. It explaining atmospheric composition and muscle atrophy to two girls who couldn't even pass a high school fitness test. A total waste of time. It was way easier to just threaten their food supply. 9 10 The moment I called out the final number, Sulie collapsed like melting wax. 10 reps on day one. Just enough to adjust. Dwight absolutely soaked her already filthy shirt. The wet fabric clung to her body, revealing details I really did not expect. Honestly, I completely underestimated what those school uniforms were hiding. I am going to die, she coughed hard, lungs practically bursting. You will survive. I tossed her water. Drink slowly. Rest up for a few minutes. Then we start stretching. Over these next two days, we rearrange this entire cave. We clear out useless rocks and split the space into three zones. Living area, storage, and a bathroom. Only with a proper base can we think about long-term survival. Duly drank deeply. She watched from behind while I sorted supplies and planned the space. always moving with purpose, thinking three steps ahead. Even though she called me a demon five minutes ago, and even with her entire body aching to strangle me, seeing me work like this, calm and methodical, made her feel something entirely unexpected. The constant terror of being trapped on an alien planet, dying here, never seeing home at all faded slightly as she watched me. "This guy was grounded, annoyingly, undeniably steady, like if she stayed close enough, maybe she would actually survive. Maybe she would go home." "Stupid Lynbby," she muttered softly. I ignored her. "What? Nothing. Just cursing you out makes me feel better. The next two days were brutal, but they survived. Mornings meant demonic training and hard labor. Nights were just awkward cuddling for warmth. Eventually, the cave actually looked like a somewhat livable space. Organized, clean, and properly zoned. Sulie stopped wearing that pale, hopeless expression all the time. She still complained and acted arrogant, but she worked faster and better with every passing day. The Yao went from a crying mess to someone who sorted supplies and even made simple tools by grinding stones. I pushed myself harder than both of them combined. Endless drills, sprinting to grappling, dodging, and carrying incredibly heavy weights. Every single move trained for the main goal. The upcoming 3-minute raid on Earth. I needed to be the perfect looting machine once that portal opened. Finally, the light turned green. The portal fully charged. I looked at the sisters, their eyes full of hope. I made my choice. Hold my hands tight. They froze briefly, then reached out and gripped me incredibly hard. Their small hands gripped mine, rough palms against soft fingers. I had told them the harsh truth. They did not know if the portal accepted passengers. It never said yes or no, but this was our only shot, and we had to try. Billy had sweaty palms. She was practically shaking. The Yao wrapped her arms around mine like a lifeline. I yelled at them, "Whatever happens, however it feels, never let go." They nodded in sheer terror. I charged the green light, pulling them forcefully. The world twisted like being thrown into a wildly spinning washing machine. Everything crushed and warped around us. I felt their hands, but some massive force pushed them back. The portal was totally rejecting them. It only wanted me. Then one hand slipped, followed by the other, ripped violently from my grip. I do not know exactly what happened to Su Yao next. But I learned later she was launched forward, slamming onto the cave floor. She scrambled up, calling for me and her sister, asking if we made it home. Then she looked around, heart dropping in sheer horror. Tame cave, tame glowing rocks, tame drain portal turning back to red. But I was gone and Sulie was gone too. She was completely alone on an alien planet. She opened her mouth to scream to cry but suddenly remembered her training. Keep your mouth shut if you want to live here. Loud crying as a dinner bell for monsters. From creatures hear everything you cry they eat. So Suya clamped dirty hands over her mouth. It choked back so tears fell silently dripping slowly right over her fingers. It curled up on the floor shaking terrified. Staring to the dark with wide wet eyes. Not a single sound. Her sister was gone. I was gone. just her left. The world twisted around me, then cleared. Blinding sunlight, loud noises, the smell of tractor exhaust. We reached Earth, just not the Sue mansion this time. We were standing right in the middle of a rural town. Low buildings, faded propaganda slogans painted on walls, no skyscrapers anywhere, and we looked absolutely insane. I was shirtless, pushing a shopping cart. Julie wore a torn mudcovered skirt. Her hair looked like a bird's nest. We looked like savages fresh out of the jungle. The people were staring, gathering around. I pulled my cleaver, glared, and snapped. What are you looking at? I screamed. We were shooting a movie. They scattered instantly. But then I noticed Su Yao was gone. The system warning flashed red, and my vision overload. The portal's maximum transport capacity exactly matched my own body weight. I weigh 73 kg. Suli is 45. Add the cart and the knives. There was zero capacity left for Su Yao. The system automatically kicked her out of the transport. My stomach completely dropped. She was left alone in that dark cave, probably terrified and losing her mind. Delely went dead pale, realizing her sister was gone. No panic, no breakdown. Her voice shook yet her brain stayed sharp. She asked she got left behind because of the weight limit, right? Her composure really impressed me. I replied, "Yes, do not worry. We return in under 3 minutes. With supplies, she will be fine." I ran the math for the return trip, too. After subtracting 45 kg for Sulie, we could only haul 28 kg of gear. Graham by gram, it all mattered. I shoved my phone into Sulie's hands. 20% battery. Call your mom, I said. Tell her we survived. Tell her we need a rescue. She didn't waste one second, dialing immediately while scanning our surroundings. She called out details like a seasoned scout. He said, "Looks like a rural town. No big stores, zero supermarkets, not even a tiny corner shop." The countdown ticked down 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Frantically, I scanned every single storefront on the street. Then I spotted it JB Old Wang seeds and agricultural supplies. The fertilizer bag stacked by the door and a window ad for corn yielding 1,400 kg an acre. actual seeds. You cannot eat seeds right away, but for long-term survival on a hostile alien planet, they were the absolute ultimate weapon. Plus, farm supply shops sell useful survival tools, sickles, axes, sharp blades. Gripping Sulie's arm and dragging the cart, I stormed inside like a total maniac. Inside, an old grandmother sat on a bamboo chair, fanning herself slowly, watching opera on a small TV. Two wild strangers barging in terrified her. She shrieked. "Oh my god, what are you two doing?" "No time to explain." "Grandma, I'm so sorry," I said. I lifted her chair, carried her outside, and set her gently on the pavement. "You'll pay her," I barked. She did not hesitate. He ripped off a diamond studded solid gold necklace worth over 100,000 yuan and shoved it forcefully into the old woman's trembling hands. She said, "This buys everything in your store. We are sorry, but this is life or death." He rushed back inside and slammed the rolling metal door behind her. She locked it tight. We really had to do this. If some brave citizen attacked us before the countdown ended, we would teleport back empty-handed and leave all the supplies behind. Our teamwork was flawless, like we had practiced for years. Outside, the grandma stood clutching a diamond necklace worth more than her entire shop. Utterly baffled, a crowd of onlookers started gathering, whispering, and pointing fingers. Inside pure savagery, cabbage snatched, radishes taken, tomatoes, absolutely vitamin C eyes swept the seed packets off the shelves and hurled them straight into our cart. Lee had no clue what was useful, so she just mirrored me and grabbed whatever sat nearby. I yanked a sickle and an axe head off the back wall. True survival tools. These would completely change the game inside the cave. Then Sulie's phone finally caught a signal. The line connected. Hello, Lindbeay. Is that you? Aunt Sue's panicked voice rang through the speaker. Breathing heavily, her voice cracked as she spoke fast. Mom, it is me, Shiaoli. Listen to me. We are not dead. We are in Jay Town, Yunan. We were transported to an alien planet. We used a very special method to come back for supplies. Three minutes left. A stunned silence. Then her mom screamed. Shiaoli transported. Is this real? And what about Lin Bay? How did he vanish last time? No time to explain. To watching me sweep shelves like a hurricane. She bit her lip. Mom Linbeay did not kidnap us. He is saving us. But right now, he is helping me rob a seed store. I could practically hear the question marks exploding inside Aunt Sue's head over the phone. One minute left. I snatched the phone right out of Sulie's hand. Aunt Su. Everything she just said is completely true. I know it sounds insane, but I have zero time to explain. Su Yao is still waiting in that cave, and I cannot take this phone back with me, leaving it on the table. It has videos of the cave, the alien planet, everything. Once you find this phone, you will understand. Come straight to Old Wang seed store in Jay Town, Eunan. I hung up instantly, slammed the phone down in plain sight on the table, then spun back toward our cart. Deeds, pesticides, a sickle axe head, and bottled water. Great hall. Get on the scale, I said, pointing to the massive scale used for weighing seed bags. Do we have to weigh it all together? The limit is 72 kg. Move. I left one single kilogram as a safety margin. Lee jumped on with the cart. The needle swung then settled. 70 kilos and 300 g. We had 1.7 kilos left. I spotted some white rabbit milk candy bags on the counter. Pure sugar, pure calories, and pure energy. Plus, it would sooa trapped alone and terrified. I grabbed the bag and shoved it into Sulie's arms. Take it. Then Su Lee noticed something I missed. A vacuum-sealed country sausage by the counter. It weighed around a pound and a half. He said it was meat snatching it with shining eyes. I blinked and nodded. Great catch. 71.9 kg. Perfect. We just hit the absolute weight limit. 5 seconds left. Behind the metal door, people started screaming. Listen up in there. We already called the cops and they will arrive any second. Open this door. Dele and I exchanged a look. It felt completely surreal like two outlaws on the run. We were Bonnie and Clyde, but robbing farming supplies instead of banks. She hugged the candy and sausage tight against her chest with one arm, her other hand gripping the cart. The countdown hit zero. The world warped around us, and we faded into nothingness. Later, police forced the metal door open. Inside, a small TV just played the news. An old phone rested on the counter. Not a single human trace was left behind anywhere, like the place had been abandoned from the start. I did not witness this myself. I only found out what happened on Earth much later after Sulie and I vanished from that seed shop. It took the local police forces no more than 5 minutes to arrive. The lead detective was Chen Lee, a 20-year veteran. He had never seen anything like this. Dispatch reported two wildlooking suspects robbing a farming supply shop and threatening the old lady running it. But once they lifted the metal shutter, the place was completely empty. Those suspects, no escape routes, just a TV playing news and an old cracked phone on the counter and a diamond necklace worth more than the entire shop. Left outside with the very confused grandmother. The young officer on site pointed out the obvious truth. The shop had one main door. There was no back exit, no broken walls, no secret tunnel. Unless the two suspects could somehow walk straight through solid walls, there was zero logical explanation for how they vanished. And the choppers arrived. A massive black helicopter with no numbers appeared hovering in the sky. Agents in full tactical gear repelled down the ropes. They carried bizarre weapons and gear that the local cops had never even seen before. Their leader flashed a badge for something called the Division 305 Special Investigations Bureau, a department that only existed in wild rumors. He ordered the local police to completely evacuate the area. Everyone was forced to sign NDAs. They locked down a 5 km radius around the shop and jammed all local signals. Meanwhile, Aunt Sue completely lost her mind right after our phone call dropped. jumped onto her private jet and flew straight toward Eunnan Province. But before she could even leave the Gouning airport, a fleet of black government cars stormed the runway, blocking her path. An elegant middle-aged man stepped out. He introduced himself as Liong, a well-known academic and special adviser for internal security. He calmly reassured her they had confirmed both girls were alive and not in immediate danger. He then asked her to follow them to a secret base hidden deep in the mountains. After three heavily armed checkpoints, the full body scan and ID verification, they led her to a meeting room. The one entire wall was a giant screen. Military generals in uniform and scientists in white lab coats sat around a long table. They played the video from my phone. Su Yao's face appeared at first. She was completely dirty, her hair a mess, crying into the camera. Hello, officers. Mom, it is me, Yao Yao. Aunt Sue covered her mouth, biting down hard to stop herself from crying. She didn't want to miss a single important detail. Then my face appeared. The shaky footage showed glowing cave walls, bizarre red gate, the sealed entrance, our Paxly cart, and Sulie dragging heavy rocks in the background. My voice echoed through the meeting room. This is an alien planet, I repeat, an alien planet. The video was only 2 minutes long. It ended with me asking Aunt Sue to burn my unpaid tutoring fees as ghost money. Then reading my bank account number. The screen went black. Dead silence filled the room. Then Aunt Su finally asked the question on everyone's mind. Can the government bring them back here? Li Yaoong nodded calmly and seriously. Our nation will never abandon anyone, but we will do everything in our power. Then he explained the technical findings. Despite the awful video quality, top physicists and biologists managed to extract crucial data. By analyzing my voice frequencies and the surrounding environment, they figured out the cave's oxygen levels were insanely high. They even surpassed Earth's levels during the Cretaceous period. Donsu immediately understood what that meant. She was an educated woman. Wouldn't they suffer from oxygen toxicity or at least euphoria? Li Yaoong nodded, then shook his head. Normally, yeah, anyone pushing themselves that hard out there would die from instant poisoning. In the clip, Suli and I were doing heavy lifting. No symptoms at all. Here's the takeaway. Sometime during the transfer, or the second we hit that planet, something supernatural altered our bodies, a force we totally failed to understand. That change let us survive. It boosted our physical limits. The generals and scientists around the table leaned in, totally hooked. Then came the bad news about the transport mechanism. Back at the seed shop, they used their best gear to scan for alien soil, bacteria, or even strange air particles. They found absolutely nothing. Jump was so clean it wiped all foreign traces, meaning they had zero chance of studying the alien planet through physical samples. They had nothing to test. Auntie Su asked the obvious question. If Suli made it back to Earth, why not just stay? Why return? Li Yaoong explained they did not fully grasp the transport system yet. They figured once the timer hit zero, everyone gets dragged right back to the alien cave. No exceptions. The general tapped the table and jumped straight into the plan. Lee Yaoong laid it out plain and simple. National surveillance. Wait and intercept. Since they could not reach us or track the signal, they had to rely on total coverage. I already told them the portal took 72 hours to open. So, the next window was just 3 days away. The landing spot was totally random. Hard to predict. But once I popped up anywhere populated inside the country, I would leave a trail. It pulled up a map of China on the giant screen. The faces of me, Sulie, and Su Yao hit the national grid at maximum alert. Every camera and every train station, airports, malls, and rural villages were watching. If a lens caught our faces, or a civilian reported folks appearing out of thin air, the system would trip an alarm in 3 seconds. The nearest patrols or military units would rush the area with supplies. Maybe they would not make it in 3 minutes, but that was all they had. The meeting paused for a second. General stepped into a small room, picked up an encrypted red phone, and dialed a highly classified number. Sir, it is confirmed. The targets are on an exoplanet. Transport system is confirmed, stable, and repeating. We need permission to mobilize all available resources. They formed a threeperson