Facing It

Ever since he could remember,

Yi Chen had never experienced such crystal-clear vision.

It felt as though his eyes had become an ultra-high-pixel imaging device, taking in every detail between the graves.

Even with the Kerosene Lamp turned down to its lowest setting, he could still make out the general situation ten meters away.

Sensory Leap

When he first touched this kind of "Transcendent Human" ability,

Yi Chen's brain became abnormally excited. It even stimulated his body to secrete a certain amount of adrenaline, further sharpening his focus.

His confidence surged,

and he dared to fight a Living Corpse.

Before taking action, he still had one final question.

He tried communicating with the Black Flesh Ball through his consciousness.

How can I completely kill the Living Corpse wandering around Graveyard Plot 4? By cutting off its head?

Looks like you really don't understand anything.

Your understanding of this world is still stuck at the most Surface Layer... Even if you cut off something like this's head or remove its heart, it can still survive normally. At most, it'll affect its bodily functions.

The fundamental reason it became like this is that it's sick.

To kill this Living Corpse,

you have to find and destroy the Pathogen on its body. Then it'll return to its proper corpse state.

This one is still in the early stages of infection.

The Pathogen's characteristics should be quite obvious.

Carefully observe the bumps, swellings, or especially dark-colored areas on its body. They most likely correspond to the Pathogen beneath its skin.

The "Silver-Plated Hand Axe" in your hands is quite effective against Pathogens.

As for what abilities this thing has, I don't know... Good luck, and don't die.

Got it.

The battle began.

Yi Chen pressed himself against a gravestone and cautiously poked out half his face, scanning the surroundings.

A slowly moving Dark Shadow appeared at the edge of his vision.

His vision focused.

The staggering Living Corpse came into view.

It was moving very slowly,

but the Plant Root Tendrils swaying from its back like octopus tentacles were horrifying just to look at.

It was as though the moment they pierced someone, the tendrils would drain the target's bodily fluids dry.

Yi Chen took a deep breath and analyzed the situation before him.

"There's no time, and I have no tools to set up traps or anything like that.

"The area is also restricted to Graveyard Plot 4, making it difficult to circle around over a long distance.

"A frontal battle is unavoidable, but... before that, I need to determine the true location of the Pathogen."

He focused his vision again.

Every part of the Living Corpse's body, including the tendrils growing from its back, became perfectly clear.

There were four obvious protrusions on its body: one on its neck, one on its right shoulder, one around its waist and abdomen, and one on its right thigh.

"Let's confirm it..."

Yi Chen picked up several stones nearby that were just the right size to fit in his palm.

When he was young,

Yi Chen had always won at dodgeball in the Orphanage. He could accurately hit every playmate who tried to dodge, and even children several years older than him had been no match for him.

Now, with his enhanced vision, his throwing accuracy had improved further.

Whoosh~

The four stones shot toward the target at one-second intervals.

Smack! Smack! Smack!

Three of them struck their targets precisely.

The corresponding protrusions of skin were smashed open, oozing some disgusting liquid.

But the stone thrown at the waist... just as it was about to hit—

Smack!

Like the most basic biological Irritability,

the tendrils on the Living Corpse's back suddenly lashed out, striking the incoming stone with pinpoint accuracy.

It was like a home run. The stone was sent flying straight out of Graveyard Plot 4.

That wasn't all.

Several more tendrils followed close behind.

They wrapped around and clung to the protrusion around its waist, forming a unique protective structure.

Following the direction the stones had come from,

the Living Corpse's head suddenly turned 135 degrees. Its special eyes, filled with Fungal Umbrella, locked onto the arched gravestone on the high slope.

A sense of oppression swept over him.

Although Yi Chen had obtained the answer he wanted, cold sweat continued to trickle down.

At least my method worked. The protrusion around its waist and abdomen must correspond to the Pathogen. It also proves that the Black Flesh Ball didn't deceive me.

But this thing's Irritability is absurd.

It actually managed to deflect a stone that had been suddenly thrown without the slightest warning... and it even constructed a protective layer around its waist so quickly.

