The shelter selection process was tense and realistic. I loved that he immediately ruled out subway stations and parking lots because they’re too obvious. The moment he found that old air-raid shelter hidden in the sewer, I was like “yes, that’s the spot.” It’s such a perfect balance of concealment and practicality. The detail about the brick archways and decades-old structure gave it a creepy, atmospheric vibe.
The fight against the Vampire Mosquito swarm was probably the most intense moment in this section. Lin Yi barely makes it back to his territory, and then uses fire walls to trap them. The level-up mid-battle was a nice surprise too. That kind of “desperate moment turning into breakthrough” is a classic fantasy trope, but it’s still thrilling when done right. I honestly felt the rush reading it.