support unit. 2 seconds of silence, then a firm voice replied approved. Give them our full backing, no matter the cost. This is a once in a millennium opportunity. This could be humanity taking its very first step toward the stars. The general walked back into the room and issued his orders. In 24 hours, they had to pack a standard supply bag for one soldier. Simple and easy to use. Highdensity rations, meds, light weapons, and a full survival kit. His packs would go out to every single police station and military base nationwide. In 3 days, all armed forces and police would get orders to fan out on patrol. The second anyone spotted me anywhere, local troops had to shove those supplies right into my hands. No questions asked. General looked at Auntie Sue with genuine sincerity. Rest assured, ma'am, we cannot bring them back, but this nation will be their absolute strongest backup. The moment Lini sets foot on our soil, we hand over our very best gear. Next time, they are not leaving empty-handed. Armed with just machetes and axes, Sulie and I slammed into the cave floor again. We landed right next to the portal, now faded to dark red. I was panting hard. My left hand felt frozen to the cart handle, fingers aching from gripping it so tight during the jump. My right hand was still locked with Sului, fingers totally intertwined. She was pressed right up against my side. The sudden zero gravity shoved her into me and she never let go. Then the spinning in my head started to fade. She opened her eyes, saw the cave walls, and realized we were back in hell. But something felt different this time around. It did not look as broken. Maybe it was the heavy supply cart. Or maybe it was something else entirely. I looked down at our locked hands. Noticing her stare, I loosened my grip a bit. She yanked her hand back fast like she just touched a hot stove. But where is my sister? Where did that fool Su Yao go? He looked away, but even in the dim metallic glow, I could see her cheeks turn bright crimson, just like a ripe apple. You muttered something about being glad we made it back, trying to hide her racing heart. But I had no time to figure it out. I glanced toward our sleeping spot in the corner. Su Yao was right there. The tiny body curled into a ball on the ground, completely buried under my jacket. She pulled it over herself like a blanket until she vanished entirely. I knew instantly she was breathing in my scent, desperately pretending I was still right there with her. She clutched a tiny piece of beef jerky she had cut for herself. Her eyes were swollen from crying like steamed buns, yet she just kept eating. Left completely alone in this nightmare. That jerky and the lingering scent on my jacket were the only things keeping her sane. She tricked herself into believing I was still around, still keeping her safe. Hearing our voices, that shivering pile of clothes suddenly shifted. A tiny dirty face peeked out, tear tracks cutting right through the heavy dust. It looked just like an abandoned puppy on the street. Then she spotted us. Instantly, her dull eyes sparked back to life. Lyn by sister. She shoved the jerky into a bag and scrambled onto her hands and knees, completely ignoring her shoes. Bare feet slapping against the cold rock and dirt. She stumbled recklessly toward us at full speed. Douly saw her little sister's exhausted face, and her heart broke. She rushed forward instantly, throwing her arms wide open with a warm smile. Da Yao, do not be scared. We are back. But a blur blew right past her. Su Yao totally ignored her sister standing there. He pulled a slick sideep to dodge Sui, crashing straight into my chest like a tiny cannonball. Filling by. She locked her arms tight around my waist, buried her little face in my chest, and started sobbing uncontrollably. It finally came back. I thought she abandoned me. The cave made weird noises, and I was so terrified. The impact knocked me back a half step. I dropped the cart and awkwardly patted her back. All right. All right. We made it back, right? Meanwhile, Sulie was still frozen, completely still, arms wide open in that classic hug me pose. Nobody was hugging her. She stood stiff as a board, just staring at her younger sister, clinging to me for dear life. I swear I almost saw imaginary crows circling her head. She watched Su Yao wrap around me, a strange, suspicious look flashing across her face. Being twins, they shared this intense emotional link, a special sixth sense between them. And in that moment, Sulie could feel exactly what her sister was broadcasting. Something completely blind and total unconditional trust and reliance on me. Mixed in was a feeling that made her own cheeks burn a dancing hopeful anticipation. Billy's heart skipped a beat. The emotion was so overwhelmingly intense, she genuinely could not tell if it came from Su Yao or herself. She too had gripped my hand the whole way back, clinging to me tightly. In that moment, she genuinely felt that with me around, even hell would not be so scary. Sulie snapped herself out of it. Wake up. She pinched herself hard. This guy treats you like an absolute slave. How could you even think about him in that weird way? That dangerous emotional reliance terrified her. Her little sister, a daughter of the mighty Sue family, is falling way too easily for a mere home tutor. That had to stop immediately. Suli marched forward, grabbed Su Yao by the collar like a kitten, and forcefully peeled her off me. Su Yao, get over here right now. Men and women need to keep a proper respectable distance. You are not a kid anymore. Stop throwing yourself at guys and have some dignity. Su Yao just blinked through her tears, totally confused. Huh? Sister, why are you acting so mean? Through their twin bond, she felt her sister's feelings right back. Di was an absolute emotional wreck. Anger, panic, and something else she could not even name, all tangled together. The Yao wiped her nose, staring up with big innocent eyes. Sister, why is your face so red? Shut up right now. It is just the heat. Die glared daggers, shoving Su Yao behind her as a human shield to keep her away. He desperately tried acting like she wasn't flustered at all. I watched this whole bizarre scene play out, having absolutely zero clue what was happening. What is up with this princess now? But honestly, if it didn't mess with our survival, I could not care less about decoding women's brains. All right, enough family drama for today. Come help me sort through these supplies. Everything we hauled back today will literally decide if we live or die over the next few days. Bye quickly pulled herself together, throwing that cold ice queen mask right back on. She walked over with Su Yao, making very sure to keep a safe distance. I hauled the cart to a flat spot and started inventory. Our biggest loot this time over 200 bags of seeds in totally different varieties. This is our future. Amoxicilin and sephilosporin antibiotics. These are literal life-saving drugs. Douly find the driest spot in the cave and store these carefully. If they get damp, they are useless. Also use the wound spray on Su Yao. Her knees are completely scraped up from crawling on the dirt. Sulie slowly calmed down, watching me organize everything in my usual steady way. The adrenaline rush finally faded out. Her practical side kicked right in. I dragged the sickle and pickaxe from under the cart. Treore off all the newspaper wrapping. The steel blade flashed in the light, brand new and dangerously sharp. Starting tomorrow, we upgrade everything. Douly, you have these long, elegant hands. But it is time they learn to swing a sickle. I reached into the cart's corner and yanked out a black plastic bag. I grabbed this thing at the very last second. Just snatched it from right behind the store counter. But why a 70-year-old grandmother was selling these, I have no clue, but I am absolutely not questioning my luck today. I shove the bag towards Sulie here. They are sanitary pads. I check the pack. Dayw wear, nightwear, and some pull-up types. Pace yourself with them. We definitely cannot grow these in the dirt, but once we run out, they are gone forever. Sulie grabbed the plastic bag, her face flushing completely red. She clearly never expected me to think about hygiene during our 3-minute heist. She clutched the bag tight against her chest, the corner of her mouth twitching up into a tiny smile. She mumbled a quiet thank you. I told her not to sweat it. We are all stuck in the same nightmare together. I waved it off and headed for the cave entrance. Let's rest up today. Get all your strength back. Starting tomorrow, we officially begin farming on this alien soil. I glanced back at the two sisters, totally failing to hide the wild excitement burning in my eyes. The government definitely spotted us on this run. Sulie talked to her mom and left the phone with all the evidence sitting right there. So, the next time that portal opens up, if it dumps us anywhere inside China, and they managed to track us down, we won't be looking at some old lady's seed shop. We will be facing a full-on drop of heavy military gear. My internal clock woke me up right on time. The next morning, immediately, I felt that familiar, suffocating weight pressing down on my chest. I glanced down, same story as every single morning. The twin homing missiles had glued themselves to me again all night long. Reaching out out of pure habit, I grabbed Sulie by the thigh and gently shoved her aside. Then I pushed Su Yao<unk>s head right off my shoulder. At this point, I had totally given up trying to fix this. I had yelled at them, scolded them relentlessly. But the second they fall asleep, some automatic radar kicks in, steering them straight toward the only heat source in this freezing cave. Their bodies just gravitate to mine no matter what. I definitely complain about it, that is for sure. But honestly, deep down, I really did not mind it. Out here on this alien planet, surrounded by monsters, scraping by just to survive another day, the waking up to two warm bodies pressed against you was one of the only tiny comforts in this entirely miserable existence. I was never going to admit that out loud, though. I sat up, stretching my stiff back. My whole body felt weirdly hot and restless. I wiped my face and suddenly felt this sharp, painful sting right on my forehead. I pulled out a small fruit knife, using the flat steel blade as a makeshift mirror to check it out. You've got to be kidding me. A pimple dead center between my eyebrows. Massive red and incredibly painful. The way too much pent up energy and absolutely nowhere to vent it. The sheer irony of breaking out on an alien planet while sleeping between two gorgeous girls was definitely not lost on me. Half an hour later, I was squatting right at the cave entrance. That tiny halfmeter gap was our one and only link to the outside world. This was the exact moment I had been gearing up for. I shoved my arm out through the gap, pushing past the jagged rocks and tangled branches. Then I jammed my fingers hard into the dirt outside. I dug my nails deep into the soil beneath that thick rotting layer of dead leaves. Grabbed a heavy handful of it. I yanked my arm back inside. Under the single shaft of sunlight cutting through the entrance, I unccurled my fist. Just stared at what I held. My eyes went wide. My heart started hammering against my ribs. The soil was pitch black, a rich, oily kind of dark. It had this heavy, intoxicating, earthy smell. I rubbed it between my fingers, smooth as silk, damp. Not a single trace of grit or sand anywhere. Squeezing it felt slippery, almost greasy. Like I could literally ring oil straight out of it if I just pressed hard enough. This was not just regular dirt. This was pure black soil, the rare kind that stews for millions of years in ancient untouched forests. There were dead branches and rotting leaves pile up for countless generations. Animal bones stacked layer upon layer, decaying and fermenting until the ground itself turns ridiculously fertile. Back on Earth, they call this the Hermes of soils. The kind of dirt where you jam a chopstick in and sprout a bamboo tree. We are actually going to survive. My hands were literally shaking. I had been absolutely terrified this alien ground would be too alkaline or barren to grow anything from Earth. But this was not dead dirt. It was a bottomless vault overflowing with nutrients. With premium soil like this, I was not stopping at a few vegetables to feed three people. If I can get enough manpower, I could build an entire farming empire on this alien rock. Back inside the cave, the mood shifted into something heavy and weirdly emotional. I was about to cross a line I had never crossed before. Honestly, I decided to leave the cave. I had to risk venturing into this alien forest to scout the whole area and find some water. Douly and Su Yao decided the best way to protect me was turning me into a human tank using textbooks as thick armor. It crammed books into every empty space inside my clothes. Suli wanted one here, too. Her eyes were completely red as she carefully shoved a textbook down my jacket right over my chest, and she reminded me about the back. Never forget the back. Su Yao struggled to shove two massive books between my shirt and my waistband. They circled me, stuffing every notebook and dictionary and test paper they could find into my clothes. It was the only armor they could think of. When they finally finished, I looked exactly like the puffy Michelin man. Their eyes were watering heavily, staring at me like I was heading straight to the front lines of a brutal war, never to return. Okay, okay, that is enough. I was having trouble breathing under all this pressure. I gently pushed Su Yao away while she still tried shoving a huge dictionary down my pant leg. I warned her anymore and I would literally walk like a zombie. How am I supposed to run from anything now? I tested my range of motion, which was now extremely limited, and thumped my chest where the textbook sat. It made a very solid muffled thud. Honestly, this setup is fine. Something huge suddenly attacks. This armor could definitely absorb a hit or two. Besides, I am only going a short distance from the entrance to check things out and look for water. I will never wander far. I adjusted the flamethrower and machete on my belt, keeping my expression totally relaxed on purpose to ease their obvious panic. to stay inside the cave and sort all those seed packets by their type. Whatever you hear outside, never come out. Got it. Sulie was fighting hard to keep her fear in check. She bit her lower lip and reached up to fix my jacket collar, fussing exactly like an anxious wife, saying goodbye. She stuttered, begging me to be super careful. Anything dangerous shows up, just run back. Do not try playing the hero. Yao grabbed my jacket hem with tiny fingers, looking up with huge pleading eyes. She whispered softly, "Big brother Lynbby, come back to us soon." I looked at these two girls, spoiled princesses who never worried about anything harder than a math test just a week ago. Now all their worry and attention in the world, focused entirely on whether I would survive a short scouting trip. A really warm feeling stirred in my chest. Naturally, I decided to test my luck. You two are so worried about me. Shouldn't there be some kind of farewell ceremony? I grinned widely, turned my head, and pointed a finger right at my cheek. Come on, farewell ceremony. One kiss each. Give me an extra energy boost before I head out. Just a few days ago, Sulie would have rolled her eyes with heavy sarcasm and told me to keep dreaming. But after long days of sleeping, huddled closely together for warmth after everything we had been through. And watching me prepare to face actual danger, her face turned crimson red as a ripe strawberry. But she did not say no. You stood on her tiptoes, squeezed her eyes tightly shut, and planted a really quick kiss on my left cheek. Lightning fast, a bare touch before she immediately stepped back. Yao was not about to let her sister win. Her dirty little face flushed deep red and she leaned forward to plant a loud solid kiss on my right cheek. The sound actually echoed clearly throughout the second sheao covered her face with her hands and spun around to run. Oh, you are not escaping that easily. I was faster. I grabbed Su Yao by the arm before she could bolt, wrapping my other arm around Sui, who was already trying to retreat. You two just kissed me like that, but I cannot return the favor. Things never work out that way. Before either of them could respond, they leaned in and planted a loud and firm kiss right on Su Yao's softy cheek. Then I turned and planted an equally loud kiss on Sulie's blushing face. Two solid smooches echoed in the cave. Ha! My energy boost is completely full. I am heading out now. I let them go quickly before they exploded from embarrassment, laughing out loud as I dropped to my stomach and slipped through the halfmeter exit hole, completely graceful, like someone who practiced it constantly. behind me in that cave. It left two girls with faces redder than baboon butts. I heard absolutely nothing from inside. Dead silence, their brains completely shortcircuited. What I did not know, which Sulie told me way later, was what happened between them after I left. Dulie stood there