Wu Xiuying was getting worried as she saw that her magical skills had not harmed the monster. If she didn't do something soon, the beast would kill her.
"I don't have any energy anymore."
She had spent all her Mana trying to stop the monster long enough for the survivors to escape.
From her eyes that granted her a blurry scene, she sharpened her gaze.
"Will I have to resort to that?"
She had so much to lose if she used it... But she had no choice. In situations like this, precautions were pointless.
"Here we go."
She bit her lips and dug her nails into her fingertips until she drew blood. A drop of thick red blood dripped onto her palm, and the next moment, that drop took on a golden hue.
The blood was absorbed into Wu Xiuying's pores, and she instantly felt the world spinning. She felt that she had just lost an important part that belonged to her.
—Brum!—
A wave of golden sparks erupted around.
[You have used your Trait Skill:
[For the next two minutes, your magic attacks will have a 100% increase, and your Mana will be refilled to the maximum]
While she recovered all of her magical energy, that didn't mean she was any better off. Contrary to that, despite getting a 100% additional magic attack, she felt that her physical body would collapse the next moment.
She did something extremely dangerous.
Only yesterday, she had officially entered the path of evolution. In that brief busy moment, she did not hesitate to burn her Vitality to gain attack power, putting abnormal pressure on her newly evolved soul.
"Come, let's get this over with."
—Wiiis!—
Fireballs erupted out of nowhere. They floated around like tiny suns illuminating the entire room in a golden hue.
The monster frantically opened its mouth to spit acid, but the hot aura stopped its attack.
—Chis!—
The acid evaporated into a light vapor even before it approached Wu Xiuying.
The monster charged Wu Xiuying angrily, spreading its wings wide to increase speed. When it was in front of her, thick acid was spat.
"Fire Bomb!"
However, Wu Xiuying activated her Magic Skill at that precise moment. The golden sphere smashed into the monster's jaw with a clatter.
—Rrug?!—
The monster snorted in irritation, lunging forward again after a brief hesitation. It extended its raptorial legs in the shape of sharp scythes to reach her.
Wu Xiuying leaped to dodge it and somersaulted through the air despite her physical exhaustion. She launched another fire attack that crashed into the monster's side.
—Kriiaak!—
The monster shook to remove the embracing flame before releasing a large puff of acid.
However, Wu Xiuying waved her hands, and golden flames rose from the ground before her to protect her from the corrosive acid.
After another barrage of fireballs, the monster's exoskeleton was covered in cracks that exposed its throbbing flesh.
—Kriak!—
It jerked and launched more erratic and desperate attacks, articulating short hoarseness denoting frustration. Wu Xiuying managed to dodge its entire attack simultaneously; she managed to land deadly blows on it.
"Now."
Wu Xiuying's eyes flashed with coldness as she advanced. She swiftly placed her hand under the monster's broken exoskeleton and...
"Fire Bomb!"
The magical flash illuminated Wu Xiuying's face as her enemy finally flew off against the wall.
It crashed with a terrible crunch, concrete crumbling around it as its body collapsed. The not-at-all tough flesh beneath its exoskeleton melted quickly. The green carapace began to peel away from its body.
All of it reflected the terrifying power Wu Xiuying gained in exchange for her sacrifice.
She sensed the monster's weakness and decided to finish it off once and for all.
She concentrated all her Mana points in her palms and launched a sphere of fire so hot that it could melt even steel.
The sphere smashed into the monster and enveloped it in a vortex of golden energy.
The fire quickly consumed the monster. Finally, after a few moments, it collapsed into a pile of white dust.
[You have obtained the Existential Record of Metal Mantis Level 17]
...
..
.
"It's over..."
Her gaze barely received the response from the System in front of her eyes.
With her vision blurred and her breathing labored with exhaustion, she deactivated her skill. She staggered sideways and dropped to her knees, her strength leaving her entirely.
—Tun—
The sound of footsteps suddenly echoed, and her weak body shuddered. She no longer had the strength to start another fight!
She looked up to find Dai Zen standing before her, watching her with his crimson eyes in awkward silence.
In her weak and exhausted state, she found it impossible to hide her vulnerability. And although Dai Zen was her companion, she had never really considered him trustworthy.
None of the Evolved was. She knew that the darkest desires could corrupt anyone with superpowers in the palm of their hands. In this apocalypse, there was no doubt that some used their powers to unleash all their darkest desires without fear of being judged by the law.
In fact, the only reason she had formed that group was to protect the weak survivors. However, she ended up weakened and exposed to a man.
She did not doubt that Kong Lei and even Fang Mo would take this opportunity to attack her if they found themselves in the same place as the crimson-eyed boy.
If Dai Zen was one of those scum... her golden gaze went cold. She would not be tainted by anyone.
Dai Zen took a step toward her and extended a hand. His lips parted in a soft smile.
"You did phenomenal. Come on; we should get out of here."
It was her first time seeing him smile, catching her off guard. She never expected him to congratulate her on her accomplishments.
*
Although Dai Zen did not intervene in Wu Xiuying's battle with the Metal Mantis, he had watched her from across the room, unnoticed by both of their senses.
If she could not defeat the monster, he was willing to appear, but such a case never arose.
From one moment to the next, she had gone from being prey to being the hunter.
Her ability to protect the survivors with determination was evident in every decision. She had saved the lives of all the teachers and students at the cost of her safety, fighting the creature to the last breath to allow the others to escape.
"Thank you..."
In a low whisper, Wu Xiuying uttered those words of thanks as she took the man's hand. She unconsciously let out a sigh of relief that even she didn't know she was holding back.
Dai Zen lent his shoulder for her to lean on.
Looking down, he gazed at the treasure the monster had dropped.
A paler but purer green sphere compared to what he had obtained. A black stone, the size of a walnut, glowed slightly, and next to it was a stone with whitish runes.
A Soul Sphere, a Magic Core, and a Skill Rune.
'I guess it's a higher grade than the Common Grade Soul Sphere.'
Dai Zen felt Wu Xiuying's anxious gaze.
"Don't worry. I have no intention of keeping what belongs to you."
He put the three items inside the backpack and left the building with Wu Xiuying. They had no trouble with the Badly Evolved because Lian cleared the way for them.
"Take us to Beijing University." He ordered the driver, a professor who looked fearfully at Wu Xiuying.
They all watched from the expansive driveway the woman's battle. Surprise and disbelief had left them deeply shocked.
"R-right away, student Dai."
He quickly started the bus engine, and the monsters' roars echoed as they approached from both sides.
"Clear an empty seat for me."
"Leave it to me!"
The energetic Cai Ning quickly chased away some survivors and helped Dai Zen accommodate Wu Xiuying in the empty seat.
"Rest for the time being."
She deserved to rest in peace after such an intense fight.