Imagination system

Three days passed since Lu Fang's arrival at the shelter, and his body had finally healed, thanks to his awakened rank . While he didn't have a unique ability to accelerate his healing, his recovery was faster than most, allowing him to regain his strength much sooner than normal. His body felt light again, almost ready to move.

Stepping outside, he was greeted by the cool morning air. The sun had barely risen, casting a soft glow over the shelter. His mind was made up—it was time to leave. The shelter had given him refuge, but he had planned to leave the two girls, Li Mei and Li Lan, here for their safety. The shelter, under the protection of Captain Ren and his squad, seemed like the best place for them. But as he walked down the narrow path, something stopped him in his tracks.

His heart sank at the sight. Li Mei and Li Lan were sleeping on the cold, hard ground. Their small, fragile forms were curled up for warmth, but there were no blankets, no tents, nothing to shield them from the cold. The other refugees had at least some form of shelter, but the girls were left exposed, vulnerable.

Lu Fang's jaw tightened. He turned to a soldier standing nearby, a young man with a solemn expression. Without taking his eyes off the girls, he spoke.

"What's going on?" Lu Fang asked, his voice sharp. "Why are they sleeping on the ground? Why don't they have a tent or a blanket?"

The soldier shifted uncomfortably, glancing at the girls before answering. "It started three days ago, when you came in, injured. Everyone was worried about you, and then a new refugee arrived. He told us what you did—said you fought the Tiger boss Monster."

Lu Fang frowned. "What's wrong with that? Isn't it good that I fought it?"

The soldier hesitated before continuing. "It would have been fine if it was just a normal monster. But that was a Boss monster—an E-rank. What terrifies the people here is that this monster holds a grudge. You see, five days ago, at the start of the invasion, a general used a nuclear weapon against the monsters. He wiped out most of the weaker ones, but this Boss monster, it wasn't even scratched. The general and his men ran, thinking they were safe, but the next day, the monster attacked their base. It targeted the general and his soldiers first, and after killing them, it massacred everyone at the shelter."

Lu Fang's stomach churned at the soldier's words. "But didn't the captain kill it that night? So why are they still scared?"

The soldier shook his head. "No, the captain only injured it. His squad killed the F-rank monster, but the Boss E-rank monster escaped. It's still out there. And that's why the people here are scared. Every time we give Li Mei and Li Lan a blanket or a tent, the others take it from them. They believe that if the monster trackes them here it will kill everyone in this shelter."

Lu Fang clenched his fists, anger rising within him. The fear was understandable, but the way the girls were being treated—it was wrong. He turned back to the soldier.

"We can't do anything about it," the soldier added, his voice heavy with regret. "There are too many of these people, and the captain and his squad are still hunting the Boss. They haven't found it yet, but they're doing everything they can."

Lu Fang's eyes hardened. "Tell the captain goodbye for me," he said quietly. "And tell him I hope they find that monster soon."

The soldier nodded, but Lu Fang was already walking away. He approached the two girls, who were still sleeping on the ground. He crouched down, gently shaking them awake.

"Li Mei, Li Lan," he said softly, his voice firm but caring. "It's time to go."

The girls stirred, their eyes blinking open. When they saw him, a mixture of relief and sadness crossed their faces. Li Mei spoke first, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Lu Fang… are we leaving?"

He nodded, his expression softening. "Yes. It's time for you two to leave this place. You deserve better than this."

Li Lan sat up slowly, her eyes scanning the area. She then looked at him, a quiet resolve in her eyes. "But where will we go?"

Lu Fang stood, looking out at the horizon where the sun was beginning to rise. "I don't know yet. But I'll figure something out. I won't let you two stay here any longer."

The girls exchanged a glance, and after a brief moment They followed Lu Fang as he led them away from the shelter. The weight of the decision hung heavy in the air, but there was a sense of determination in his step.

As they walked, the shelter receded behind them, a place of fear and uncertainty. Ahead, the unknown awaited, but Lu Fang was ready to face whatever came next. For the first time in a long while, he felt a sense of purpose.

The sun continued to rise, casting its light on the path ahead. The fight was far from over, but for now, Lu Fang had made his choice. And he would protect the two girls, no matter the cost.