Slaughter

[Rhythm Shift]

Roots morph into legs, the Living Corpse scuttles forward like a spider, leaving no time for thought or hesitation.

Yet, facing all this, Yi Chen possesses an unprecedented resolve... he has staked everything on this battle beyond common sense.

"I never thought I'd get through this crisis easily from the start.

I should have died directly in the lab, but instead I unexpectedly obtained the 'qualification' to cross over and be reborn... to truly grasp such a qualification, I must pay a great price."

Clenching both fists, lifting his legs upward, he forcibly tears free from the roots piercing through his soles.

Even though the hooked barbs between the roots have already dug deep into his flesh and blood.

Yi Chen can clearly feel the flesh and blood in his feet being stripped away strand by strand... this bone-piercing, heart-gnawing agony would cause most people to be unable to sustain their strength, or even faint on the spot.

"Pull them out for me!!"

A roar surges from the deepest part of his throat.

Shua!

Breaking free from the shackles, dark red blood splatters across the ground.

On the surface of his newly freed feet, finger-sized holes are clearly visible, with chunks of shredded flesh and flower petals still clinging inside.

Throughout the entire process, Yi Chen lets out no screams, and even his panting is restrained.

Now comes the crucial moment that decides life or death, the Living Corpse is right before his eyes.

The real threat isn't just the mycelium spewing from its mouth, the roots growing from the Living Corpse's back are also fully spread, aiming at Yi Chen's arms, waist, abdomen, and legs, trying to pierce through, suspend him in the air, for easier feeding.

In this instant.

Perhaps it's the stimulation of the intense pain, further boosting adrenaline secretion, perhaps it's facing a crisis so close at hand, fully unleashing his potential.

"I have to find a flaw!"

[Vision Focus]

The image of the Living Corpse received by his sight seems to freeze, turning into a static, ultra-high-definition picture, analyzed in detail within his mind.

Jump back and dodge—no good!

Roll sideways—no good!

Break through in one direction—no good!

One by one, the simulated actions meant to break the deadlock are rejected, until he finds the optimal response mode.

The entire process of thinking and analysis consumes almost no time.

Huh... he takes a deep breath.

Facing the Living Corpse right before him, Yi Chen does not choose to dodge or create distance, nor does he assume any defensive stance.

Instead, he makes a puzzlingly dangerous move.

[Took a Step Forward]

With an ultra-fast forward stride, he meets the Living Corpse 'face to face' ahead of time.

Yet, it is precisely this sudden advance that throws the simple-minded Living Corpse's rhythm into chaos.

The roots thrusting from left and right all miss, at most only grazing his arm.

However, though he dodges the root thrusts, one danger still remains—

the mycelium growing from the zombie's mouth is about to press against his face.

At this moment, Yi Chen has already switched to holding the axe with both hands.

One hand gripped the base of the axe handle, the other held near the axe head—

this greatly increased chopping power while shortening attack range... suitable for close-quarters combat.

Under the stimulation of adrenaline, terrifying bulging veins burst forth on both arms.

The forward step of his right foot pressed his body slightly ahead, his center of gravity sinking, his body arched like a bow, arms raised, axe brought down!

The Silver Blade traced a perfect arc through the air, before the fungal threads could reach his face, landing vertically and precisely on the Living Corpse's crown.

The already rotted, hole-ridden skull could not withstand such a blow.

Crack!

The cranium was completely split open, then the cyan brain fused with moss was sliced through, then the jaw was broken, all the way to the neck—one smooth motion!

The entire head was cleaved apart by this single axe stroke.

At the same time, due to the silver's effect, billowing black smoke rose from the wound... the moss-like brain dissolved entirely, turning into droplets of green liquid that flowed to the ground.

This meant the Living Corpse's newly formed "simple consciousness" was completely erased, degrading it into a low-level creature without thinking ability.

Just then, Krak, krak~

The flesh ball rooted in his shoulder sensed danger and spun around sharply.

It shared the situation behind them through a small visual window with Yi Chen.

The roots that had missed earlier were now stabbing back in reverse.

"Dodge!"

the flesh ball warned.

Yi Chen quickly executed a continuous motion of ducking to avoid and rolling sideways... Swish!

During the roll, his body seemed to be poked.

When the roll ended and he stood up, his entire left arm hung limply, unable to lift at all, only his fingers could move slightly.

Looking closely, a coin-sized hole had been pierced through his left upper arm, with even moss residue left inside, infecting the wound.

Drip, drip~

Blood slid down his arm, mixing with the blood spilling from his feet, staining the ground a large area red.

The effects of excruciating pain and blood loss surged like a tidal wave.

Any hint of slack, and his consciousness would completely collapse.

"No... I can't die!"

Yi Chen shook his head forcefully, forcing himself to stay awake.

Hiss! A strange sound came.

Five meters away, between the split halves of the Living Corpse's head, the silver's burning had stopped.

The wound immediately sprouted a mass of tender shoots and branches, intertwining... between the two halves of the head at a 90° angle, a cluster of flowers formed, serving as a brand-new head.

It fixed its gaze on Yi Chen again, charging like a mindless, frenzied beast.

Its body twisted, its gait exaggerated, the roots on its back flailing wildly.

Yi Chen could only rely on Vision Enhancement, straining with all his might to discern the trajectory of every root's swing.

His eyes became bloodshot in the process.

Roll, sidestep, backflip.

Find every gap and strike back.

7.

6.

5.

...One by one, the tendrils were severed by Yi Chen.

At the same time, due to the piercing injury on his foot and his powerless left arm, Yi Chen's movements were noticeably slower than before.

In the process, his waist and abdomen were pierced, his thigh torn open.

He could collapse at any moment.

"Just... just two left."

Clenching his teeth.

Yi Chen was about to dodge the next attack when—

Hum!

A ringing sound assaulted his ears, like gongs and drums pounding inside his brain.

His vision blurred instantly, and his perception of his own body rapidly faded.

He only managed half a dodge before his body pitched forward.

Shwoosh!

The Living Corpse's roots weren't fully evaded.

They grazed past his right shoulder.

By chance, they slashed the Black Flesh Ball mounted on his shoulder.

A viscous, bizarre black blood oozed from the furry wound.

The eyeball held in his mouth was instantly stained black, Staring At the Living Corpse In Front Of him.

With just one look! It triggered a primal instinct in the Living Corpse.

[Fear]

An overwhelming instinct of fear forced the Living Corpse to freeze in place.

At the same moment, Yi Chen, his consciousness hazy, stumbled forward but didn't fall... Through some unknown willpower, he somehow managed to focus again.

He could no longer afford any extra thought.

Only one idea remained in his mind—[Kill the target].

The hand axe was already raised midair.

As he made the chopping motion, his body twisted along with it.

The potential awakened between life and death mobilized all the strength in his body.

His vision locked onto the bulge at the Living Corpse's waist.

Swoosh!

Driven by the same survival instinct, the roots growing from the Living Corpse's back immediately protected its 'vital point,' hardening the surface of the skin.

The Silver Blade fell...

Crack!

A sound like a tree snapping, wood shattering, echoed through Graveyard Plot 4.

Two hardened roots were sent flying through the air.

The diseased, festering lump hidden beneath the skin was completely severed...

The moment the strike was completed, his willpower could no longer hold out.

Yi Chen's vision went black, and he fell to the ground alongside the Living Corpse.