Chapter 32: Silent Pursuit in the Shadows

Their steps slowed, and everyone advanced in silence.

Hiding beside the restroom, Gao Yun raised a finger and softly shushed the group, urging them to remain quiet.

Peeking around the restroom’s corner, they discovered a playground overrun with wandering zombies. Dark red bloodstains pooled on the ground—a grim hint of past horrors.

After carefully eyeing the snarling zombies, Gao Yun drew a deep breath and waved for the others to follow.

One of their agile members surged swiftly into the restroom.

In an instant, a chilling cold ran down everyone’s spine.

The temperature was depressingly low, and the darkness was overwhelming.

Inside, an eerie silence reigned. The dim, narrow corridor of the restroom resembled a crypt.

“Tick-tock.”

Water droplets fell steadily.

As they observed the tightly shut stalls, those trailing Gao Yun couldn’t help but be on high alert.

On the stark white wooden door, dark red handprints marred its surface.

A faint scent of blood mingled with the restroom’s stench, assaulting their senses.

They moved with utmost caution.

Each drew their weapon, eyes locked on the door at the far end.

There, a pool of vivid red blood silently oozed from beneath the door.

A monster… was right inside.

Drawing closer, Gao Yun activated his spiritual energy, his hands bathed in a faint blue glow.

As they neared, the group could almost hear dull, heavy thuds.

“Bang… bang…”

The sounds echoed like a skull colliding with a wall.

“Tack-”

A larger droplet burst in the quiet restroom, startling everyone. Fortunately, all 13 were seasoned second-stage fighters. After a brief, knowing glance at each other, they inched closer while controlling their breath.

Passing by the chilly sink mirror, a female awakened fighter instinctively glanced at her reflection.

In that fleeting moment, she realized her face had turned shockingly pale.

“Bang!”

Before she could turn around, the mirror revealed the stark white wooden door at the corridor’s end shuddering violently, as if something were about to lunge out.

“Attack!”

Noticing that their approach had alerted the corpse, Gao Yun – the leader – roared and smashed his fist into the door.

“Bang!!”

Wood splinters flew as the wooden stall burst open, momentarily blurring their view.

They were met by a female corpse with only half a head, who spun around suddenly, her pitch-black, pupil-less eyes fixed on them.

Her ghastly white face contorted as a gaping, blood-filled mouth suddenly opened:

“Ahhhhh!!!!!”

The scream was shrill and piercing.

Amid the collective shock, a barrage of spiritual energy attacks pounded the corpse from all sides.

Flame Jet! Weakness Impact! Ice Tentacles!

Bombarded by spiritual energy, the decapitated female corpse swayed, her body cloaked in myriad skill effects. Yet, no matter how formidable the assaults, each was deflected by a white barrier.

“Move! Lead it into the woods at the back!”

“We can’t damage her until her shield breaks! Watch your timing—once that barrier shatters, concentrate your attacks!”

He barked the orders rapidly.

Gao Yun let out a low roar and smashed his fist into the wall behind, punching through the concrete.

Heeding his command, the team quickly dragged the corpse toward the woods, their skill glows intertwining in a dazzling display.

As they watched the corpse, steadfast despite their onslaught and staggering forward, they were filled with astonishment.

Not surprising for a high-difficulty instance; any second-stage fighter could wield such power.

Even without enhancements, it withstood the assault; strengthened, it would be a far tougher challenge.

As soon as they reached the woods, Gao Yun took a deep breath and hurled a plate from afar, shouting urgently:

“I’ve activated the Silent Shield! The zombies on the playground can’t pick up a sound for now!”

“My ability is defensive; once I bind the monster, focus your attacks!”

No sooner had he spoken than Gao Yun charged at the corpse, his hands emitting a brilliant blue glow that quickly formed a light shield.

“Bang!”

The corpse crashed into the shield, its half head’s brain mass quivering. The explosive force, like a cannon blast, sent Gao Yun reeling back a step.

But in the very next second, he surged forward again.

Seeing Gao Yun shoulder the most perilous task, his comrades looked at him with admiration and immediately launched their attacks.

With every successive strike, the white barrier on the corpse flickered violently.

A spark of hope flashed across their eyes:

“Keep it coming! It’s almost shattered!”

Realizing the objective was within reach, they collectively exhaled in relief.

But before their joy could settle, the corpse attacking the shield stiffened. In a flash, like a ghost, it bypassed Gao Yun and materialized in front of an awakened fighter who had been unleashing relentless flames.

“Splat!”

A slender, snow-white arm pierced the man’s chest as effortlessly as slicing through jelly, then viciously yanked, wrenching out his spine as he writhed in agonizing pain.

“Thud”

In one swift moment, he was obliterated.

The nearby attackers were suddenly startled, with several melee awakened fighters retreating in shock.

“Zhang Tao!!”

At the back of the line, a female awakened fighter—continuously firing Ice Arrows with bloodshot eyes—shouted as if she recognized him.

“Hurry! It’s too fast!”

None of the 13 present could have imagined that the decapitated female corpse possessed such ghostly abilities.

At the forefront, Gao Yun’s eyes flashed with a chill before, with a tinge of regret, he shouted:

“Keep on attacking! I’m sorry—I lost control of her just now!”

As he spoke, Gao Yun hastily lunged forward once more, as if to shield his comrades from the monster.

There was no time for delay in the battle.

After suppressing their shock, everyone resumed their assault urgently.

On a distant rooftop.

High above, Yenir quietly observed the fierce battle below. The fight had reached a fever pitch, and if all went well, these 13 second-stage fighters would soon dispatch the decapitated female corpse. Yet, upon closer inspection, Yenir noted that Gao Yun at the front was deliberately holding back his full strength.

This was intriguing.

A soft chuckle escaped Yenir as he casually glanced at the system mission panel.

He noticed that the mission for the C-Class Bloodthirst Butcher had already been silently claimed.

It wasn’t a mission he had taken.

In the woods, as the team mustered their power for a final, fatal strike on the monster, Gao Yun at the front let out a low, urgent call:

“Everyone, get ready to take on the mission! Watch out for the monster’s final outburst!”

No sooner had he finished speaking than all 13 eagerly followed him to accept the mission.

In a heartbeat, the decapitated female corpse, with its left hand already broken, suddenly swelled, and an eerie chill engulfed the entire area.

At the same time,

Behind them, a massive butcher dragging a long blade was advancing ‘silently’ through a soundproof barrier.