The function of the radio was to receive external signals. If it could also be enhanced, there might be other gains.
He looked at the numbers above.
'Five hours, just in time to finish before dawn. I can give it a try.'
So far, Yu Hong hadn't found any side effects from enhancing with the Black Mark. The most it consumed was his mental and physical energy.
By now, the axe was probably also finished being enhanced. He confidently responded to the inquiry in his ear.
In an instant, the radio in his hand blurred for a moment, then quickly became clear again. Numbers appeared on its surface: 5:11.
Seeing that the countdown had started, Yu Hong put it aside, sitting alone on the bed, holding a candle, exhaling deeply as a growing sense of isolation and fear overtook him.
*This fear wasn't just from the shadows and monsters that could appear around him at any moment. It was also from the unfamiliar corpse lying outside in the wilderness.*
He just sat there without moving, thoughts surging in his mind.
It wasn't until dawn that he felt slightly more at ease.
After drinking some water, Yu Hong left the house. The sun wasn't very bright and thick clouds hung in the sky. It was clear that it was going to rain today.
The air was damp, and as he walked, a chill seeped around his ankles.
He walked, then abruptly paused and turned his head to look at a house.
There, in the darkness, he vaguely saw a white shadow appearing and disappearing.
He took a deep breath and, carrying the radio, quickened his pace, hurrying towards the safehouse in the cave.
Over ten minutes later.
He reached the safehouse.
Bam.
The reinforced wooden door was slammed shut and the lock was bolted.
Only then did Yu Hong relax a bit, plopping down by the edge of the blanket.
Picking up the radio in his hand, he carefully examined it, discovering that the numbers were now gone.
The entire device had silently become brand new again.
Any previously broken parts were also fixed.
'Could it be that my enhancement ability not only enhances items but also repairs broken things?'
Yu Hong's heart skipped a beat.
He turned the radio over, opened the battery compartment, and found two blue AA batteries inside.
Suppressing his surprise, he replaced the battery cover and turned on the switch.
Click.
A sound immediately came from the radio.
Static...
Right after, a familiar static sound filled the air.
'It really works!?' Yu Hong was astonished.
He repeatedly turned the device over in his hands to ensure everything was okay, then raised it to his ear.
The sound was exceptionally clear, with no static, and he was highly satisfied.
'Let's try tuning to this local station...'
Since arriving at Baiqiu Village, he had been busy adapting to the environment and dealing with dangers all day long.
Finally, the safehouse in the cave was taking shape.
At least hiding here, he could avoid the shadows and monster bugs, which made him relax significantly.
Feeling a bit more at ease, Yu Hong turned the large round dial on the front of the radio, adjusting the frequency.
As the knob slowly turned, the static sounds continuously rose and fell.
Soon, with a swish, an extremely quiet band flashed by.
Yu Hong quickly returned to the previous position. Immediately, with a tweak, a mournful melody floated out from the radio.
The music seemed like a dirge, slow and protracted, with a low melody that unconsciously brought a heavy feeling to his heart.
Before Yu Hong could guess what the program was, a voice came from the radio.
"Once again reminding everyone, due to a lack of batteries, please turn on the radio daily at this time, adjust the frequency, and after listening, remove the batteries to save power."
A magnetic male voice came from the radio.
"This is the National Special Disaster Response Management Agency. I will provide daily updates on specific disaster situations across regions and report various changes during the Black Disaster, while also sharing part of Silver Tower's research on the Black Disaster. Please take it seriously."
Hearing this, Yu Hong's expression tensed. Realizing he had found the right station, he immediately placed the radio on the ground beside him, listening silently.
He had been active around Baiqiu Village, as his physical condition made it temporarily impossible to reach farther places.
Moreover, even in major places, it might not be possible to obtain the latest national research results.
So the content he received on this radio was invaluable to him.
At this moment, the radio continued speaking.
"According to statistics from the National Security Department, there are currently seven hundred and fifty-nine areas in our country still experiencing and spreading the Black Disaster. Each area is primarily dominated by large numbers of blood ticks, occasionally interspersed with shadows."
"According to Silver Tower's research, the overall intensity of the Black Disaster is increasing over time, following an upward curve.
The intensity of the shadows is also slowly increasing. All cities and towns are advised to prepare response plans."
"The peak period is approaching. During this time, all Black Disasters will show a significant increase in harmfulness. Among them, the blood ticks' resistance to light is slowly increasing. This trait greatly increases the energy consumption requirements of lighting tools."
Yu Hong listened carefully. Much of what the broadcaster explained was unknown to him.
Especially that the overall intensity of the Black Disaster was on the rise, causing a renewed sense of crisis within him.
He now had only a small amount of enhanced pyroxene left. The rest were either embedded or placed in the dark corners of the cave, serving as hidden protection for the safehouse.
With such a small amount of enhanced pyroxene, if during the peak period he encountered shadows, even just one or two a day, he couldn't withstand them.
Upon hearing this, he immediately decided to enhance more pyroxenes. Just as he picked one up to start, a clap of thunder sounded outside.
Immediately, the howling wind roared, sounding like a wailing.
At first, a few stray raindrops hit the wooden door outside, making a sound. Then the raindrops increased, becoming denser and denser.
Amidst the rustling sound.
Soon, within just a dozen seconds, a torrential downpour occurred.
