Published: February 8, 2025
CHAPTER TEXT:
"Yesterday, I was too sleepy while writing this, so here's a supplement for yesterday~~"
If the earlier struggle against that group of tree zombies could be described as a classic case of 'the brave overcome in narrow paths,' then the appearance of the dried corpse bulls completely shattered any remaining courage that had been built up. The entire squad instantly collapsed, and everyone began to scatter in a panic.
Ye Zhongming felt utterly defeated. This chaotic retreat would surely result in heavy casualties. In fact, a better strategy would have been to leverage their smaller numbers by using the stronger survivors as a spearhead, directly penetrating the tree zombie formations and creating a buffer zone with the dried corpse bulls. Even if the bulls charged in without regard for the formation, it would still provide significant cushioning.
However, these people were fleeing like birds and beasts!
Maintaining formation and making a collective breakout might lead to severe casualties, but if they managed to break through the encirclement of these dried corpses, it was possible that one-third or even half of the group could survive. But if they all acted independently and fled on their own, it would be a miracle if a few dozen, or even a mere dozen, remained alive.
Ye Zhongming casually smashed the magic crystal in the forehead of one dried corpse with the steel spike in his hand, and then he watched the grayish-white corpse rapidly wither at a visible speed. Black 'lines' appeared on its skin, which had already lacked moisture, some thick, some thin. Ye Zhongming was curious to see what they were.
"Move!"
Yixi's anxious voice came from behind, forcing Ye Zhongming to abandon his thoughts and follow them in retreat.
"To the camp! Everyone, run!"
Peng Liang shouted, completely shattering any last hope Ye Zhongming had for him.
The boss had fallen to such a level; it was truly disheartening.
There were about thirty people fleeing alongside Ye Zhongming, mostly heading in a direction that was not the one most had chosen when they came. Instead, it was a narrow alley pointed out by a survivor with a talent for hearing. Running to the end, they could climb over the high wall blocking the alley and escape to another block, where safety might await.
As for that wall, which was about three or four meters high, it was nothing for a one-star evolver.
The group quickly entered the alley, and the pressure suddenly eased. Many people exhaled in relief.
In the brief time it took to dash from the street to the alley, seven out of the thirty or so people had died! It took no more than ten seconds, equivalent to one person dying every second; this casualty rate was frighteningly high.
Dried corpses were still chasing from behind; the terror of these corpses lay in the fact that humans could no longer differentiate their strength by the color of the magic crystals, making it impossible to accurately match opponents based on their power level. This led to many casualties. Furthermore, these dried corpses had a more terrifying thirst for flesh than zombies; they seemed to have learned the energy absorption ability possessed by both the Yama Tree and the Death Vine. Any survivors entangled by them would quickly lose their ability to resist, until they were reduced to nothing but skin and bones.
Even Ye Zhongming felt a chill run down his spine.
Noticing that the survivors at the back were struggling to hold them off and casualties were increasing, Ye Zhongming could not watch these important people die in vain. He signaled Yixi and others to retreat first, while he charged into the rear of the group. With a flash of white light in his hand, he consecutively shattered the magic crystals of three dried corpses with a single knife strike.
The people around him were drawn to the light and saw that the outsider had somehow drawn a silver battle knife into his hand.
The silver battle knife did not stop; it flew lightly through the dried corpse horde, and within just a few seconds, over a dozen dried corpses had been killed, leaving the spectators stunned.