"Run!"
Lu Keran screamed in terror. The black creature had silently appeared outside the gymnasium. If she hadn't seen it, no one would have noticed. They couldn't understand how such a massive monster could move so quietly!
Run? But where to?
By the time everyone realized what was happening and started screaming and fleeing in all directions, the monster's claws easily shattered the reinforced windows and reached inside.
The creature's five-to-six-meter-long arms, with sharp claws like gleaming steel blades, were covered in spiky, steel-like fur. Its massive claws groped around inside, grabbing at anything in reach, almost like it was playing. If it weren't for the life-or-death situation, this might even seem somewhat cute from an outsider's perspective. The creature's eyes carried a sinister smile, and its actions were eerily similar to a cat sticking its paw out of a box to play with its owner.
But when a gigantic cat treats a group of trapped humans like mice, it's far from funny.
*Shing!*
The razor-sharp claws swiftly slashed through the air, instantly carving long gashes into several students, spilling their innards onto the floor. The horrifying screams of their classmates filled the air, making the scene even more terrifying.
Despite their fear, Wu Chengyu and his group were prepared for this. They had been hiding in the back, and now, to save themselves, they grabbed several unlucky students and shoved them forward. If one wasn't enough, they'd push another, or even two more. Being tall and strong, they had allied with the fittest students in the class. Even when others saw their vile behavior, all they could do was curse them in anger, powerless to do anything else.
Meanwhile, Lu Keran was pushing Yang Xinxin in her wheelchair, fleeing faster than anyone else. Ironically, having a wheelchair turned out to be an advantage for them.
At that moment, Liang Yue, who had been hiding her presence and waiting for the right moment, seized the opportunity and finally made her move!
A faint blue mist slowly emanated from her body. She gripped the sword sheath with her left hand and the sword hilt with her right. With a loud shout, she charged at the black monster like a bolt of lightning!
"Hah!"
The white blade sliced through the air, aiming straight for the monster's neck. Liang Yue had ignited all her strength for this fight—it was a do-or-die battle. If she won, it would be a hard-fought victory, but she and the students would survive. If she lost, she would die first!
The monster, distracted by its gruesome play with the students, was caught off guard by Liang Yue's sudden attack. As she closed in, its black fur bristled like a porcupine's quills, each hair turning into a sharp steel spike.
"Mewwww!"
The creature's shriek was so piercing it felt like it could burst eardrums. Feline reflexes are indeed fast, but in that split second, Liang Yue's movement was even faster!
The blade flashed, slicing through a large chunk of fur, which fell to the ground with a metallic clatter.
*Slash!*
A meter-long gash opened up on the creature's neck, spraying blood everywhere. In pain, the monster quickly retreated, roaring in fury. But Liang Yue had already abandoned all thoughts of defense, choosing instead to go all out in a life-or-death struggle with the beast. As the monster retreated ten meters, she stayed close, her blade striking down from above.
In Liang Yue's eyes, the monster saw her unyielding resolve—she was ready to die if it meant taking it down with her.
"Mewwww!"
The creature's screech became even more desperate as it was forced to start defending itself. Liang Yue's swordsmanship was lethal, trained in deadly techniques from various martial arts—be it Chinese martial arts, Iaido, Krav Maga, or Muay Thai. She had mastered over three hundred combat styles, learning from countless schools in pursuit of the ultimate fighting technique. Her attacks were devoid of any flourish, focusing purely on killing.
The battle between her and the monster was intense, with the snow-covered walls collapsing around them and the gymnasium walls bearing terrifying gashes from the fight. Inside the gym, the students, paralyzed with fear, could only hope and pray for Liang Yue's victory, knowing it was their only chance of survival.
As Liang Yue and the black monster fought furiously, Zhang Yi and his two companions finally found their way out, following the sound of the battle. The appearance of Zhang Yi, Uncle You, and Xu Pangzi immediately drew the attention of both the monster and Liang Yue.
Liang Yue: I've never seen them before. They're not from the school. They must be outsiders!
Her eyes lit up with hope. Outsiders? They must be here to rescue us! After all, the students in this school all come from wealthy and powerful families.
She called out to Zhang Yi and his group, "Quick, come help me deal with this monster!"
Hearing this, Xu Pangzi immediately raised his hand, ready to assist. But Zhang Yi stopped him.
"Brother Zhang?" Xu Pangzi looked at Zhang Yi in confusion. He thought it was only natural to help humans in their fight against monsters, so he couldn't understand why Zhang Yi was stopping him.
"Wait a moment," Zhang Yi said, his eyes fixed on the woman in front of him. What impressive swordsmanship! This level of combat skill isn't something one could achieve without years of training, practicing the art of killing.
This woman was nothing like the so-called masters who perform flashy moves on TV—she was the real deal. Most importantly, her incredible strength and speed were clearly beyond those of an ordinary person. She was another "different" person, and a very powerful one at that!
Zhang Yi couldn't tell if she was an enemy or an ally. His main objective was to find someone, not to rescue people who had nothing to do with him. That black monster was also incredibly powerful, and if they acted rashly, the three of them might be at risk. There was no need to take that chance.
So Zhang Yi said coldly, "There's no need to intervene. She seems to be handling it well. Let's go save the others."
With that, Zhang Yi headed towards the gym. Xu Pangzi hesitated for a moment, scratching his head as he considered Zhang Yi's reasoning. It made sense to him, too. He had initially wanted to help because she was young and attractive, but on second thought, he realized it might be awkward if she rejected his help.
"I'd rather not be that guy," Xu Pangzi muttered to himself, deciding to ignore Liang Yue's plea for help and following Zhang Yi.
Uncle You, who had also been impressed by Liang Yue's swordsmanship, felt a bit intimidated. Though he had military training and could handle a fight, he knew he would lose if he went up against someone like Liang Yue. She was a dangerous woman, and he preferred to keep his distance.
Seeing that Liang Yue wasn't in immediate danger, Uncle You decided to follow Zhang Yi to find the person they were looking for.
Liang Yue was stunned. Were these three really ignoring her? And now they were heading into the gym—what did they plan to do with her students?
"What are you doing?" Liang Yue shouted in alarm. But she couldn't afford to be distracted—the monstrous creature in front of her demanded her full attention. All she could do was watch helplessly as Zhang Yi and his companions barged into the gym.