The dense raindrops hit outside, producing a dense rattle.
Yu Hong reacted quickly, finding a newly made wooden bucket from the corner, opened the door, and placed it at the edge outside.
It was for collecting rainwater.
Rainwater, at least, was much cleaner than foul water.
After closing the door, Yu Hong listened to the rumbling thunder outside and the downpour.
Then looked at the dry, quiet cave, empty and desolate.
Suddenly, a sense of calm and stability filled his heart.
Returning to the dirty, stinking blanket, he sat on it, exhaling long.
Though smelly, it was safe.
In such circumstances, even drinking water was scarce; who dared bathe?
To bathe required water....
Suddenly, something occurred to Yu Hong, making him want to go out and use the rainwater for a bath, but he was worried about getting sick, catching a cold or fever. In times like these, with no medicine, what if he caught pneumonia....
He immediately suppressed the thought and sat quietly in the cave, staring out at the gloomy sky through the viewing window.
The radio continued to broadcast.
"....Due to the explosive growth in the number of shadows, the Response Management Bureau will, from today on, dispatch patrol teams to conduct routine inspections and collect detailed data on the shadows."
Before saying much more, the broadcaster's voice abruptly cut off, and his breathing became rapid.
"We interrupt with an emergency news bulletin: A malignant shadow event has occurred in Hope City No. 43 on Wuliang Mountain, resulting in hundreds of casualties. Due to the highly transmissible nature of these shadows, all outside communications to this Hope City are currently suspended, cutting off all normal incoming and outgoing transportation."
"Please note that the site of the malignant shadow event is Hope City No. 43 on Wuliang Mountain."
The broadcaster repeatedly emphasized the address, his voice grave and tense.
Yu Hong listened in shock.
'That's it?' He was puzzled—no rescue measures, just isolation? No supplies either?
No matter how long he waited, the broadcaster did not mention the recent news again, only continuing to discuss the latest official research findings and a report from an organization called Silver Tower.
The dangerous Hope City was never mentioned again.
Not a word.
Yu Hong squatted beside the radio, listening for over ten minutes with no signs of anything more.
Finally, he seemed to understand.
The authorities might have no other means against the shadows and Black Disaster but to seal them off, waiting for the intensity to pass.
Standing up, he sighed and went to the door, looking out.
He pried open a side inspection window, creating a large square window on the door.
Beyond the window was a layer of sturdy glass, allowing him to see the rain pouring relentlessly outside.
Through the rain, the mountain forest beyond seemed distorted, blurred.
Clap.
Another clap of thunder came.
Yu Hong suddenly thought of Stammering Yiyi, wondering how she was doing now.
She must have been caught in the rain halfway.
He hoped she was alright.
In such weather, he couldn't rashly go out to look for someone. Moreover, Stammering Yiyi's physical fitness was much better than his; even if he found her, he'd only be a burden.
Thinking of this, Yu Hong plopped down on the ground, relaxing his body.
Taking advantage of this moment of safety and silence, he turned off the radio, picked up a pyroxene, and continued enhancing.
The biggest troubles now were twofold: The candles were likely not enough, and they were running low on enhanced pyroxene.
Tomorrow was the last day—the final deadline before the peak period arrived, so they could still go out together for some more candles.
As for the pyroxene, he could only enhance them while having Stammering Yiyi rush to draw them.
'If what the radio says is true, and the Black Disaster is continuously intensifying... How will ordinary people, with scarce resources outdoors, survive in the future?' A faint fear suddenly crept into Yu Hong's heart.
He was someone who scared easily, timid and fearful, but as a result, he always imagined problems as extremely complex and dangerous.
This was an extremely abnormal mindset.
Yet in this kind of environment, such a trait seemed to serve him well.
'If there's no one left outside, even with Black Mark enhancement, without food, I won't survive.
So I must find a way to solve the food problem myself. I must be self-sufficient.'
Having secured some basic safety, Yu Hong turned his attention to food.
'And a water filtration device, I need to set up one of those as well. Those aren't things I can make on my own. I have to plan carefully.'
*
*
*
Clap.
The mountain forest was shrouded in heavy rain, with the overly dense rain almost forming a mist, enveloping the forest and obscuring the view.
What should have been bright in the morning was now pressed gray by the downpour.
The expansive forest resembled a loaf of bread covered in green mold.
In the edge region, two small figures, like sesame seeds, were hurriedly rushing toward Baiqiu Village.
The two were clad in black raincoats, holding hiking sticks, and ran swiftly with practiced steps.
"Hurry up! It's getting dark, and those ghost things will come out soon!" The person trailing kept gasping for breath, urging.
"I know... almost there..." The figure ahead was petite and stammered out a reply, it was Stammering Yiyi who had just returned from outside.
Quickly, the two reached the bottom of Baiqiu Village, stepping onto the gravel road, and dashed all the way there.
Bam.
Arriving at the house, Stammering Yiyi pulled out the key to unlock the door, ready to throw out the pyroxene at any moment.
Fortunately, there were no incidents.
The two safely entered the house, without any mishaps.
Just as the two entered, a flash of lightning outside suddenly illuminated the gravel road with a blinding whiteness.
The moment the light shone, it revealed several vague human figures standing on the gravel road.
Quickly, the lightning vanished, and the figures disappeared as well, like phantoms.