As the occupants of the villa recovered from the sonic blast, they saw Spider Woman lying dead by the window.
How did he do that? The Official Walkers were both astonished and delighted.
Spider Woman possessed remarkable vitality and regenerative abilities, making ordinary attacks largely ineffective. They had been forced to slowly grind her down.
Yet their colleague had slain her instantly with just a few strikes.
Isn't he a rookie? How is he so strong? Amid their elation, the Level 2 Walkers couldn't shake their confusion.
"Good, excellent!" Li Dongze shouted from his hiding spot near the kitchen, clutching his shoulder and leaning on his cane. "Guan Ya, focus all support on White Dragon and Big Muscle. Forget about the others. Primordial, coordinate with Captain Green Vine to kill that Insect Man. Tang Guoqiang, hold on a little longer!"
True to his role as a Scout, Li Dongze was already orchestrating the battle from behind the scenes.
Upstairs, White Dragon and Big Muscle, and downstairs, Captain Green Vine and the others, were greatly encouraged. If they weren't so preoccupied, they would have showered Primordial Heavenly Venerable with praise.
Despite being a rookie, his combat prowess was far from weak—he was far more reliable than his Chief.
Tang Guoqiang, who was tightly gripping the Great Serpent's tail and had his body coiled by the serpent's massive form, breathed a sigh of relief and focused entirely on his struggle against the serpent's strength.
As expected of a class born for slaughter, the Seductive Demon. Zhang Yuanqing felt the power surging through him as the Blade of Bloodlust drank its fill, igniting a fierce battle lust and murderous intent. He immediately charged toward the Insect Man.
After drinking blood, the Blade of Bloodlust would siphon the corpse's essence and return it to its Master. The Seductive Demon possessed a similar passive ability, growing stronger with each battle.
Guan Ya glided past Zhang Yuanqing, brushing against him as she smiled, "Nice work."
As they crossed paths, the Veteran Driver switched magazines and unleashed a barrage of bullets into the second-floor corridor, peppering the walls with bullet holes and significantly increasing Unbridled's pressure.
Unbridled glanced at the situation below, ignoring the Great Serpent, and roared at his remaining companion, "Get up here and help!"
The Official Walkers had divided the battlefield, attempting to eliminate their enemies one by one. Unbridled had the same strategy in mind, but the Spider Woman's swift demise had suddenly turned the tide against them.
Now was no time for individual battles.
As for why he didn't descend himself, the first floor was swarming with Official Walkers. If he went down, the Fire Master and Water Ghost would follow, trapping him deep within enemy territory.
Hearing the summons, the Insect Man flexed his backward-bending knees, braced his legs, and with a crack that shattered the floor tiles, launched his massive body like a speeding car, sending the qipao-clad woman flying.
Zhang Yuanqing, who had been charging forward, quickly sheathed his Yanagiba and opened his arms to catch the voluptuous beauty hurtling toward him.
He underestimated the force of the impact. The two bodies collided with a resounding thud, rolling across the floor until they slammed into the glass cabinet beneath the television. Zhang Yuanqing vaguely heard the sickening crack of his bones nearing their breaking point, and his heart stopped for a few terrifying seconds.
The Insect Man, who had sent his enemy flying, sprang to his feet and unfurled his elytra mid-air. The wings, as thin as cicada wings, vibrated violently, creating a fierce gale.
Captain Green Vine, still cradled in Zhang Yuanqing's arms, conjured a vine from the Void and flicked it out with a flick of her wrist.
The brown vine whistled through the air, snaring the Insect Man's ankle and suspending him like a kite.
Is a Wood Spirit really this strong? Zhang Yuanqing couldn't help but glance at the woman whose age remained a mystery. He suddenly noticed that the impact had popped open a button on her chest, revealing a corner of her collar and a glimpse of black lace supporting her creamy, half-exposed breasts—a visually striking sight.
Captain Green Vine, your collar is undone, Zhang Yuanqing mentally reminded her, quickly averting his gaze. I'm still a kid. I'd never sneak a peek at such inappropriate scenes.
"Burn his wings!"
Green Vine leaned against Zhang Yuanqing, her arms tensed as she strained against the Insect Man's resistance.
At her command, the two Fire Masters opened their mouths and inhaled deeply. Simultaneously, two pfft sounds erupted from the Insect Man's groin, releasing a dark yellow gas that enveloped the Fire Masters below.
The two muscular men froze mid-motion, then staggered and collapsed like they'd drunk tainted liquor, foaming at the mouth.
Even from a distance, Zhang Yuanqing caught a whiff of the acrid, acidic gas. His tongue instantly went numb, and he quickly held his breath. The pill he'd been holding in his mouth activated, rapidly neutralizing the mild toxin.
The Insect Man struggled briefly but couldn't break free from the vines. As if remembering something, he glanced down at his ankles. In the next moment, his lower legs, from the knees down, dissolved into surging streams of water.
The vines, unable to restrain water, fell limply.
