Chapter 129.2 – Life-and-Death Marathon (20)
◎ The champion is born ◎
The Music Square.
The Zombie King was heavily wounded, its wing severed by Song Ke, continuously dripping thick, viscous black blood.
Around it gathered evolved zombies, crowding the entire square. As events unfolded, the Zombie King knew that this attempt had almost failed.
But there’s a saying among humans, “As long as there’s a green hill, there’s no need to worry about firewood.” If it could find a chance to escape, there was still hope for a comeback.
The Zombie King clawed at the ground, discreetly observing an escape route.
In the team “Shunxing Teahouse,” Mr. Xiang stood, issuing a stern command: “Move.”
Seizing the opportunity while it was weak, planning to take its life while it was injured, now was the Zombie King’s most vulnerable moment. Utilizing the spatial abilities hidden within the shadows, the plan was to make the Zombie King vanish from its current position.
The direction aimed at was astonishingly where a super-powered electric cage, crafted by a dozen or so electric-type awakeners, lay. Once inside, it was enough to obliterate any living body!
The Zombie King’s pitch-black eyes slowly turned, emitting a muffled roar from its throat, struggling incessantly but still forcibly being shifted.
In a corner, a zombie with peculiar eyes took advantage and activated the skill “Echo Location.” By sensing radiation waves and faint breaths, it suddenly pinpointed the spatial-type awakener’s location. The surrounding level 3 zombies received the command and surged madly towards that spot, ferociously attacking the elusive mist.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye. The spatial-type awakener never expected their hidden position to be exposed. Their slender figure was dragged out, horrified, and pinned to the ground by countless sharp claws.
“Mr. Xiang, save me—help!!”
The screams abruptly ceased as the spatial-type awakener’s limbs were torn apart, savagely devoured by the ruthless level 3 zombies.
Five seconds later, the Zombie King’s heavy body fell into the electric cage.
It worked! Mr. Xiang’s face lit up with joy, taking an excited step forward, but his smile quickly froze.
Suddenly, the Zombie King emerged unscathed, swiftly rising and viciously biting the electric-type awakeners attacking it.
Several meters away, a level 3 zombie suddenly convulsed and was instantly charred, crumbling into ashes with a gust of wind.
Mr. Xiang cursed furiously, frustrated by the evolved zombies, especially those darned mutant ones. This time, the Zombie King relied on “damage transfer.”
This Zombie King was too cunning, too shrewd. Not only did it possess a repository of powers it could control at will, but it also commanded a group of fearless super soldiers who followed its orders without question, allowing it to wield its powers wantonly.
Thick thorns burst from the ground, securely restraining the Zombie King’s damaged body. Standing tall in a blue long robe was Duanmu Qi.
“The ‘Three Grandsons and One Grandpa’ are here.”
Fan Peng, Qiong Mingcheng, and Xiao Chen slid down the thorns, sprinting towards the Zombie King. Their movements were peculiar, resembling some kind of formation; each took a corner, forming a triangular stance. Through mutual support, their attack power increased significantly.
Within this formation, the three B-level awakeners exhibited A-tier strength. This seed-winning team unleashed astonishing combat prowess. Yet, the Zombie King reacted swiftly, dragging the thorns as it swiftly retreated. Level 3 zombies surged past it, engaging in a fierce battle with Xiao Chen and the others.
Duanmu Qi, standing high up, suddenly tensed his back, feeling a chill in his throat. A cold sensation surged from his heart—throat cut!
He swiftly crouched, dodging sideways, but his skin was still sliced open, crimson blood flowing down.
Duanmu Qi felt a chill in his heart; his opponent’s level was evidently higher than his.
The A-level speed-type awakener, having failed in the assassination, no longer lingered in battle. Swiftly vanishing into the darkness, seeking the next opportunity, their presence hindered Duanmu Qi’s movements, leaving him constrained as if with a fishbone stuck in his throat.
Duanmu Qi pressed his wound to stop the bleeding, sneering in a certain direction. “Mr. Xiang, finally at the end of the road.”
