Global Abyss: My Skills Can Enhance Infinitely Chapter 8 - 7 Gunshot

"It seems my parents never envisioned me engaging in long-distance sniping."

Tao Yu descended from the canopy, surveying the campfire ruined by the python’s violent thrashing and the scattered gear nearby. He realized he needed to maintain his composure and scavenge for any salvageable supplies.

It wasn't that his parents had skimped on firearm quality; rather, in this survival-intensive setting, long-range bursts were rarely necessary. Dealing with distant threats usually meant staying hidden rather than drawing attention with gunfire.

This AK-style rifle was remarkably reliable and potent. While it lacked the close-quarters efficiency of a submachine gun, in the hands of someone like Tao Yu, who possessed foundational marksmanship, it remained a formidable tool.

He simply never imagined he would be firing shots from high up in a tree...

Luckily, the water canteen had been left on the fire to boil. Although the metal was warped, it remained functional.

Beyond that canteen, only the equipment on his person survived.

The cowhide armor crafted by his mother offered decent protection, housing a small sidearm with an attached holster and two fully loaded 30-round magazines.

Strapped to his thigh was a multi-tool blade featuring an integrated flint, alongside his N-series assault rifle—celebrated for its precision ballistics—and two fragmentation grenades.

After scanning his perimeter, Tao Yu felt confident; his enhanced dynamic vision and reaction times rendered him largely immune to surprise attacks.

Typically, the zones where the world’s will deposited newcomers on Awakening Day were classified as low-threat.

Drawing from the collective wisdom of his parents, elder brother, sister-in-law, and Uncle Hu, for most, Awakening Day would pass without a single shot fired; the true struggle was purely environmental.

External hazards usually consisted of wildlife like jackals, wolves, tigers, leopards, and bears, alongside various venomous vermin.

That python was undeniably a fierce beast, standing slightly above the average threat level.

"I certainly hope nothing more nightmarish lurks nearby."

Tao Yu’s eyes shimmered—if this truly was a fragmented realm from the cinema of his past, those snakes were undoubtedly Yuan Force creatures!

Though he was still a mere mortal with limited reserves, acquiring an extra fifteen to twenty points of Yuan Force was a significant boon for someone in his position.

His initial thousand units of Yuan Force were a gift from his parents, representing three or four months of their combined unspent salaries.

Despite holding relatively secure positions, as field veterans with decades of service, their total daily income averaged only ten units of Yuan Force.

Tao Yu wouldn't dare dismiss the value of the Yuan Force within that python, even having treated his own thousand-unit stash so casually.

Securing gains in Yuan Force during the standard acclimation period for newcomers was already a victory.

Moreover, if this was the fragment he suspected, those pythons might be associated with another Yuan Force rarity: the Blood Orchid!

Yuan Force items served as more than just raw, absorbable energy; they possessed unique properties. The Blood Orchid held promise—it was possible he could ingest it directly for added benefits.

First, he had to accept that reaching the company’s rendezvous point was impossible for the foreseeable future. He might be forced to endure a stint of wilderness survival in this rain-drenched jungle!

These giant pythons, with their keen reflexes and physical prowess far eclipsing common wildlife, presented a severe threat, yet they offered equally attractive rewards.

Having fired three rounds from the tree, and accounting for his reserve magazine, he retained eighty-seven rifle rounds and seventeen for his pistol.

Perhaps he could leverage these remaining rounds to carve out a tactical advantage before his supplies dried up.

"Those two from the Floating City, I wonder where they are. Surely not in this rainforest. I am likely quite removed from the location they mentioned over the radio. I must prioritize scavenging and self-improvement."

Converting potential into raw power with haste was the ultimate priority.

Upon my return, I shall remain in the Outer City. Within this oppressive organization’s grasp, strength serves as the only currency of value!

He cast a gaze downward at the bloody trail left by the wounded python. Inhaling sharply, Tao Yu began to track the beast.

"Python, I’m coming for you! If you’ve consumed my portion, you’d better cough up twice the price!"

...

An hour passed. Tao Yu gazed up at the fading sunlight filtering through the foliage, his brow furrowing.

While his heightened vision remained unimpaired, the rainforest at night would undoubtedly turn treacherous.

His progression with the "Basic Breathing Technique - Modified" and his scattered intervals of rest had dragged on until dusk.

"Still moving briskly despite being shot."

The dense terrain prevented Tao Yu from sprinting; he remained steadfastly fixed on the blood trail left behind by the creature.

A gunshot wound was a heavy burden even for a python, and Tao Yu kept close, hoping the beast would succumb to exsanguination. Having followed it this far, he refused to abandon the hunt.

Observing a drop of viscous blood on the damp leaves along with the sweeping trail, Tao Yu scanned the darkening surroundings.

The rainforest became increasingly eerie; sporadic noises and spectral sounds made the environment mirror the legendary Underworld as the light deserted them.

"I’ll pursue for another thirty minutes; if I fail to catch it, I’ll focus on building a fire and recuperating."

Although Tao Yu’s visual acuity was formidable enough that visibility wasn't his primary concern, he refused to grow overconfident.

He approached a nearby tree trunk, sliced into the bark with his bayonet, and peeled back a section with his bare hands. Several plump white grubs were exposed, which he promptly stored in his bulging pocket.

The rainforest was abundant in such things; it was high-quality protein, capable of being roasted over a fire instantly.

He could consume them raw, but his current constitution lacked immunity to pathogens; contracting an illness would be disastrous.

While physical maladies wouldn't hinder his strength and he could recover by eating, the expenditure of time and exertion wasn't worth the risk.

Just then, a staccato series of gunshots echoed, forcing Tao Yu to halt.

It dawned on him that he might have stumbled upon others from his cohort; though the teleportation anchors were imprecise, they couldn't be too far apart.

There was a marginal possibility of encountering natives to this world fragment, though in the depth of the jungle, that chance remained slim. Fragmented worlds triggered randomly, and he wasn't guaranteed to spawn into the heart of the prevailing drama.

After brief deliberation, Tao Yu opted to stealthily advance toward the source of the gunfire to reconnoiter the situation and formulate a plan accordingly.

Regardless of the situation, finding companions to stand guard in shifts to allow for proper rest would be advantageous in the rainforest.

Mental exhaustion couldn't simply be cured by willpower.

However, as Uncle Hu had warned, encountering anyone from the Inner City or those particular twins would demand extreme caution.

Hm~

In reality, current events had already veered significantly from his initial calculations.

If it were the twins, they would likely be scrambling to establish a new base and seeking capable subordinates.

If confrontation was unavoidable, he could simply claim his "Dynamic Vision" was at the (MAX) level; this would likely earn him a role as a temporary talent.

Valuable assets are always utilized, and the higher the utility, the more leverage one possesses.

Adapting one's strategy to the shifting situation was always the smartest play.

He resolved to keep "Divinity" a secret, and he would refrain from mentioning "Bullet Time."

But "Dynamic Vision" was not worth hiding; its (MAX) level efficiency was likely far inferior to the innate talents the twins commanded.

Nevertheless, based on the intelligence gleaned from prior broadcasts, he suspected they were nowhere near this jungle, so it was unlikely to be them...