Captain Green Vine, caught off balance, crashed heavily into Zhang Yuanqing's arms, her face paling. "Damn it."
Suddenly, the Insect Man, who had been about to pounce toward the second floor to assist Unbridled, began dodging wildly in mid-air, as if engaged in a desperate battle of wits and reflexes against an invisible foe.
Green Vine whipped around to see a viscous, pitch-black substance swirling in the boy's eyes.
Illusion! she realized instantly.
Without hesitation, Green Vine lashed out with her vine, ensnaring the Insect Man's ankles.
Reacting instinctively, the Insect Man once again transformed his lower body into flowing water. Green Vine shouted:
"Now!"
The two Earth Fiends, acting in perfect unison, dropped to one knee, pressed their palms against the ground. The living room floor cracked open as mud and sand erupted through the tiles, engulfing the Insect Man.
The Earth Fiends' Sand Manipulation Technique, the Water Ghost's Water Manipulation Technique, and the Fire Master's Fire Manipulation Technique were all skills learned at Level 2, signature abilities of these three classes.
The Insect Man plummeted from the air, his lower body now a gaping void. A murky stream of muddy water writhed nearby, struggling to rejoin his body, but the sand mixed within prevented its return.
Earth counters Water.
Seizing the opportunity, Green Vine twisted her torso, sprang forward, sprinted, leaped, and landed with both knees pinning the Insect Man to the ground.
The two Earth Fiends and two Wood Spirits pounced simultaneously, clamping down on the Insect Man's limbs.
Green Vine drew back her right fist, thrust her chest forward, her upper body tensed like a drawn bow, and brought her fist crashing down.
A drunken man beating a tiger couldn't have done better.
Thud, thud, thud. Under the relentless barrage of heavy punches, the Insect Man's head shattered into pieces. Grayish brain matter and crimson blood splattered across the floor, accompanied by a foul-smelling, dark green liquid.
Another one down. Victory is assured, Zhang Yuanqing thought, his heart soaring with elation.
The enemy had lost two monsters, while their side had only lost one Level 3 Scout and two Fire Masters. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the scales of victory had already tipped in favor of the Officials.
It was close, but we're fine. I won't need to use my trump card!
As the thought flashed through his mind, Zhang Yuanqing suddenly saw a dark shadow streak across his vision, colliding with the voluptuous, curvaceous figure of Green Vine like a cannonball.
It was Tang Guoqiang, wearing his miner's helmet. The two of them flew out of sight, smashing through furniture along the way.
Pfft. Captain Green Vine's face turned deathly pale as she vomited a large pool of fresh blood.
What's happening? Did the foreman lose to the snake monster? Zhang Yuanqing had barely formed the thought when his throat began to itch, triggering a violent coughing fit. At the same time, his limbs grew heavy and achy, as if lactic acid had flooded his muscles after strenuous exercise.
His legs buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, utterly bewildered by what was happening.
Just then, Zhang Yuanqing heard Guan Ya groan softly. Clutching a pillar for support, she slowly slid to the floor.
Almost simultaneously, Li Dongze in the open kitchen, the four Elite Members near the Insect Man's corpse, Tang Guoqiang and Green Vine by the wall, all began coughing, exhibiting symptoms of weakness and exhaustion.
The Great Serpent that had flung Tang Guoqiang across the room now hung its tail limply over the second-floor railing, seemingly affected as well.
"We've been poisoned... cough cough," Captain Green Vine gasped, her face pale.
Poisoned? When did this happen? Zhang Yuanqing's heart sank. He hadn't noticed anything amiss in his body earlier. As a Nightwalker with robust vitality, he would have immediately sensed any toxic intrusion.
Moreover, the Wood Spirits of the Hundred Flowers Association possessed skills related to the life domain, making them particularly sensitive to toxins. Yet Captain Green Vine and the other three Wood Spirits had clearly detected nothing unusual.
Crack!
The second-floor railing snapped, sending White Dragon, still in her racing suit, tumbling down along with her long black blade.
Immediately afterward, a ball of flames descended, swelling rapidly into a staggering figure clutching his abdomen—Big Muscle.
A horrifying wound pierced his abdomen, gushing blood that couldn't be stopped. His massive frame was covered in bloody claw marks.
The two captains looked drained, their hands and legs trembling, weak and numb.
A towering black shadow leaped from the second floor, shaking the ground upon impact.
Unbridled's scales were cracked and bleeding, but he charged toward Big Muscle with relentless speed.
Snap! He sprang into the air, his vicious kick arcing like an upward-sweeping blade.
If that kick landed, a Level 3 Fire Master's jaw would shatter like a watermelon.
In this critical moment, Green Vine, the Recovery Sorcerer, still had a sliver of energy left. With a flick of her wrist, vines snared Tang Guoqiang's ankle, and with a whoosh, she hurled him toward Unbridled.
Unbridled twisted his kick into a sweeping leg strike.
Boom! Tang Guoqiang flew through the air like a soccer ball.
