Chapter 134
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Chapter 134
Two miles didn’t sound far, but the ice was extremely slippery, and those so-called anti-slip snow boots were useless.
If someone chased you out here, you wouldn’t just be slow, but you would probably wipe out and get yourself killed.
Reaching into her backpack as a cover, Nicole pulled out a pair of ice skates from her storage space and put them on.
They were a little big, but after layering a few pairs of socks, they fit snug enough.
She knew how to skate, but being from a coastal city, she wasn’t exactly graceful. She wobbled her way out of the complex, awkward and unsteady.
Before she even made it out, two men rushed out from Building 7, swinging clubs as they charged straight at her.
Nicole could only blame herself for standing out too much. Polar survival suits were designed in bright colors for rescue visibility even in dull, gray weather.
The two men had everything they owned piled on their bodies, scarves wrapped around their heads so only a pair of greedy eyes showed.
No need to guess. They were after her clothes.
Too bad the ground was slick. Before they could even reach her, both of them went down hard, face-first into the ice. By the time they scrambled back up, she was already gone.
Once outside the complex, Nicole found her rhythm, skating faster and faster toward Nova Square.
Along the way, she passed several groups of survivors. Watching her flash across the frozen ground, they couldn’t hide the envy in their eyes.
Damn, that was impressive.
They never had cold winters here, yet someone still had gear like that?
Watching how well she was doing, then looking at themselves barely scraping by, they couldn’t help feeling a little bitter.
The more Nicole skated, the smoother it got. Before long, she reached Nova Square.
Nicole switched back into her snow boots, then let Cola out of the backpack and headed for the top floor of the mall.
In just a few months, the once lively place had turned into a dead zone. Debris was everywhere, and there were even splashes of dried blood on the walls.
In the unfamiliar environment, Cola stayed on high alert, taking the lead and scouting ahead. Only after
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Chapter 134
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confirming it was safe did he let his human follow.
Only the top two floors of Nova Square were still above water. Nicole picked a hidden spot on the highest level where she could also overlook the surroundings.
The roads and nearby shops were completely submerged. In the distance, the outlines of residential buildings barely stood above the frozen expanse.
She scanned the area with binoculars, but didn’t spot any threats.
It was brutally cold outside, especially when sitting still. Every breath felt like it numbed her heart. This damn weather had to be pushing -22 degrees.
Nicole stuck heat packs to her feet, then hugged a hot water bottle for warmth. She told Cola to keep watch while she focused inward.
It was still a while away from 3 p.m. She had come early on purpose, braving the cold just to see if whoever threatened her had brought people to scout or set up an ambush.
Nicole tucked herself into a sheltered corner and used her mind to dig and turn soil in her storage space,
planning to plant peanuts.
Cola stayed serious, dutifully watching the surroundings, determined to find whoever dared mess with his food supply and deal with them.
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