Wen Yu held his breath, watching Cyclops devour the zombie's innards, all the while slowly backing away.
Until Cyclops turned its head and noticed its "old neighbor."
Perhaps it felt that fresh flesh and blood had higher nutritional value, or perhaps the virus within the zombie's body wouldn't significantly aid its own Evolution. Cyclops turned from the zombie's remains beneath it and looked at the unscathed Wen Yu. Its single eye slowly fixed on him, its cold gaze intensifying.
Wen Yu understood. This was the look a mutant beast had when it spotted prey; he had seen that gaze countless times in his previous life.
ROAR!
A low growl echoed as Cyclops, swift as lightning, dashed towards him.
The moment Wen Yu saw Cyclops crouch, ready to pounce, he spun around to flee.
Aah, faster, go faster!
Wen Yu knew his only chance for survival was to rush into a nearby home. With a burglar-proof door, he might find a way out.
But that was too far away.
For Cyclops, the distance between them was less than 40 meters. This distance, Cyclops could cover in just two seconds. Even factoring in Wen Yu's escape speed, Cyclops's pounce would reach him in about four seconds. If it struck him, Wen Yu would undoubtedly die.
Even if he were only injured, for Wen Yu, who was still an ordinary person, the zombie virus in Cyclops's mouth would undoubtedly send him to his grave.
What plunged Wen Yu into deeper despair was that he was just moments away from completing his profession change. Once his profession was changed, relying on his battle experience from his previous life, he might be able to fight Cyclops. At the very least, he could escape.
However, because Cyclops was positioned between him and the Exchange Stone Pillar, it had become an insurmountable chasm.
Am I to die right after my Rebirth? Did the Heavens give me another life just to make me experience despair again? Wen Yu knew that what lay ahead was a dead end.
Yet, the closer he came to such a moment, the calmer Wen Yu became. In his previous life, he'd been cannon fodder, facing death countless times. He had survived them all, relying on his calmness and relentless spirit—the most precious things he had brought back from the apocalyptic world.
In the blink of an eye, the distance between them shrank to less than 10 meters. Wen Yu could even smell Cyclops's foul breath. He knew running was no longer an option.
What should I do? What should I do?
Cold sweat poured down his back uncontrollably as Wen Yu feverishly surveyed his surroundings.
In an open area, I'm doomed. Only...
Wen Yu slightly adjusted his direction, making a beeline for the convenience store ahead.
At that moment, Cyclops, its body slightly tensed, was about to attack.
Wen Yu dove into the store, hastily pulling down a shelf. CRACK!
A loud BANG followed as a powerful force slammed into his back.
AAARGH!
Wen Yu cried out in pain as he was sent flying, coughing up a mouthful of blood, his chest tight and stuffy.
He looked at the shelf, now shattered by Cyclops. The beast's cruel eyes were locked onto him, its bloodlust and brutality making Wen Yu's heart sink to rock bottom.
Wen Yu had hoped the cramped store could temporarily hold off Cyclops. He never anticipated Cyclops would give him no time at all, cornering him. The small convenience store, an enclosed space, had become his tomb.
Cyclops paced back and forth in the store, its single eye fixed on Wen Yu, the mockery in its gaze clear.
Wen Yu's fists clenched tightly. Staring at the beast before him, its taunting gaze ignited his fury.
Demonic Qi not only accelerated the Evolution of mutant creatures but also enhanced their intelligence. Dogs were already intelligent animals; now Cyclops, a Level 1 mutant beast, was toying with its prey like a Hunter would.
Death... Wen Yu was, naturally, afraid of it. Otherwise, he would have ended his own life long ago in his previous existence.
But Wen Yu understood one principle: those who feared death the most often died the quickest. Worst comes to worst, I'll fight you to the death! If I die, I'll take you down with me! I have nothing to lose, so what's there to fear? Faced with this desperate situation, Wen Yu's reckless, nothing-to-lose attitude flared up, and he roared at Cyclops.
Startled by the sudden roar, Cyclops instinctively jumped back. This movement revealed a flash of light in the corner of Wen Yu's eye.
It was a vertical vortex, about the size of a fist, emitting a mysterious, silvery-white light as it spun continuously.
Due to its position, Cyclops's body had previously blocked Wen Yu's view of it. And since Cyclops had its back to the vortex, it couldn't see it either. But when Cyclops jumped back, the silvery-white vortex was exposed to Wen Yu's eyes.
Wen Yu was thrilled. I knew the Heavens wouldn't be so cruel to me! It's true, Heaven never seals off all exits! he repeatedly exclaimed in his heart.
However, Wen Yu kept his expression neutral. He was afraid Cyclops would sense something and charge in to finish him off. That would be a true tragedy.
Wen Yu knew what that vortex was. It was a treasure land, symbolizing opportunity and power.
The vortex was the entrance to the treasure land.
With the advent of the apocalypse, humanity's living space was constantly being squeezed. Yet, the mysterious Dominator of this world clearly hadn't given up on humanity. Besides the ubiquitous Exchange Stone Pillars, the greatest boons granted to humans were these treasure lands.
Treasure lands varied in size, their appearances completely random. The duration of their existence also differed wildly; some might vanish right after appearing, while others could exist indefinitely. In his previous life, Wen Yu had heard from others that the largest settlement in Mudanjiang City controlled a treasure land. It had existed for three months already and showed no signs of vanishing.
Each time a treasure land appeared, it would trigger a bloody war among humans, all for the sake of profit. For humans, the allure of treasure lands was simply too great.
Treasure lands could produce treasures of any level; both the quantity and quality of these treasures were completely random. However, almost all items found within them were high-grade goods unavailable from the Exchange Stone Pillars: high-quality skills, high-quality items, Top-notch equipment, and even hidden profession-change scrolls.
Most importantly, treasure lands only admitted humans. For Wen Yu, this was undoubtedly his last lifeline.
Even if there's nothing inside that could improve my combat power.
Even if the treasure land closes immediately after I enter, "spitting" me back out.
Even if there are countless deadly traps or lethal trials inside that could kill me.
For Wen Yu, the choice between dying immediately and gambling on an unknown future before dying was not a choice he needed to consider at all.