Clearly, Unbridled had harbored a grudge against Big Muscle from their earlier clash. Ignoring Tang Guoqiang, he lunged forward, his fist tearing through the air, determined to kill his enemy.
The captains' faces twisted in horror as they watched their comrade sacrifice himself, utterly powerless to intervene.
At that moment, Zhang Yuanqing, with his astonishing recovery ability, mustered a surge of strength and staggered forward. He caught Tang Guoqiang, who was flying through the air like a soccer ball, and positioned him in front of Big Muscle, using the foreman as a human shield.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Unbridled's fists rained down relentlessly, each blow hammering into Tang Guoqiang's body.
Zhang Yuanqing retreated step by step, holding up his "shield."
"You... you're taking this a bit too far," Tang Guoqiang gasped, spitting out blood. His thick hide and sturdy frame meant he wouldn't die from a few punches, but the experience was far from pleasant.
"This is an emergency defense," Zhang Yuanqing explained.
Before the words could fully leave his mouth, both he and Tang Guoqiang were sent flying by a whistling roundhouse kick.
"Futile resistance!" Unbridled scanned the Official Walkers slumped on the ground, his hideous maw opening to speak in human tongue, a triumphant grin spreading across his face.
"I never claimed these three fools were my trump card. How could they possibly defeat fifteen Official Walkers, even with my enhancements?
"Hahaha! They were merely a smokescreen to deceive you. My true weapon is a secret Rule Item—a colorless, odorless poison gas that can affect even Saint Stage Walkers!"
"But it has its drawbacks. It requires a sealed space and ample time to work. As I said, this is a killing feast I've prepared for you. Do you like it?"
The faces of Captains Li Dongze, Green Vine, and White Dragon seemed to grow even paler.
They realized they had fallen into a meticulously crafted trap the moment they stepped into the villa.
The Level 2 Walkers exchanged despairing glances.
Unbridled turned to Zhang Yuanqing, his gaze lingering on the Blade of Bloodlust at his waist. "Isn't that Ou Xiangrong's Rule Item? Heh, I've coveted it for ages. I thought I'd never get my hands on it after Ou Xiangrong died, but here you are, delivering it right to my doorstep."
He then surveyed Tang Guoqiang's miner's helmet, White Dragon's black katana, Guan Ya's pistol, Green Vine's vines, and Li Dongze's cane.
"What a bountiful harvest! The boss was right—killing and looting is the path to riches. To thank you fools for your generous gifts, I'll grant you a swift death. Hmm, you three don't need to die."
The amber-colored vertical pupils swept over Guan Ya, Green Vine, and White Dragon, lingering on their curves. The malevolent Witchcraft Master made no attempt to conceal his lust, chuckling darkly.
"I'll reshape your bodies, strip you of your reason, and turn you into mere beasts, begging on all fours for my attention."
Captain Green Vine's face paled. She would rather die than suffer such a fate.
"Pah!" White Dragon spat out a mouthful of bloody phlegm, raising an eyebrow in a cold sneer. "When the time comes, I'll make sure to bite off your manhood."
Hearing Unbridled's words, Guan Ya, who had shown little fear of death until now, shuddered involuntarily. A wave of revulsion and terror washed over her.
She abruptly turned to Zhang Yuanqing, a flicker of hope in her beautiful eyes.
She knew Primordial possessed a Rule Item.
He still had trump cards to play. If anyone could turn the tide, Guan Ya believed it was him.
Most Evil Class members were villains who deserved to die a hundred times over. Zhang Yuanqing grinned, meeting Guan Ya's gaze. He forced himself to his feet, his limbs heavy with fatigue, and summoned the Red Veil from his Inventory.
After careful consideration, he concluded that only the Ghost Bride could swiftly eliminate this fiend.
He didn't want to use his trump card too early, but he wouldn't hesitate when the time came.
"Hmm?" Unbridled's words were arrogant, but he remained vigilant, constantly monitoring the Official Walkers' movements.
His gaze immediately shifted to Zhang Yuanqing, then focused on the red veil embroidered with gold thread at its edges.
Unbridled's reaction caused several Captains to turn their heads as well, their eyes landing on Zhang Yuanqing as he raised the Red Veil.
What is that? Does he have another trick up his sleeve? Green Vine White Dragon and Big Muscle exchanged confused yet expectant glances.
Li Dongze and Guan Ya, however, wore expressions of surprise and disappointment. The item Primordial had produced was nothing like what they had imagined.
Zhang Yuanqing met Unbridled's gaze with a peculiar smile. "Want to experience what it's like to be a groom?"
The Cat King Speaker in his waist pouch crackled to life, emitting a piercing suona melody:
"She cried with a smile, guess how she cried with a smile, crying, look how she smiled through her tears..."
The suona's notes were eerie, mournful, and shrill.
Whoosh! With a flick of his wrist, Zhang Yuanqing unfurled the Red Veil and, amidst the bewildered stares of the crowd, draped it over his head.