touching her burning cheek, totally frozen. He actually did it and right in front of her sister, no less. Dao was hiding behind her hands, only her big watery eyes showing, totally lost in thought. The twins looked at each other silently. The air between them was heavy with an awkward, strange, unnamed feeling. Embarrassment, confusion, and something sweeter they refused to admit. That weird twin telepathy was kicking in again. Lily could sense from her sister not just shyness, but a clear thread of sweetness. And buried deep in her own chest. Beneath all that panic and anger about being kissed without permission, she found that exact same feeling lurking inside herself. She shut her eyes in obvious defeat. The joked about energy boost actually worked, settling deep into both their hearts. Neither of them knew what to do. I squeezed out of that narrow crack, stood up straight, and took my first real breath of this alien air. Tasted sweet, almost intoxicating, really. The rich oxygen hit my lungs and triggered this weird euphoria like downing a shot of something incredibly strong. Pure energy suddenly flooded every single cell in my body. I glanced back at our hiding spot. Our cave sat right at the base of a massive mountain. Thick vines and deep green moss swallowed the dark rock face. The entrance, a tiny gap barely half a meter wide, looked like a single pore on some giant beast. You could walk right past it and never even notice, which was absolutely perfect. That camouflage is exactly what kept us alive. I stepped onto the thick carpet of fallen leaves, my sneakers making a soft crunch. Just a totally normal step, but my heart was hammering against my ribs. One small step for me, one giant leap for all of mankind. So yeah, my inner middle schooler definitely came out there. I really couldn't help it. No audience, no cameras, no live stream, but I was actually standing on alien dirt on a completely different planet orbiting strange suns. Whether humanity would ever actually colonize this bizarre new world remained a massive question mark. I forced my breathing to slow and finally took a good look around. This was a true primeval forest. Nothing like those old nature documentaries back on Earth. It was entirely different. Even the absolute shortest trees around me easily cleared 100 meters. The trunks were as incredibly thick as those thousand-year-old redwoods from the wilderness shows. Covered in dark brown bark, they had these weird wrinkles that made them look impossibly ancient. The way up high, the massive tree canopies were so incredibly dense they blocked out almost the entire sky. Sunlight barely leaked through the tiny gaps in the leaves, dropping down in stunning golden columns, slicing right through the humid air. Everything here was just massive. Just one fallen leaf on the ground was half the size of a front door. I picked it up. It felt incredibly thick, dense, and surprisingly heavy. I yanked it hard to test its strength. It didn't tear. Texture was tight and fibrous. Honestly, feeling a lot like cured leather. My brain immediately went to work. The temperature had been steadily dropping over the last few days. Nights were getting seriously cold now, and our everyday clothes were practically falling apart. After a solid week of rough cave living, the sister's expensive school uniforms and short skirts were completely shredded. Those torn stockings offered zero warmth. They really only provided a visual thrill, which honestly was not helping my focus at all. I rubbed my chin and muttered, "I definitely need to drag a bunch of these back to the cave." My mind started sketching out some basic designs. Grass skirts, maybe some kind of leaf bikini. I mean, obviously, it was about basic survival and staying warm, but it was also about building a civilization for our tiny threeperson tribe. Every great civilization needs proper clothing, right? I pictured Sulie's gorgeous face paired with a wild grass skirt and a huge smirk instantly spread right across my face. Cultural evolution is important stuff. I kept scanning the area. The whole place was just strangely quiet. Zero massive predators in sight. Just a few distant echoing bird calls. Long crystal clear notes like a cuckoo bird ringing with unbelievable power and bouncing off the giant trunks. Glowing colorful orbs floated through the air. I stared at them for a solid second before realizing they were actually just butterflies. to butterflies the exact size of a human head. Their wings pulsed with bioluminescence. Every single flap shed a fine glittering powder that drifted down like literal fairy dust. Beautiful, but in a deeply unsettling alien kind of way. This was a real alien ecosystem. I tilted my head back, desperate to catch a glimpse of this world's sky through the dense canopy above me. But what I saw froze me in my tracks. My jaw dropped straight down, mouth open, wide enough to fit my entire fist. Oh my god. Right up there, two massive golden suns hung perfectly in the sky straight out of some sci-fi movie. The one huge, one slightly smaller. They sat close together, blazing so intensely they dyed the entire sky in brilliant shades of pure gold. But that wasn't even the craziest part. The way off in the distant horizon sat a third sun. This one glowed with a chilling eerie blue light, icy and mysterious, completely totally different from the warm golden pair above. Hung super low in the sky like some frozen eye watching this bizarre planet. 1 2 3. I counted them three times to ensure I wasn't hallucinating. Cold sweat instantly soaked my clothes. A three star system. The terrifying implications hit me like a runaway freight train. Three separate suns. This planet orbited entirely within a trinary star system. The basic physics alone had to be wildly complicated. The gravity shifts, the daylight cycles, those seasonal weather patterns. Absolutely none of it would resemble Earth at all. I was so shell shocked I literally forgot to breathe for a few seconds. Then a highly familiar sound snapped me right back to reality. A buzz, that faint, steady humming noise, sounding exactly like a nasty mosquito buzzing right beside your ear at 3:00 in the morning. The sound was amplified to a seriously terrifying level. I whipped around. Right there, a black and white striped mosquito. A grown man's fist size, hovering on sheer wings, buzzings like crazy with every single flap. Its needle-like mouth was terrifyingly long. It gleamed in the sunlight like some twisted surgical tool designed to pierce right through thick skin. It caught my scent. Fresh meat. The weird aroma of human blood from Earth. A scent this alien mosquito had never encountered before. I was premium takeout and it was swooping in for a hearty feast. I asked if it seriously wanted my blood. Smiling coldly, my hand naturally reached for the flamethrower hanging from my belt. No hesitation at all. Zero. Maybe in your next life. Click. Whoosh. A blue flame erupted, swallowing the giant mosquito right in midair. The bug didn't even have time to dodge. Buzz pop. The second it hit that scorching flame. Total explosion. Just like a water balloon tossed straight into boiling oil. The loud wet pop echoed through the trees. Charred bug parts scattered everywhere and a sharp burning smell filled the air. The smoking remains of the fist-sized bug hit the ground with a pathetic thud. Its crispy legs were still twitching weakly. I blew across the flamethrower nozzle. Even though there was absolutely no smoke coming out, it just felt like the right thing to do. First victory secured. Alien survival rule number one. You always strike first and never ask questions. A pro tip from Lyn. After roasting that first mosquito, I kept the flamethrower handy and headed straight into the deep forest. About 20 meters from our cave entrance, I stopped and glanced back. That tiny crawl space was almost perfectly hidden among those giant rocks. I waved at the gap, confident the two girls were watching from inside. I muttered for them to wait until I returned with serious loot. Zone between the cave and the treeine was a flat stretch of rocky ground about 20 m wide, backed right against the mountain. My brain was already drafting blueprints. someday when we get more hands on deck that we could clear these rocks, top timber, and build a real cabin here. No more hiding out in that damp, dark cave. That would be the real life. With those dreams spinning in my head, I stepped firmly into the primitive forest, and the light dropped completely. Those massive tree canopies were like giant tents blocking out the three suns. They created a hot, muggy twilight down below. The air felt crazy thick and damp, buzzing, constant buzzing. Just the local welcoming committee. Three massive mosquitoes tried an ambush from different angles. A good thing I was already decent at tracking them by sound. Three quick flamethrower blasts handled it. Star bug bodies dropped to the dirt. I carefully stomped out every single one. Sparking a forest fire was not on my agenda. Torching our new neighborhood on day one. That would be a seriously spectacular way to die. I kept moving, eyes scanning the terrain for decent farming spots and fresh water. And something caught my attention about 10 m to the left. Nestled right between the huge ferns. One plant seriously stood out. It had a cluster of blood red flowers at the very top. The petals were semi-transparent and crystal clear, faintly glowing with a red light. Its leaves grew in fivepoint clusters with sharp serrated edges. The veins running right through them practically sparkled with a magical gold color. I squinted, inspecting it closely. The shape was incredibly familiar. It was a giant version of Jinseng. I had never dug up wild jinseng before, but I had definitely seen pictures in my old textbooks. This thing looked exactly like Earth Jinseng, except it was dozens of times larger, and its flowers literally glowed. My heart started pounding like crazy. The flower was this huge. How massive was the root underneath? If it naturally grew this big, it had to be tens of thousands of years old. It might even be a sentient spirit by now. I was just joking with myself, but my grip on the sickle tightened anyway. Beard or not, I was digging it up. Imagine bringing this back to boil some soup for those two malnourished princesses. That stuff would totally supercharge their energy. I crept forward like a pro thief, holding my breath, inching closer, one careful step at a time. New drops were already sparkling on the petals. I raised my sickle, completely ready to start digging. Then the plant shifted. The red flower trembled violently. Before I could even process what was happening, the soil at its base absolutely exploded. The yellowish brown root launched right out of the dirt and it had arms and actual legs, plus something that pretty much looked like a face. It was about half a meter tall, covered in stringy hairs, kicking its thick root legs wildly as it broke free. And the second it landed, it sprinted through the dense brush at insane speeds, looking absolutely ridiculous. That glowing red flower just bounced and flopped violently right above its head. What the hell? It really did become a living spirit. I just stood there frozen sickle raised in the air, watching a sentient jinseng plant sprint away like a terrified rat. I yelled after it, "Hey, your running form is seriously awful. You are moving the same arm and leg on the same side. The words slipped out before I even considered if an alien root vegetable could actually understand Chinese. And the ground suddenly shook right under my feet. That tremor definitely wasn't from the jinseng plant. The little halfmeter weed didn't have the weight for it. This thing was massive and infinitely more terrifying. The heavy rustle then a crash. I spun fast toward a wall of giant leaves on my left. Two to three meter plants thrashed wildly like a bulldozer was plowing through them. A heavy snorting followed. I knew that sound perfectly. It sounded exactly like the pigs back on our old farm. That wet snort and heavy breathing just amplified a hundred times over. The rotten wave of filthy animal stench hit my face on the wind. I honestly almost threw up on the spot. Every single hair on my body stood straight up. A giant monster was coming. Run. I instantly dropped every plan I had made. The farming spots, housebuilding dreams, and ginsing soup. All of it vanished in a split second. I whipped around and sprinted back the way I came. Running with a frantic strength I never knew I had. I took exactly two steps before the thick wall of greenery behind me violently exploded apart. The shredded leaves scattered into the air like green confetti. I threw one quick glance over my shoulder. That single look nearly ripped my soul right out of my body. Smashing through the treeine was a monster 3 to 4 meters tall, built as massively as a heavy transport truck. It had the head of a savage wild boar just blown up to purely nightmarish proportions. Few curved tusks thrust out of its hideous mouth like giant swords, each over a meter long, shining with a sick, terrifying yellow glare. The body was covered in coarse black bristles, so dense and rigid they looked like an armor of steel needles, and it had six whole legs, six, not just four, like a normal earth pig. The front four limbs were incredibly thick, customuilt for violent charging and tearing up the ground. The back pair was longer and much more streamlined, clearly designed for high-speed sprints. The thing was a living battering ram with a turbocharged engine. Its basketball-sized thighs flexed and lunged at me. I actually saw the exact moment it made its choice. To hell with the escaping jinseng, this hairless two-legged creature looked like a much easier snack. Like some crazy sci-fi monster, all six limbs fired off at once. The ground violently shook with every step. It launched straight at me. Go to hell. I sprinted so frantically, my lungs caught fire. I screamed complete gibberish over my shoulder. Please do not chase me. My meat is sour and tastes absolutely terrible. Because sure, a savage prehistoric alien pig would totally care about human culinary preferences. Only 20 m of rocky ground separated the forest edge from the cave. Normally, 20 m meant nothing. Right now, it stretched out like an endless ocean. My foot suddenly slammed into a loose rock. My ankle rolled with a sickening crunch. A sharp twist and a burning white hot pain shot straight up my leg. I stumbled hard and almost hit the dirt. But stopping wasn't an option. Even if I had to roll the rest of the way, I had to reach that cave. I was barely halfway across the rough rocks when the shaking behind me suddenly got 10 times worse. It wasn't a speeding truck anymore. It was a catastrophic earthquake. I spun around for one last look. The pig chasing me moments ago. That terrifying 3 m tall monster had slammed to a complete stop at the treeine. It stood frozen in place, actually shrinking back in sheer terror like a kid caught red-handed. The reason was right behind it. Rising slowly from the dark shadows was a creature that completely broke my brain. It was a literal mountain, a massive, breathing, moving mountain of solid black. The full three stories high. Every single step made the surrounding giant trees sway and groan. Its sharp tusks looked like towering pillars reaching straight for the sky. Hanging from those brutal tusks were the shredded remains of weird animals I couldn't even recognize. Crushed bones, torn skin, and nasty pieces of things that were once alive. The charging truck chasing me earlier, just a kid, a tiny nursing baby pig. This was the mother, the true giant. So, the real monster here. She lowered her massive head, dropping a casual glance at me, scrambling over the rocks. Her eyes were completely cold and full of contempt. It was exactly how you'd look at a pathetic ant crawling across her kitchen counter. It wasn't even worth the effort. Then she opened her jaws and unleashed a terrifying roar that slammed into me like a solid brick wall. I physically felt the violent sound waves crash against my chest. My eardrums screamed in pain. The jagged rocks vibrated violently under my hands and knees. I completely forgot about my ruined ankle. Pure adrenaline wiped every trace of pain right out of my nervous system. I scrambled on all fours like a desperate animal, lunging toward that halfmeter cave entrance. Lynbi, hurry up. Two pairs of small, pale hands were already reaching out for me from the deep shadows of the narrow crawl space. Doui and Su Yao had been watching this total nightmare unfold the entire time. They heard that brutal roar and their faces went dead pale from the horror, but they never backed away. Instead, they shoved their arms out as far as humanly possible. I threw my body at the opening, but before I even started squeezing myself inside, four hands clamped down in a death grip on my shirt collar. Yao yao. Pull hard. Sulie screamed at the top of her lungs. I have zero clue where they found the strength. 