Chapter 166.1 – Key (9)

◎ Unprecedented S9 ◎

The barrier constructed by the Dreamweaver has been broken, the warning signal has been successfully transmitted, and if everything goes as planned, reinforcements from the Northern Base will soon arrive.

However, the situation remains dire, with over a dozen S-level threats on the scene, revealing themselves and charging towards Ye Zheng without hesitation.

Only two chances left.

Bai Qi’s fists trembled as he struggled to get up. Warm, sticky blood dripped down from the sun, and he wanted to invoke the “determined resolve”. He had already dropped to S2. If he activated the light circle again, regardless of who won or lost, his own life might not be guaranteed.

Song Ke stared at the approaching enemies, picked up Bai Qi with one hand, and gently placed him next to Ye Zheng. “Stay put.”

Bai Qi wanted to move again, but his shoulder was held down by a huge bear paw. Song Ke turned around, her expression incredibly serious. “I’ll handle this.”

She turned her neck, the bones cracking, and the shadow of a brown bear behind her followed suit, as if warming up before a hunt.

“Just S-level, I can handle it.”

Even though they were both S-level, there was a vast difference in strength. The people in front of her were just numerous; individually, not even one could surpass the bloody hunter, Punk. If she could overpower Punk, she could naturally kill them too.

Song Ke firmly positioned Ye Zheng and Bai Qi behind her and walked forward.

There were only six S-level opponents on their side, and Ye Zheng and Bai Qi had lost their combat capabilities. Facing more enemies with fewer forces, she couldn’t afford to be careless.

Fang Zhixu bent over to traverse the battlefield, taking the opportunity to run back and treat Ye Zheng.

Ye Zheng gasped and asked, “Xiao Fang, I heard you have a potion that can restore combat capability. Give me one.”

“No! You can’t use it!” Fang Zhixu categorically refused. With Ye Zheng’s current physical condition, severe injuries combined with organ aging, sealing it off with an injection, even if effective, would bring along side effects that could cost him his life.

Zhuang Qingyan said in a deep voice, “General, the Northern Base still needs you. Please trust Song Ke and trust us.”

Ye Zheng looked at his determined eyes, remained silent for a moment, and finally nodded, no longer insisting.

Bang! Song Ke and Lu Tao met at a narrow passage. The brown bear’s body stood upright, and with a mighty swipe of its front paw, it slapped the fierce tiger, causing it to stagger.

Lu Tao’s sharp claws dug into the ground, barely stopping the retreat. He wiped away the blood from the corner of his mouth and raised his chin to Song Ke.

“There’s something I can’t figure out. You, an S7, can be treated well wherever you go. Why are you tied to this withered tree named Ye Zheng?”

“Abandoning the dark and turning to the light, isn’t it better to enjoy the good life with us? After we divide the territory, endless benefits await you.”

Song Ke felt a bit absurdly amused, coldly uttered, “Are you here to teach me how to do things?”

Lu Tao, seeing that she wouldn’t listen to advice, roared, tilting his head upward like a crazed tiger tearing into its prey. He swung a fist towards Song Ke’s face.

Song Ke, with strength gathered in her waist and abdomen, transformed her fingertips into phantom blue claws. The bear paw acted like a layer of metallic armor, and with a loud bang, she countered his powerful punch with one of her own.

The phantom tiger’s front claws shattered, and Lu Tao was knocked off balance, his mouth letting out a “puff” as he spat out blood on the spot.

Song Ke landed safely, stepping on Lu Tao’s mouth with one foot and raising her fist high.

Indeed, she had conflicts with He Qiuhong, and she had considered leaving the Northern Base. However, during this time, she had seen more: Tustan, Zhao Yuqing, Ye Zimei, the Ming couple, the thousands of ordinary people striving to live in the central ancient street, the united and passionate awakeners in the Silver Ring Arena, and even the hopeful applicants in Qianzhan City who hadn’t received admission yet but already had a glimmer of light in their eyes. The Northern Base was a city with a “soul.”

In the cruel background of the apocalypse, where human morality had plummeted, cities with a “soul” were few. Having traveled through much of the Alliance, from Tongwan to Haimen, and now to the Northern Base, cities like this, and the people living here, deserved to live well and should not become sacrifices in the power struggle.

Boom! Boom!

Metal burst, and shards of rock scattered as Song Ke punched Lu Tao’s mouth, causing it to cave in. The terrifying pressure that could force internal organs to shift descended, and the massive phantom bear bit onto the phantom tiger’s neck, snapping it off with a crunch.

