Killer Bee and Mantis

Day broke.

Feng Ling woke up feeling refreshed, better than she had ever felt before.

She guessed her extraordinary ability was probably "a robust physique and endless strength," which was why she felt so full of energy now.

But this ability seemed to have side effects. For example, right now, she was especially, especially hungry.

Remembering the instant Baozi she had bought yesterday, Feng Ling opened the refrigerator, took out two Baozi, and put them in the microwave.

Just as she was about to close the microwave door, she paused to think, then stuffed the remaining four Baozi inside as well.

The microwave would need a few minutes, so Feng Ling rubbed her stomach, went to the bathroom to wash up, and casually opened the trending news pushed to her phone.

"Recently, a vicious Xenomorph murder occurred in Times Square, resulting in a total of twenty-seven casualties..."

"Xenomorphs possess human-like intelligence. They call themselves Players and use human bodies as vessels for their activities, referring to this behavior as 'Log-in.' Xenomorphs that have logged into human bodies usually disguise themselves and live as ordinary people."

"The public is urged to remain vigilant. If you spot anyone suspicious, immediately call the Xenomorph Hotline... A reward of 10,000 yuan will be given for valid clues, while successfully killing a Xenomorph will earn a reward of 1 million yuan..."

Feng Ling froze with her toothbrush in her mouth.

How much?

She picked up her phone with the toothbrush still between her teeth and realized she had heard correctly. The government had issued a Wanted Notice. Killing a Xenomorph earned a reward of one million yuan.

If the Xenomorph killed was listed on the Wanted Notice, the rewards could be stacked, with a maximum payout of eight million yuan!

Feng Ling could not help looking toward the toilet in the bathroom...

If only this news had come a few hours earlier, she would not have flushed that Xenomorph, rotten into sludge, down the drain last night.

One million yuan...

Forget it. Life had to move forward.

The one million yuan was already beyond recovery, and she still had to earn today's living expenses.

Feng Ling had always been good at keeping herself in good spirits. After washing up, she took the steaming Baozi from the microwave, threw on a sports jacket, and headed out.

The Loop Line was packed during the morning rush hour, without a single empty seat.

Feng Ling leaned against the glass window, pulled a mint from her pocket, and slowly unwrapped it.

She had finished all six large Baozi on the way there, but the feeling of fullness had lasted only twenty minutes. Now, she was hungry again...

What kind of superpower was this? The prompt had said her Card Gene had undergone an unknown change. Could it mean she would become absurdly good at eating?

With the mint in her mouth, Feng Ling let her thoughts wander aimlessly.

It seemed she would have to keep candy and chocolate bars on her at all times from now on. She could not let herself faint from hunger someday just because she could not find anywhere to eat.

Sigh, another expense.

"Next stop, Tianshui Park..."

Feng Ling glanced up at the electronic display announcing the station.

Something in the corner of her eye caught her attention. Frowning, she looked over and saw a man at the connection between the rear carriages, staring directly at her.

Their eyes met. The man curled his lips into a strange smile.

Feng Ling felt uncomfortable. She frowned, wondering where this lunatic had come from. Then the man started moving toward her, still wearing that bizarre smile as he tried to squeeze through the crowded carriage.

Feng Ling's heart skipped a beat. Something was wrong.

The subway arrived at Tianshui Park Station, and a huge wave of passengers poured out through the doors.

She decisively got off with the crowd.

An intense sense of unease surged through her. Although the other party looked like an ordinary office worker, her instincts told her she had to get away as quickly as possible!

Could he be a Xenomorph?

Feng Ling kept walking while watching for movement behind her. Suddenly, someone screamed behind her!

She did not look back. She shoved aside a passenger blocking her way and broke into a sprint!

The crowd scattered in terror as danger closed in fast!

Feng Ling's heart pounded wildly. Her blood rushed faster, and her senses became more acute than ever. In that split second, she took a huge step forward and leaped, hitting the ground in a roll—

Bang!

A scythe-like Bone Blade crashed into the floor, nearly slicing through her heel!

She looked back and saw that the well-dressed man from before had suddenly grown much larger. His arms had become scythe-shaped blades, dripping with blood!

The killing intent on his face was barely concealed. Excitement, surprise, and fanaticism gleamed in his eyes!

Feng Ling got up and ran.

The suddenly revealed Xenomorph threw the Subway Station into chaos, and everyone fled toward the exits!

In less than half a minute, the turnstiles were crammed with panicked people, while passengers continued surging forward from behind!

Feng Ling was quickly swept up and trapped in the packed crowd! Terrified screams and cries echoed through the Subway Station, making her eardrums buzz.

The next second, the Xenomorph behind her leaped high into the air, then landed heavily with a bang right in front of the turnstiles!

Feng Ling's breath caught—so fast.

The scythe rose, then swung down!

A head flew from the crowd, tracing an arc through the air as splashing blood dyed the electronic advertising screen on the wall red.

Feng Ling watched helplessly as the person in front of her was separated from their head.

The Xenomorph charged at her!

She turned to flee, but a squad of guards arrived from the side at that exact moment. They raised their guns and opened fire, and the entire Subway Station was instantly deafened by gunfire!

Dense sprays of blood blossomed across the Xenomorph's body.

Yet bullets had very limited effect on a Xenomorph. Even a shot through the heart could not kill it immediately. Instead, it only intensified its killing intent.

