Chapter Seventeen: The Dignity of a Male Corpse

Through the previous stages of ability enhancement, I’ve discovered that both my speed and strength have leapt to a new level. At the very least, I should now be able to confront a level-three corpse head-on without being at a disadvantage—no longer needing clever tricks as I did before just to defeat one.

After all, the power and speed of a level-three corpse have reached an abnormal degree, far beyond what any ordinary person could hope to match. Of course, the most terrifying aspect remains their incredible biting force. If the other four aspects of physical application are also advanced to a high level, perhaps there will be a qualitative transformation, not just a relative improvement as with vision and hearing.

However, obtaining a large amount of gene points again seems difficult. Today’s oil depot explosion was full of factors that can’t be replicated—both the existence of the depot and the fact that neither the Nightmare nor the Mutant attacked me are rare occurrences. For now, the only way to gain gene points is through the random mission before me.

“Master Four, how is it that you’re so clever?” I tilted my head and stared at Master Four, fully aware of what that person had said about the troublesome dog. Master Four’s intelligence absolutely crushes his peers—his sensitivity and alertness make him the king of dogs.

I never saw the person who was hiding and whispering, but someone who can create synthetic corpses is clearly no ordinary villain; I might well end up at a disadvantage. Thinking this way, I am genuinely grateful to Master Four—he’s practically my lucky star, despite having a bit of a history of betraying the team.

“Hey, I remember there was a corpse in the shop. Did you drive it away?” I looked at Master Four again, not caring whether he could understand me; it just felt good to ask.

Master Four whimpered twice, panting with his tongue out as he watched me.

Well, I can’t understand dog-speak anyway, so I’ll just treat it as playing music for cattle.

I rubbed Master Four’s furry head. I have to admit, he’s not small—at least up to my knee, and when standing he could reach my chest.

These days, it’s more comfortable to be with a dog than with people; even though we can’t communicate, at least it’s all about heart.

Ever since my vision was enhanced again, my travel speed has improved a lot. Darkness is no longer a barrier. A street that used to take twenty or thirty minutes to traverse cautiously now takes less than ten.

My God, what’s going on!?

I stared, stunned, at the noise-dampening battle vehicle. With night-vision-like eyesight, I saw a corpse lying on the ground next to the vehicle, and a zombie gnawing away at the body.

Because my view was blocked, I couldn’t see who the fallen person was—was it Huo Bing, Tong Jia, or another scavenger team member?

No, wait—the battle vehicle should have fortress defenses enabled. The defenses shouldn’t be so easily breached.

How could it vanish so simply? The black steel plates covering the vehicle’s exterior were gone—it must be in a deactivated state.

They shut down the fortress defenses themselves!

I grabbed my Tang sword, not wanting to alert the feeding zombie, and quietly approached with Master Four. The right way was to decapitate it from behind!

But things didn’t go as I imagined. The zombie gnawing on the ground suddenly paused.

Just as I was about to slice off its disgusting head while it was distracted, it turned to face me! Those blood-red pupils glared at me, blood pouring from its mouth, intestines spilling out from the food it’d just consumed!

Damn it! This is a level-three corpse! This thing has primitive intelligence—it must have tricked the people inside the battle vehicle into opening the defenses!

To put it simply, a level-three corpse is strong enough to lift a person with one hand, and its running speed rivals a human’s sprint.

Hell! After hunting hawks all my life, I’m about to have my eyes pecked out by one!

Ignoring the cold sweat trickling down my forehead, I gripped the Tang sword tightly, forcing myself to stay calm. Having just advanced my abilities, I should be able to match a level-three corpse that hasn’t been exposed to moonlight.

“Master Four! Get back!”

I glanced at Master Four, who was fighting alongside me, and he whimpered softly, drooped his head, and ran off.

“Huff… wa…”

The zombie coughed up blood from its mouth, shakily stood up, and launched itself at me. If it managed to pin me down, blood would surely be spilled!

I didn’t dodge, but raised my Tang sword and chopped straight at it! No matter how strong a level-three corpse is, it’s still flesh and blood—no match for a sharp blade! The one at the shelter entrance died by my hand, and this one will fare even worse!

Otherwise, how could I live up to my reputation as an executioner?

“You’re howling for what, damn it! I’ll smash your mouth!” I cursed, watching the zombie crash toward me, its sharp teeth just a foot away.

But it couldn’t get any closer—the blade was pressed firmly against its neck, blocking its attempts to bite me.

It raised an arm covered in corpse spots, ready to claw at me! If it managed to scratch me even once, my life would soon be forfeit!

I kicked the zombie in the belly, sending it flying seven or eight paces, but it was truly powerful—enraged, it punched the battle vehicle and left a deep dent.

If that fist landed on a person, it would be instant death. I’d underestimated these monsters before.

I rushed in, dodged its claws, and kicked it to the ground.

Strike while it’s down!

There’s no better time to decapitate it!

“Sss…”

I slashed at the fallen corpse with my Tang sword, the blade scraping against the ground, showering sparks and producing ear-piercing metallic sounds.

“Die!”

I brought the blade down hard on its head, determined to separate it from its body! The level-three corpse’s blood-red pupils grew even more demonic as it suddenly reached up and clamped the blade with both hands.

Damn, this thing is strong! My Tang sword couldn’t move another inch, trapped in its grip!

“Crack…”

Seeing the blade covered in cracks, I was shocked. Its monstrous strength was threatening to snap the sword!

Man and corpse locked in a stalemate. Glancing around, I saw Master Four, heartlessly napping nearby!

Damn!

I raised my foot and kicked the zombie’s groin, stomping its already decaying mass to a pulp!

“Waaa…!!!”

It howled fiercely. It shouldn’t feel pain, but maybe its rudimentary intelligence made it sense the dignity of the “male corpse”?

Grinning wickedly, I stomped again, this time on its head!

“Pop!”

Like a watermelon smashed open, black brain matter and brown blood splattered everywhere, even hitting my trousers.

I’d just changed clothes! I spat on the dead corpse—utterly disgusting!

“Host has killed a level-three corpse… Gene points +10.”

Taking a big stride forward—what a pain! Killing a level-three corpse head-on is a serious challenge, and I only got a measly 10 gene points.

The previous two times I managed to kill one so easily really were flukes. These monsters have to be outwitted; brute force might just get me killed.