The animal forms disappeared, and Lu Tao’s body collapsed to the ground.

“Kill!”

“Kill Ye Zheng!”

“Don’t let him stand alone, attack together!”

After Lu Tao fell, the remaining S-level team formed a tighter formation, encircling in a half-moon shape. At the forefront, Yi Na raised her hand and snapped her fingers.

Her ability “Blossom” activated, and a giant man-eating flower burst from the ground, resembling fresh red meat. The central part opened with jagged teeth, contracting and wriggling. Five colorful petals opened and closed, emitting a foul stench that rivaled the rotting zombies.

A Tustan team member was accidentally bitten on the calf, and the flesh and blood instantly rotted into corpse water. He reacted quickly, heroically severed the part below his knee, and Fang Zhixu, carrying a medical kit, carefully maneuvered through various attacks, running to the injured person to treat and bandage him.

Yi Na sneered, another snap of her fingers, and one by one, man-eating flowers surrounded Fang Zhixu. The thick fissures suddenly widened—

Bang! A grenade fell from the sky, cutting through the yellow sand and various obstacles with pinpoint accuracy. It exploded towards the crimson gap, foul blood sprayed, and petals scattered. Yi Na staggered, no longer looking composed.

Yin Xiao was wearing a sniper scope, his expression couldn’t be seen clearly, only catching a glimpse of his stern lower face. After successfully exploiting his “weakness detection” ability, he quickly adjusted his aim and shot at the next one, tirelessly removing the blossoming man-eating flowers.

Lin Youyou ran quickly, chanting lyrics in her mouth and a thin mist of knives descended, while Su Cha’s poisonous gas came out and melted into her ranged attack. The two of them cooperated seamlessly—Lin Youyou became the lurking assassin, and the sandstorm concealed the mist. Many awakeners, unaware, were cut with small wounds. Powerful neurotoxins invaded their brains, causing limbs to convulse, and they fell to the ground.

Tustan and V587, a group of advanced awakeners, unexpectedly managed to block over a dozen S-level opponents.

“Aoo—!!” A terrifying bear roar echoed, freezing all S1 and S2 opponents in place.

Fearlessly, Song Ke charged into the enemy ranks. The blue phantom claw slashed horizontally, piercing the throat of the first S1. Blood spouted like a fountain as Song Ke slid on the slippery blood, akin to a wolf entering a flock of sheep. She swiftly pounced on the second S2, reversed her grip, and slashed from top to bottom, splitting the person in half, organs and intestines cascading down. Blood blurred the vision of those around, and their pupils continuously contracted in fear.

“Aahhhhh—!”

The imposing brown bear bit off the head of the third S2, brain matter splattering. Then, with two claws, it grabbed two S1 awakeners, slamming them fiercely onto the ground. Snap! A leg was thrown away, and then, with a head-on collision, limbs shattered and fell apart, accompanied by the thunderous sound of bones breaking.

In the blink of an eye, five S-levels perished.

Song Ke’s blood-stained phantom bear raised its head, and the brown bear’s hind legs stood upright. Its rigid fur bristled, and it roared towards the sky, the roar echoing through half of the Northern Base.

Song Ke’s lips curled up, and the chilling curvature of a dimple appeared on her cheek.

“Either leave, or die.”

“Who dares to step forward?”

On the opposite side, they hesitated, stopping in their tracks. Even though only S1 and S2 had died, Song Ke’s combat power was too terrifying.

Some people shivered all over, and strange thoughts gradually emerged. Could this person really be just S7?

Silence enveloped the surroundings.

At this moment, a violent energy fluctuation came from above them.

A deep spatial crack slowly opened, and a tremendous force emanated from the black hole. A figure, with a half-male half-female mask, sinister and evil, leisurely stepped out. Smiling, he applauded, “As expected of an S7. Not bad, but unfortunately, your heroic moment ends here.”

Behind the person, over a thousand advanced awakeners followed suit, their eyes revealing a fierce and cruel glint.

Lu Tao and Yi Na seemed to receive some instruction. Suddenly, they pulled out a crimson Level 4 crystal, shattered it without hesitation, and the rich energy replenished their bodies. The two, whose awakened energy had been depleted, recovered, standing up simultaneously.

Zhuang Qingyan abruptly looked up, and the streets in all directions were eerily silent, devoid of any presence.

How could this be? According to the time of the warning flare launch, the supporters from the Northern Base should have arrived by now.

Sensing his gaze, the masked figure sneered, “Waiting for reinforcements? I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed.”

…