3 days ago, these two couldn't even manage 10 push-ups. But right then and there, they hauled my entire 140 lb through that narrow gap like they were yanking up a giant radish. They tumbled violently inside and collapsed face first onto the cold, rocky floor. I gasped for air so frantically, I thought my heart was going to jump straight out of my throat. Outside, that giant baby pig definitely wasn't ready to give up on his dessert. The pig trotted right up to the cave entrance, snorting and grunting, shoved its long snout through the gaps between our boulder barricade. A wave of hot, rotting breath washed over the entire cave. We three pressed flat against the back wall, not breathing, not moving, frozen like stone statues. And we stayed like that until the sniffing finally stopped and those earth-shaking footsteps faded away. But the little pig never actually left, just camped right outside our entrance, jamming its massive snout between the rocks, frantically inhaling the air. The smell of our smoked meat had it completely hooked. It was not budging an inch until it got a taste. Dua huddled in Sulie's arm's face completely pale. She kept both hands clamped hard over her mouth to stop herself from making a single sound. Dulie was totally paralyzed, gripping the hem of my shirt, staring at me with desperate eyes, waiting for me to somehow save us. But right outside the mother, that three-story tall absolute nightmare was still roaming around. Every single step she took shook the cave roof. Dust and pebbles rained down on us while she waited for her kid to finish playing. I leaned against the wall and forced myself to breathe. My heartbeat settled, but the situation was totally messed up. This baby was the size of a dump truck and wanted us dead. The rock barricade could probably hold off this little pig. If the mother took even one swing, that barricade would instantly shatter. I had to force this thing away right now. I pressed a finger to my lips. Keep quiet. The girls nodded, barely even breathing. I crawled over to our seed and supply stash, ignoring the heavy throbbing in my completely sprained ankle. Right there, tucked between the seed bags were five green plastic bottles, paraquat and dicchloros. Pesticides, I grabbed them from the farm store on a whim. But back on Earth, this stuff was actually legendary. The one sip drops a grown man. Farmers drank it when they wanted to end things forever. Not even elephants could survive this. But would it work on an alien monster with armor for skin and a stomach that literally digests rocks for fun? Only one way to find out. Since you refused to leave, I whispered, staring at the bottles with cold eyes, "Let me serve up a local earth delicacy." I loosened all five caps but left them resting on top. If I removed them completely, the harsh chemical smell might alert the pig or choke everyone inside the cave. I needed the liquid to leak out slowly right after it hit the stomach. I crawled closer to the entrance. That giant wet snout was still shoving through the rocks, its coarse black bristles gleaming with moisture. The beast opened its jaws wide, trying to bite down on a massive boulder blocking our entrance. The second that massive mouth opened, I made my move. Catch this. I tossed five plastic bottles, sinking them one after another like perfect free throws straight into that gaping mouth. The little pig felt several hard, round objects slide down its throat. Not suspect a thing. For a creature this massive a beast that probably crunched on actual rocks when hungry, a few tiny plastic bottles meant absolutely nothing. If anything, they actually gave off a pretty satisfying crunch. Like some kind of nut, it pulled its snout from the rocks, tilted its head back to the sky, and swallowed all five bottles completely whole. It burped once, like savoring the aftertaste. I fell back the second those bottles left my hand, pushing both or girls deeper inside. Did it actually eat them? Sulie barely managed to whisper. Swallowed all five of them whole. Zero chewing. A cold smile crept onto my face. Just give it a few minutes. But once those caps leak and that pesticide hits its stomach lining, it is going to deeply regret this final meal. Outside, the piglet nudged the entrance a bit more, but the rocks were just way too solid. Plus, that quick snack made its belly feel nice and warm, so it finally gave up trying to eat us tonight. It snorted twice, sounding like it was promising to bring the whole family tomorrow, and finally backed away. The sound of hooves slowly faded. Will it come back for revenge? Suya whispered in total fear. Even if it did, we really had no other choice. That thing was never leaving as long as it could smell our food. It was either we kill it or it busts in here and slaughters us all. I leaned against the wall with a long sigh. As long as it didn't die on our doorstep, I wasn't admitting to a thing. Let it file a formal police report if it really wants to. 10 minutes later, I sat against the wall while the girls patched up my wounds. Di massaged the stiff knots from my shoulder while Suya carefully sprayed Yunan Bayo onto my swollen ankle. Ah, easy now. Does it hurt badly, big brother Limbby? It blew gently on the swelling, looking completely worried. It is fine. No broken bones, just a standard sprain. Just two days of rest and I will then, from deep inside the forest, a terrifying shriek shattered the silence. Not a roar, not a battlecry, pure torment, the sound of absolute agony and sheer panic. The scream of a creature being eaten alive from the inside out by harsh chemicals its body had never evolved to handle. Then the smashing started. Something massive was tearing through the trees. Thick trunks snapping like chopsticks and the heavy thud of a multi-tonon body just leveling everything in its path. And a second sound joined the chaos deeper, louder, absolutely terrifying. The hysterical, furious roar of the mother. She had to listen to her baby dying right in front of her, completely helpless. Su Yao clamped her hands over her ears. Even from this far away, tucked deep inside our cave. The raw brutality of it was overwhelming. I listen to those agonizing death throws while part of my brain already fired up an imaginary grill for that piglet. Five bottles of concentrated pesticide exploding all at once inside a single stomach. I wondered if all that poison would completely ruin the meat. Such a massive waste. I clicked my tongue a boar that size could have fed us 6 months. That flesh was definitely toxic now. Two whole hours dragged by before the forest finally went quiet. The screaming and the smashing just stopped. Dead silence. Su Yao was reapplying the spray to my ankle when it happened. Boom! One massive impact. That was not thunder. Those were footsteps heading our way. Boom. Boom. Boom. Rhythmic and deliberate. Every step was a h 100 times heavier than anything the baby made. Each impact slammed into the ground like an iron hammer hitting my chest. The mother was back. Every ounce of calm drained from my face, leaving ice in my veins. I forced myself up, my ankle screaming and limp toward the entrance. Through the tiny vent, I saw pure nightmare fuel. A moving mountain of black flesh stomping toward us, shaking the earth. A monster three stories tall, completely blocking out the golden suns and plunging our cave into pitch black. Her jaws were drenched in fresh blood, and something was clearly dangling from her left tusk, swinging there like some twisted ornament. It was the severed head of her baby, the piglet I poisoned. No, no, no, no. Cold sweat soaked my back instantly. Was she really that horrifyingly smart? Did she know we did it? She was here for revenge. Losing a baby makes any creature dangerous, but losing a baby and knowing exactly who did it, that takes the nightmare to a whole new level. Move back up now. I grabbed the girls, grabbed the food and water. Fall back deep into the cave right now. De's face was paper white. She asked what was happening. I told her the baby died and its mother wanted blood. If she breaches the entrance, we run deeper into the bat zone. Fighting bats is way better than getting crushed into paste under that thing's hooves. But we scrambled. Sulie and Su Yao snatched the water bottles and seed bags while I grabbed the flamethrower and dragged our heavy supply cart deeper inside. But we barely made it 30 meters from the entrance before that first horrifying strike actually hit. A massive crash. The whole mountain shook. The rocks we piled at the entrance shot inside like artillery shells, bouncing off the walls and scattering sparks everywhere. Thick dust rained from the ceiling, blinding us completely. Dua screamed, dropping to the dirt and shielding her head. I yelled at her, "Do not panic. She's too big to ever fit inside. The gap is way too small for a beast that size." I forced those words out with a fake confidence I really did not feel. Boom! The second hit was much worse. The glowing ore shook loose from the walls and smashed onto the floor. The cavern actually groaned like some massive living creature in agonizing pain. That crazy monster was using its iron skull and those long tusks like a battering ram, slamming into the mountain itself, desperately trying to crack the solid stone and dig us out. She wanted to rip this place apart and bury us alive next to her dead baby. Hold together. Please hold together. I stared at the entrance, gripping the flamethrower until my knuckles turned white, sweat just pouring from my palms. By some absolute miracle, the walls held. Whatever this alien rock was actually made of, it was impossibly tough. Every strike from thousands of tons of charging bore shook the whole cave and rained debris on us. But the mountain itself barely caught a scratch. The rock structure stood firm like an unbreakable iron fortress. The savage pounding went on for minutes that felt like hours. Every single second was torture. Su Yao was quietly sobbing, hiding her face in her hands. The lead was pressed against the wall, shaking so violently I could actually hear her teeth chattering. Then suddenly the crashing stopped. Heavy rattling breaths echoed from outside. The monster was panting hard, totally exhausted. Was it was it finally over? Billy barely managed a weak whisper. Did she finally give up? I did not answer her. I just kept watching that entrance. A beast that smart does not just quit. I was absolutely right to be paranoid. The weak beam of daylight vanished from the opening and the cavern plunged into total darkness and something terrifying appeared in the gap. Just one eye, a bloodshot crimson eye that took up the entire opening, bigger than a massive bus tire. That bloody red pupil stared straight down the 30 m tunnel, locking right onto the three of us, shivering in the dark. In that split second, it felt like death itself was staring me down. I didn't see any mindless animal rage in that eye. What I saw was cold, calculated, burning hatred. The horrifying hate born from losing a child. She was memorizing our faces, logging our scent, and burning the exact coordinates of this cave right into her brain. That felt like a promise. The massive red eye stared at us for a full minute, 60 seconds of holding our breath. Seconds where our limbs froze from the inside out. We finally understood the pure terror of being prey marked for death. And the monster let out a low, venomous snarl, a sound that made it perfectly clear, "This is not over. I know where you live." The sound promising that the three of us were dead meat. Then the eye pulled back. Light crept into the entrance again. The footsteps started again, heavy and deliberate. Boom! Boom! They faded further and further away until the last vibration vanished, leaving the forest in complete silence. We sat there for a long time before anyone dared to move. Our clothes were soaked in cold sweat, clinging to us like we got dragged from a river. The beast is gone, I finally said, wiping dirt off my face with a trembling hand. It left, but it will definitely come back, though we all knew it. That eye made a clear promise. Monsters like this always keep their word. Duli and Su Yao ducked behind me with their usual swiftness, like two tiny quailes hiding from a hawk. It came back again. They said it sounding more exhausted than terrified. This was day three of the same routine. That vengeful mother pig had officially become our absolute worst neighbor. She showed up twice a day, punctual as a strict government worker. The once at sunrise, once at sunset, always right after eating when she had way too much energy to burn. She would slam her body into the mountain dozens of times, not even trying to break through anymore, just asserting dominance. and she pressed that huge bloodshot eye against the entrance, staring at us for a full minute, radiating pure hatred. Physical intimidation was not the worst part. She launched a literal biological war on us. She dragged her dead piglet into the rocky courtyard right outside our cave, just leaving it there to rot under the three scorching suns. Three days of this alien heat turned a truck-sized pig corpse into a rotting nightmare. The smell was completely beyond description. As if that nightmare wasn't enough, she turned our cave entrance into her personal toilet. Every visit, right after her ritual headbutting session, she squatted down to leave a mountain of dung right on our doorstep. The fresh pig waste mixing with the rotting corpse, the stench drifted right through the ventilation hole. This cave was basically unlivable now. I kicked a rock across the cave floor in pure frustration. My ankle was mostly healed now thanks to rest and Suya's dedicated massage sessions. I could move freely again, but it did not even matter. None of us dared to step foot outside the cave for three straight days. And not with that monster standing guard out there. The only bright side was this space rock. It was totally indestructible. Three days of a monster weighing hundreds of tons ramming it with full force, and the entrance barely had a scratch. I even noticed one of her massive tusks had snapped cleanly in half from all those impacts. Meanwhile, our mountain did not lose a single pebble. Just a few white scratch marks on the surface. This was absolute defense, I muttered to myself, feeling slightly reassured. As long as she cannot get inside, we can just outlast her. Then the pounding stopped right on schedule. Giant red eye appeared at the entrance, giving us its daily one minute death glare. The beast snorted in anger, chewed on a piece of its broken tusk, and walked away. The ground trembled with every retreating step until silence finally returned. I turned to check the gate behind me. The flashing red light slowly faded, finally shifting into solid green. Large level at 99.8, almost full. It was almost time. I stood up and dusted off my pants, a cold resolve settling in my bones. Just you wait, you disgusting giant pig. When I return this time, if I can just grab an assault rifle or even a pistol, you are completely dead. I let out a bitter laugh. Lost one piglet you could easily replace. While we choked on your rotting stench for three straight days, "Do not talk to me about grudges. This score will absolutely be settled." "Lin by" Sulie's soft voice came from behind me. They turned around. Both sisters stared at me with huge tearfilled eyes. Sulie's eyes were already red. Dua was crying. Her tears carved tiny clean streaks through the dirt on her cheeks. I walked over. This time, without thinking, without a single sarcastic joke, I opened my arms and pulled them in close. The both of them at once, Sulie didn't resist, didn't pull away, or call me a pervert. She just rested her head on my shoulder, quietly closing her eyes. Su Yao clung to my waist like a koala, pressing her face against my chest, exactly like she always did when terrified. Days of surviving together in this tiny cave, sharing meals, sleeping tangled together, facing a wild beast trying to crush us to pieces, all of it completely changed our dynamic. But we weren't just classmates anymore. We definitely weren't teacher and students. This was something else entirely. A bond that only grows between people who stared death in the face together, deciding to keep each other alive no matter what. I patted their backs gently, keeping my voice low and steady. This time, I'm not taking you two with me. Su Yao completely froze right against my chest. You tried to argue, but I cut her off right away. Listen, just hear me out. 3 minutes is way too short. If you come, you'll only get a split-second look at your mom before getting yanked back here. You'll just suffer the portal sickness for absolutely nothing. But more importantly, I have to bring back heavy supplies this time. Maybe even weapons. No real weapons. If I carry both of you, that is 90 lb of dead weight I can't use for gear. And our food supply is basically running on empty. And until we deal with that boar outside, we can't leave this cave. We can't farm. We can't get water. We can't do anything at all. I need serious firepower to kill that monster. and that only happens if I go solo. Dee pressed her lips tightly together. The inner conflict was written all over her face. She desperately wanted to tag along, wanted to see her mom, wanted to stand on Earth, even if just for a few fleeting seconds. But she totally understood the math. She always got the numbers, even when she absolutely hated them. We get it. She took a deep breath, fighting back tears, and reached up to fix my shirt collar, just like she always did before a trip. Her hands were shaking a little bit. Be super careful back on Earth. There must be so many people waiting for you. I cracked a genuine smile then, backed by absolute confidence from the bottom of my heart. Yeah, if my hunch is right, the guys waiting for me this time definitely aren't your average people walking down the street. They're the kind you only ever see on TV screens and right on cue the portal behind me let out this deep vibrating hum. The green light instantly flooded the entire cave charging complete 3 minutes available. I planted a quick warm kiss on each of their cheeks. They stood there watching me. tears streaming heavily down their faces. Just hands gripped tight to keep each other steady. Just stay safe for 3 minutes. I'll be right back. I turned and walked straight into the green light without looking back. If I looked back, I probably would never have left. Then the familiar dizziness faded. Before I even opened my eyes, a weird smell hit me. The air just rire of freedom and absolute chaos. Police sirens were wailing non-stop in the background. Violent hardcore rap music blasting from somewhere nearby, glass shattering. The people were howling with excitement like some crazy street festival from hell. Seems like this welcome party is just a bit loud, right? Snap my eyes open, a massive grin on my face. I had mentally rehearsed this exact moment. Heavily armed special forces teams waiting for my arrival. Or maybe the beautiful Aunt Sue holding flowers alongside scientists with their high-tech gear, ready to study the portal. I spent three solid days inhaling pig crap just for this exact return. I am Lin Bay. I am back. And then the words completely died in my throat. My smile completely froze. No red flags, no neat rows of soldiers, no welcoming committee. I was standing in the middle of a massive dirty street. A nearby fire hydrant was blasting water all over the pavement. Several smashed up cars were spewing this thick black smoke everywhere. The air completely riaked of burning rubber and something else I couldn't quite place. Where the hell am I? Am I even still in China? I looked up. A huge digital billboard in the distance flashed two words in English Time Square. Right next to it, a graffiti covered sign clearly read NYPD. I blinked. I definitely read that wrong. So, I blinked again. The countdown ticking on my retina was perfectly steady. 