Chapter Fifty-Four: A Piercing Scream

Facing a monster that had completed its evolution was a daunting task. Its six legs flailed chaotically beneath it, while the tumors clustered at the base were cloaked in viscous, repulsive flesh.

Its pair of eyes, seemingly pulled by the spectral mask behind it, bulged out to the brink of bursting. Even the nerves connecting the eyeballs to their sockets were dragged out, writhing wildly like wireworms.

The moment Fan Li took a step forward, the creature’s gaze locked onto his position. In its pupils, alongside the frenzy directed at Ellie, there burned an intense hatred.

An ordinary human would instinctively avert their eyes, unable to stare directly, perhaps even hiding and waiting for the outcome, clinging to a faint hope for a miracle.

But Fan Li was resistant to fear. He had witnessed the Titans firsthand and even slain their “offspring”—the Weeper and the Vomiter. These experiences had dulled his terror; instead of fleeing, he broke into a brisk run, charging straight toward the creature.

The monster instinctively tried to evade, but ultimately remained, continuing its struggle with the mask behind it.

Eighty meters.

Sixty meters.

Fan Li, composed, even estimated the distance between them. At that moment, a voice echoed in his ears:

“Futile. Your attacks are meaningless to me. I will kill your ally, then you. I will pin your limbs to my body, and let you linger on in agony, as punishment for provoking me time and again. You will experience pain beyond imagining!”

This time, the voice was not female, but a cacophony of countless humans—of varying genders and ages—alternating between shrill accusations, muffled male groans, trembling rebukes of the elderly, even childish complaints.

These voices piled atop each other like building blocks, merging into a single message that echoed deep within Fan Li’s mind.

If Fan Li’s talent was resistance to fear, then this monster possessed the ability to evoke terror in others.

It could perceive thoughts and magnify them!

The creature, now fully monstrous, could no longer communicate. Like before, it simply invaded Fan Li’s mind, extracting information and weaving an atmosphere of dread.

“In—”

The monster opened its mouth, unleashing another piercing cry that rippled outward. In the midst of its shriek, a tide of resentful malice and accumulated negativity surged into Fan Li’s body.

The sensation of an immense weight pressing down returned; Fan Li felt as if countless vengeful spirits clung to his back, their dense wailing filling the air. They seemed like the ghosts of those slain by tigers—wronged souls unable to avenge themselves, instead aiding the killer in claiming more innocent lives.

His steps grew heavy, yet he knew this was merely an illusion cast by the monster.

But the mental attack was potent. What now? If this pressure became overwhelming, he risked being dragged once more into the creature’s false hallucinations.

Fan Li’s mind raced, and he saw the creature’s barbed tongue creeping ever closer to Ellie—mere moments away from piercing her skull!

This was his first companion in the apocalypse.

He owed his survival largely to Ellie’s efforts.

Was he now to watch helplessly as his first summoned ally died before him?

Suddenly, a surge of anger ignited within him, as if gasoline had been poured over his heart, setting it ablaze.

The monster’s actions halted abruptly, as if time itself had stopped, and the crushing pressure vanished; his legs regained their agility.

Intimidation!

Fan Li’s rage had triggered one of his passive abilities, but he knew it would not last.

Against lesser monsters like the Weeper, the effect held for about five seconds. But this evolved aberration would be stunned for only three seconds—perhaps less.

He had to act swiftly.

Step, step, step!

Fan Li clenched his teeth; every stride threatened to tear the ligaments in his thighs, but he cared nothing for the pain. All that mattered was seizing these precious three seconds—maybe fewer—to finish the hunt!

The mask was ceaselessly draining the monster’s flesh, sapping its energy. This caused visible changes: its skin loosened, the tumor atop its head shrank, its form became slack.

Its tall, imposing figure dwindled, now resembling a decrepit elder drained of vitality. Though immobilized, the monster’s bulging eyes betrayed shock—it had sensed the changes within itself.

One leg twitched; it struggled, attempting to break free of the shackles Fan Li had placed upon it.

Witnessing its plight, Fan Li pressed forward without hesitation. It was like speeding down a highway, trying to overtake another car, only to find a massive truck loaded with supplies barreling toward him. Retreat was impossible; survival demanded flooring the accelerator to merge ahead, grasping that fleeting chance.

The monster was the truck—charging straight at him, burdened with tons of deadly cargo. Life and death hinged on this final strike!

Fan Li closed in, just as the monster’s feet regained mobility and its tongue, poised to impale Ellie, rose up for the kill. Fan Li leapt high, right hand clenched, and brought it down like splitting a mountain, smashing the monster’s head with all his might!

“Sla—!”

Weakened to its lowest point by the mask’s consumption, the monster could not withstand the blade’s assault. Muramasa sliced through its skull, cleaving down to the neck before finally halting.

“Ding!”

A familiar chime sounded, followed by lines of blood-red, twisted text appearing before Fan Li:

[Kill Value +30]
[Facing Fear: Compared to zombies, this level of enemy is a far greater challenge on your journey!]
[Special Achievement Unlocked!]
[New Trait Acquired...]