C17 Combination Skill

Chen Yu's gaze followed the sound and landed on Chu Chenhao and Liu Qiqi, his expression immediately contorting into a bizarre grimace. The pair were entangled in a rather unseemly position. Chu Chenhao was sprawled across Liu Qiqi's back, her arms clasping his thighs so tightly it seemed they might as well have been bound together with rope.

Observing their awkward embrace, Chen Yu quickly grasped the reason behind it, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He marveled at their ingenuity; they had only just awakened to their mutant abilities, and already they were experimenting with their powers in inventive ways.

With Liu Qiqi's ability to shield their presence and Chu Chenhao's control over gravity, they were virtually inseparable. Chu Chenhao lightened Liu Qiqi's load, and with the ample supply of crystal nuclei Chen Yu had provided, they could traverse any terrain undetected and unharmed by zombies or mutated creatures. That is, as long as they didn't foolishly crash into an awakened mutant head-on.

Given their knack for crafting such a creative combo, Chen Yu doubted these two would make such a naive mistake.

"Why are you two here? Everything okay back in the neighborhood?" Chen Yu inquired, snapping out of his thoughts.

Chu Chenhao dismounted from Liu Qiqi's back, and as they approached Chen Yu, they reported, "The residential area is secure. Lee Hao led the guard team, now stronger from absorbing the crystal nuclei, to clear the vicinity. You won't find a zombie or mutated beast for miles."

"While clearing the area, Hao Zi noticed the zombies were converging in this direction, which seemed off," Chu Chenhao continued. "Qiqi and I aren't exactly frontline fighters, but our abilities make us ideal for reconnaissance. We figured we'd combine our strengths and tail the zombies quietly to investigate. If there's a bizarre mutated corpse king or something of the sort causing trouble, we'd rather know about it sooner than later."

Chen Yu nodded in approval, his estimation of Chu Chenhao rising yet again.

Lee Hao and his three companions were a diverse bunch, each with a distinct personality that complemented the others. Their unique abilities also offered considerable potential for synergy.

Lee Hao, in particular, was a free spirit with a fearless, fight-ready attitude, his fiery power matching the intensity of his flame-based abilities.

Soong Yue might have been on the heavier side, but his calm and solid demeanor made him the rock of the group during battles. With his newly awakened metal superpower, he had solidified his role as the team's mainstay.

Liu Qiqi was the most alert and quick-witted member of the quartet, her ability to mask her presence making her ideally suited for reconnaissance and stealth operations.

Chu Chenhao, though seemingly the least noticeable among them, preferred to keep a low profile and avoid the limelight.

In Chen Yu's view, Chu Chenhao was the linchpin of the group, the one with a rare combination of high intelligence and emotional intelligence. Chen Yu had observed that during their encounters with zombies, it was Chu Chenhao's strategic command that allowed them to maneuver effectively without falling into danger.

Now, with Chu Chenhao's gravity-enhancing ability, his role in team combat was bound to be even more formidable.

"It looks like I'll need to focus on further developing their teamwork," Chen Yu mused. "If nurtured properly, they'll become invaluable allies."

Chen Yu had been pondering how to rescue all the survivors stranded on the roof of the X Supermarket. With Chu Chenhao and Liu Qiqi on board, his confidence had soared.

Time was of the essence in rescue operations, and Chen Yu was acutely aware that every minute lost diminished the survivors' chances.

He gave his orders without hesitation: "You two, head to the supermarket across the way and do everything you can to halt the zombie onslaught. If you can't hold them back, secure the access to the roof."

"I'll work on a strategy to prevent more zombies from flooding into the building."

After a moment's thought, Chen Yu added a cautionary note, "Even though we haven't spotted any Awakened zombies in the horde, it doesn't mean they aren't there. Stay on your guard."

"It's not worth the risk!"

"Don't gamble with your life!"

"Got it?"

Chu Chenhao and Liu Qiqi clearly grasped the implications of Chen Yu's words. They nodded gravely, foregoing any pleasantries, and promptly reteamed in his presence.

Under Chen Yu's watchful eye, Chu Chenhao first bestowed Liu Qiqi with the power to lighten her weight, followed by Liu Qiqi activating her own ability to cloak them both with her aura.

In a blink, their presence vanished from Chen Yu's perception.

A strange illusion enveloped his senses.

Had they not been right before him, anyone might suspect a trick of the eye!

This was the frightening aspect of aura-shielding abilities—once marked by such users, one was virtually defenseless.

An attack from them would leave the target at a severe disadvantage.

They were natural-born assassins and scouts.

Next, Chen Yu watched as Liu Qiqi tapped her foot lightly, and she effortlessly ascended, scaling three to four meters with each step and covering five to six meters in distance, reminiscent of the cloud-stepping ladders from martial arts novels.

Working in tandem, they descended from the high-rise and weaved swiftly through obstacles, rapidly scaling the exterior of X Supermarket.

Chu Chenhao, being a recent Awakened, hadn't yet mastered altering gravity's pull, so their climb still relied on traditional means, albeit hastened by the reduced gravitational force.

Chen Yu was aware that as Chu Chenhao's powers matured, he could potentially manipulate gravity to sprint up walls at a ninety-degree angle, as if on level ground.

Moreover, there were numerous other gravity manipulation techniques to be explored.

Properly harnessed, these techniques could rival even the most devastating abilities in their terrifying effects.

Regrettably, Chu Chenhao's gravity manipulation was limited to individual targets and lacked the scope of an area-effect power, somewhat curtailing his potential for growth.

Chen Yu harbored plans of his own, contemplating future opportunities to assist Chu Chenhao in finding relics that could enhance the powers of the Awakened.

As Chen Yu pondered, Chu Chenhao and Liu Qiqi had already scaled the rooftop of X Supermarket. Survivors had spotted them the moment they began their ascent up the building's exterior. Upon reaching the rooftop, they were quickly encircled by a crowd. The remarkable strength displayed by Chu Chenhao and Liu Qiqi sparked a glimmer of hope among those desperately clinging to life.

Chen Yu soon shifted his focus away from the rooftop scene, confident in Chu Chenhao's capability to manage the situation. His eyes roamed the streets below, searching for items that could be of use, all while strategizing how to prevent the horde of zombies from flooding into the mall.

"Got it!"

Chen Yu's vision cut through the hundreds of meters of the street, zeroing in on a tanker truck.