Volume One: The Apocalypse Begins Chapter 4: Battle Instinct, Triple Kill

The mite-monster was the first to attack. With Xiang Chenguang standing a mere two meters away, it lunged forward in a single, rapid dive, reaching him in an instant.

Caught in a pincer movement, Xiang remained unnervingly calm. He gripped the top handle of a trash can while simultaneously pushing off the ground with his legs to retreat. After creating a gap, he used his left foot as a pivot, swinging his body around and using the momentum to slam the trash can into the mite-monster’s hindquarters.

With a thunderous crash, the plastic trash can shattered under Xiang’s immense strength, sending shards flying in every direction. Along with the debris, a foul, dark green slime sprayed everywhere. Although the empty plastic bin lacked inherent lethality, the sheer force of the blow caused the mite-monster’s rotund abdomen to burst. Its mangled, still-intact front half was sent hurtling toward the encroaching spider-monster.

The spider-monster had launched its attack at nearly the same time as the mite, but it was now splattered with the creature’s gore and remains, causing it to tumble backward onto the ground.

Despite instantly neutralizing one mite-monster, Xiang’s situation did not improve. Another mite, previously lingering in the distance, had been drawn by the deafening impact and was now charging toward him. He remained trapped between the two creatures. However, with the mite still some distance away and the spider-monster just struggling to its feet, they posed no immediate threat.

Xiang first looked up to scan the sky, checking both for flying predators drawn by the noise and for any other spider-monsters lurking on the walls of the buildings lining the street. Fuqian Street was lined with old, low-rise buildings, none exceeding six stories. Having observed the sky upon entering the alley, he had seen no signs of such monsters. Given his enhanced visual perception, it was impossible for him to have missed them if they were clinging to the walls; the spider-monster must have either just arrived or been concealed on a rooftop.

Confirming the sky was clear, Xiang reassessed the battlefield. The second mite-monster was still nearly twenty meters away. The spider-monster had regained its footing, its black-brown fur matted with dark green slime, creating a grotesque sight.

The initial collision had caused it no real harm, suggesting the mite’s internal fluids were merely foul-smelling rather than corrosive or toxic. Xiang found his own state of mind peculiar. While he had been in the habit of exercising under the system’s prodding, he had never possessed any real combat experience. Yet, facing these horrific, otherworldly invaders while caught in a pincer attack, he felt no trace of tension. He was able to observe and analyze the situation with composure, making swift decisions and adjustments. It seemed that with the arrival of the apocalypse, the combat instincts buried deep within his body had finally awakened.

Seeing the spider-monster adopt an attack posture again, Xiang moved instantly, charging toward the incoming mite-monster while brandishing the shattered remains of the trash can.

The twenty-meter gap closed rapidly as both sides surged forward. Having already dispatched two, Xiang had a clear grasp of the mite-monster’s capabilities, so he focused most of his attention on the spider-monster chasing him from behind.

When he was about four or five meters from the mite, Xiang, who had been frequently glancing back, noticed the spider-monster pause and crouch. He immediately slammed on the brakes. Stance-bound in a deep lunge, he utilized his core strength to overcome his momentum, arching his upper body backward until his back was nearly parallel to the ground.

His ten points of agility had pushed his reaction time, dynamic tracking, and bodily control to the human limit. Feats like the splits or a deep backbend were effortless for him. From his arched position, he watched clearly as the spider-monster leaped over him, its eight limbs curled in mid-air. Its mandibles parted, revealing a pair of curved, black, needle-thin fangs that glinted coldly in the morning light.

Had he not dodged, the creature would have landed directly on him, pinning him with its eight limbs before driving those fangs into his neck to inject its venom.

The moment the spider-monster soared over him, Xiang’s body snapped back like a compressed spring. He slammed the jagged remains of the trash can into the creature's back. The already ruined plastic disintegrated into a cloud of shards, leaving only the handle in his grip.

However, the spider-monster’s body was significantly sturdier than the mite’s, and its thick fur helped dissipate some of the impact. Xiang’s full-force blow failed to burst the spider-monster’s abdomen as it had with the mite; instead, it knocked the creature diagonally downward, sending it crashing straight into the mite-monster charging toward them.

The two creatures tumbled into a chaotic mess. As they rolled, the spider-monster’s eight limbs clamped tightly onto the mite, and its black fangs sank mercilessly into the mite's rotund back. It appeared that these otherworldly invaders were not particularly harmonious, or at least, they were prone to infighting between species.

With no time to study their relationships, Xiang moved to the center of the road. Fuqian Street was a two-lane road divided by a meter-high iron railing. These segments were not anchored to the ground but stood on heavy cast-iron bases. Selecting a segment about three or four meters long, Xiang bent down, gripped one end, dragged it a few steps, and with a thunderous roar, swung the heavy railing like a flyswatter toward the two entangled insects.

The railing, including its cast-iron base, weighed at least a hundred pounds. Driven by Xiang’s immense power and its own weight, it slammed into the two creatures.

With a massive, metallic crash, the mite and the spider were pulverized into a single, indistinguishable mound of meat.

As the system notifications for killing two Level-Zero otherworldly insects chimed in his mind, Xiang curled his lip in dissatisfaction. "This system is too rigid," he muttered. "I killed three monsters in such a short time, and not only do I get no material reward, but the kill notification is so robotic—it doesn't provide a shred of emotional value."

He then added, in a deep, passionate voice, "Triple kill!"

Nodding in satisfaction, he felt the battle was finally complete.