The Angler's Obsession

Looking at the bizarre biochemical plants crawling toward him like octopuses with their roots, Xia Tianming could have deployed his Blacklight Wings to fly directly over them, but wouldn't that be a waste of the nutrients actively delivering themselves to his doorstep?

Adhering to his "clean plate policy," he shifted into Rhino Armor Form once again; his physique surged in size, and thick, heavy armor covered his entire body, transforming him into a humanoid tank.

Xia Tianming assumed a charging stance and lunged forward with unstoppable momentum!

With his high-density body weighing over a dozen tons, every step he took left a crater in the ground, emitting dull, thumping sounds that created a heavy sense of oppression.

At this moment, he truly resembled a frenzied rhinoceros; any Mutant Man-eating Flowers or similar plants in his path were crushed to pieces the moment they were touched.

As for the biochemical Zombie Giant Trees that swung their branches down, they became as brittle as foam boards in the face of Xia Tianming's hundred-ton rhino charge.

He lowered his head slightly, letting the rhino horn protruding from his forehead slam into the thick trunks, snapping the biochemical giant trees—which would normally require several people to encircle—in two. In an instant, a massive amount of wood chips laced with biochemical virus flew everywhere.

The Zombie Giant Trees were snapped and knocked down one after another, the broken stumps hitting the ground with a thunderous roar, yet Xia Tianming's pace never faltered; his momentum was one of absolute crushing force.

Finally, he arrived unscathed before the pond at the end of the garden. Behind him lay a scene of utter chaos, with half of the Biochemical Garden practically leveled by his feet.

On the other side of the pond stood a mechanical door; passing through it would allow one to take an elevator to the office of the true mastermind, Spencer.

So far, only Wesker had entered the boss's office.

In the game's plot, the relationship between Wesker and Spencer was actually quite poor; later on, Wesker even killed his boss out of rage for being used.

Yet in this world, their relationship seemed to be quite good?

To enter this door now, one had to cross the green pond, which appeared calm on the surface but was actually teeming with hidden undercurrents.

Xia Tianming could sense a large number of viral organisms lurking at the bottom of the water, and he also observed signs of animals struggling and being slaughtered on the bank.

If anyone dared to get close, they would likely be dragged into the water immediately.

But Xia Tianming was no ordinary person, nor was he human at all.

Still adhering to his "clean plate policy," he didn't fly over; instead, he wanted to devour and absorb the large number of mutant creatures in the pond.

To him, this pond was like a large pot of fresh, nutrient-rich soup.

Since being "captured" and brought to the Umbrella base, Xia Tianming had achieved multiple consecutive breakthroughs in evolution, acquiring a massive amount of Blacklight nutrients; in the wasteland, it would have taken him who knows how long to reach his current level.

In that sense, Wesker was actually his "benefactor."

Wasting no more time, Xia Tianming picked up a stone from the side and tossed it into the pond.

With a "plop," the entire pond began to boil as if triggered by a domino effect!

Thousands of Zombie Piranhas leaped out of the water simultaneously. Their sheer numbers were enough to make one's scalp tingle—a scene that was spectacular yet terrifying.

Their eyes were a blood-red color, and their gaping maws, which took up half their bodies, snapped shut repeatedly, emitting harsh, metallic clicking sounds in the air. When their razor-sharp, hard fangs clashed, they even sparked.

There was no doubt that even if a tank drove in, it would likely be gnawed down to nothing but a metal frame.

The Hunter, obediently crouching behind Xia Tianming, couldn't help but shrink back at the sight.

Yet, this death trap of a pond filled with Zombie Piranhas was, in Xia Tianming's eyes, a bowl of delicious fish soup!

Without hesitation, he transformed his right arm into the barbed Whip-fist Form and lashed it into the pond.

The irritable Zombie Piranhas, seeing something enter the water, scrambled to bite it regardless of the consequences.

As a result, they were all hooked by the sharp barbs covering the viral whip-blade.

In no time at all, the entire whip-blade was covered with dozens, if not hundreds, of Zombie Piranhas thrashing and struggling.

Damn, I'm literally fishing...

Afterward, Xia Tianming retracted the whip-blade, which was loaded with his catch. The sharp barbs proceeded to shred and devour the Zombie Piranhas, turning them into nutrients for the Blacklight virus within his body.

No, this is still too slow.

Like Gluttony from the Seven Deadly Sins, Xia Tianming, who could never get his fill, simply walked to the edge of the pond and condensed the Virus Net once more. He intended to use the same method he had used to catch the Zombie Crows to wipe out all the Zombie Piranhas in the pond in one go!

He cast the Extinction Net with force, covering a large area of the water and sinking it to the bottom, preparing to haul up and devour all the "zombie seafood" on the surface and below.

Hardly had he cast the Virus Net when Xia Tianming felt that he had already made a massive haul; the net was stuffed to the brim with Zombie Piranhas.

Just as he was about to pull it up, suddenly! He felt the Virus Net become heavy; it seemed as if some massive creature with immense strength at the bottom of the water was tugging at it, even threatening to drag Xia Tianming into the water!

Someone trying to steal my catch halfway through?

Not happening. Don't even think about making me go home empty-handed!

Xia Tianming immediately transformed his left hand into the Claw Form and drove it deep into the ground to anchor himself to the bank.

He then concentrated his viral energy into his right hand, which was gripping the net, his strength surging as he engaged in a tug-of-war with the giant creature trying to steal his catch from the depths!

As the strength in his right arm increased instantly, Xia Tianming let out a low roar and finally dragged the Virus Net, loaded with Zombie Piranhas, forcibly to the surface!

ROAR!!!

But at the same time, a giant creature over ten meters long was also pulled up by the momentum. It thrashed out of the water, and its massive shadow instantly engulfed Xia Tianming on the bank!

With a thick, serrated tail, rotting heavy armor, a gaping maw capable of swallowing a whole car in one bite, and three rows of fangs as thick as human arms, it could undoubtedly chew a car like bubblegum!

This was actually a ferocious Zombie Giant Crocodile!

Sure enough, I hooked a big one!

The Zombie Giant Crocodile, forcibly dragged from the depths, soared into mid-air and seized the momentum to snap its blood-drenched maw wide, tearing straight toward the man on the bank!

Xia Tianming remained calm in the face of danger, though his right hand had already shifted into Hammer Fist Form. At the very instant the Zombie Giant Crocodile was about to clamp down on him, he unleashed a fierce uppercut, striking the beast squarely on its massive lower jaw!

BANG!!!

The gargantuan beast, weighing over a dozen tons, was sent flying back into the water hole by that single punch, kicking up a tsunami-like spray and waves that surged onto the shore!

Several Zombie Piranhas were also sent flying by the shockwave, their sharp fangs bared as they rained down onto the bank, snapping at everything they touched and sending the Hunter scrambling away in fear.

Xia Tianming remained standing in place, having already transitioned into Armor Form. His surface was covered in hardened viral plating; no matter how the Zombie Piranhas bit at him, they could cause no damage, only shattering their own teeth in the process.

As for the Zombie Giant Crocodile, it was left floating belly-up on the surface of the water after that single punch from Xia Tianming...

A pure, unexpected harvest.

Just as he was about to move in and consume the more nutrient-rich Zombie Giant Crocodile, the water surface, which had only just calmed, suddenly began to churn violently once more!

Dense clusters of black dots appeared throughout the water, rapidly gathering together, expanding, and overlapping until they gradually took on the vague silhouette of a human form!!!

Upon closer inspection, one would realize that these black dots forming the human shape were actually writhing leeches?!

"Who... has disturbed my tranquility..."