2 minutes and 55 seconds. New York. My lips were literally trembling. New York. How the hell did I end up in America? The sheer absurdity of this situation almost gave me an instant aneurysm. Random teleportation. The portal said it would drop me in a random human city. And I stupidly, naively assumed that a random city meant somewhere inside China. But back home, Aunt Sue and probably the entire National Security Agency were glued to every single surveillance camera in the country. Tens of thousands of cops are probably patrolling the streets right now, waiting for me to pop up on any surveillance screen. They had supply packs perfectly prepped. They had a foolproof plan. They were fully prepared. And where did the universe actually send me straight to the completely opposite side of the planet to Gotham City during what clearly looked like a massive full-scale riot? What kind of cursed luck was this? I basically screamed internally like a terrified prairie dog. Things actually got worse. Way worse. I finally checked my immediate surroundings. I was standing right on the sidewalk of a crowded commercial street, completely surrounded by massive, hyperactive guys right in the middle of what Americans politely call looting and what the internet calls 0 shopping. They were wearing oversized sports jackets, baggy pants sagging halfway down their backs, pure West Coast style. The guys closest to me were built like literal mountains, arms thicker than my thighs, wild hairstyles, and eyes glaring with this intense do not mess with me kind of energy. It looked like a whole squad of Kang the Conqueror. Not just one guy, an entire gang. They were carrying armfuls of stolen good shoe boxes, massive flat screen TVs, and luxury handbags ripped from some store that had already been totally cleaned out. My sudden appearance, just some random Asian guy materializing out of thin air mid-looting spree, definitely triggered a brief moment of collective confusion among them. The air froze for exactly one second. One of the guys, young, rocking dirty dreads and gripping a metal baseball bat, stopped dead. He turned slowly, locking eyes with me, sized me up like a predator, studying some weird new prey, figuring out if I was an easy meal or just completely worthless. Then he cracked a smile, showing off perfect white teeth, and called out to his crew in heavy slang, basically saying, "Hey man, get a load of this kid." Did he just fall from the sky or what? My English is pretty garbage, but pure malice is a universal language. That totally dead, cruel look in his eyes. I had definitely seen it before, just a few hours ago. Actually, it was the exact same glare that Mother Pig gave me right before she charged straight ahead. The only difference is these guys are probably way more dangerous. At least the beast was predictable. 2 minutes and 35 seconds on the clock. Time is bleeding out fast. I swallowed hard, made the quickest diplomatic choice ever. I yelled an apology, claiming I was Japanese. I declared it loudly, throwing both hands up in the universal sign of surrender, or as I like to call it, the classic French military salute. I plastered on the most pathetic, non-threatening smile I could possibly fake. It probably looked way worse than actually crying, and I slowly backed away. Luckily, the crew cared way more about emptying the designer shoe store behind them than robbing a guy who looked completely homeless. Dreads waved his bat dismissively, cursed at me to get lost, then spun around and smashed the glass display window behind him. The sound of shattering glass snapped me back to reality. I spun around and bolted. No rescue team is coming. No supply drops. Absolutely zero backup. Just me, totally alone in the middle of an American riot. I have less than 2 and 1/2 minutes to find weapons capable of killing a three-story alien pig. The weapons. I really need weapons. Sprinting through the absolute chaos, I dodged looters and scanned every single storefront. 2 minutes 10 seconds left. A whole minute already wasted. My heart sank with every ticking second. Those 3 minutes were supposed to be our one and only lifeline. Every second meant the difference between life and death for three people stuck on an alien world. Back home, I could just grab heavy tools from a hardware store. But here in a New York riot zone, almost every shop had been stripped completely bare. Nothing left but broken glass, trash, and totally empty shelves. Nike, useless. Starbucks pass. An Apple store? What am I going to do with an iPhone? Throw it at the monster? Sweat poured down my face as I kept running and searching. No weapons anywhere. Going back to that stinking cave to say sorry, girls. Took a fun little New York vacation and brought zero loot. Do we all just die now? My shoes skidded, bringing me to a dead halt right on the street corner. The half-colapsed sign hung sideways over a metal shutter that had been violently pried open. The sign displayed a red Target logo with English letters. Outdoor world hunting and sporting goods. A hunting store. This is America land of the Second Amendment and legal firearms. A shop like this definitely has real lethal firepower inside. The metal shutter was bent halfway up. Someone had tried breaking in. Or maybe they already did. I could hear screaming from inside. This was my only shot. 1 minute 45 seconds left. Just you wait, Mother Pig. Even if I die here today, I am absolutely bringing you a deadly souvenir. Ducking under the bench shutter, I threw myself inside. Bang! The exact second my foot crossed the threshold, a gunshot exploded like thunder right past my ear. A bright orange muzzle flash instantly lit up the dark interior. Hundreds of tiny metal pellets screamed past my scalp, so close, I actually felt the heat and blasted the door frame behind me. Wood splinters exploded everywhere. Oh my god. Pure survival instinct took over before my brain could even process a thing. I threw my body sideways into a diving roll, crashing hard behind a flipped shelving unit. Someone is shooting at me. I pressed myself totally flat against the floor. My heart pounded so violently I felt it in my teeth. Welcome to the land of the free, greeted by deadly buckshot. That was a literal shotgun blast. If it connected, I would be walking Swiss cheese right now. Game over. Roll credits. 1 minute 30 seconds left. The clock is still ticking. Zero time to be scared. Clenching my fists, I strained to listen for any noise behind the checkout counter. A shotgun racking, heavy footsteps, literally anything warning me a second shot was coming. Instead, I just heard a massive thud, something huge hitting the floor, followed by the clatter of a dropped weapon. Then a weak, pained groan, a real human groan. Slowly, I peeked over the edge of the fallen shelf. A thick, pale hand dangled weakly over the checkout counter. A pump-action shotgun rested on the floor right beside it. Dark red blood pulled from under the register, creeping slowly across the tiled floor. Everything clicked instantly. This was the store owner, some brave guy defending his livelihood from the riers. He was already shot, probably during an earlier break-in. Firing at me was just his last stand, burning, threw every ounce of strength he had left before passing out. His final rebellion. I exhaled hard, making absolutely sure there were no other threats, then shot up from the floor like a rocket. No time left to be careful. I vaulted right over the scattered debris, finally reaching the counter. Without a single second of hesitation, I snatched the weapon straight off the floor. A pumpaction Remington M870 shotgun. The barrel was still warm from the shot that nearly ended my life. The metal felt cold and heavy in my hands. That incredible heft, so solid, beautiful, and completely lethal, sent a rush of pure pleasure straight through my body. I yanked open the drawer next to the unconscious owner, finding three full boxes of red ammo, 12- gauge shells. Not just standard birdshot, either. These were solid lead slugs specifically designed for hunting massive thick-skinned animals like bears and wild boores. The single round could easily blow a bull-sized hole in any monster. With this gorgeous weapon, we would truly see how thick your pig skin really is. I spotted a massive camping backpack nearby, instantly dumping all the ammo inside. Then began the fastest shopping spree of my entire life. This store was absolutely huge, and even though the best stuff was already looted, the back shelves and corners were still packed with incredibly useful survival gear. I grabbed a bunch of heavy duty tactical vests and reinforced cargo pants right off the rack. Then picked out two slightly larger sets for Suli and Su Yao. The space knights were freezing out there, and those two had been wearing the exact same torn school uniforms for over a week. Over to the outdoor food aisle, high calorie beef jerky, taking all of it. Camping pots and solid fuel tablets, fantastic taking those, too. His chopping axe was perfect, heavy enough to split wood and crush skulls alike. A first aid kit, definitely. By was almost entirely out of her iodine medicine. My brain was running complex weight calculations in real time. I weigh exactly 73 kg. That is the transfer limit. I can carry a max of 73 kilos through the portal. Anything over that number. The system randomly drops it on the floor. And there is no way I am risking leaving my new shotgun behind. Self-heating rice. No way too bulky for its weight. Canned meat. Spam. Give me 10 cans of that. Thermal underwear for the girls in the bag. The camping pack swelled until it nearly burst. I could not even zip it shut anymore. I jammed two massive tactical flashlights into the side pockets. We had survived on the dim glow of alien metals for a week. Proper lighting would change everything. I tested the weight, hoisting the bag with one arm. My muscles instantly strained. At least 65 kilos in this bag alone. Add the shotgun and the clothes I am wearing. Probably 70 kg total. Dangerously close to the limit. 30 seconds left. I painfully hauled the mountain pack onto my shoulders. My legs nearly be buckled beneath it. Every single step demanded massive effort, like trudging through deep mud. I was about to find a quiet corner to wait for the transfer when my eyes swept over the unconscious store owner again. This old man was in bad shape. Took a bullet. Blood kept leaking out despite his body weight pressing against it. His face was ash and completely drained of all color. Without any treatment, he had maybe 3 to 5 minutes before bleeding to death right on his own floor while riers cheered outside. He almost killed me 30 seconds ago. That shotgun blast missed my head by mere centimeters. I had every right to curse him and walk away, but I watched him lying there helplessly. Then I eyed the heavy bag of his merchandise on my shoulder. Fine, I took your stuff. Here is some karma in return. Consider this a fair trade. I gritted my teeth hard, then ripped open the first aid kit I just stole off his shelf. Pulling out heatic powder and a heavy duty pressure bandage, I knelt down, tearing his bloody shirt, I noticed a phone in his breast pocket and iPhone. I shoved it in my own pocket without thinking. Next, I poured the entire clotting agent right into his open wound. The powder hissed the second it touched hot blood. I wrapped the tough bandage around his torso with everything I had pulling it tight enough to force real heavy pressure onto the wound. Damn it. The old man groaned faintly through clenched teeth, but he did not wake up. The bleeding seemed to slow down noticeably. Whether he actually survives now depends on how fast an ambulance arrives, but at least I gave him a fighting chance to live. You are incredibly lucky you met a guy who still has some morals. I stood up, adjusting the heavy straps of my massive bag, then suddenly spotted a security camera in the corner. This little red recording light was still blinking away. I stared directly into the lens, confidently straightened my stolen tactical vest, shifted the enormous bag on my shoulder, and flashed the camera my absolute brightest smile. Thanks for the free shopping at midnight. Then the world twisted around me. The camera feed glitched entirely, and I vanished off the earth, taking 70 kilos of American survival gear and one Remington M870 shotgun with me. Exactly 30 minutes later, on the other side of the Pacific Ocean, video clips spread like wildfire across the internet. Someone had actually grabbed that store's surveillance footage and uploaded it online. It became the top trend in moments. Hashtags went totally crazy. A mysterious Asian man appears during a New York riot, loot a gun store, and evaporates into thin air. That Chinese kung fu or actual magic? That dodge was completely unreal. The blurry clip caught everything. A black-haired Asian guy appears out of nowhere. He dodges a point-b blank shotgun blast with a crazy acrobatic combat flip. He methodically clears the place of precious survival gear with total professional efficiency. Suddenly pauses to save the wounded owner, smiles at the camera. Then in the final frames, he just completely fades from existence. Gone. No door, no window, zero escape routes. He just evaporated. The comment section completely exploded. Who exactly is this guy? That was seriously wild. The way he dodged that shotgun blast that takes military training. No regular civilian ever moves like that. Where is the rest of the clip? Did they actually catch him? Man, the FBI is already all over this case. The security feed scrambled at the very end. They couldn't find him anywhere. He literally vanished. People started throwing out wild theories. An undercover agent, a secret operative, or some kind of hidden martial arts master living among regular people. Meanwhile, over at the Division 305 headquarters in China, the command center was dead silent. Every single eye stayed locked on the big screen. It was frozen on that final frame. my smiling face staring right into the camera lens. Decad mission Lee Yaoong rubbed his forehead and let out a long, completely exhausted sigh. So that explains it. No wonder we turned the entire country upside down and found absolutely nothing. We deployed every single patrol officer and still not a trace. That teleportation dropped him overseas. The general beside him had a face of stone, fighting a mix of reluctant admiration and absolute shock. But while the kid went on a shopping trip to America, at least Li Yaoong said, giving a slow nod. He got a weapon. A Remington M870 shotgun loaded with slugs. Unless he is fighting a T-Rex. That gun gives him enough firepower to hold his ground in that world. General, we really need to expand our coverage area. 3 days from now, local surveillance just isn't going to cut it. We have to mobilize our overseas resources, too. Meanwhile, back in the alien portal cave, a green light suddenly