Madness

Kirk had taken two bullets, but his Stamina had already risen to a whopping 9 points. His light blue [SEAL Team Special Bulletproof Vest] further increased his physical defense by 10% and reduced firearm damage by 50%, making it an Artifact in a firefight. The other side's guns were all Whiteboard weapons, so they could only take 5–10 HP off him. He charged forward and reached another shotgun-wielding gunman, then used [Throat Cut] again!

Kirk was now a man who could kill one person every ten paces and travel a thousand miles without leaving a trace. He didn't want to waste another word on Blondie's trashy crew. Mori was in danger!

Ranmaru had already killed Michonne. His next target would surely be Mori, taking advantage of the fact that he hadn't been exposed yet to launch a Sneak Attack. That would leave the Plot Character team's ambush force all but wiped out.

If The Governor turned on them inside the villa and the men waiting outside swarmed in, even several Ricks would die!

Since these pieces of trash had no sense of the bigger picture and still wanted to kill and rob people at a time like this, they'd have to pay for it with their lives!

Not one of them would be spared!

The gunman had a pitiful 4 HP, just like Kirk when he first arrived—a classic shut-in build. Kirk delivered a vicious [Throat Cut], and somehow cut the man's entire head off. His disbelieving eyes were wide open, and he was still cursing under his breath.

Then blood sprayed wildly from the headless corpse. Its white spinal cord was still twitching as it crumpled to the ground!

The other side was starting to waver. What kind of monster was this? Why did it look as if he were fighting Plot Characters?

Kirk gave them no chance. He darted behind a tree as bullets shredded its bark, sending splinters flying everywhere. Then he ducked, rolled across the ground, and reached another gunman.

1.3 seconds later, the gunman's life left his body. His warm corpse hit the ground, blood spraying from it.

The Blondie team's morale collapsed. Blondie and the two men left with him scattered and ran.

Kirk felt a vicious killing intent filling his chest, swelling as if it were about to explode. The pressure of those days struggling in hell, the blood-soaked corpses, the death and slaughter—it all came rushing back. These people strutted around all day, betrayed their teammates, and looked utterly despicable. Not one of them would be spared!

He raced through the grass like a cheetah, the wind rushing past his ears as murderous intent churned inside him. He was a savage beast on the hunt. With [Cat's Agility] pushing his Agility to 13 points, he could reach a speed of 20 meters per second!

The last one running was a burly man. Realizing he couldn't get away, he cursed and pulled out a cleaver, swinging it at Kirk.

Blondie had seen trouble coming and run early. The guy might have gotten a one-use Agility potion, because he'd already reached the edge of the woods. In less than 10 seconds, he'd be able to rush into the villa.

"Where do you think you're going!" Kirk roared. He neither dodged nor retreated. Instead, he charged straight at the man's cleaver and slammed into his arms!

The burly man was stunned. He'd never seen anyone fight so crazily. His hand went limp, but he still brought the cleaver down hard on Kirk's head!

Blood ran down Kirk's face. With a furious roar, he drove his dagger deep into the burly man's heart!

The man didn't scream. It seemed he'd been scared to death before Kirk could kill him. If he'd known Kirk was such a madman, he never would've picked up a gun.

The people who seemed the fiercest might be the most cowardly deep down.

Kirk had gone mad. He had to save Mori. If Blondie reached the villa, Ranmaru might make his move against Mori ahead of time. Kirk had faith in Mori's abilities, but Michonne had been a legendary Plot Character too, and hadn't she died horribly at Ranmaru's hands?

Kirk lunged forward and leapt high into the air. Blondie, sprinting at full speed, saw Kirk drop out of the sky. His legs gave way, and he toppled to the ground.

"Boss! Don't kill me! I lost my head for a moment!"

"Hand over your Survival Points and I'll let you live!" Kirk stood beside Blondie, covered in blood like a killing god.

Blondie had spent his whole life robbing other people. When had anyone ever robbed him? He hesitated for just a moment before Kirk cleanly sliced off one of his ears!