Its face grew increasingly savage, its eyes turned bloodshot, and its back arched high before it charged at the guards like an enraged beast! The scythes rose and fell, sending blood everywhere!

Feng Ling hid behind a pillar, her nerves taut as her mind raced.

—Incredible speed, razor-sharp Bone Blades... How was she supposed to deal with a monster like this? What could she do?

As she thought rapidly, she spotted a conspicuous red Fire Box not far away. While the Xenomorph was distracted by the guards, she immediately ran over, took out a Fire Extinguisher, quickly pulled the safety pin, then charged at the Xenomorph and squeezed the handle!

White extinguishing agent blasted out like a snowstorm!

The massive amount of liquid carbon dioxide instantly turned the Xenomorph into a snowman. This would not kill it, but that had never been Feng Ling's goal. Her target was its eyes.

As long as she could affect its vision, then no matter how fast it was, it would be nothing more than a headless fly!

Naturally, the Xenomorph would not stand there obediently and let itself be sprayed. It roared furiously and swung a scythe toward Feng Ling!

It was too fast. Feng Ling had no time to dodge and raised the Fire Extinguisher to block.

The scythe-like Bone Blade collided with the Fire Extinguisher with a sharp clang! The metal casing of the Fire Extinguisher was forcibly split open!

Then the other scythe swung toward her too!

Feng Ling twisted aside to avoid it.

The Xenomorph's eyes were covered in extinguishing agent, yet it could still pinpoint her position. The tip of its blade grazed her rear shoulder, instantly tearing open flesh and skin.

Blood splashed across the floor. Feng Ling got up and ran for the exit without hesitation.

The stairs and escalators leading to the surface were packed with people fleeing for their lives. Some had fallen, some were injured, and some trampled over other people's bodies to run ahead. As the Xenomorph pursued them, terrified screams rose one after another.

Feng Ling rushed out of the Subway Station in one breath—

The bustling streets had become utter chaos. Cars crashed into one another, while drivers and pedestrians fled in panic.

She spotted a fallen motorcycle, lifted it up, and climbed on. Blood poured from her wound and streamed down her arm.

Seeing half her body covered in blood, Feng Ling's anger flared.

"Damn it..."

The rearview mirror reflected the Xenomorph chasing out of the Subway Station.

Feng Ling's gaze turned icy. Gritting her teeth at the monster in the mirror, she said, "You're fast, huh? Then let's see if you can catch up."

She suddenly turned the motorcycle around, sped through the greenery at top speed, and headed toward the park plaza ahead!

The Xenomorph pursued her. Two rows of insect-like legs grew from its lower body, its jaw split apart, and a serrated insectoid mouthpart protruded as it let out an enraged hiss at Feng Ling!

Death was close at hand, yet Feng Ling became strangely calm.

She pushed the motorcycle to its maximum speed and charged into the park—

This park connected to the Tianshui River. She refused to believe that, once in the water, this oversized insect could maintain its Speed Advantage!

Feng Ling sped along the riverside track through the park. A vast Reed Thicket came into view ahead, while the river glittered beneath the sunlight.

She drove the motorcycle to the Management Room near the riverbank. No one was inside. It contained landscaping tools, as well as old items left behind by tourists, such as tents and umbrellas.

Feng Ling picked out a heavy axe. As she was about to leave, she noticed a Kite leaning against the wall.

A cold smile tugged at her lips. She bent down, picked up the Kite as well, left the Management Room, and hurried toward the riverbank.

The motorcycle had been fast enough to leave the Xenomorph behind for a while, but she was certain it would catch up again.

Feng Ling climbed over the waist-high railing and quickly slid down the riverbank.

She tied the Kite string between two trees by the shore, then kicked off her shoes and walked barefoot into the dense Reed Thicket. Both hands gripping the axe handle, she watched the distance with cold eyes.

It was coming.

The Xenomorph appeared atop the riverbank.

It was faster than she had expected.

Its upper body still barely resembled a human's, but its lower body had completely become an insect. Six legs scuttled rapidly as it rushed straight toward Feng Ling in the Reed Thicket, as though it had X-ray vision!

Once her position was exposed, the ambush would lose all meaning. Yet Feng Ling's lips curved upward, and her smile widened.

Faster...

Come on, faster!

The instant the monster attacked, Feng Ling turned and hurled herself toward the deep water! Half her body plunged into the river!

At the same time, the monster's eyes turned blood-red as its speed reached the limit! It swung its scythe at her in the water!

Slash!

The scythe cut through the air!

Feng Ling sank underwater!

Water splashed, and the reeds swayed.

A shrill howl rang through the sky!

Feng Ling surfaced and saw that the Xenomorph had been sliced in half at the waist by the Kite string. Its upper body crushed a wide patch of reeds, while its lower body was deeply embedded in wet mud.

It convulsed and howled as more and more blood poured out...

Pleasure showed in Feng Ling's eyes.

Holding the axe, she waded through the bloody water. Looking down at the dying, struggling Xenomorph, she expressionlessly raised the axe—

Crack!

Bone split as the axe blade smashed through the monster's spine.

The familiar scene played out once more. The mutated body jerked straight, then forever lost all signs of life...

Two Silver Cards slowly rose into the air.

Just as Feng Ling was about to examine the patterns on the Cards, an intense hunger suddenly surged through her again. As if possessed, she reached out, and the Cards were immediately absorbed the moment she touched them—

You obtained the Card "Killer Bee."

You obtained the Card "Mantis."