flashes. Slam. I hit the cave floor, completely buried under 70 kg of gear. That sudden gravity shift totally threw off my balance. Pain flared in my knees and palms, but I didn't care at all. My hands were already ripping open the backpack zipper, fingers scrambling until they finally closed around it. That cold, beautiful steel barrel. Click clack. The echo of racking a shotgun shell rang through the cave. A crisp, sharp sound full of a very violent promise. The absolute greatest sound I've heard since landing on this planet. I looked up to see Sulie and Su Yao running toward me, faces glowing with shock, joy, and pure relief all at once. I gave them a massive wide smile. Bright as the sun like a kid who just won the biggest carnival prize. Ladies, get a fire going and boil some water. Every single ounce of misery that pig put us through these past 3 days. We are taking it all back tonight with interest. Dinner is going to be brazed pig snout. I was tackled the second I stood up. Both girls threw themselves at me, trembling and clinging on incredibly tight. Even covered in a whole week of cave grime. They were still undeniably pretty, feeling them shivering against me. All that leftover adrenaline from dodging shotgun fire in New York slowly drained away. My heart just completely softened. "Okay, all right, stop crying now." I ruffled Su Yao's messy hair with one hand and patted Sulie's shoulder with the other, though. We had a tiny little problem this time around. The portal threw me halfway across the planet, straight into America, actually. I didn't quite make it home. What? You went overseas? Su Yao looked up, her tear stained face completely stunned. Yeah, I couldn't check on your mom. Didn't get a hot meal either. But I patted the massive hiking bag next to me. Totally unable to hide my smug grin. Though your big brother went on a little Z shopping spree. The old lady at the seed store already got paid with your gold necklace. Just consider this as me collecting some healthy interest on that solid investment. Now help me up. We have been rotting in this cave way too long. Tonight we actually celebrate. They dragged me back to my feet. I dragged the bulging backpack over and unzipped it. All three pairs of eyes instantly locked onto the stash inside. started pulling things out like a cartoon character reaching into a magic bag. Tada beef jerky sticks. Super high calories, lots of fiber. One single stick keeps you energized all day. Sua's eyes lit up like lanterns. She snatched one, hugging it with her small hands. The wow big brother Lin is seriously amazing. Yaoya has only eaten pork for days and literally couldn't go to the bathroom at all. Next up, canned meat, canned veggies, 10 cans total. Veggies. We actually have veggies here. A Swiss Army knife. A chopping axe. Now we can actually cut firewood and cook properly. Every single item I pulled out, Su Yao stood there acting like the world's greatest cheerleader. Non-stop wows, her eyes literally sparkling with tiny stars of pure admiration. Even Sui, who usually keeps her cool, couldn't stop her own eyes from lighting up more and more. A huge smile crept across her face, completely unhidden. Linbai, "You really are amazing," she whispered. Her eyes went incredibly soft, like she was melting. "You think that's amazing? The best stuff is still sitting at the bottom of the bag." I smiled, reached deep inside the bag, and hauled out two sets of clothes. Those high-end tactical jackets with matching pants, the exact kind that runs for several thousand back at the American stores. The waterproof, windproof, complete with removable fleece linings. Out here in this damp, freezing cave, this was literally life-saving gear, brand new clothes. Even Sulie couldn't hold back a tiny shriek. Nobody knew just how miserable it was being stuck in the same torn school uniforms for over a week. Skirts too short to even warm their legs. worn filthy socks reduced to rags. Cold and totally miserable. Didn't even cover it. You two can change later. I also grabbed matching climbing boots. Specially picked out the insulated heavyduty kind. Then I handed the clothes over. The girls hugged the jackets tight against their chests, hands literally shaking from sheer excitement. They inhaled the fresh fabric, practically crying from joy. Then I reached into a side pocket and pulled out a small black roll. I glanced over at Su Yao, who was still grinning like crazy over the beef jerky. I gave it to the more rational sister instead. Dropped the bag in Ceulie's hands. Here, is this more clothes? She blinked, instinctively, squeezing the bag. Soft, thin. She opened it and peeked inside. One look, that was all it took. Her face went from completely normal to bright crimson in about half a second. The intense flush spread from her cheeks right down to her neck. Inside the bag were several individually wrapped sets of white cotton underwear, disposable bras, and panties, all covered in tiny strawberry prints. Total girly style. But you actually brought these," she whispered, her voice so faint I barely caught it. She couldn't even look me in the eye. The one thing they never complained about, which was honestly worse than the hunger, was the hygiene situation with their underwear. Wearing the exact same clothes for a week in a damp cave, was silently driving these clean freaks insane. It was just way too embarrassing to ever bring up. Just grabbed them on my way out. "No big deal," I said casually. "Just for hygiene. We're stuck out here for a really long time." Billy bit her lip, clutching the small bag tight against her chest. Embarrassed, sure, but that deep gratitude was completely genuine. The annoying, bossy, sharp tong guy had actually thought of a tiny detail like this, all while dodging bullets and racing a strict 3-minute clock. Thank you. Her voice was soft and warm. Nothing like the ice princess I met 2 weeks ago. Don't mention it. We're practically family at this point. I stood up, pointing to the stelactite in the corner where we gathered water. We'd been drinking bottled water for days, so the dripping cave water had built up a decent reserve. Go on, get changed. That water isn't drinkable, but it's fine for washing up. Get clean, put the new clothes on, and let's get one comfortable night of sleep. The getting clean hit them like an electric shock. Both girls teared up, completely overwhelmed, actually washing up. They'd been dreaming about this for days, feeling clean skin instead of layers of dried sweat and nasty cave dust. Then Sulie glanced at me. then around the wide open cave. No walls anywhere, no curtains, zero privacy. Lynbby, could you please turn around? Her face was completely flushed, her voice dropping into a soft, pleading whisper. It sounded dangerously close to flirting, though I was entirely sure she didn't mean it that way. Not really necessary, I muttered. It's not like I haven't seen everything when you two sleep anyway. But I turned around anyway, sitting with my back to them at a respectful distance. Then I pulled out the iPhone I'd snagged from that shop owner's pocket. A 90% battery. Excellent. I started using the camera, filming the cave entrance and the outside through the air vents. The next gate drops me back in China. I'm leaving this phone behind. Extra evidence for the authorities to dig into. Don't you dare turn around. Sulie warned from behind me, trying her best to sound threatening. If you peek, I will. She stopped talking for five solid seconds. Unable to find a real threat, she just stomped her foot in frustration. Behind me, the rustle of stripping clothes filled the silence. Inside that dead quiet cave, every rustle and whisper echoed a hundred times over. The soft slide of fabric against skin felt like a feather tickling my heart. Hey sister, could you help wash my back? I can't reach. The yao<unk>'s sweet soft voice floated over. Just keep it down. Duly whispered back fiercely, thing completely flustered. Then came a cloth dipping in water ringing out and the quiet friction of wet fabric sliding over bare skin. Ah, sister, your hands are freezing. Su Yao gasped softly. Her sister told her to just bear it. They needed to clean up properly. Billy's voice was shaking, yet it carried a happy tone. The pure joy of finally washing off over a week of thick grime. I sat there filming the cave entrance with my phone, pretending to be completely professional. The noises behind me kept fueling my imagination with vivid scenes I could not erase, no matter how hard I tried. Pale skin glowing faintly under the metallic light. Drops of water tracing paths down smooth backs. This was absolute torture, but I kept smiling anyway. Some kinds of torture you really do not mind. Big brother Lynbi. Suya<unk>s voice suddenly called out right behind me. What is it? I swallowed hard. I did not turn around. Just finished helping my sister wash up, too. Her shy voice carried an accidental innocent charm. Do you want us to help you clean up so we can wash your back for you? You must be pretty dirty, too. My heart literally stopped beating for a second. Does this girl even realize what she is saying? You idiot, Su Yao, shut your mouth. Sulie's panicked scream echoed loudly across the cave. Put your clothes on right now and stop spouting such nonsense. But big brother Linbai worked so hard. A more frantic rustling of clothes, then a long stretch of silence. Okay. Sulie's voice finally called out, still sounding a little bit shaky. You can turn around now. I took a second to calm the chaos in my chest, then slowly turned around. The sight made me hold my breath entirely. The sisters stood there wearing identical dark red tactical jackets. The clothes were a size too big, covering them completely from neck to ankle, hiding absolutely everything underneath. Their freshly washed faces were truly glowing for the first time in over a week. soft, pale skin with a natural rosy flush that the dirt had hidden all this time. Their wet hair fell freely over their shoulders. It caught the faint metallic light, making them look like they just stepped out of a painting. Sulie gripped that small black bag full of secret items with both hands. Though when she noticed me staring, she quickly looked away, absolutely terrified. Her hesitant expression caught right between shyness and wanting to speak was somehow way more attractive than when she threw herself at me while sleepwalking every night. I smiled, a truly warm smile. I patted the ground beside me and said I would skip bathing today. A little dirt never hurt anyone. Consider it a natural armor. Come sit down. Let us eat. We need full stomachs and maximum energy tonight because right after dinner we are going wild boar hunting. In those tactical jackets, the twins looked like completely different people. Clean and genuinely warm for the first time in a week. But once the awkwardness faded away, a completely new feeling took over their minds. Hunger. We had been eating random cold scraps for days. But an Asian stomach desperately needs hot food. Without it, you feel a strange emptiness. Suddenly, all three of our stomachs growled at the exact same time. A perfect three-part symphony of hunger. I pulled a small stainless steel camping pot from my backpack along with a tiny box of solid alcohol fuel tablets. Ducha's eyes went incredibly wide. The second she realized what I was doing. We were cooking real food. I arranged some flat rocks into a simple little stove, placing the fuel cube right in the middle. Ducha lost it. Jumping onto my back, she wrapped her arms around my neck, crying out from pure happiness. You jumped and clung to me. Even through that thick winter jacket, I felt things I was trying very hard to ignore. I lightly smacked her rear, telling her to get down before she choked me to death. Otherwise, nobody would be left to cook for them. Douly, quietly watching from the side, asked me why I never let them build a fire before. During all those freezing nights, she had desperately wanted to light the branches from outside the cave. "Simply because I do not want us to die," I said, pouring water into the pot. "The ventilation here is awful. Burning wood would fill the cave with smoke and suffocating carbon monoxide. We would be dead long before the food was ready. But these alcohol cubes burned clean. No smoke, complete combustion, and totally safe for enclosed spaces. And I sparked it with a gas lighter. The tiny blue flame danced cheerfully. Inside that pitch black cave, the small warm glow made it feel like civilization had finally returned to us. Soon the water was boiling. I entered chef mode. Diced meat into the pot, tossed in the dried vegetables, then salt and pepper straight from the Sue family kitchen. The rich smell of hot meat stew filled the cave. We had retreated to the deepest corner to escape that foul biological warfare stenched the motherboard left right on our doorstep. Back here, the air was so clean that the smell of real cooked food was completely overwhelming. Ducha sat by the stove, resting her chin on her hands, staring at the boiling meat like it was the most beautiful thing ever. Di tried to keep up her elegant sitting posture nearby, but her constant deep sniffs of the air completely gave her away. Five minutes later, I extinguished the flame. Lifting the steaming pot carefully, I placed it right in the middle of our little circle. Just one problem. Back at the American store in a rush with weight limits, choking every single choice, I only grabbed one spoon. I told them we got one spoon for three people. Tapped it against the pot. Tough luck. We take turns. I go second. Su Yao called it right away. Zero hesitation. Completely shameless. I had a feeling she actually preferred going after me instead of before. I completely spoiled her. I scooped a massive chunk of meat in hot broth, blew on it to cool it, and brought it straight to her lips. She opened wide like a little bird waiting for food, and swallowed it all in one giant gulp. Incredibly hot, but so good. She fanned her mouth with her hand while tears welled up in her eyes. Lost in a simple miracle actual hot food hitting her stomach after so many days, I took the second bite for myself. I didn't bother wiping the spoon, stuffed a massive piece of meat in my mouth. Damn, I really am a great cook. I scooped the third portion, offering it to Sulie. She just stared at the spoon. That spoon was just in her sister's mouth, then mine. Now it hovered right before her face. You probably saw traces of our saliva on the metal. Was this basically an indirect kiss? A chain kiss, too? Her face turned bright crimson. You two eat first. I am not hungry right now. That her stomach immediately growled out loud, echoing through the silent cave like a massive horn. I gave her a sarcastic look. Really? You sure? This is a limited time offer. Looked at the steaming meat on the spoon, then back at my sly eyes. The fight between pride and hunger lasted two seconds before hunger one. Fine, a kiss is a kiss. You charged in like a soldier, opening wide and clamping her lips onto the spoon. The metal felt warm from my hand. There was a faint taste beyond just the food. In that exact moment, she said it barely even felt like swallowing meat. She felt like she was swallowing my fingers. I grinned broadly, "Is it good?" She just chewed, head down, face burning red, though avoiding eye contact. And she whispered softly, "It is good. It tastes like you." The second she said it, she realized her mistake. She looked ready for the cave floor to split open and swallow her alive. It burst out laughing. That's how we ate. One spoon, three mouths. Your turn. My turn. Your turn. Passing that same warm metal around, sitting on a freezing rock in an alien cave billions of miles from home, surrounded by monsters. That incredibly simple pot of mixed soup became the absolute best, most intimate, and most comforting meal we had ever eaten. When the pot was empty, warmth spread through every corner of my body. Su Yao leaned on my left side. The least settled on my right. The three of us sat together, watching the last embers of the fuel block flicker and fade away. My hand found the shotgun lying beside me. Slowly, my eyes sharpened, shifting from a warm, lazy gaze to something much colder. "You guys full?" "Yeah, full!" they answered together, their voices heavy with satisfaction and exhaustion. "Great." I stood up, grabbed the Remington, and pumped it. The sharp metallic clack of a shell entering the chamber echoed like a deadly promise. "Time to hunt some pigs." Cross-legged on the cave floor, I ran a hand over the cold steel of the Remington M870. Its weight felt deeply reassuring. Click clack, click, clack. I practiced the pump action over and over. Aiming, pulling the trigger, pumping, aiming again until my clumsy movements finally felt fluid. I had never actually fired a real gun before. But between action movies and hundreds of hours playing shooters, the muscle memory was already installed. Because a shotgun at close range doesn't need perfect accuracy. This needs guts, steady hands, and getting up close. I peaked out through the air vent. Only one sun was still glowing weakly right above the horizon. The other two suns had already set. Darkness was coming. Hunting time. Boom. Boom. Right on schedule. The ground started shaking. She arrived. For 3 days