“Kid Duanmu, pretending to be noble at this point seems pointless, don’t you think?” Mr. Xiang didn’t deny it, saying cryptically, “This is a surprise I’ve specially prepared for you. Enjoy it.”
As the two sides stood in a deadlock, suddenly! A storm descended from the sky, chilling Mr. Xiang and Duanmu Qi to the bone, making it impossible for them to open their eyes.
“Clang!” A business van rammed through the blocking horde of corpses, entering the scene in an absolute and domineering manner.
The V587 group leaped out of the vehicle, like a sharp knife entering the battlefield, cutting through the tide of zombies, approaching the central target.
Mr. Xiang gritted his teeth; these persistent little devils. If they weren’t taken care of, the ownership of the Zombie King would remain uncertain.
“Kill V587 first!”
Evolved zombies and awakeners charged toward V587 simultaneously, various abilities flashing in chaos, targeting Song Ke and her five companions.
Lin Youyou dodged frantically, cursing aloud, “What the heck, infighting at this point?!”
Whoosh!
A towering blaze erupted, burning into a sea of red, clearing the monsters around Lin Youyou in the blink of an eye.
The hover car of “Tustan” arrived just in time, Jennifer leaning against the door, her deep red curls fluttering in the wind.
Lin Youyou looked up as Jennifer threw a wave at her, enthusiastically shouting, “Zhang San, I’m here to help you~”
Lin Youyou froze for a moment, her toes curling awkwardly. She never expected her casually chosen name to be called out.
Boom!
Amidst her daze, earth-shattering cannon fire erupted as “Guns and Roses” also arrived on the scene.
Irene and her sisters set up the cannons on the rooftop, cheerfully saying, “Hey, friend, need a hand?”
Lin Youyou quickly responded, “Yes, yes, yes! Cover me!”
“Alright!” Irene turned the cannon and blasted towards the position where Mr. Xiang and the others were located. “Remember, you owe me a meal!”
On top of the hover car, Yin Xiao remained silent. His sniper rifle always tracked alongside Song Ke; whenever a zombie approached her, he took the lead, pinning sharp bullets into their skulls.
As Song Ke ran, she noticed his support and glanced in the direction of the hover car.
Yin Xiao, wearing goggles, brought his fingers together and made a stylish gesture across his forehead, the ruby earring on his right ear sparkling.
Song Ke: “…” She was speechless at his flamboyance.
Duanmu Qi fell victim to another ambush, the injury barely an inch from his heart. Busy dodging, he couldn’t lay down the thorns in time. Without his control, Xiao Chen and the others soon found themselves trapped, on the verge of being submerged in a sea of zombies.
The speed-type awakener once again appeared behind Duanmu Qi, eyes icy, dagger aiming for his neck—
“Ding—” A sapphire blue boomerang knocked his weapon away.
Song Ke leaped past, effortlessly lifting Duanmu Qi and tossing him onto a scenic tree, giving him a new vantage point.
“Su Cha, finish him off.”
Su Cha instantly teleported to Duanmu Qi’s original position, engaging in a duel with the awakener skilled in stealth assassination.
The battle between the two assassination experts was about endurance. Initially composed, both gradually changed, the other showing a heavy expression; they couldn’t locate their opponent! Unable to find Su Cha, the assassin had no choice but to reveal himself. His face turned purple, hands trembling, unaware and defenseless against Su Cha’s poisonous mist.
Su Cha’s muscles surged as he appeared behind him like a ghost, his expression cold and stern—and he sl*t his throat!
Helpless, the opponent slowly fell.
Having played the game of hawks all his life, ultimately blinded by a hawk’s peck. This person, skilled in assassination throughout his life, finally perished due to assassination.
Duanmu Qi crouched among the branches, hoarsely speaking: “Thank you.”
Su Cha coldly said, “Thank our captain. She said it’s to repay your help in Greenwater City.”
