Chapter 54: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind

Chapter 54: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind

Shenchi immediately raised one hand to block the attack while using his right hand to redirect the speed ability user's force back towards the female zombie. The surroundings rushed past them, and with a "bang!" they crashed through the glass window of the intensive care unit, sending shards flying everywhere, causing the ice pillars to crack.

Shenchi was instantly thrust in front of the female zombie, who accurately grabbed for him—

The speed ability user's lips curled into an excited grin, but the next moment, something cold and hard pierced his shoulder. He stared blankly at the bloodied face of the female zombie before him, his eyes darting around, unable to comprehend why he had become the target. Where did that damned ice ability user suddenly disappear to?

Where did he go?!

"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

When Wang Zhiqing and the others arrived, the female zombie was already holding the head and arm of the Level Two speed ability user, tearing off a chunk of flesh from his neck and swallowing it whole.

The speed ability user thrashed and screamed, only to be bitten again on the throat by the female zombie!

Blood splattered across her face, causing everyone to gasp. One person screamed and lunged forward but was held back by Liao Bang. Wang Zhiqing, with a grim expression, looked towards Shenchi, who had just stood up from the corner.

Shenchi, having narrowly escaped by retreating into his spatial dimension, glared at them with a dark expression. His face bore three deep scratch marks from the zombie's claws, with fresh blood dripping down his chin, making his eyes appear even colder.

Almost simultaneously, everyone present sprang into action. Some rushed towards the advancing female zombie, while others headed for Shenchi in the corner.

Just then, Miao Hong's voice rang out, "Brother, a Level Three zombie has appeared! All nearby zombies are converging here!"

Wang Zhiqing's expression changed as he watched the female zombie's body transform, her muscles bulging and tearing through her clothes, her pants becoming too short. Just as Wang Zhiqing prepared his defense, a wave of energy knocked everyone off their feet!

Wang Zhiqing's walkie-talkie fell to the ground, and Miao Hong's voice came through again, this time filled with terror, "No, wait, Brother, there are two Level Three zombies! What's happening? Why is there another one? ... No good ... The entrance has collapsed! Brother, you must evacuate quickly!!"

Miao Hong's voice cut off, followed by a loud crash from the rooftop. A burst of fire descended, smashing through the ceiling and floor, causing everyone to plummet and hit the ground hard.

Shenchi had wrapped himself in a layer of ice, protecting his stomach, feeling several heavy objects land on top of him. After things settled, he opened his eyes to find a dead face staring back at him, its eyes bulging and its neck swollen with pus-filled lumps.

Holding his breath, Shenchi scanned his surroundings. It was a hospital room, with several beds destroyed, dried blood, and corpses covered in black spots and pus-filled lumps scattered everywhere.

Carefully pushing aside the debris, Shenchi tried to stand up when two gusts of wind approached from either side. Using his ability, he leaped high, dodging the female zombie and the water blade attack, causing the ice pillars beneath him to shatter!

The female zombie missed, leaving a shallow cut on her chest from the water blade's aftermath.

Liao Bang ran over to help but was confronted by several high-level zombies. He immediately extended his hands, grabbing the zombies' hair and slicing them with knives, swiftly dispatching one after another.

Shenchi knew that his dual abilities made him more attractive to high-level zombies, so he ran towards Wang Zhiqing after landing. The female zombie followed suit, heading straight for both of them.

Wang Zhiqing launched eight intersecting water blades, blocking Shenchi's path.

Without hesitation, Shenchi used his right hand to summon an ice pillar from the ground, leaping over the water blades—

In the next instant, sixteen more densely packed water blades appeared before him!

Shenchi's eyes narrowed, considering whether to retreat into his spatial dimension. The apocalypse had just begun, and his strength hadn't increased yet. Revealing his second ability now could make him a target.

As Shenchi prepared to use his ability to defend himself, a hole suddenly appeared in the wall to his left, barely large enough for one person to pass through. A wave of heat followed, and Shenchi was yanked through!