straight, this vengeful beast showed up with the exact precision of a worker clocking in. Even with half her tusk snapped off from ramming our mountain, she still showed up on time. Hatred is a hell of a motivator. Get back, I whispered, waving both girls deeper into the cave. Douly and Su Yao instantly retreated behind the far rocks, clamping their hands over their mouths, eyes wide with sheer terror. Their hearts were pounding so loud I could almost hear them from where I crouched. To them, I was the absolute only thing standing between life and death. No pressure at all. With them hidden, I took a deep breath, pressing flat against the cave wall, sliding silently toward the blind spot by the entrance. The awful stench hit me like a solid wall, a foul mix of rotting pig and fresh urine. Right on Q, I heard the heavy sound of liquid hitting the dirt outside. This disgusting pig was using our front door as her personal toilet again, throwing dominance, marking territory a direct insult. I just clenched my jaw and said nothing. Not yet. Patience. I had to wait for the absolute perfect moment, right when her insane tantrum ended and she dropped her guard completely. The Remington shotgun had an extended tube and seven rounds. that this was a beast weighing hundreds of tons of monster evolved over millions of years on a planet where everything grows to truly terrifying sizes. Realistically, I had exactly one chance, one moment. If my first shot missed a vital spot, she would completely snap and crush the cave entrance or flee into the forest and never come back. I wouldn't get a second chance. Failing this ambush meant guaranteed death for the three of us. I set the gun down flat beside me, pulled two cotton balls from my pocket, and stuffed them inside my ears. Firing a shotgun inside a tight cave with sound waves bouncing off the stone walls at point blank range would instantly rupture my eardrums, maybe even knock me out completely. I couldn't afford either outcome. With my setup done, I turned to look at the two girls hiding behind a rock 30 m away. Two pairs of wide, tearful eyes stared back without blinking, trembling violently, but completely refusing to look away. I flashed a huge grin, raised an eyebrow, and blew a kiss. Sulie blinked in pure surprise as her face went completely red, but I noticed her shoulders relaxing a little. The terror in her eyes faded slightly, making room for something much warmer. What a total idiot she was probably thinking that about to fight for his life and still showing off. Then the sounds outside changed. The ramming stopped entirely. Heavy raspy breaths echoed through the cave. The giant S was confused. Usually, creatures inside would scream when she rammed the mountain. Today, it was dead silent. Plus, a strange smell was drifting out something actually delicious. It was our cooked food. Did the tiny pests inside escape or die? Just thinking about her enemies fleeing about her baby's killers escaping after she snapped half her tusk for revenge made her incredibly anxious and agitated. They lowered her massive head slowly pressing her left eye directly against the cave. That blood red pupil shrank in the dark, scanning the space inside. She easily spotted the two females shivering in the far corner. He noticed the weirdly aromatic food pile, but the male, the one who killed her baby, was nowhere to be found. He exhaled foul hot air into the cave, trying to peer deeper. That was the critical moment. From her blind spot, a shadow exploded forward like lightning. I launched off the wall in one smooth motion, dropped to one knee, and raised the shotgun. The black muzzle rose up like the scythe of death itself, aimed straight at that massive bloodshot eye. Barely half a meter away, the barrel was practically inside her eye socket. See you in your next life. I screamed those words and squeezed the trigger hard. Boom! The first shot tore through the air like a massive thunderbolt, drowning out every single sound in existence. The orange muzzle flash illuminated the entire cave entrance like a sudden lightning strike. From point blank range, the solid slug unleashed absolutely devastating kinetic energy. That massive blood red eye, the same one glaring at us with murderous intent for three whole days, promising our death and memorizing our exact scent, now exploded like a fragile water balloon. The fluids splattered everywhere. The slug met zero resistance to punching through the ruined eye socket to carving a path deep inside the skull, then heading straight into her brain. A sharp screech, a scream of pure unfiltered agony tore from the monster. Even with the cotton, my skull vibrated violently. But I wasn't done yet. When you wound your prey, you always finished the job. No hesitation. Zero mercy. Click clack. I pumped the shotgun. The empty shell spun through the air. Boom. The second shot slammed into the same open gap, following the exact path carved by the first bullet. A brutal double tap to the brain. That second round turned whatever was left inside her massive skull into liquid soup. Outside that three-story beast had terrified us for days, literally choking us with a foul stench of rotten waste. The monster that shook our mountain like an earthquake, glaring at us with pure murderous intent, now stumbled backward on its six massive legs. Their body was still reacting to the final signal from a ruined brain. Retreat to the forest. Go home. Those signals were already dead. A massive crash. The ground shook violently as hundreds of tons of flesh and bone collapsed onto the rocky clearing outside. Thick dust and debris scattered everywhere. The impact hit like a bomb. Her six massive legs twitched a few times, then nothing. Dead silence. I held my position. The smoking shotgun still raised completely ready to fire again. If she even twitched. An entire agonizing minute passed by. It pulled the cotton from my ears, listened closely. I stared at the massive dark shape lying dead outside our door and slowly exhaled. Tonight we sleep peacefully. Tonight we actually sleep. I lowered the gun and checked outside. The moonlight barely lit up a single thing. The beast was dead, but all this fresh blood would attract other deep jungle predators. The butchering meat at night in a pitch black forest swarming with venomous snakes and bugs. Absolutely impossible. I'd rather starve waiting for the next gate back to Earth than risk doing that. The second I turned around, two warm bodies crashed right into me. Yao was sobbing. She squeezed my waist so hard it felt like she was trying to literally fuse into my body. Julie stayed quiet, but her hands were gripping my clothes like a vice, and she was still trembling. Watching me blow up a monster's eye at point blank range was way too much for two spoiled girls. They had never seen anything more violent than a high school play. I pulled them both in, one in each arm, and patted their backs. The threat was gone. From now on, we own this territory. Douly finally lifted her face from my chest. Her eyes were totally red, and something inside them had completely shifted. That final layer of princess pride, that stubborn barrier she held on to since day one was finally shattered for good. All that was left was pure absolute trust. She told me to wait until tomorrow for the meat since going out tonight was way too dangerous. Her voice sounded soft and incredibly obedient. She promised that tomorrow she and Suya would do whatever I asked. I was genuinely stunned. Die's voice had turned completely gentle and submissive. She sounded exactly like her sister. Those two shotgun blasts didn't just take down a wild boar. They completely tamed the proudest girl I had ever met in my entire life. Though we pushed the heavy rocks back against the entrance to block the wind and keep small creatures out. After that, we laid down in our makeshift sleeping area. Two sisters laid down on either side of me without any hesitation. No more pretending they didn't actually want to. Di took my left shoulder and Su Yao took my right. Their soft hair lightly brushed against my face. Their faint scent completely overpowered the stench of blood outside. I pulled out the iPhone I took from that American shop owner. No password. The old guy didn't even set a lock screen. I opened it up, hoping to find some downloaded movies to kill time during this totally boring space night. He had no internet and barely any power. A phone loaded with offline content was an absolute treasure for boosting morale. Two small heads instantly leaned in and pressed against me from both sides. They rested their chins on my shoulders, eyes glued to the screen like curious kittens. Having two warm bodies pressing in close with their breath on my neck felt pretty surreal. Back on Earth, an ordinary student like me could never even dream of a situation like this. A Su would have hired bodyguards to snap my legs before I ever got within 10 m of her precious daughters. But out here, the rules were different. Su Yao pointed at a folder named good and asked what was inside it. It was practically bursting with curiosity. I told her not to mess with personal files, but I was too late. Her finger already tapped it. The video launched. Autoplay kicked in before we even caught a glimpse of the thumbnail. Oh, yes. Yes. A highly passionate woman's voice echoed out. He had a thick European accent. The audio blasted from the phone speaker and bounced off every single rocky surface inside our cave. The acoustics honestly created the perfect surround sound experience. Every moan bounced right off the walls, coming back even louder than before. The one second of dead silence, I could literally feel both girls turning to stone against my shoulders. Totally stiff, not breathing at all. Meanwhile, on the screen, two athletes were engaged in the most primitive form of wrestling known to man. That sweet looking old guy with the white beard actually had a pretty wild private collection. Very comprehensive, completely unhinged. The ya let out a series of broken squeaks and flailed her arms wildly, accidentally smacking the phone right out of my hands. Device flew 2 m through the air and landed face up on the rocky floor. It didn't break. Of course, it survived. Now the speaker was pointed straight at the ceiling. The dedicated European actress sounded even louder and clearer as her voice bounced off the dome above us. She screamed out for her baby. The silence that followed was the kind that makes you want to melt straight into the floor from pure secondhand embarrassment. Billy buried her face so deeply into my jacket. I honestly started worrying she might suffocate. Her ears were glowing bright red you could probably use them for emergency lighting. Meanwhile, Su Yao slapped both hands over her eyes. You kept her fingers awkwardly spread apart, loudly repeating that she hadn't seen anything. She swore she saw absolutely nothing. Just sat there. My mouth was twitching. I genuinely wondered what I did in my past life to deserve a moment this insanely awkward. With a heavy sigh, I got up, grabbed the phone, and paused the video with surgical precision. Then I locked the screen. Perfect peace and quiet finally returned to our cave. I cleared my throat with total authority, trying to save the situation. I told them we should sleep, pointing out that all living creatures have a basic reproductive instinct. This just falls under basic biology. There is absolutely no reason for anyone to be shocked. Pitching that utterly ridiculous statement with the dead pan seriousness of a college professor was my last desperate attempt to kill the awkward vibe. We laid back down. This time both girls stayed completely still. No fidgeting, no talking, and definitely zero requests to look at that phone again. Eyes closed. I soaked in their warmth from both sides. But my brain was already racing, moving on to far more practical matters. Entire sleeping arrangement was going to have to change. The three of us crashing on a large floor mat made sense for pure survival. But going forward, trying to have a private chat with one of them while her twin just lies there watching us in silence. Impossible. Never going to work. Right then, a plan started taking shape. Besides butchering that pig tomorrow, I really need to put home construction on my to-do list. Putting up wooden partitions inside this cave, real walls, at least three bedrooms in a common area. But once they have their own rooms, picking who gets a late night visit is completely up to me. Later that night, I suddenly snapped wide awake. The earlier shootout left my nerves totally fried. Getting any deep sleep was pretty much impossible. Through the gaps in our rock barricade, I could hear these terrifying crunching sounds, chewing, and bones snapping. Something massive was eating outside. Actually, multiple things. The dead pigs blood definitely attracted the forest night shift. Scavengers were happily enjoying a free all you can eat buffet right on our doorstep. I listened closely. It sounded like several massive predators fighting over meat, but our rock wall was totally solid. Unless something the size of a bulldozer shows up. Those opportunists aren't getting inside. Just eat and leave. I turned and pulled the girls closer. Fast asleep as usual, a warm Su Yao buried herself into my chest, mumbling about wanting more braised pork. Then a seriously disturbing thought hit me. What if those animals animals were actually eating the piglet? The one I fed five bottles of concentrated insecticide. But would that chain of deadly poison wipe them out, too? Then their relatives find a pile of dead family members at my door, kicking off another bloody revenge cycle. Matrosashka doll of pure revenge. An endless loop of dying animals and angry families investigating. At this rate, my doorstep is going to become a terrifying mass grave. Whatever. Not my problem. I pressed my face into Sulie's hair. The vent occasionally wafted foul smells inside, but her scent was absolutely intoxicating. I fell back asleep. Next morning, I woke up after eight full hours. Best sleep I've had since crash landing on this planet. No dreams, just pure rest and total darkness. I carefully slid Sulie's thigh off my chest, then moved Suya's head from my stomach. Just the usual morning routine. Nature calls. I dragged myself to the bathroom zone deep inside the cave, dropped my pants, and aimed straight for our designated pit. The flow barely started when, oh my god. The brutal howl erupted just outside the cave entrance, barely 3 m away. The noise slashed through the morning silence like a blade. Every muscle in my body cramped instantly, including the one controlling the flow, which stopped so violently I almost gave myself internal damage. What the hell? I wouldn't wish that forced midstream cut off pain on my worst enemy. I stood there scowling, feeling like my insides had twisted into a painful knot. The sun is barely up and you're screaming like that. I finished up fast, yanked my pants up, grabbed the shotgun, and rushed to peek through the entrance gaps. Nothing. Just a messy battlefield of white bones and scattered remains outside. The stuffed scavenger left a victory roar as a restaurant review before heading home. Lucky you ran fast. I cursed softly, setting the shotgun aside. These alien creatures have zero manners. Back at camp, the girls were still completely knocked out. That horrific howl didn't make them flinch. After three straight days of psychological terror from the mother pig, their nerves were so completely fried that their brains just decided to stop registering scary sounds while asleep. Your self-preservation through ignorance. Sleeping Sulie's face looked softer than ever. That cold, proud mask vanished, replaced by something gentle and calm. Her eyelashes fluttered lightly with her breathing. Beside her, Su Yao<unk>s mouth hung open. A thin drool line clinging to my jacket. Cute, but also kind of gross. Crouching beside them, I watched their calm, flushed faces sleeping deeply. Something incredibly warm shifted inside my chest. I leaned down and kissed both their cheeks. Mwah. Mwah. Sulie slowly blinked open her eyes. Touching her cheek, she saw me smiling down at her. Her lips curled into a lazy, sleepy little grin. Good morning. Her sleep heavy voice was feather soft, stirring something deep inside me. Morning. Sun is up. Time to move. I playfully pinched her cheek stood up in a great mood and instantly fired up the camp stove. Breakfast was incredibly simple. Two cans of sweet rice porridge heated up with sliced beef. It created a bizarre sweet and salty combo that shouldn't have worked, but somehow really did. Yao woke up the second she smelled food. She crouched by the pot, watching it boil like it was some intense nature documentary. Dish looked pretty ugly, but we completely scraped the entire pot clean. Anyway, breakfast done. I wiped my mouth. Time to get serious. Gear up. I tossed Sulia a sharp hunting knife from the backpack. I grabbed the axe and machete. That giant pig I killed last night was our future food supply, but those hungry knight monsters already devoured a massive chunk of it. But we had to salvage whatever was left before the meat completely vanished. I stood up, rolled my shoulders, and felt a satisfying pop in my joints. My eyes narrowed with intense