Duanmu Qi was taken aback. During the incident in Greenwater City, they did intervene to trap the zombie bear, but ultimately, it wasn’t to assist V587. It was merely a task. He hadn’t expected Song Ke to still owe them a favor.
Su Cha turned and leaped into the battle.
Song Ke, in the midst of her sprint, found herself surrounded by Mr. Xiang’s people.
Behind her were surging high-level zombies, while in front, dozens of high-level awakeners glared at her menacingly.
Song Ke raised her hand to her brow, two ethereal blue crescent moon blades appearing abruptly.
Two entirely different waves of enemies rushed in. Song Ke closed her eyes briefly. When she reopened them, a trace of ethereal blue shimmered in her pupils due to the intense radiation.
She swung the curved blades, sweeping through the enemies with a formidable force. Heads of level 3 zombies fell one after another. With a forward spin of her blades, she drew an arc of potent power, intimidating the awakeners who were astounded by the pressure exerted solely by her high-level awakened energy, causing them to evade in all directions.
Swift as lightning, Song Ke pierced through the crowd, extending her hand and slamming Mr. Xiang’s head fiercely onto the ground.
“Do you think V587 consists only of me, just me alone?”
A smirk curved her lips, a faint dimple displaying a hint of pride. “Take a good look.”
“—The champions are us.”
The Zombie King on the battlefield gradually realized the crisis, flapping its half-meaty wings and roaring furiously.
Mutant zombie hid in the shadows, opening its mouth wide, emitting a deafening roar in sync with its movements, using its ability “Fearful Howl.”
Awakeners affected by the sound waves immediately fell into a state of chaos, limbs uncontrollably running amok and subsequently being tackled by zombies.
Simultaneously, an eerie glow enveloped the Zombie King’s body, as if it wore a suit of armor. It activated an ability called “Steel Will.” Under the protection of its invincible physique, it rampaged, finally breaking through an escape route.
A pure and clear singing voice echoed as Lin Youyou timely dispelled negative state effects of her companions.
Xu Xing’s awakened energy surged to its peak, and ice needles filled the sky. Upon closer inspection, the tips of these ice needles were actually green, infused with Su Cha’s poison mist, greatly enhancing their lethality. High-level zombies fell in swathes.
The Zombie King let out a long howl, summoning hundreds of level 3 zombies from nearby, tightly guarding itself.
Just as it was about to turn and flee, it unexpectedly met a pair of light-colored eyes.
A man sat calmly in a wheelchair, hands crossed over his abdomen, displaying an elegant and composed posture. He seemed as if he wasn’t amidst a fierce battlefield but rather seated in a peaceful garden enjoying the scenery. His deep peach blossom eyes curved slightly, his lips moved, speaking something to the Zombie King.
For a fleeting second, the Zombie King faltered, its sluggish consciousness finally discerning that the man spoke the language belonging to humans:
“—Goodbye.”
The next moment, the level 3 zombies that had been guarding it turned in unison, roaring as they bit into the Zombie King.
They savagely tore into its flesh, snapping its tendons, crushing its armor into pieces.
The other half of the Zombie King’s meaty wing was torn, and an incredulous thought flashed through its mind.
Its most loyal army had betrayed it. How could this be? How could this be?!
A lithe figure leaped high like a cheetah, the slender body coiled with power. In their hand, a triangular military dagger emitted three kinds of light: ethereal blue, deep green, and icy white. Like lightning cleaving through clouds, it plunged into the zombie king’s head!!
The poison mist spread, the ice needle attached to the blade suddenly exploded. The entire head of the Zombie King shattered like an overfilled balloon.
The entire Music Square fell into a profound silence.
Su Cha landed on one knee as the Zombie King’s body slowly collapsed behind him.
He opened his palm, revealing an intact crystal, its bright red hue pulsating as if it were a still-beating heart.
A holographic projection descended, displaying the seal of Haimen.
“Congratulations to V587 for successfully completing the check-in.”
However, everyone understood this wasn’t a simple check-in completion.
The champion of the Throne Race Competition had been born.
**TN
Zhang San – similar to John Smith or Jane Doe
