‘Smoker Zombie (Mature): an evolved variant of a regular Zombie. Tall, body covered in pus-filled sacs. Its limbs are a bit stronger than a normal Zombie, but the tentacles growing inside those sacs pack terrifying power. It can shoot them to bind prey from range.’

‘Combat Power: 15–25’

‘Intelligence: 2’

‘Skills: Anesthetic Smoke, Long Tongue Bind.’

‘Attribute: Poison.’

——

“Duan Heng! Duan Heng!”

“There’s a pervert among the Zombies! Get over here!”

The monster in the distance was nauseating. Huge sacs bulged on its shoulders like tumors. That “tongue” had shot out from a sac, tough and brutally strong. Worse, it had three of those disgusting things.

Two on the shoulders, one on the back. They almost swallowed its head. Through the gaps, you could barely see its eyes. Those eerie red pupils burned with hunger, as if saying: “Delicious little flower, let me savor you properly.”

“Hey, did you hear me, Duan Heng? Urgent! Urgent!”

As Bai Ling was dragged meter by meter, two shorter tongues wrapped her waist and right arm. Slick and strong, they bound like a python. Her limbs were tied so tight she couldn’t move at all.

And what did Duan Heng, still hacking Zombies from afar, say?

“Busy.”

“Busy, my ass!”

Bai Ling almost fainted from rage.

Drugged and bound, only her left hand could move. She clawed for a neighborhood lamppost with all her strength, bracing while she yelled:

“I’m not blind! Didn’t you already take out those two mutants? Get over here and save me! I’m about to get eaten by a tentacle freak!”

“Got it! Hold on!”

“Huh?!”

Brushed off again, Bai Ling couldn’t believe her ears.

The tentacles cinched tighter. One slid up from her waist, curled twice around her pale neck, then poised to dive into her mouth. Up close you could see the surface dotted with tiny pores. That was clearly where the anesthetic dust had sprayed from.

If that stuff got pumped straight inside, even an elephant would drop on the spot.

“Done… I’m so done…”

Her heart sank. Even her pupils trembled a little.

As for Duan Heng? Of course he knew there was another elite.

He’d seen countless Zombie types in his last life. Their habits, ambush or frontal rush—he knew it all. Smoker Zombies were among the most common elites. He’d sensed this one back in the car. He didn’t tell Bai Ling for two reasons:

One, he didn’t want her that confident this early in the Apocalypse. Too much confidence breeds mistakes. Caution first. Take a hit now, avoid it next time.

Two, selfishly, he wanted to hear… that. You know, that.

“Duan Heng, you piece of crap! Busy with what, you—! You’re doing this on purpose!”

Bai Ling’s face went whiter. Her scream turned sharp and helpless. The tentacle at her neck tightened. The crimson tip lifted, slick with viscous blood and dust, aiming at her face.

“Ew—ew—ew!”

She let out a frightened sound. She knew Duan Heng wouldn’t abandon her. He’d step in at the last second.

But when? If this thing jabbed into her mouth, that’d be way too late!

“Damn it! It wasn’t supposed to go like this! I tried so hard! How did it come to this?”

“If my first kiss goes to a thing like this… that’s the worst! I’d rather die!”

“Ugh… no choice!”

“It’s not like I want to shout this!”

“Hu—bby—sa—ve—me—”

“Happy now? Come help!”

Her cry echoed across the complex, lingering on the air.

Clear, with a hint of stubborn shame. A trace of a cute sob. It sounded tragic—yet to a certain someone, sweet as wine.

“Alright, alright~ guess I’ve got no choice~”

Finally, Duan Heng answered.

The tentacle was only three centimeters from her lips.

In that instant, his right arm lifted. Purple energy shot out like an arrow. It flared like fire, blistering fast. In a blink it crossed twenty meters.

The Smoker Zombie’s tongue was cut clean in two. A spray of dark blood splattered the ground. All within 0.2 seconds. Even Bai Ling couldn’t see it clearly.

Roooar—

With its tongue severed, the Smoker Zombie let out a low, eerie roar.

Strangely, it seemed to sense danger. It saw Duan Heng, then dragged its heavy body to flee.

No way he’d let an elite escape. He simply raised his pistol and fired four times.

Bang—Bang—Bang—Bang—

Same as before: two to the head, two to the heart. Four shots, dead-on. The elite hit the ground the next second.

Thud—

Fight over. Clean and neat. He didn’t even get dust on him. After mowing down a horde of Zombies, his clothes were still spotless.

Meanwhile…

Grimy and pale, Bai Ling wriggled on the ground. With her weak left hand, she tore off the disgusting tentacles. She also noticed parts of her jacket had melted. The slime on those tentacles could break down fabric.

“Too—too gross!”

Even Bai Ling felt a spike of fear at that.

“Sure, I’ve always liked those lewd doujins…”

“But that doesn’t mean I want to be the heroine in one!”

“Thank god for the Nanotech Battle Suit, or I’d be toast!”

Without that S Tier Artifact, she didn’t dare imagine how bad it would be…

Safe by a hair. Not naked. First kiss still intact…

“Wait? Why’s your hair white?”

“Huh?”

After finishing off a few stragglers, Duan Heng came over to help her up and blinked. Bai Ling froze for a moment. She glanced at the strands on her shoulder. Her hair had turned snow-white, shimmering and pretty.

She had no idea why, and didn’t care. She just looked dead inside and snapped:

“No clue. Probably the Nanotech Battle Suit. Jerk! Why are you spacing out? Come lift me already!”

She raised her left hand for him to take, her tone prickly. He’d stalled forever and scared her half to death.

At her shout, he only blinked, curled his lips, and jogged over with a grin.

Then he crouched. He scooped her up in a princess carry again. Under Bai Ling’s shocked stare, he leaned close to her lips and teased, smug:

“Who’re you calling a jerk? That’s not what you called me just now.”

“You—You—”

She stammered at once. Her face went bright red, from anger or from shyness, even she didn’t know.

Drugged and unable to struggle, she could only glare fiercely and grit out:

“Put me down! Who told you to carry me like this! Have some common sense!”

“What are you talking about?”

She fussed in his arms, huffy and adorable. She bared her teeth like a little tyrant.

The more she did, the more his mood rippled. The itch to tease her only grew.

“The ‘long tongue’ sedation is crazy strong. You won’t stand for an hour or two. So I’ve gotta carry you~”

He even bounced her twice on purpose, making her cling tighter.

Treated like a “toy,” Bai Ling wobbled in his arms. Afraid to fall, she looped her left arm around his neck. Her shame was about to fry her circuits. Lips and pupils trembled like mad. She still tried to argue, small and helpless:

“N-Not like this! Change how you’re holding me!”

“Mm? Sure.”

He agreed readily.

——

Twenty seconds later.

The scene said it all.

They’d switched from princess carry to… face-to-face. Duan Heng’s hands supported Bai Ling by the thighs. Her arms rested on his shoulders. Her legs clamped around his waist. His head fit under her chin, tilted back, grinning up at her as their eyes met.

“This one works, right, wifey?”

“?”

…

“Don’t call me that! Are you an idiot?!”

“And this pose is even weirder! Don’t move your hands higher!”

“Ahhh I’m gonna kill you!”