March 21st, 8:31 AM — Longwan Mall, South Basement Stairwell
John Wang POV
——
The steel door creaked open.
Damp air seeped up from below, thick with dust and mildew. It clung to the inside of my nose like a wet cloth. The concrete stairs spiralled downward into near-black, and the emergency light over the threshold blinked in a slow, dying rhythm—like a heartbeat that was forgetting how to beat.
Chen Xun lit a flare.
Red washed the stairwell. Everyone's shadows stretched long and jagged against the walls, flickering with every step.
I handed out gear one at a time—torches, flashbangs, sighting modules. I kept my voice low as I clipped each item into place.
"Don't rely on electronics too much. These creatures might adapt again."
Zhou Xue blinked at the laser module on her bow. "John, how the hell did you—?"
"I'll explain later."
