Chapter 40: Fury at the Compound

Fight separately!

As a dark figure charged out over an artificial hill, the front-line Second-Stage Awakened suddenly broke formation.

A sickening stench of decay and a reek of blood filled the air as a two-headed mutant, as large as a car, barreled straight into the crowd.

Hidden at the rear, Yenir’s eyes flashed as he instantly recognized his target: a First-Stage Peak Mutant Corpse Hound!

Methodically, two of the five Awakened surged forward—one wielding a large shield and the other enveloped in eerie blue frost—as they grappled the beast.

Drawing on their combat prowess, the duo quickly ensnared the raging Corpse Hound.

“Be careful—there’s a Blood Bear behind!”

A loud warning echoed.

Meanwhile, in another direction, the remaining three Second-Stage fighters stood ready, their eyes fixed on the tremors coming from the right side of the compound.

Facing mutants of the same level, they didn’t need to kill—only to hold them back so as not to disrupt the clash between their leader and the Tiger Beast.

But within seconds, as Honggang and the Tiger Beast faced off from afar, a massive black bear pounded its chest and crashed onto the scene!

Boom!!

Like a heavy truck, a mutated, decaying giant bear nearly four meters tall smashed through the compound wall and charged in fury.

“Watch your movement! Don’t engage head-on!”

Compared to the Corpse Hound squad that was being continually dragged into battle, the trio facing the Blood Bear were visibly on edge.

Gazing at the Blood Bear’s nearly gaping wound in the chest, they dared not relax for a moment.

The fight erupted on multiple fronts.

Among them, a Constitution-type Awakened roared and charged forward, brandishing a large shield.

With a resounding thud, a bald, burly man cowering behind his shield was slammed into the ground by the crushing blow of the bear’s massive paw.

Under the immense force, his legs sank more than ten centimeters into the sand as his muscles trembled under the strain of a titanic weight.

After a brief stalemate, the burly fighter let out a low shout, and his entire body erupted in a flash of silver light.

An iron body!

As his ability activated, the man battling the Blood Bear was instantly cloaked in a layer of silver, as hard as metal, allowing him to hold his ground.

The clash between the Awakened and the mutants raged fiercely, and with both sides boasting immense power, the battle rapidly escalated into a white-hot melee.

Observing the two teams methodically set up their lines, Yenir calmly repositioned himself.

Sky Rift Radiance had an attack range of over a hundred meters—a perfect chance to snatch a mutant and vanish.

The only catch was ensuring that both monsters lined up in a straight line.

Ideally, he’d also bring the Second-Stage Tiger Beast into that same line.

A Tiger Beast on the brink of evolution was bound to drop a piece of Blue Equipment.

If it doesn’t make Yenir’s heart race, it surely isn’t genuine.

While patiently waiting, once a melee Awakened engaged with the Blood Bear was knocked back by a single strike, it sparked a turning point—Honggang, who had been at a distance, sprang into action!

Boom!!

With a calm yet swift motion,

like a fleeting shadow moving at near-sonic speed in the Third-Stage, Honggang drew his massive battle axe and struck fiercely.

Wind Slash!

Boom!!

The collision unleashed a violent burst. The massive Tiger Beast, equally swift, slammed its claw with enough force to crush an armored vehicle, sending an invisible shockwave rippling outward in a circular impact.

Boom, boom, boom! Boom!

The battle was underway.

Empowered by extraordinary attributes, both sides battled at breakneck speed, as if in a sped-up replay—with every clash sparking small explosions.

In his Third-Stage might, Honggang resembled a human grenade launcher, with every movement exuding raw power.

“Not too shabby… must be Dual-Type: Strength and Agility.”

Watching from the rear, Yenir silently offered his assessment.

The Awakened fighting the mutant Tiger Beast demonstrated commendable strength for a Third-Stage novice.

His swift, precise swordplay clearly followed a strategy of agile dodging and gradual attrition.

However, judging by his fighting style, he appeared to be an Awakened from a private force rather than the Military.

