The survivors in the chat channel could only catch fragmented glimpses of the battlefield. From their angle, the armored mech was completely out of sight. All they saw was Lucas Kane's heavy truck crashing through the Campus Field of Sunhaven University before disappearing behind the buildings.
When the vehicle reappeared, it was smeared with blood, and one of its tires had already blown out.
Two Crawlers clung to the top of the truck, their claws screeching against the steel container with a piercing metallic shriek.
"Damn, he actually managed to charge through the zombie horde in that condition. Insane!" someone muttered in disbelief.
"Not good… Look at those things on the roof! My squad once ran into a Crawler, and we nearly got wiped out."
"Yeah, their claws are sharper than steel. Even a single one is hard enough to handle—now there are two?"
The chat boiled with fear and speculation.
"Even if the truck escapes the horde, it won't shake those things off. He's done for."
"Only someone at the Peak Human Limit could stand against a Crawler—and even then, it'd be tough!"
"Wait, someone's actually reached the Peak Human Limit already? On the fourth day? What are they, eating energy cores for breakfast?"
Others lamented their fates.
"Why the hell did I get stuck with the Frail tier physique? It's practically a death sentence."
"I thought reaching Exceptionally Strong was already impressive… but compared to these monsters, it's nothing."
While voices rose in panic, the heavy truck roared past the university gates, leading a tide of thousands of zombies in its wake. Lucas pressed hard on the accelerator, making sharp turns until the swarm began to scatter. Ordinary undead couldn't keep up.
But the Crawlers were a different story. Their claws had dug deep into the metal, anchoring them firmly. No amount of swerving could shake them off.
The truck thundered along the cleared city road Lucas had prepared earlier, but soon the path was blocked—an impassable barricade of wrecked cars stretched across the street. Dozens of zombies wandered aimlessly nearby.
Lucas narrowed his eyes.
This is where I'll finish them.
He eased the truck to a stop.
The chat exploded.
"He stopped? Must've hit a dead end."
"That's it. He's doomed."
Some girls in the channel covered their eyes, afraid to witness the inevitable bloodbath.
"Even a Peak Human Limit survivor wouldn't last a minute against one Crawler. He's facing two. He's as good as dead."
Many pitied the driver, while others coldly calculated. Some were already noting street signs and nearby shops, preparing to scavenge his corpse once he fell.
"At the very least, we'll get a heavy truck and a mountain of energy cores. That's a fortune."
Everyone held their breath as the truck door opened.
A tall, broad-shouldered man stepped out, his posture calm, his presence commanding. Even from a distance, his confidence radiated.
"Does he not realize there are Crawlers on top of the truck?"
"He probably has no clue. Sitting in the cab, he wouldn't notice. No sane man would step out so casually otherwise."
The viewers clenched their fists. Some prayed for him, others simply watched.
Above, one Crawler crept to the edge of the container, grinning down at Lucas with a grotesque, eerie smile. Meanwhile, the second monster leapt down, vanishing beneath the truck.
It was setting up an ambush.
"Shit! They're using tactics? These aren't mindless zombies."
"Run, idiot! Don't just stand there!"
But Lucas didn't move. He looked up, smiled faintly, and in the instant the Crawler sprang down—he moved first.
With a sudden burst of speed, he surged forward. The Tang blade in his hand flared cold, and with one precise strike, he cleaved the creature in two before it even realized what had happened.
The bisected body crashed to the ground, twitching, lifeless.
From below, the second Crawler lunged, claws flashing.
A thunderous crack resounded as blue light ripped through the night—an energy blast pierced its chest, shattering its spine. The monster collapsed in a heap.
Lucas landed gracefully atop the container, not a drop of blood staining his clothes. His figure stood tall against the moonlight, coat billowing like a warrior out of legend.
The chat fell silent.
Then the system prompts chimed in his mind:
[You have harvested:]
Energy Cores ×120
Accelerant Fertilizer ×10
Razor Claws ×4
Toughened Hide ×5
Blood of the Evolved ×2
[Upgrade Progress: 642/800 ×2]
[Ding! Materials for "Toughened Beginner Energy Armor" are complete. Craft now?]
Craft immediately.
[You have consumed:]
Energy Cores ×200
Toughened Hide ×20
Clean Fabric ×500
Congratulations! You have obtained [Toughened Beginner Energy Armor].
A silver bracelet materialized on Lucas's wrist, etched with faint, glowing runes.
He raised his hand, studying the mysterious artifact.
So this is the Energy Armor… Does it trigger automatically in danger?
His eyes flicked to a nearby high-rise, over ten stories tall. The armor's description claimed immunity to falls under fifty meters. That was roughly seventeen floors.
Lucas smirked.
Perfect test ground.
He took a breath, his resolve unshaken. Even without the armor, his enhanced physique could probably withstand the fall—at worst, a sprain. With regeneration, it wouldn't matter.
Step by step, he ascended to the rooftop, ready to put his new gear to the test.