The apocalypse struck, and I became a druid.

Page 7

"Vine Technique!"

A thought.

Chichi~

A sharp, piercing sound echoed through the air.

In an instant, ten vines shot out from the void two meters in front of him.

The surface of the dark green vines is covered with sharp, needle-like thorns.

If an ordinary person gets scratched by this splinter, wouldn't they lose a layer of skin, leaving them covered in bruises?

Each vine was significantly thicker than the initial limit, reaching a thickness close to that of two fingers of an adult male.

The maximum number of releases is 10, which is two more than the initial peak.

Moreover, the speed at which these ten vines appeared was astonishing.

Of course, this is the peak thickness and hardness. If the vines are of lower quality, made weaker, thinner, and longer, they can release more when used as tools.

Han Ning did the math.

From the moment the thought is activated to the moment the vines are fully materialized, the time has been reduced by nearly one-third!

What surprised him even more was that his control over the vines had improved further.

Chapter 6 Supply Shortage

The moment the ten vines appeared, the existence of each one could be clearly perceived, like ten outstretched fingers, directing them as naturally as breathing.

With a slight thought, he locked his sights on a smooth, clean wall.

"go with!"

Ten dark green vines covered with sharp wooden spikes, accompanied by a whooshing sound as they lashed fiercely against the hard concrete wall.

clap clap clap!

A series of dense and dull impacts rang out.

The tiles on the wall were cracked, revealing dozens of clear whip marks.

Fine cracks spread outwards from the whip marks as the center.

The sharp thorns at the tips of the vines were deeply embedded in the concrete.

[Vine Technique (Intermediate) Proficiency +1, 1/200]

Han Ning had tried it before, and the basic vine technique could only leave shallow scratches on the wall at most.

And now, it can even break tiles directly.

"The power has increased considerably."

He tried to make the vines contract and strangle him.

Ten vines twisted and contracted wildly on the wall like snakes.

The wall surface emitted a teeth-grinding "crunching" sound.

Cement debris fell in a flurry.

[Spiritual Power: 5/15]

Suddenly, a feeling of weakness washed over me from deep within my body.

Han Ning retracted the vines and took a few deep breaths.

Clearly, the power of the Vine Technique has increased significantly, but its consumption has also increased accordingly.

Looking at the mess of cracks on the wall.

Han Ning approached and used his finger to pick at the edge of the pit.

It felt very hard to the touch; the thorns on the surface of the vines were far harder than he had imagined.

"The quantity has increased, the speed is faster, and the hardness and piercing power have been significantly improved... The overall improvement is close to 5%, while the consumption of spiritual energy has also increased."

"To deal with these incredibly resilient crocodile lizards, relying solely on the physical binding and piercing of vines isn't efficient enough... A more direct attack method would be the key to a qualitative change, but for now, it should be sufficient to deal with the juveniles."

His gaze swept over the newly awakened skill [Animal Companion] on the panel.

[Animal Companion]: Form a natural contract with an animal or plant, making it completely obedient to you and sharing your perspective.

Shared vision?

Han Ning's heart skipped a beat.

This is simply a divine skill for post-apocalyptic exploration.

If you can control a bird or a stealthy animal, it's like having a tireless scout who is fearless of most dangers.

Unfortunately... in this godforsaken place, apart from those ferocious monsters, you can't even see a normal rat.

This skill can only be put on hold for now.

"Gululu..."

The protesting sounds coming from his stomach pulled Han Ning back to reality.

Their strength has increased.

but……

The body seems to be taking a bigger toll.

Han Ning unscrewed a half-empty bottle of mineral water and carefully took two sips.

There are only six and a half bottles of water left.

He looked out the window.

The torrential rain continued unabated.

An occasional flash of lightning illuminates the scene in the darkness.

Muddy rainwater flowed freely among the city ruins, forming vast "lakes" on the ground.

Some low-rise buildings in low-lying areas have been completely submerged, with only the crooked roofs stubbornly sticking out of the water.

Further away, some floating furniture debris and car roofs bobbed on the surging water.

"Now that we're stronger and our food supplies are running low, it's time we had to go out for a trip."

If he doesn't find a safe source of water and more food soon, he will soon be in dire straits.

To prevent other crocodile lizards from entering his home while he was out.

Han Ning plans to reinforce the damaged security grille a second time.

He searched the apartment thoroughly.

Finally, inside the wardrobe, they found several composite wood panels, about half a meter wide and one centimeter thick, used as partitions.

He removed the partitions and rummaged through drawers to find half a roll of transparent tape and a small bundle of thin wire left over from the previous renovation.

Back on the balcony, the young crocodile lizard's corpse lay in a pool of blood, its ferocious head tilted to one side, its yellow vertical pupils staring blankly at the ceiling.

Han Ning flung out vines, wrapping them tightly around the corpse, and then forcefully flung it into the hole in the security grille.

He threw the body off the balcony, where it fell into a ditch some distance below with a splash.

He has no immediate plans to eat crocodile lizard meat, nor does he have the energy to dissect its carcass for biological research. What he needs most right now is a safe food source and clean water.

Thump thump~

A faint sound of water flowing and sliding could be heard, but it was quickly drowned out by the sound of dense raindrops hitting the ground.

Then, he used both hands to bend the torn and rickety security grille inward, trying to close the hole the size of a washbasin as much as possible.

Then, the disassembled composite wood board was placed over the hole, and transparent tape was wrapped around the edge many times, layer upon layer, until it was airtight.

They then wrapped thin wire around the wooden board and the twisted security grille frame, tightening it with pliers to ensure it wouldn't be easily damaged in a short time.

Han Ning covered the security grille with several wooden planks until most of it was covered, then he stopped.

"Phew... I hope this can last for a while."

He wiped the rain and sweat from his face, and looked at the hole that had been barely sealed up with wooden boards and wire, feeling a little relieved.

During his work, rainwater inevitably dripped onto him.

The skin that came into contact with the rain felt a slight stinging sensation, and soon a few red marks appeared.

Just as he suspected, the rainwater outside contained some toxins and could not be drunk directly.

However, it seems that short-term exposure to rainwater will not have a significant impact on health.

Back inside, Han Ning locked the balcony door and pulled the living room curtains tightly shut.

I checked the remaining six and a half bottles of mineral water, carefully tightened the caps, and placed them within easy reach on the bedside table.

After finishing all these tasks, a wave of exhaustion washed over me.

He took off his blood-soaked, cold pajamas, wiped his body haphazardly, changed into relatively dry clothes, and collapsed onto the bed.

The old injury in my lower back started to ache again during the struggle and carrying.

He subconsciously raised his palm, a faint green light emanating from it. The power of the [Rejuvenation Technique] flowed like a gentle stream, slowly seeping into his aching muscles and bones, bringing a touch of coolness.

[Spiritual Power: 4/15]

[Rejuvenation Skill Proficiency +1, 9/100]

Han Ning felt the faint warmth in his palm and closed his eyes wearily.

The incessant sound of torrential rain outside the window was the only background noise.

When you're tired, the sound of the downpour can be quite soothing.

Before he knew it, he had fallen into a deep sleep.

The next day.

When Han Ning woke up, the sky outside was already beginning to lighten.