Whoosh!

To kill this Living Corpse, I have to sever all the tendrils on its back.

Otherwise, any attack against its vital point will be rendered ineffective.

Smack! Smack!

A series of footsteps trampling the soil interrupted his thoughts.

The Living Corpse drew near.

It stopped before the arched gravestone.

Swish! Swish!

Suddenly,

two powerful tendrils rose into the air, crossing from left to right before lashing out violently.

Crack!

The sturdy, large gravestone was snapped in half.

Also destroyed with it

was a dark-gray coat still carrying the aura of a living person. A metal nameplate fell to the ground as well, engraved with the name William Berens.

That was all.

Only the gravestone and coat had been destroyed. The young man hiding behind them had already "shed his shell."

Just as the Living Corpse grew puzzled and before it could retract its tendrils,

a commotion came from the grave mound corresponding to the shattered gravestone.

The Dark Shadow lurking behind it suddenly leaped out.

The silver gleam flashing in his hand was exceptionally bright.

Buzz!

The Silver Light carved a perfect arc through the air,

landing precisely on the "intersection" of the two tendrils.

Swish~

Dark green, foul-smelling fluid sprayed out as both tendrils were completely severed.

That wasn't all.

Because they had been cut by silver-plated material, thick black smoke poured from the severed ends of the tendrils, preventing them from healing.

"Ahh!!"

A rotten howl issued from the Living Corpse's dry, decayed throat, as though someone had severed an important lifeline.

Seeing this,

Yi Chen pulled back his hand axe and assumed a battle stance, whispering excitedly, "Eight left!"

The scream had not yet ended

when the tendrils swaying from the Living Corpse's back seemed to possess Self-Awareness and had already locked on to the "attacker."

They transformed into sharp spears and thrust toward him.

Vision Capture

At that moment, the eyes of Yi Chen and the Black Flesh Ball widened like bells as they focused on the scene before them.

With such straightforward thrusting attacks, every tendril's path was completely visible.

When they were less than a meter away,

he performed a perfect sideways roll, dodging every tendril.

Not only that,

at the exact moment he completed the perfect evasion,

Yi Chen actually used the momentum to deliver a diagonal slash from a half-kneeling position.

The nearest tendril was severed in midair.

Foul-smelling fluid splashed across his face, but it couldn't hide his smile. He continued counting silently.

"Seven left!"

At that moment,

the Black Flesh Ball rooted in Yi Chen's shoulder couldn't help widening its eyes, astonished by the performance of this "Bottom Laborer."

My judgment really was correct... This guy is completely different from those ordinary Meat Pigs.

In a battle this dangerous, where one mistake could lead to death, he actually adapted so quickly—and even seemed to be enjoying it.

Keep it up, young human!

If he kills the Pustule with such a weak body, he'll definitely attract the attention of those "above." Perhaps I can use this opportunity to obtain a chance to go outside as well.

Just as the Black Flesh Ball was immersed in fantasies of freedom,

another scream rang out.

Ah!

But this time,

the one screaming was the young man it had placed such high hopes in.

Tendrils that had appeared from nowhere suddenly drilled out of the ground.

They pierced through the shoes beneath his feet, along with his entire feet.

The tendrils emerging from the tops of his feet had even sprouted flowers, sucking up the blood between his toes until they were dyed bright red.

At that moment,

the Living Corpse in the distance had one palm pressed against the ground.

Clearly,

it was controlling the underground plants to carry out this bizarre attack and restrain its target.

Crack, crack, crack~

The sound of its cervical vertebrae twisting rang out.

The Living Corpse tilted its head and stared fixedly at the completely immobilized "prey."

It was getting serious~

It abandoned its previous slow walk.

Using the remaining tendrils on its back as legs, it charged over like a spider.

Its mouth opened completely,

and a large mass of Mycelium spilled from inside its mouth.

It seemed to be laughing delightedly because its prey was about to be caught.

Or perhaps it wanted to share a "deep kiss" with Yi Chen, sending Mycelium through his mouth and nasal cavity into his brain to drain him dry.