Without enough strength to approach Jennifer, one wouldn't even know how one died. A person targeted by a demon is like a thorny rose, very easy to get pricked.
It was only natural for John to choose to go exploring with Sam and her team, but he still needed to make some preparations before setting off.
Firearms, ammunition, and lighting were essential, especially American-style quick-draw techniques.
After all, there was more than one monster in that cave.
In his opinion, as long as a monster had a physical form, except for beings like Mike who were immortal, all others could be dealt with by overwhelming firepower.
Just like the Deformed Cannibal, although it lacked pain sensation and possessed immense strength, it still had to die when faced with rifle fire... The next day, school was dismissed early.
Sam took John to meet the other expedition members, all of whom were women.
Sarah, whose mental state collapsed after witnessing the deaths of her husband and child in a car accident a year ago; this cave expedition was originally organized to help her overcome her trauma.
Juno, the leader of this cave adventure.
Beth, the school's English teacher, and the one who invited Sam to join the team.
Holly, a punk-style enthusiast who loves low-altitude parachuting, with a reckless personality who likes to charge in first, which translates to someone who enjoys courting death.
Rebecca, a Nordic athlete and a professional mountaineer. The only person she knew well in the group was Juno, as both she and Juno enjoyed exploring various caves and extreme sports.
Initially, Juno, as the team leader, refused John, a man who had never participated in an expedition before.
But then again, who could refuse someone with 'money power' who could upgrade all their equipment?
Juno couldn't find a reason to refuse.
Top-tier expedition gear was simply too attractive to them.
After successfully joining the team,
John also found Pete, the town's police chief, and purchased a set of special operations equipment.
The most important item was the headphones; gunshots in the cave would be too loud.
Although Pete was a bit greedy, he really delivered when he took the money.
A few days later,
Pete's subordinate, Sheriff Old Joe, delivered the equipment to John in a wheelchair.
Black camouflage combat fatigues with an anti-infrared camouflage coverall, classic components of the US military standard ALICE gear system, a triple magazine pouch carrying two M67 grenades.
Plus one high-explosive grenade.
The plastic-cased folding entrenching tool was for engineering work and self-rescue/mutual aid, while the bayonet in the portable pocket provided a sharp weapon for close combat. The L-shaped flashlight and the LC backpack with an aluminum frame further enhanced night combat and marching capabilities.
Two Glock pistols with very low recoil were also holstered at his waist.
John had paid a hefty price for this whole set.
Once he put it on, he was completely covered. If he added a mask and a hat, he would truly resemble a special forces soldier in combat.
Of course, one crucial item was still missing: an M16 rifle.
However, that thing was too conspicuous.
John already attracted strange glances walking down the street; if he carried an M16, people would think he had just returned from a war and been discharged.
John had arranged for the M16 to be delivered to the destination in advance.
When John, dressed in full special operations gear, arrived at the designated meeting point outside the small town,
Juno and her group were stunned. Looking at John's equipment, they asked in surprise,
"Hey John, we're not going to war, we're just going exploring. You dressed like this will really hinder the progress of the expedition."
"Wearing too much for cave exploration can actually put yourself in danger."
"John, there's still time. We can re-equip you with a professional set of expedition gear, instead of you being dressed like a combat unit."
Facing their well-intentioned advice, John was simply stubborn.
"Don't worry, I won't cause you any trouble. I also have a set of expedition gear in my car, and besides, hasn't my physical strength already been verified?"
Are you kidding? Taking it off was impossible.
Only sufficient firepower and enough containment items could give him a sense of security.
Now, with insufficient containment items, he naturally needed more firepower.
If he wasn't afraid of the cave collapsing, John would have wanted to bring a rocket launcher.
Hearing this, Juno consulted Rebecca, the professional exploration expert.
In the end, she agreed, but added a few conditions.
"OK, we agree, but once we're in the cave, you must follow all our commands, otherwise you could very likely drag the entire team into danger, understand?"
"No problem." John agreed to everything, verbally.
While Juno and the others were organizing their equipment, Sam secretly comforted John.
"John, actually Juno and the others are concerned for your safety. Cave exploration is very dangerous, and this time it's a cave that no one has ever explored before."
"Sam, I know. Don't worry."
... The seven of them prepared two off-road vehicles.
When Juno found an M16 automatic rifle in the back of the car, she was speechless.
"John, how afraid of death are you? Do you really think there will be people in the cave you need to shoot?"
Rebecca chuckled, "Perhaps our Chinese young man doesn't feel safe in unfamiliar places."
John spread his hands, "Just in case."
The two leaders hadn't said anything yet, but Holly was already mocking him, "Cowardly behavior."
John just gave a scoff and said nothing. There was no need to say too much to a dead person.
Sam helped John explain, "No, John is just exploring for the first time, so he prepared a bit more. We need to be more understanding of newcomers."
With that said, the other members of the team didn't say anything more.
Their initial destination was originally the Lehnen Rock Caves in Chattahoochee National Forest in the Appalachian Mountains, USA, but Juno, the team leader, felt it wasn't exciting enough. What was the point of exploring caves that had already been explored?
So she quietly changed the destination to an unknown cave.
She hoped that after a successful exploration, the cave would be named after Sarah.
Helping her good friend Sarah emerge from the dark shadow was a good intention, but such an action was too dangerous.
Juno hid it very well, and no one noticed, including John.
John had only watched 'The Descent,' but didn't know the specific location or certain details within it.
So he initially thought the place they were exploring was indeed the Lehnen Rock Caves in Chattahoochee National Forest in the Appalachian Mountains.
Only when they arrived closer and saw the endless mountain range in the distance did he realize that wasn't the case.
Before entering, there was also a dirt road covered with withered branches and fallen leaves.
John surveyed the trees around the temporary wooden cabin and the quiet mountain forest; everything was so primitive and serene.
There wasn't even the sound of birds chirping. Was this normal?
Is this a national park?
They hadn't even started climbing the mountain yet.
Just as John was wondering if they had taken the wrong path, Sam walked over and said, "John, don't worry, we'll rest in the wooden cabin for another day and go into the mountains tomorrow morning. It's too late today, and there's still some distance to go up."
John looked up at the darkening clouds and said,
"I just feel that the surroundings are a bit too quiet."
Sam found the quietness perfectly normal and explained,
"Few people come here, so it's normal for it to be quiet. Don't overthink it. You need to rest well to have the energy to explore tomorrow."
John hummed in response, but what he was thinking was that he had come to the right place...