Published: January 30, 2025
Wen Yu watched as the one-eyed creature voraciously devoured the innards of a zombie, not daring to breathe, while cautiously stepping backward.
It wasn’t until the one-eyed beast turned its head and noticed its "old neighbor" that Wen Yu felt a chill run down his spine.
Perhaps it found the fresh blood and flesh more nutritious, or perhaps the virus in the zombie's body had little effect on its evolution.
The creature glanced at the remains of the zombie beneath it, then looked at the unharmed Wen Yu, and its ugly eye slowly focused on him, the coldness in its gaze intensifying.
Wen Yu understood this expression; it was the look of a mutated beast spotting its prey. In his previous life, he had seen this gaze countless times.
"Roar!"
A low growl erupted as the one-eyed beast lunged forward like a flash of lightning.
The moment Wen Yu saw it crouch, he quickly turned to run.
"Ah, ah, ah, faster, I need to go faster!"
Wen Yu understood that his only chance of survival was to rush into a nearby house; perhaps he could find a way to escape behind a security door.
But that was still too far away.
For the one-eyed beast, the distance was less than 40 meters.
At that range, it would take the beast only 2 seconds to close in.
Even accounting for Wen Yu’s speed, it would reach him in about 4 seconds. If it caught him, there would be no escape.
Even if he were injured, the zombie virus in the one-eyed beast's mouth would surely lead to his death, as he was still an ordinary person.
What made Wen Yu even more desperate was the fact that he was on the brink of completing his job change.
Once he changed jobs, he could rely on his combat experience from his past life to feebly fight back against the one-eyed beast, or at least make an escape.
But due to the location, the one-eyed beast had positioned itself between him and the Exchange Stone Pillar, creating an insurmountable barrier.
"Am I really going to die just after being reborn? Did heaven allow me to be reborn just to experience despair once more?" Wen Yu realized he was in a dire situation.
Yet at this moment, Wen Yu grew increasingly calm. During his previous life as cannon fodder, he had been one step away from death countless times, but he survived by relying on his composure and reckless spirit—this was the most valuable thing he had brought back from the apocalypse.
As they chased each other, the distance soon closed to within 10 meters. Wen Yu could even smell the rancid stench from the one-eyed beast’s mouth. He realized he wouldn’t be able to run away.
"What do I do, what do I do?"
Cold sweat broke out, and Wen Yu rapidly scanned his surroundings.
"In an open area, I’m definitely dead; the only option is..."
Wen Yu slightly adjusted his direction and dashed toward the convenience store ahead.
At that moment, the one-eyed beast crouched slightly, preparing to attack.
Wen Yu leaped into the convenience store and quickly knocked over a shelf.
Crash!
A loud crash echoed as Wen Yu felt a tremendous force slam into his back.
"Ah!"
Wen Yu screamed in agony as his body was thrown out of the store, spitting out a mouthful of blood, his chest tightening.
Looking at the shelf now torn apart by the one-eyed beast, its ugly eye fixated on him with a cruel glint, the bloodlust and brutality in its gaze sank Wen Yu’s heart to the depths of despair.
Wen Yu had hoped to temporarily block the one-eyed beast in the small convenience store, but it didn’t give him any time. Instead, it had trapped him inside, making this confined space a grave.
The one-eyed beast paced back and forth in the store, its remaining eye fixated on Wen Yu, mockery clearly visible in its gaze.
Wen Yu clenched his fists tightly; the creature’s mocking look ignited a burning anger within him.
The demonic energy that allowed mutated creatures to evolve also enhanced their intelligence. Dogs were inherently smart animals, and now, as a first-level mutated beast, the one-eyed creature toyed with its prey like a hunter.