"Ahhh!" Blondie screamed. "I'll hand them over, I'll hand them over!"

He actually handed over 6,545 Survival Points in one go!

Kirk was stunned. Afraid Kirk might attack him again, Blondie confessed on his own. "Boss, those six underlings of mine always handed over 50% of what they earned. That's how I saved up all these Survival Points. Please don't kill me!"

"Equipment!" Kirk said coldly, remembering the distinctive [Tyrannosaurus Glasses].

Blondie's heart ached, but right now, he was "under someone else's roof, so he had to bow his head." As long as he survived, he could always get his revenge. He lowered his head, a flash of venom in his eyes, but obediently traded the [Tyrannosaurus Glasses] and another 3,355 points to Kirk.

"Boss, I was wrong. I really was. I hid some Survival Points just now!" Blondie was furious with himself. The [Tyrannosaurus Glasses] had been his Artifact for robbing people and taking things from his underlings, but now he'd dug his own grave and helped Kirk rob him. The glasses could see how many Survival Points he had, so if he didn't hand them over, he'd be dead for sure.

"Anything else!" Kirk snarled, sliding his dagger back and forth across Blondie's other ear.

Blondie gritted his teeth. Since he'd already been robbed, he might as well hand everything over. Later, he'd get The Governor to wring the marrow out of this bastard!

Then Kirk actually received 13 Skill Potential Points and 5 Base Attribute Points!

"These are all from squeezing my underlings, boss. You see..." Blondie backed away.

"Mm." Kirk nodded. "You can go."

Blondie had just started to thank him when Kirk struck viciously, stabbing him straight through the abdomen!

Blondie's mouth fell open in disbelief, but he couldn't make a sound. Kirk clamped a hand over his mouth, then coldly smiled and used [Throat Cut] once more!

Since he'd decided to kill, he might as well enjoy it!

Blondie's eyes kept darting toward the villa. It was obvious what he was plotting. Even if there was only a chance he might seek revenge, Kirk wouldn't show mercy.

That was what this hellish world had taught him!

You had to be ruthless to others, and even more ruthless to yourself, if you wanted to survive!

Blondie clutched at Kirk, then collapsed to the ground, unwilling to accept his fate.

Kirk looked back. The man on Little Fatty's side had already collapsed nearby, kneeling and begging for mercy.

Little Fatty quietly asked Kirk, "Boss, what should we do with this guy?"

Kirk's face remained expressionless. "I have to save Mori right now. You deal with him."

Little Fatty nodded. Kirk guessed he wouldn't kill the man. Little Fatty was kindhearted, and he also didn't yet understand much about human nature. The man was only a pitiful accomplice, so it was fine to let him live.

Kirk sprinted off, racing toward Mori.

Mori had always looked after him like a mentor. If anything happened to him...

There—the original command post, beside that big coconut palm.

Mori!

He was covered in blood, lying beside the tree!

Nearby, Ranmaru slowly drew back his Ōdachi with a sneer. It was Michonne's sword, a silver Ōdachi.

"Kirk-san, you're here." Ranmaru spotted Kirk in the distance and put on an anxious expression. "Michonne said Mori might be in danger, so she sent me to reinforce the command post. I didn't expect to find Mori already attacked."

Kirk looked frantic with worry. "Master, are you all right?" He rushed straight toward Mori.

That damn femboy was still putting on an act at a time like this!

Then I'll put on a show too!

Mori's eyes were shut tight. Blood streamed from both sides of his body; torn muscle, white and curling, exposed gleaming bone. There was also a wound from a blade across his back, stretching from one side to the other. It looked extremely serious.

Kirk's killing intent was plain to see. That despicable little Japanese bastard had first attacked Mori from behind, then followed up with blow after blow.

He quietly slipped a [Whole Wheat Toast] into Mori's mouth. It was the last restorative item he had, scavenged from Blondie. The space had only temporarily opened the item exchange system during the hidden mission, and he'd used up everything long ago.

Then Kirk suddenly lunged at Ranmaru and unleashed [Throat Cut]!

