The leader gripped the steel blade in his left hand, slowly approaching the "prey" bound to the crucifix ahead.
Although the man's limbs were tightly bound by barbed wire, an inexplicable sense of unease kept creeping into the leader's heart.
This was the danger sense commonly possessed by apocalypse hunters—sometimes accurate, sometimes unreliable—but generally, it became more sensitive as one progressed through stages.
When the leader was about 10 meters away from his target, his steps slowed to a near crawl, almost moving inch by inch. Cold sweat dripped from his forehead, and every beat of his heart seemed oppressed, especially when those pitch-black eyes glanced at him.
"Damn it! What's happening to me?!"
The closer he got, the stronger the sense of oppression grew. The danger sense made every hair on his body stand on end.
"Hey! You, come here! Take this and go finish him off!"
Finally, the ever-cautious leader decided not to take the risk. He handed the steel blade to a nearby mutant scavenger, intending to let one of these deformed beings test the waters.
A hideously ugly mutant scavenger, under the leader's command, nervously took the heavy blade and shakily approached the man bound to the crucifix.
Perhaps because these scavengers were just ordinary people with no sensitivity to danger, the mutant quickly reached Xia Leng's side.
"Cut him! Aim for the neck!"
The leader's eyes gleamed coldly as he issued the order. Even if the man was a mutated regeneration-type warrior, he didn't believe a first-stage one could grow a new head.
The scavenger, receiving the order, gripped the hilt with both hands and lifted the blade high. Under the blood-red moonlight, the smooth blade glinted with an eerie crimson glow.
"Gah!!!"
The frail scavenger mustered all his strength, letting out a wheezy shout, and with his eyes tightly shut, he swung the blade down toward the man's neck!
Clang!
The scavenger felt a shock in his hands as the blade struck something hard, emitting a sharp clang. When he opened his eyes, he was instantly dumbfounded, and so were the others.
The blade had been caught between Xia Leng's teeth, stopping it from doing any harm.
His pitch-black eyes glanced at the scavenger beside him, as if ready to swallow him into the dark void of his gaze.
The scavenger, paralyzed by this ghastly stare, went limp and immediately let go of the hilt, trying to flee from this devilish man.
Swish!
"Ahhh!!!!"
But before the scavenger could take a few steps, Xia Leng casually spat out the blade, which precisely and forcefully severed the scavenger's right leg, leaving him clutching the stump, screaming in agony.
This sight finally filled everyone with overwhelming fear of what was supposed to be their food.
Dozens of mutant scavengers, terrified, ignored the leader's threats and retreated to their shabby tents.
As for the legless scavenger, he desperately crawled on the ground, trying to distance himself from the demon bound to the crucifix.
Bang, bang, bang, bang!
In that instant, Xia Leng exerted his strength, breaking the barbed wire that bound his limbs!
The moment he landed, Xia Leng raised his foot and stepped on the crawling scavenger's back, making him scream in pain.
He then turned his head, his pitch-black eyes focusing on the leader, who was just five meters away. A strange, taunting smile appeared on his face.
"You bastard…"
The leader gritted his teeth, his rage surging as he looked at the man who was turning the tables, wishing he could tear him apart. But despite his fury, he made no move to step forward.
Biological instincts didn't allow it. This man was emanating a danger far beyond his own!
Yet, the leader couldn't swallow his pride and anger, so the two remained in a standoff.
Crack!
Xia Leng pressed his foot harder, crushing the scavenger's back entirely.
The unfortunate mutant scavenger died on the spot, his tragic life coming to an end. Like the previous one, he turned into a pool of blood, which was absorbed into Xia Leng's body.
"What kind of monster are you?! Were you playing dumb all along?!"
Finally, the leader snapped, becoming hysterical as he watched the bizarre scene unfold. He glared wide-eyed and yelled at the top of his lungs.
But there was no response. Xia Leng, now like a puppet without self-awareness, showed no expression as he walked toward the leader.
As Xia Leng approached, the once-arrogant leader instinctively retreated. He was beginning to fear this mysterious man…
"Damn it! Die already!!"
Suddenly, the leader pulled out a powerful crossbow from behind and aimed it at the man's head. The bolt, already loaded, shot out with a sharp whistle as he quickly pulled the trigger.
Thud!
From less than five meters away, the sharp metal bolt shot out like lightning, instantly piercing the center of Xia Leng's forehead, with only half of its tail protruding.
The leader rejoiced at the sight. His hunter's instinct had not failed him. Moreover, the arrowhead was coated with a potent anesthetic poison. Even a massive horned elephant would collapse within three seconds if hit in the head!
However, what happened next caused his eyes to nearly pop out of his skull.
The man with the poison bolt embedded in his forehead continued walking forward as if nothing had happened, casually pulling the bolt out, black blood oozing from the wound.
The hole in his forehead seemed like a third eye, having no impact on him at all!
"Intruder…"
"Intruder…"
"Intruder…"
Xia Leng appeared to have lost his original consciousness, his pitch-black eyes reflecting the leader's terrified expression as he muttered the same word repeatedly.
Meanwhile, the hole in his forehead healed completely.
Finally, the leader was pushed to the brink of collapse by the incomprehensible scene. All he could think of was escape!!
Pure survival instinct made him forget the "noble" pride of being a baptized "aristocrat" and even his desire for revenge!
As the leader finally realized that dignity was a luxury compared to survival and turned to flee—
Xia Leng suddenly hurled the arrow he had pulled out.
BIU!!
The arrow flew faster than it had from the crossbow, instantly piercing the leader's thigh, causing him to stumble and fall to the ground!
As the leader desperately tried to get up and run, the paralyzing poison from the arrow had already spread through his entire leg, making it impossible for him to stand. The terrifying man was now standing right behind him.
"Even if I die, I'll make sure you suffer too!"
The leader gritted his teeth and, while his upper body was still free from the poison, quickly pulled a military-grade triangular dagger from his pocket, aiming to stab the man in the heart!
But just two centimeters from his target's heart, the dagger suddenly froze in mid-air, as Xia Leng grabbed the leader's wrist with lightning speed…