Chapter 26: The Mysterious Shadow City (Part 3)
Chapter 26: The Mysterious Shadow City (Part 3)
"One, two, three... Hmm, exactly five", Feng Bu Jue muttered, stepping into the street's center and away from the lamppost's brightest glow.
He leaped onto a car, standing atop its hood with a pipe wrench clutched in one hand. Scanning the shadows, he positioned himself deliberately in this dim vantage point, hoping to lure the aberrant infants into attacking.
Wang Tan Zhi drew his fruit knife and donned the armor he'd acquired in the singleplayer survival mode—a black steel helmet that looked oddly mismatched. Standing back-to-back with Long Ao Min, they remained near the lamppost, each guarding opposite directions.
Meanwhile, the other two players, Gu and Jimo, reacted like typical horror movie victims. The woman clung to the man's arm while he stood sideways in front of her, shielding her with his body—a suicidal stance if ever there was one.
The aberrant infants slithered through the street's shadows, using buildings and vehicles as cover. These creatures moved fast, darting through illuminated areas in less than a second, their forms vanishing like smoke.
Feng Bu Jue's position, far from the lamppost and surrounded by darkness, made him the first target. A creature sprang from the ground, soaring over two meters high as it lunged at him from behind.
He'd anticipated the attack. Spinning to face it, he caught sight of the aberrant infant mid-leap. Its copper-green skin stretched over a body resembling a deformed infant, its face grotesque, a jagged mouth full of yellow teeth. Its forearms ended in curved blades, and below the knees, animal-like legs terminated in hooves.
Feng had chosen his position carefully. Knowing these creatures stood under a meter tall, he'd expected them to leap at high targets. Now airborne, the aberrant infant became an easy mark.
Feng swung his wrench downward, striking the creature's head with a sickening crunch. Imagine a watermelon exploding midair, splattering rotten liquid and viscous pus everywhere—except this time, the filth coated Feng himself.
Though Feng killed his first attacker instantly, four more remained. They seemed to spawn based on player numbers, but unlike a scripted encounter, they didn't target individuals separately. The others stood under artificial light, where monsters rarely struck. True to form, the remaining four converged on Feng in the shadows.
Trapped on the car's roof, Feng tensed. Fear eluded him, but his mind remained clear. He dismissed fleeing back to the lamppost—he knew the moment he descended, two creatures could reach him within five seconds, their blades slicing his legs before he could react. On flat ground, one-on-one combat was manageable, but against two, he'd take damage.
The second aberrant infant attacked within ten seconds. Feng swung his wrench again, this time striking the creature's temple. The fire attribute and heavy strike effect ensured a quick kill.
Before he could recover, two more lunged from either side. Blocking one wouldn't stop both.
A golden blur flashed. Long Ao Min slid into the fray like a figure on wheels, his feet never touching the ground—a skill in action.
True to his level 10 status, Long Ao Min charged forward, shield raised, slamming into one aberrant infant and sending it flying. Swinging his shield's edge, he clipped the second creature's waist mid-air, throwing it off balance.
Feng seized the opening. With two seconds to react, he crushed the wounded aberrant infant beneath his wrench, another spray of foul liquid erupting.
Long Ao Min sprinted toward the dazed creature he'd thrown, shield raised. The aberrant infant, still reeling, tried to parry with its blades but sparked uselessly against his high-quality armor. A few heavy shield strikes later, it became a pile of pulp.
"One left! Let's finish it together!" Wang Tan Zhi shouted, finally arriving. While he and Long Ao Min had charged together, skill-based movement had let Long Ao Min close the distance instantly. By the time Wang arrived, Long had already secured a kill and an assist.
"Don't get complacent! This won't be that sim—" Feng's warning cut short as darkness swallowed the city. Every light source vanished, including the moon.
The world seemed devoured by void, the air thick with whispers and laughter closing in from all sides.
Seconds later, the scene reset—moonlight returned, lampposts flickered on, and the street brightened.
But the last aberrant infant, hidden in the darkness, had transformed.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