Let's see how you like being ambushed!

Ranmaru looked a little surprised, but he'd been ready. He drew the blood-soaked Ōdachi and blocked Kirk's dagger. "This black woman's sword is quite good. It's a shame she had it. I was only halfway through wiping it down when you arrived. The blood even stained the scabbard. Now I have to wipe it down again. What a hassle..."

He fought Kirk with the great sword, smiling as if he were telling a story. "As the only newcomer on The Governor's side, I entered the space one day before you. After discussing it with The Governor, I waited on a highway. I saw a newcomer pass by, killed her, disguised myself as her, and approached Michonne. She rescued me, and I joined your group.

"I really did get that key by killing my way into the warden's room. But before giving it to Rick, I handed it to The Governor, who had it copied. Plot Characters really can copy Whiteboard quest items. That's some new information I hadn't noticed before.

"Then we opened the prison gates. Rick reacted pretty quickly, though. He withdrew and regrouped before we could wipe you all out. We'd even prepared at least three machine guns outside, ready to blast you into the sky.

"I was trained in swordsmanship from a young age. My strict upbringing ensured my swordsmanship made it into the hall of fame among Japan's new generation. My father, the Governor of Tokyo, loved watching me wield a sword. When I entered the space, I discovered that my [Basic Large Sword Mastery] was only level 3. It was like discovering a whole new world! I was delighted..."

As Ranmaru spoke, he drove Kirk back step by step. [Cat's Agility] had worn off, and Ranmaru's Agility had to be at least 10. Kirk's speed was being suppressed.

Michonne's weapon was probably a high-level deep blue weapon. The femboy wielded the gleaming Ōdachi in a blur of cold light. Kirk kept trying to close in and fight at close range, but Ranmaru, clearly experienced, maintained a distance of about two meters between them. Kirk's dagger couldn't reach its full potential, while that was the ideal range for a Japanese sword. Ranmaru was faster than Kirk. When Kirk moved, he moved too; when Kirk stood still, he attacked. Kirk was at a disadvantage.

Kirk was covered in blood. His worst injury was to his left shoulder, where Ranmaru's sword had severed most of the muscle. He was holding on through sheer courage and regret over Mori. Knowing he couldn't keep going like this, he remembered what Mori had told him, and a surge of passion suddenly welled up inside him!

When there's danger, face it. Being afraid of death will only make you die faster!

Afraid to die? A thought flashed through his mind.

Kirk sneered and let out a roar as he charged straight at Ranmaru.

"Looking to die!" Ranmaru was delighted. He had no idea what had gotten into this Chinese idiot to make him charge straight at him like that! He thrust his sword forward!

Kirk dodged the thrust aimed at his chest, but he couldn't evade Ranmaru's blade. The cold Japanese sword pierced his abdomen, skewering his internal organs and intestines before coming out through his back!

"Kirk-san, please die..." Ranmaru hadn't finished speaking when his expression changed.

The man before him had grabbed his gleaming Ōdachi with both hands and shoved it deeper into his own belly!

Self-mutilation! He's insane!

But Ranmaru was horrified to realize that he was only 0.5 meters from the man now. Kirk had impaled himself on the sword to get close.

"Damn it!" Ranmaru let go of the sword and tried to retreat, but it was already too late!

[Throat Cut]!

Ranmaru clutched his neck in despair as blood welled out between his fingers. Extreme terror showed in his eyes. This man had actually rammed his belly onto a Japanese sword. He was a lunatic who didn't care if he lived or died—and he'd still managed to badly wound Ranmaru!

"How much Stamina do you have?" Ranmaru fell to the ground. He only had 7 points of Stamina, so four times the damage from a critical hit was enough to kill him—not to mention the damage from bleeding.

"90 points. I can still live. You, little Japanese bastard, are going to die." Kirk kicked Ranmaru in the head and picked up the blood-red key left behind by the dead-eyed Ranmaru.

Whoever feared death would die faster! In this world, only madmen were fit to survive. A skilled coward was still a coward at heart.

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