"How could this be? How could we possibly win?!"

"I'll die too if this keeps up... I don't want to die! I don't want to die!"

Liu Ming stood at the front of the group, watching the people before him get slaughtered. His legs turned to jelly, his mind reeling.

Despair and bitterness coiled in his chest. Just moments ago, he'd dreamed of emperor-like luxury. Now, he could barely cling to life.

Yet Liu Ming hadn't given up hope. He strained his thoughts desperately:

*What else can I do? I must think of something fast!*

*There has to be a way. Think!*

He gritted his teeth, eyes bloodshot with fury. His clenched fists trembled slightly. Panic gripped him—Duan Heng was walking straight toward him!

Then, Liu Ming's eyes suddenly flashed. An idea struck him:

*Wait?!*

*Right... that woman isn't here! Duan Heng's woman isn't on the battlefield! She must be hiding at the villa!*

*A beauty like her couldn't have killed Zombies. Even if she did, she hasn't killed as many as I have! If I take her hostage... I still have a chance!*

*Heaven never seals all exits—I'm a genius!!!*

The thought barely formed when relief flooded Liu Ming's face. The high-level survivors around him might hold Duan Heng off a while longer. They probably waited for Liu Ming to lead the charge—but he ignored them. He spun around and bolted straight for the villa!

"Huh?"

Duan Heng noticed Liu Ming's movement instantly. He raised his gun, aiming at the back of Liu Ming's head.

Just then, a shadow lunged from beside him! It swung a weapon down hard at Duan Heng's skull. The slash cut the air with a sharp *whoosh*!

It was the Butcher from earlier!

"Die!"

The Butcher roared, his voice thick with rage. Everyone gained skills in this Apocalypse. Killing a dozen Zombies could triple one's strength.

The Butcher's power matched a pro wrestler's. Duan Heng wasn't the only monster here!

This chop carried a thousand jin of force—enough to shatter ox bones. Duan Heng seemed doomed.

But...

*Snap—*

"What?! How?!"

A crisp sound rang out. The Butcher's furious expression twisted into pure terror.

Duan Heng had casually raised his left hand. With just thumb and forefinger, he pinched the blade mid-swing. No matter how hard the Butcher pulled, the cleaver wouldn't budge. His entire strength was less than two of Duan Heng's fingers!

"How is this possible?! Aaah—"

The Butcher's scream died as Duan Heng kicked him. His body flew like a ragdoll, crashing into a building far away.

*Boom—*

A deafening crash followed. The once-fierce Butcher now lay buried in rubble, a blood-soaked leg dangling outside the broken wall. He was clearly dead—no car crash could smash through concrete like that. The force of Duan Heng's kick was unimaginable.

"Mon... monster!"

"Don't kill me! I'm sorry! Please spare me!"

Only four lived now: three level-four men and a male student. After witnessing that kick, no sane person could muster a trace of resistance. They knelt, kowtowing and sobbing.

"Duan-ge! No—Duan-ye! We were wrong! Please show mercy!"

"I just started university! I'm still a kid! Have pity!"

*Thud. Thud. Thud.*

Their foreheads hit the ground. This utter humiliation might make even a cruel warlord hesitate.

But Duan Heng didn't.

*Still a kid? That's tricky.*

*Because if I don't kill you, I'll have nightmares.*

"Duan-ge! Duan-ge! No!"

*Bang—*

Seeing the gun aimed at him, the student wailed, waving his hands frantically... then collapsed, shot dead.

*Thud—*

The boy's body hit the ground face-first. A bloody hole marred his head. His wide, unseeing eyes were horrifying.

The other three gasped sharply. One rolled his eyes back and fainted instantly.

The remaining two gritted their teeth. They lunged at Duan Heng!

"Damn it! We're dead anyway! Let's fight!"

"Grab his gun! We can kill him!"

Though outmatched, survival instinct drove the two level-fours into a frenzy.

They channeled energy. Glowing auras—red and blue—covered their bodies like flashy armor.

Duan Heng sidestepped calmly.

*Whoosh—*

A fist whistled past his cheek, missing by a hair. To him, their movements were painfully slow.

The red-glowing man overextended, stumbling forward. Duan Heng seized the chance and punched his chest.

*Boom!!!*

The fist struck true. The man's chest caved in. His back ripped open, clothes shredding. Duan Heng hadn't even used his ability—raw strength alone shattered the barrier!

Ribs and organs exploded instantly. Blood gushed from the man's mouth as he crumpled.

"Aaah! Die!"

The other attacker howled, swinging wildly. But he was slower than his friend. Duan Heng caught his fist, then delivered a precise groin kick...

*Crack.*

Unprecedented agony ripped through the man's body—crotch shattered, pelvis crushed, spine snapped.

Before the pain reached his brain, he blacked out from sheer torment. He dropped dead on the spot.

Now.

All living threats were eliminated. Before leaving, Duan Heng fired three shots into the fainted man's head—just in case.

Bodies littered the area, some still burning. Smoke swirled persistently through the neighborhood, carrying a faint, sickening smell of roasting meat.

*Took slightly longer than expected. Didn't anticipate so many.*

*But no matter. Only one left, right?*

Duan Heng's gaze shifted to the distant villa.

Below it, Liu Ming held a woman hostage. He shouted at Duan Heng, voice dripping with arrogance:

"Duan Heng! Drop your gun! Or I'll kill her!"