Third-Stage fighters from the Military typically favor lethal, all-out attacks—there’s no time for prolonged skirmishes in large-scale combat.

After a brief search through his memories, Yenir found no records of this Third-Stage fighter. He must have perished in the catastrophic events a year later.

In the aftermath of the disaster, aside from a few peak Third-Stage fighters, most were only marginally better than cannon fodder.

Bang!!

The battle had entered its final phase.

A dull groan resounded as Honggang, locked in high-speed combat with the Tiger Beast, was suddenly struck in the chest by a savage swipe from a mutant tiger’s tail—sending him hurtling like a cannonball into a pile of rubble.

After toppling half a building, the middle-aged fighter quickly rose, grimacing as he wiped away fresh blood from the corner of his mouth.

Tough opponent.

This mutant tiger’s strength far exceeded that of an ordinary Second-Stage Peak.

Don’t be fooled by its blood-soaked appearance—even its massive tiger head bore a deep, bone-exposing slash.

Yet for a mutant, such injuries were hardly fatal.

He took a deep breath.

Glaring at the beastly force charging like a mountain, Honggang’s resolve hardened as he raised his blade high, readying his most powerful strike.

He had to absorb the damage head-on—otherwise his team wouldn’t last much longer.

The Corpse Hound squad was holding steady, but the real threat was the Blood Bear.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the enormous Blood Bear battering the shield bearers, leaving them spewing blood.

If this mutant joined the fray between him and the Tiger Beast, even he would be in deep trouble. Every subordinate was vital; he couldn’t afford any losses.

Under the blazing sun, his raised blade reflected a dazzling gleam.

Poised and electrified, Honggang seemed to wield flames as he gathered his strength for a decisive blow.

It was about time to strike…

Yenir’s gaze hardened.

Casting aside any need for concealment, he nimbly traversed the rooftops, continuously adjusting his position in response to the three fronts.

After Honggang unleashed his mightiest strike, Yenir planned to swoop in for the finishing blow!

Otherwise, if this Third-Stage fighter freed his hands, even his mission target might fall into the enemy’s grasp.

Flame Slash!!

With a roar, Honggang’s blade erupted in a surge of searing flames.

Accompanied by an overwhelming aura, he brought his strike crashing down onto the howling Tiger Beast.

Pfft!

Wind blades erupted.

At this do-or-die moment, the giant mutant tiger lunged forward, its maw unleashing a burst of cyan wind blades that collided head-on with the fiery edge.

Bang!!

After a brief stalemate, the cyan energy burst apart in an instant.

Even after the Flame Slash cleaved through the wind blades, the Third-Stage fighter still held the upper hand.

Roar!!!

With a pained roar, the Tiger Beast—crushed like a boulder—was brutally sent flying by the charged strike.

A stench of burning flesh filled the air as a massive burst of flame ignited from its innards like kindling.

Gasp—gasp.

He panted heavily.

Lowering his blade, Honggang surveyed his handiwork with a smile.

Despite expending most of his spiritual energy on a powerful strike, he had successfully mortally wounded the Tiger Beast. With the added effect of burning blood flames, the Second-Stage mutant would soon be reduced to ashes.

Lowering his guard, he cautiously advanced with his blade, ready to counter any final retaliation from the beast.

On the other two fronts, his subordinates noticed that their leader had already turned the tide.

Amid a chorus of cheers, they hauled their targets close to their commander.

The tide was turning in their favor!

Just as Honggang prepared to deliver a final slash to finish off the Tiger Beast,

in that instant he felt goosebumps rise on his neck—a chilling, primal fear compelling him to whip around.

“What the hell?!”

“What is that behind me?!”

Under the blazing sun, as shocked eyes converged, a flash of silver-white sword light—cutting through the world—suddenly appeared.

Sky Rift Radiance!

The silver light cascaded from the horizon, its brilliant hue seemingly linking the sky and the earth.

With an incomparable aura of terror, a slender yet devastating sword shadow spanned a hundred meters—slicing through everything like a laser beam.