Chapter Fifty-Seven: Level 6

"Ah!"

A sharp scream echoed through the room.

A ferocious demon hound leaped onto a man, its fangs glinting menacingly. The man, pinned beneath the beast, thrashed about in terror, screaming miserably as he tried to escape. Beside him stood another man, watching helplessly as his companion was subdued by the savage hound, his face pale with fear and panic, too frightened to flee or fight.

"Help me! Please, help me!" The man under the hound desperately hoped his friend would rescue him, but the latter only stood there, frozen with fear, not daring to move.

The demon hound opened its gaping maw and tore the man's face apart. Blood spattered everywhere, finally jolting the other man from his stupor. Seizing a stool, he mustered his courage and smashed it down hard on the hound. With a dull thud, the stool struck the beast, but its body was as tough as bronze; the blow did nothing. His attack was utterly ineffective.

The demon hound bit deep into the pinned man's abdomen, and pinkish entrails spilled onto the floor. The man screamed in agony, pain wracking his body, making him long for death. Yet the hound seemed to know exactly where to bite to prolong his suffering without killing him, tormenting him slowly.

"Demon! It's a demon!" Seeing his attacks were useless, the survivor's face twisted in terror as he scrambled to open the door and escape—he couldn't take it anymore.

"Wang Ming, I'm sorry!" he shouted, flinging open the door and preparing to flee. But outside, three dark demon hounds awaited him.

A chilling hiss—then a scream.

From the private room came anguished cries. Elsewhere, the same horrors unfolded. Humans were little more than food for the mutated beasts, devoured mercilessly. Many could hear their own bones cracking as they were torn apart—the pain, the fear, the terror...

A few managed to escape, but they hadn't gone far before vicious demon hounds appeared out of the snowy wasteland, tearing them limb from limb, torturing them. The scent of blood permeated the air.

——

A kilometer away, Zack rode a wooden horse, leading a group in desperate flight. Yang Fan stayed behind to cover their retreat. The snow was falling faster, growing heavier by the moment. On the wooden horse, people huddled together, sharing what little warmth they could find.

Even Yang Fan felt the chill, a testament to the bitter cold that had descended. The landscape was an endless expanse of white—no people in sight, but plenty of zombies. Yang Fan cautiously scanned the surroundings, the Thunder Blade gripped in his hand. Suddenly, a demon hound charged at him, bloodshot eyes and bared fangs snapping for his throat.

"Die," Yang Fan snarled, gripping the Thunder Blade with his right hand and charging forward. His left hand clenched into a fist, red energy swirling around it. He punched the demon hound square in the head—bone fragments and red-streaked brain matter splattered through the air. In a single blow, Yang Fan shattered the creature's skull.

Howling, the zombies began to converge on his position. More demon hounds appeared from all directions. If this went on, things would soon go south.

"Zack!" Yang Fan called out.

——

Riding ahead, Zack shouted back, "I get it! I'll run first, you cover the rear. Good plan! I'll head straight south—we'll wait for you twenty kilometers out."

His shamelessness was blatant. Even Chen Ming, his summoner, was embarrassed, lowering his head. The others cast Zack strange looks. He was the strongest among them, yet clearly the most cowardly.

"Fine," Yang Fan replied, speechless at Zack's words. Still, the plan aligned with his own. He called to Zhu Liang, "Head for Clear Azure Lake, that's the rendezvous point at seven o'clock!"

In his previous life, he had also fled toward Clear Azure Lake, which was guarded by regular troops—a far safer place than here. Their current position was too dangerous; though the mutated beasts and zombies were low-level, neither Yang Fan nor Zack could protect everyone.

Yang Fan wasn't playing the hero—he was thinking of the greater good.

He stopped, and after Bai Chen had shot a few zombies dead, the latter followed Zack's wooden horse and moved on.

Yang Fan, clad in his purple cloak, stood amidst the swirling snow and howling wind.

A berserk demon rat lunged at him, jaws wide, ready to devour him whole. Yang Fan countered with an energy attack, crushing the rat's skull—brain and blood splattering the ground.

The snowfall thickened as Zack forced a path ahead. Now, dozens of demon hounds and berserk demon rats were charging toward Yang Fan.

[Energy Rush]

Yang Fan's body blazed with red energy as he charged forward. Several zombies and a berserk demon rat were sent flying. The zombies' bones snapped under the impact, leaving them paralyzed on the ground.

[-199]

A number appeared above the demon rat. Since it had six hundred health points, Yang Fan moved in quickly, slashing it with the Thunder Blade, fighting in a bloody haze. One punch burst its head open. He stowed the corpse in his pack and pressed on.

Though the demon rats were high-level, their stats were inferior to Yang Fan’s. Hardened by countless battles, and with a Thunder Blade nearly as powerful as a silver-tier weapon and enhanced energy, Yang Fan cut down all who approached him.

One after another, demon rats fell to his blade or were crushed by his fists, turning into experience points. His speed and reflexes reached astonishing levels; zombies barely survived a single encounter before being decapitated.

"Boom!"

A dozen demon rats and numerous zombies closed in. Yang Fan planted an explosive talisman on the ground, activated stealth, and slipped away. Moments later, as the horde arrived, the talisman detonated—

——

With a roar, a dozen zombies and two or three berserk demon rats were blown to pieces. At that moment, Yang Fan leveled up at last. After so many battles, the terrifying amount of experience he required—five times that of an ordinary person—was finally filled.

——

A surge of warmth coursed through his body. He had reached level six. Without hesitation, Yang Fan purchased the corresponding attribute potions.

"Consumed Level 6 Strength Elixir—strength increased by thirty."
"Consumed Level 6 Stamina Elixir—stamina increased by thirty."
"Consumed Level 6 Agility Elixir—agility increased by thirty."
"Consumed Level 6 Intelligence Elixir—intelligence increased by thirty."
"Health increased by two hundred, defense by twenty, and attack by fifty."

——

As the system’s voice faded, Yang Fan immediately activated stealth. With hundreds of zombies and over a hundred demon rats converging on his location, his health had dropped to half—one wrong move could mean death.

"Clear Azure Lake..." Yang Fan murmured under his breath.

(Thanks to Feiyu and Feitu for your generous rewards. I, Melon Seed, will keep working hard and frequently check the book reviews. If you have suggestions or criticisms, feel free to share them—I will respond carefully. Stay tuned!)