Wang Zhiqing's eyes turned cold as the female zombie broke through his first layer of high-pressure water blades. Just as she was about to break through the second layer, the ground shook violently, causing the entire building to tremble, dust falling from the ceiling.

"Earthquake?" Cao Kun stumbled, tightening his grip on Shenchi, giving him a quick hug before letting go.

He glanced out the window at the collapsing buildings and turned to Shenchi, "It's not an earthquake; this building is collapsing..."

Cao Kun's voice suddenly faltered, "What happened to your face?"

Perhaps due to the building's shaking, Shenchi felt Cao Kun's words were trembling slightly.

Shenchi erected an ice shield to his left, deflecting falling debris. Cao Kun pulled Shenchi behind him, but before Shenchi could say anything, the ground tilted, and the walls collapsed inward!

Outside the hospital, Jiang Bin, Ding Haiyan, and a group of about a dozen people stood on a tall building a hundred meters away, watching the building collapse, dust rising. Moments later, as the dust settled, zombies began emerging from the rubble.

Jiang Bin smiled, watching the zombies rise, and raised his hand. Instantly, hundreds of figures appeared around them. With a flick of his fingers, the group opened fire, indiscriminately attacking the zombies and survivors in the rubble.

Blood sprayed, adding a vivid splash of color to the ruins.

More than two hundred people formed a circle, gradually closing in to clear the area.

"SSSSS!" Several powerful water jets broke through the rubble, causing more dust and concrete to collapse. Wang Zhiqing emerged from a sunken hole, only to be met with a barrage of gunfire!

Wang Zhiqing raised his hands, creating a spinning water curtain that deflected the bullets, some bouncing back onto his attackers.

"So this is the power of a water ability user. Impressive, Master Wang," Jiang Bin clapped, smirking, "I bet you didn't expect me to bring down the hospital building, did you? The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind, Master Wang. You don't have much help now."

Wang Zhiqing glared at Jiang Bin, who appeared before him with a large group. The team outside likely had all been sacrificed.

His gaze shifted to Ding Haiyan beside Jiang Bin, the ultrasonic ability user Wang Yang, and a dozen subordinates, including Miao Hong, whose mouth was taped shut, her body bruised and disheveled, clearly beaten. Seeing Wang Zhiqing, she struggled fiercely, but the strength ability user holding her rendered her efforts futile.

"What do you think, Master Wang? Want to save her?" Jiang Bin taunted, "How about this: admit you're a beast, and I'll let her go."

Jiang Bin pointed at Miao Hong's head, grinning, "Sounds easy, right?"

Wang Zhiqing ignored Jiang Bin and looked at Miao Hong, who was crying, asking calmly, "Do you want me to save you, Miaomiao?"

Miao Hong paused, tears streaming down her pale face, emitting uncontrollable sobs.

Jiang Bin chuckled, observing Miao Hong's struggle and Wang Zhiqing's stoic expression, bursting into laughter, "Interesting, very interesting! Wang Zhiqing, you pretend to be a living Buddha in the hospital, saving lives, but now you're selfish enough to let your second-in-command die over a trivial insult! Ha... ha... Don't worry, I'll take good care of her."

Jiang Bin waved his hand, and someone brought a Level One zombie. Miao Hong, remembering their previous discussions about Jiang Bin turning ability users into zombies to extract crystals, panicked and struggled again.

"Ha! Ha!" Jiang Bin laughed heartily as the zombie lunged at Miao Hong after being released by his subordinates.

Several water blades sliced towards Jiang Bin's head, but he showed no fear. As the sharp blades grazed his neck, he vanished from sight.

Jiang Bin and Ding Haiyan appeared over a hundred meters away. Jiang Bin hugged Ding Haiyan and kissed her passionately a few times, then hundreds of people rushed towards Wang Zhiqing!

Wang Zhiqing's face changed. Even with his strength, he couldn't withstand dozens of ability users plus two hundred people. He didn't last long before he was at a disadvantage.

On the other side, Shenchi emerged from the ground with an ice shield, followed by Cao Kun. Wang Zhiqing, sharp-eyed, shouted, "Shenchi, come help me!"

Shenchi frowned.

