Chapter Thirty-Five: The Demon—Hiruko

"Everyone, watch carefully. I'll demonstrate how to use this weapon for you. It's fairly simple: first, pull the bolt to load a round, then aim the muzzle at the target and fire."

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The gunshots startled everyone, including Mu Chen himself.

Three fist-sized holes appeared in the wall.

Mu Chen: "..."

"Did you get that? Each gun has only thirty rounds. You can fire single shots or bursts, but take care not to hit anyone by mistake. Never point the muzzle at your own people. Now, each of you try shooting at a distant target, but don't waste too many bullets!"

Mu Chen didn't hand out magazines to the servants—time was tight, and he hadn't used these himself yet.

"Bang! Bang bang bang bang!"

The method wasn't difficult; once the servants had the guns in hand, the principle became clear enough.

"Everyone, move upstairs to the rooftop. When the monster enters the two-hundred-meter range, fire at will!"

On the rooftop.

The servants took positions on either side of Mu Chen and his sister.

"Clack clack."

Mu Chen handed his Type 95 automatic rifle to Mu Jiu'er.

"Jiu'er, watch out for yourself. If the firepower doesn't kill the monster outright, you should leave the rooftop first. The monster will be drawn to this side by the gunfire."

Mu Jiu'er felt a warmth in her heart. She didn't know where Mu Chen had suddenly acquired so many weapons, but seeing him now empty-handed, she felt worried.

"Brother, if you give me the weapon, you won't have one yourself. I believe we'll win. You should keep it."

"Silly girl, your brother can easily grab another weapon. We're not short on firepower now."

He ruffled Mu Jiu'er's hair.

"Clang!"

Mu Chen pulled from behind him the M82A1 sniper rifle—Barrett—and set it in front of him...

When he saw the serial number, the name rang familiar, but after the transaction, seeing the gun itself, he secretly delighted for a long while.

Holding the rifle in her arms, Mu Jiu'er felt a bit dazed.

Only recently, they'd been struggling for survival in a world of horror and fantasy—now, this overwhelming sense of technological force was almost surreal.

"Thunk..."

With his left hand, Mu Chen reversed his grip and braced the stock against his left shoulder, while his right hand filled the magazine, which was larger than his palm.

He pulled the bolt downward and released it sharply.

"Clack clack!"

A string of mechanical sounds echoed across the rooftop.

[The Little Spider has invaded your territory. Its vision is exceptionally clear—it has discovered the base and is moving rapidly toward you. In fifteen seconds, it will reach the base below.]

"All personnel, attention! The monster has entered the territory. Be ready—fire only upon my command!"

The calm and steady voice reached everyone.

Through the scope, Mu Chen saw a half-meter tall spider-like monster racing toward them.

But its back...

It had no shell. Its body was a woman's head, with eight strong, elongated limbs protruding from her hair...

"This is absolutely something from the underworld! It completely overturns any notion of what a spider should be."

He'd encountered many horrors, but none as bizarre as this so-called "spider."

[Demon—Street Creeper: A physical entity formed from resentment. Skill 1: Bewitch. Skill 2: Shrill Scream. Skill 3: Attach. Skill 4: Rapid Reproduction.]

Holding his breath, Mu Chen took aim at its head.

"Bang!!"

The powerful recoil shook Mu Chen's whole body on the rooftop, knocking the stock right off his shoulder.

Eight hundred meters away, the ground beside the Street Creeper exploded into a crater, sending dust flying against its body.

"Screee!!!"

A strange, piercing cry echoed from afar. Even at a distance of eight hundred meters, everyone froze as the sound reached them.

[You've been attacked by sound, entering a dizzy state.]

Two seconds passed before they snapped out of it. Now the Street Creeper was only seven hundred meters away.

Seeing the monster closing in, Mu Chen aimed again through the scope.

This time, he not only saw the Street Creeper, but also Number Five, returning with a load of stones.

Number Five was carrying a huge stone, now just three hundred meters from the base.

"..."

No time for other thoughts—Mu Chen focused, aiming another shot at the Street Creeper's head.

With the first experience behind him, he braced the stock firmly against his shoulder.

"Bang!!"

The bullet blasted off two of the Street Creeper's right front limbs, sending it tumbling across the ground.

"Hit!"

No time to dwell—Mu Chen wanted the monster to feel the full force of modern technology.

"Bang! Bang!!"

After two more rounds, Mu Chen felt his left shoulder nearly come apart.

With no protective gear, the recoil was almost unbearable for an ordinary person.

At five hundred meters, everyone on the rooftop could see the ground around the Street Creeper shattered, clouds of dust rising.

Mu Chen stowed the Barrett in his backpack; he sensed that forcing another shot would likely injure his shoulder.

Number Five had noticed something behind him. Upon seeing the Street Creeper, he clutched the stone and sprinted desperately toward the base.

"That fool! He should just drop the stone!"

Mu Chen winced. He was prepared to sacrifice Number Five, but seeing such unwavering loyalty, he felt a pang of reluctance.

There was no kill notification, but the Street Creeper seemed badly wounded.

He switched to the Type 95. "Number One, Number Two, come with me to intercept. Jiu'er, stay on the rooftop; don't fire unless I signal. Everyone follow Jiu'er's instructions."

A bunch of novices—Mu Chen felt a headache at the thought of them shooting from behind. Who knew which one would miss and hit their own?

With two servants, Mu Chen quickly left the base courtyard.

As they caught sight of Number Five, less than two hundred meters away, the Street Creeper was already within fifty meters of him.

"Keep running forward!"

Mu Chen shouted as he sped forward to intercept.

"Master, I found a lot of stones, just east of the base!"

Number Five, panting heavily, saw Mu Chen ahead and immediately reported his discovery.

Watching the slowing servant, Mu Chen grew anxious.

The Street Creeper's right limbs were reduced to just one, its crawling speed much slower—but still faster than Number Five.

Suddenly, Number Five stopped, and like someone possessed, turned and walked toward the monster, while the Street Creeper scrambled after him.

Mu Chen suddenly recalled the monster's skills.

"Bewitching..."

If not for the reminder, he'd nearly forgotten he had skills of his own.

The white of his eyes faded, black pupils locked on the Street Creeper, whose head was now missing a chunk.

...