focus. Today, we had exactly one mission. Secure the meat. Slice it extremely thin, then smoke it dry. When we finish, I want every cave wall absolutely covered in jerky. One, two, three, push. The three of us shoved the heavy boulders away from the cave entrance. We could only shift the smaller ones, but that was enough. Sunlight flooded inside for the first time in days. But before I could even take a single breath, a wave of pure stench slammed into me like a physical blow. The picture rotting durian and raw sewage sealed in a pressure cooker for 3 days, then blasting the lid off directly into your face. My eyes instantly burned. My stomach churned. The breakfast almost made a second appearance. Good lord, this was unbelievably disgusting. I spun around to face the two girls who were standing right behind me, ready to follow. Stay inside. Do not step out right now. Cover your noses first. Since we lacked actual gas masks, we tore strips from our old shirts and tied them tight over our faces as makeshift air filters. It barely worked. Coughing and groaning, I gripped my rifle and crawled slowly outside. I squinted hard against the blinding tripled sunlight. I scanned the remains of last night's feast. I expected a gruesome scene, but what I actually saw sent an ice cold shiver straight through my skull. On the left side of the entrance, where that pesticide stuffed piglet corpse had been, nothing remained. It wasn't dragged away. It had completely vanished without a single trace. Just a scattered, perfectly clean skeleton. Like it had just been scrubbed through a massive industrial dishwasher. Not one single shred of meat clung to those bones. The scavengers had been unbelievably thorough. Around those bones, the ground was completely carpeted in dead mosquitoes. Thousands of them, maybe even tens of thousands. This sized insect corpses piled on each other in a thick layer. My whole body tensed up. Thank god I stayed inside last night. If I went out in the dark, a giant mosquito swarm would have drained me totally dry before I took three steps. Directly outside the entrance lay the mother pig. That horrifying three-story tall nightmare beast. It looked much worse. Half of her massive body had been completely devoured overnight. Her belly was ripped wide open. Dozens of bizarre alien leeches clung to the exposed flesh. Each one swollen to the size of a basketball bloated with her blood. Just looking at it sent such a nauseating shudder through my body that I instantly stumbled backward. Her guts were scattered everywhere and her hind quarters were completely hollowed out. Something had crawled straight inside and entirely emptied out her body like she was violently dissected by the most aggressive surgeon on the planet. In one single night, they devoured a multi-tonon piglet and half of a 100-tonon adult. The sheer appetite required to do that broke my brain. But what kind of twisted monsters lived in this cursed forest? But that wasn't even the most shocking discovery. My eyes locked onto several nearby corpses I hadn't noticed at first. Three bizarre creatures completely dead. Not quite pigsiz, maybe slightly bigger than an earth cow or a horse, but their physical appearance was just absolute terrifying madness. Soft gray blue feathers covered their bodies. They had thick, incredibly strong tails and huge, muscular hind legs built for explosive speed. Their front limbs were stubby yet ended in massive sickle-shaped claws. These things were engineered for one singlepurpose killing. Their lifeless jaws hung half open, revealing rows of jagged teeth that looked like miniature saw blades. Were these actually real feathered dinosaurs? A terrifying freezing chill shot up from my feet directly to my scalp. The colors and fine details were different, but that body shape and structural proportion were absolutely unmistakable. I saw these exact silhouettes in dinosaur museums back when I was a kid. They looked exactly like raptor, small predators that hunted in packs, using those curved claws to shred prey. I slowly lifted my head, staring into the dense woods with fresh total panic. The insanely high oxygen levels, the giant fern-like plants everywhere. Those towering sky-high trees and now actual dinosaur corpses dumped right at my feet. A terrifying realization violently clicked into place. This entire planet was a prehistoric world. We had basically crashlanded straight into the Jurassic period. Gathering my nerves, I carefully stepped past the alien leeches, which seemed way too eager to meet me, and approached one of the dead raptors. I kicked it hard with my boot. The flesh felt stiff and completely rigid, definitely dead. The jaw was stained with extremely dark blood, and a gross puddle of dried vomit sat beneath the corpse. It clicked instantly. These unlucky predators had totally joined the scavenging party last night. They ate the piglet, the exact one we stuffed full of five heavy bottles of Earth's absolute finest agricultural pesticides. Parakqua and dicloros wrecked them from the inside. Pesticides work on dinosaurs, too. Good to know. My smile vanished. A chilling thought started creeping in. I stared down at the three raptor corpses. They were clearly just babies. Not even close to fully grown. Babies. Practically infants. Really? Wait a second. These things probably belong to some other monster, too, right? Given how things work on this nightmare planet. Just days ago, I killed a piglet and its mother waged a massive 3-day war of terror against us. And now I just accidentally poisoned a bunch of baby dinosaurs. The pattern was painfully obvious. Is there some T-Rexized parent out there right now heading this way to settle the score, my palms grew slick with sweat against the shotgun grip? I frantically scan the treeine, half expecting a massive reptile head to burst through the brush any second. A shotgun versus a full-grown T-Rex. The math on that totally sucks for me. We cannot stay here. I forced down those dark thoughts and focused on the only thing that mattered right now, the leftover meat. Even with half of it devoured overnight, the mother pig corpse was still absolutely massive. This thing stood three stories tall when it was alive. Even lying on its side, the head alone was three or four meters across. The body stretched over 20 m like a collapsed castle wall. Standing next to it, I felt like a toddler next to a beached whale. I walked forward and stretched my arms wide to measure the sheer size. There were still dozens of tons of meat left here, minimum pure protein. Fear and greed battled inside me, but greed won out. Fortune favors the bold. Cowards just starve. Even if a T-Rex is on its way, I'm getting as much meat as I can first. I was about to call the girls out to help when I suddenly noticed the edges of those horrifyingly massive bite marks on the pig. The torn meat was totally mangled. Bones snapped clean through, but whatever did this had bitten through that impossibly thick pig's skin and dense bone like it was nothing but air. A cold, terrifying realization took hold of me. This pig had skin so tough that my shotgun blast only worked because I fired directly through its eye socket. Normal predators are not supposed to tear through that armor, yet something shredded it overnight and devoured tens of tons of solid meat. I stared at the seemingly peaceful woods around us. The freezing chill sank deeper into my spine. But whatever ate here last night was the size of this pig, or maybe bigger, and there was more than one. This planet was not just some dinosaur world. It was a place where our three-story pig, that creature we saw as an unstoppable killing machine, was probably sitting right near the bottom of the food chain. We lived in terror of it for 3 days. But to the real predators out here, it was just another casual meal. We are ants. Literally just ants that stumbled into a monster nest. I swallowed that fear deep down and turned toward the cave entrance. Suli. Su Yao. Grab the knives and get out here right now. Whether it is dinosaurs or monsters, we have to cut as much meat off this thing as possible before their parents show up. Grab everything we can carry. A loud metallic clang. I swung the chopping ax with all my strength. The axe bounced off the skin like I struck a massive truck tire. The recoil almost ripped the handle away, leaving my palms stinging and completely numb. How is this thing so tough? I walked around the corpse to where the scavengers tore it open overnight and checked the exposed cross-section. But what I saw made my blood freeze. Beneath the coarse black bristles was a thick layer of white fat, then dense outer skin, followed by an even denser, harder inner layer. Measured the skin itself, ignoring the fat layer, and it was half a meter thick, half a meter of insane biological armor. This pig wore a built-in bulletproof vest its entire life. I touched the shotgun, slung across my back, and broke into a cold sweat. I was wandering around feeling invincible, all because I had a gun. Now I realized if that pig had not arrogantly pressed its eyeball right against my barrel, giving me a shot at its only weak spot, I could have emptied the whole clip into it, and it would feel nothing, just a pleasant little scratch. Though, if it had been just slightly faster and closed that thick eyelid in time, the bullet probably would have barely broken the skin and stopped. It would not be fatal at all. I stared at the meat mountain before me. Hundreds of tons of prime protein, unable to slice a single piece. The axe was totally useless against this armor. Then Su Yao called out to me from nearby. He was crouching by the piglet carcass, struggling to pull out something heavy and white. It was a tooth. The dinosaur tooth snapped off during the feeding frenzy last night. Thick as a grown man's forearm, half a meter long, ivory white with hook serrated edges on both sides. They took it from her hands. surprisingly heavy and warm to the touch, not freezing cold like bone usually is. I brought my fingertip close to the edge to test its sharpness. Before I even touched it, I felt a stinging buzz like faint static electricity. I looked down. My finger was bleeding from a tiny cut, though I never actually touched the blade. This thing radiates sword energy, but even with a ridiculously sharp fang, I lacked the multi-tonon bite force of a dinosaur, and it really pierced through half a meter of this boar armor. I sterilized it first with a blowtorrch. Under that blue flame, something completely bizarre happened. Instead of charring or cracking from the heat, the fang actually absorbed the flames. Its surface morphed from dull ivory into a clear transparent crystal. Jagged edges started glowing with a faint red pulse. Definitely no ordinary bone. It was some organic alloy material way beyond normal flesh and blood. I wrapped a cloth strip around the base for a grip, stepped up to the massive bore, and stabbed downward with everything I had. Then a loud hiss. The second that Fang hit the skin, it sounded just like searing hot iron. That thick hide that bounced my axe completely melted right on impact. Zero resistance. My hand plunged straight in and before I even processed it, the halfmeter blade was buried to the hilt in the bore armor. Weapon is genuinely legendary. The dragon fang clearly has a natural ability to punch through heavy armor. It didn't even need brute force. Just a light drag was enough to tear right through. Yow, you are my lucky star. I dropped the fang, swept her up into a huge bear hug, pulled down my mask, and planted a giant kiss on her dirty little face. It covered her cheeks. Her eyes crinkled into happy little crescent, smiling like she just won the lottery. Off to the side, though, Sulie was watching us, looking pretty annoyed. It was super obvious she was bothered, mostly because her goofy sister managed to help me first. With the dragon fang, the carving finally started. I was a regular professional butcher. The blade practically danced through the meat, slicing perfect cuts of pork shoulder and tenderloin off that massive corpse. The work was definitely exhausting, but compared to a useless axe bouncing off, this was a miracle. Keep moving, girls. But watch out for ground leeches and mosquitoes, and never step on those rock crevices. Giant centipedes and scorpions are hiding right inside. Julie and Suao worked intensely right beside me. Both dragged door-sized leaves piled high with meat strips, hauling them back and forth to the cave entrance like busy little ants. We kept at it all day. Three different suns rose and set before we finally stopped. Even with our enhanced bodies, we were too exhausted to stand. Though we looked back at that massive monster, all that heavy lifting barely made a dent in its back, tearing down dozens of tons of meat. Our couple thousand lbs felt like a drop in the ocean. This thing was just insanely massive. Wiping sweat from my forehead, I felt torn between frustration and pure shock. We had to stop. It was getting dark. Working blind near rock crevices full of venomous bugs was straight up suicide. By tomorrow morning, scavengers would definitely eat whatever was left out here. What a waste. We dragged our tired bodies inside and sealed the entrance. I clicked on a tactical flashlight and aimed the beam straight at the ceiling. The sight above us completely wiped out every single drop of exhaustion. The flat stone walls of the cave were entirely plastered with long strips of meat. Perfectly marbled in red and white, they sparkled under the light, looking exactly like rows of expensive crimson carpet. Thousands of pounds of prime cuts from our brutal day of work. The air hung heavy with raw meat. But for three people who had tasted absolute starvation, that smell was the most comforting thing in the world. So much meat. Suao collapsed onto the cave floor, staring up at our stash with pure unadulterated joy. She said we could eat until New Year and still have leftovers. I sat down, too, but my smile vanished as a brand new problem hit me. This cave was way too damp. Without proper preservation, thousands of pounds of meat would rot and turn completely toxic in just 2 or 3 days. So, we had to dry or smoke it somehow. But our alcohol fuel supply was already running low. It would never be enough to cure a hall this massive. And burning firewood inside would flood the cave with carbon monoxide and thick smoke. Absolutely a death sentence. That is when a wild idea hit me. If I couldn't light a fire inside, I would just do it outside. The surrounding hill was packed with dry brush. But what if I torched the entire area? The more I thought about it, the more it actually made perfect sense. A controlled fire would solve multiple problems at once. The heat would bake through the rocks and naturally dry all our meat hanging inside. Plus, the roaring flames would incinerate the rotting corpses outside that might attract dangerous predators. It would completely wipe out those venomous centipedes, giant spiders, and other creepy crawies hiding in the rocks. It would clear out the forest, giving us open ground for farming and a clear view to spot any approaching threats. The risk was terrifying, but our cave ran deep. We had plenty of room to retreat and hide from the blistering heat. If we tightly sealed the entrance, those thick rocks would completely protect us. Looking at the two exhausted girls, I decide to keep the details to myself for the night. Tomorrow morning, I start exploring the deeper sections of this cave. If I told them right now, they wouldn't get a wink of sleep. The Linda, you are completely covered in blood. Sulie's voice snapped me right back to reality. I looked down. The tactical jacket was dark red, totally soaked in pig blood after a full day of butchering. Sticky, rank, and completely disgusting. I stripped it off, leaving my chest bare. The blood and dirt smeared all over my chest and back. Don't you dare move. Deise stepped up with a wet cloth from our nearly depleted water supply. Let me clean this off you. Her voice was incredibly soft and gentle. Before I could even refuse, Su Yao showed up with another cloth. Me too. Big brother Linbai worked the hardest today. They boxed me in one in front, one behind. Sulie knelt down, pressing a cold, damp cloth against my burning skin. He wiped slowly and carefully treating me like something incredibly precious. The Yao sat right in front of me, intensely scrubbing my face and chest, dead silence in the cave. Just the faint sound of wet cloth against bare skin. That whole day's heavy exhaustion suddenly mixed with their faint sweet scent. It tangled with that electric chill every time their fingertips brushed my bare skin. Everything melted into this warm, sweet, and dangerously intimate feeling. Just sat there between them, swallowing hard while my heart hammered. I watched Sulie's hair cascade forward as she leaned in close and watched Su Yao's serious, totally focused eyes while she worked there. All done nice and clean now. Then Sulie pulled her hand back. Even in the dim light of that cave, I could see a rosy flush spreading across her cheeks. All right, time to get some sleep. My voice came out horsearo, rougher than I actually meant to sound. I dropped onto the giant leaf bed we made earlier, pulling both girls right into and my arm.