Jiang Bin and Ding Haiyan saw who had emerged. In a flash, Jiang Bin appeared behind Shenchi, pointing a gun at his chest and firing without hesitation. At the same time, a group of bats swooped down, emitting shrill cries!

Shenchi's vision was obstructed. He erected an ice wall around himself, and both bullets and bats collided with it, falling to the ground. The bats stopped hitting the wall and began circling around him.

Cao Kun had been focused on protecting Shenchi and got hit on the head, leaving him dazed. Now regaining his senses, he immediately unleashed a fire dragon to ignite the bats.

At the same time, Jiang Bin reappeared behind Shenchi and fired again, only to be blocked by another ice shield. Simultaneously, three ice arrows appeared behind Jiang Bin, whistling towards him!

"Twelve o'clock position!"

In the next instant, Jiang Bin appeared above Shenchi and fired seven bullets in rapid succession!

When Ding Haiyan saw that the man with the ice ability was actually accompanied by a fire ability user, she was astonished. She hadn't expected Wang Zhiqing to leave two natural element ability users on his territory.

But there was no turning back now. Those two were already exhausted, one even visibly injured with bandages. With their numbers, victory wasn't impossible.

Jiang Bin clearly thought the same, "What are you waiting for! Get them!"

Wang Yang summoned hundreds of bats to fly towards Shenchi and Cao Kun. At the same time, he opened his mouth—

The surrounding glass windows shattered, sending shards flying everywhere. Cao Kun's hand suddenly twitched, feeling something explode under his skin. He looked at the man with outstretched hands, half-squatting and mouth open, realizing this must be the ultrasonic ability user.

He positioned himself in front of Shenchi and sent two fire dragons straight at the ultrasonic ability user.

Wang Yang, terrified by the raging fire dragons, fell to the ground. His subordinates immediately pulled him up and protected him, taking turns attacking Cao Kun.

Cao Kun unleashed fireballs as if they cost him nothing, one after another. The enemy had guns and zombies adding to the chaos, and Cao Kun was hit by several shrapnel pieces, causing pain in his broken bones.

He couldn't afford to waste time. Gathering a massive fireball in his right palm, dust swirling around it, he hurled it directly at the crowd!

—"Bang!"

The fireball exploded, creating a mountain of burnt bats in front of Wang Yang. Flames continued to burn the bats, crackling loudly. Before Wang Yang could mourn the loss, Cao Kun's powerful kick came flying—this force would break bones even if it didn't kill!

At this critical moment, a water jet rushed over, pushing the seated Wang Yang dozens of meters away!

Cao Kun's kick missed, and he turned to glare coldly at the struggling Wang Zhiqing. But his gaze shifted to Shenchi's side.

On the other side, Jiang Bin and Ding Haiyan were focusing all their attention on Shenchi. Jiang Bin appeared from different directions, firing shots. His speed was too fast, combined with Ding Haiyan's assistance and the swarm of bats and high-level zombies, Shenchi could only dodge clumsily.

Cao Kun's eyes turned to the talkative woman. Ignoring everyone else, he moved towards Ding Haiyan.

Ding Haiyan had low combat skills. Jiang Bin carrying her during battle would only burden him, so she always stood far away, guarded by several skilled protectors, including Wang Yang.

Unfortunately, Wang Yang was too preoccupied with Cao Kun and had forgotten about Ding Haiyan. So when Cao Kun approached, there was no one strong enough to stop his attack near her.

Ding Haiyan's only advantage was her excellent dynamic vision, but her physical strength and reaction time couldn't keep up with what her eyes saw.

Thus, when Cao Kun stood in front of her, her heart was already pierced through.

As everyone was battered and their abilities depleted, the female zombie that had evolved to level three appeared.

The female zombie had a steel bar piercing through her stomach, extending out a long length. She held a person in her hand, chewing on them. Once they stopped moving and died, she threw them aside and picked up another, continuing her feast.

If Ding Haiyan were still alive, she would have seen the subtle changes in the female zombie's body, like when she evolved to level three—muscles bulging, pants shortening from ankles to calves, knees, until the pants tore apart completely!