Chapter 25: Woman

Blood was everywhere.

The entire room had turned into a hellish scene within minutes. Ma Biao and all the other prisoners had met a grisly end, bringing their sinful lives to a close.

Rock Warrior.

As a Professional, Ma Biao's flesh and blood held thick power. Chen Feng allowed the Dretch to devour him. Even if it couldn't gain Ma Biao's abilities, it would still benefit from the boost in strength.

The Dretch possessed a unique trait—it could devour to grow stronger.

Unlike the Dark Elf, who had to rely on killing and fighting to gain experience, the Dretch could advance through devouring, making it an enviable ability.

The bloated creature dragged itself to Ma Biao's corpse, opening its gaping maw. The once-arrogant thug was now nothing more than fodder.

How ironic.

Ma Biao had fed others to monsters in a desperate bid to survive, only to become a monster's meal himself.

"Cycle of Heaven? Retribution?"

Chen Feng shook his head, a cold gleam in his eyes.

In the end, Ma Biao's downfall was due to his lack of strength. He hadn't even fully realized the potential of his Rock Warrior abilities before being devoured by the Dretch.

Power.

In nature, big fish eat little fish, and little fish eat shrimp. There is no cause and effect, only the food chain.

In this world, those who kill will eventually be killed. Chen Feng never considered himself invincible. He had only one life, and if someone were to cut him down, he would die just like anyone else. That's why, when an enemy raised their weapon, he needed to be faster, strike harder, and have a stronger resolve.

A lion fights a rabbit with all its might.

Arrogance equals death.

Ma Biao was a prime example of that.

"Don't come any closer…"

"They're dead? All dead?"

"Ah… don't kill me, I'll do anything!"

Witnessing the brutal deaths of Ma Biao and his men, the remaining captives screamed in panic. The sight of the Dretch devouring them was too much, leaving them weak and paralyzed on the floor.

"Please… just let me go…"

"Yes, please have mercy. We were only captives, forced by those thugs. We had nothing to do with them…"

A few survivors stared at Chen Feng with desperate eyes. They knew this might be their last chance to live. Without hesitation, they knelt and begged for their lives, willing to do anything he asked.

Chen Feng frowned. "Shut up. If you want to leave, go now. No one's keeping you here."

"Thank you… thank you for sparing us."

"We'll leave right now!"

The survivors scrambled to their feet, stumbling toward the door in a panic.

These people were lucky to still be alive. Over the past few days, they had witnessed others being pushed off the second floor, their desperate screams echoing in their ears. The terror of Ma Biao had kept them in line.

But now, the mighty Ma Biao was dead, devoured by a monster. Even stranger, the 'sludge monster' obeyed a human's commands.

A demon.

Though Chen Feng's actions seemed like those of a hero, the process had been so brutal that some of the survivors' minds broke. They collapsed on the spot, unable to reconcile the man who had just killed a dozen people with the idea of a savior.

Chen Feng's words gave them hope. They didn't waste any time, fleeing the room as if they were escaping from a famine.

They would rather face the monsters outside than share a room with such a demon. For all they knew, they might be the next meal for the Dretch.

They're seeking death.

Chen Feng watched the fleeing figures coldly, a glint in his eyes. The outside world was filled with danger. Even at night, there were plenty of predators.

These people were weak and had long lost their courage. Once they left this room, they were as good as dead. Even a few slow-moving zombies could corner them and tear them apart.

Certain death.

Without the police station's shelter, they wouldn't live to see the next sunrise.

But… that had nothing to do with Chen Feng.

Leaving was their choice, and Chen Feng had no obligation to save them. They were dead weight, without any combat ability. Even if he did save them, it would only weaken his own chances of survival.

Putting himself in danger for strangers was something Chen Feng wasn't willing to do.

He ignored the fleeing survivors and began to survey the room.

The room was divided into several sections—one large hall and a few offices. The floor was littered with bodies, piled up like trash, an ugly sight.

Chen Feng walked slowly, his footsteps echoing lightly on the floor. He was checking the offices for any potential threats.

Just as he approached one office door, he heard a faint moan from inside. It wasn't a sound of pleasure, but one of pain and despair, barely restrained.

Aside from the Dretch and the Dark Elf, there shouldn't have been any other living people in the building, so the sound was clear.

Could someone still be inside?

Chen Feng gripped his boning knife tightly, every muscle in his body tensing as his eyes scanned the room. He was ready for a fight.

There was no sense of danger, which meant the person inside was likely just an ordinary human. But Chen Feng was cautious. He never underestimated anyone.

Even the smallest ant can cause a flood by breaking a dam.

---

Chen Feng saw a woman.

She was wearing a work uniform, something like a bank's attire, though it was torn open, exposing her pale skin. Her lower half was completely bare, and her arms, chest, and thighs were covered in bruises. Blood stained the floor beneath her, turning the scene into one of utter misery. The woman was like a shattered doll, discarded on the street.

Broken and battered.

She was a beautiful woman, easily scoring at least 80 points by conventional standards. That was a high score, and while not the absolute best, it was enough to earn her the title of a goddess.

With her looks and a promising career, she had undoubtedly been the object of many suitors' affections. If the apocalypse hadn't come, her life would have been one of happiness.

Only a few days ago, she might have been with friends, enjoying a meal at a high-end restaurant after a spa day. But now, she was thrown onto a cheap office desk, brutalized by a dozen thugs.

No one could know the horrors she had endured these past few days.

Chen Feng's footsteps were light.

But the woman, broken by her fate, noticed him immediately. She raised her head, her eyes bloodshot, looking like a withered rose. In a hoarse voice, she asked, "Can you lend me your knife?"