章 5: Feast of Slaughter

After stepping outside, Chen Feng exiled the Dretch back to the Abyss.

The Dretch's appearance was too grotesque and conspicuous. Although its terrifying presence could repel many threats, it would also draw unwanted attention and trouble. Fortunately, Chen Feng had already signed a contract with the creature. With just a thought, this ugly predator could be summoned back to his side.

Chaos.

At this moment, the streets had descended into pure chaos. Countless people were running for their lives, chased by bizarre and savage predators.

Several severely decayed corpses, with maggots wriggling in their eye sockets, were slowly advancing. The sudden influx of apocalyptic energy had reanimated these long-buried dead. Before evolution, they were slaves to their hunger, mindlessly devouring anything alive. The creatures they bit would become infected with corpse venom, turning into the same rotting abominations.

A slow-moving elderly woman was tackled to the ground. The zombie's decayed hands tore through her skin, its yellowed, foul-smelling teeth ripping into her flesh. Despite her desperate cries for help, it was futile—her intestines were yanked out, her kidneys devoured. In mere moments, she was torn apart and consumed.

On the other side of the street, countless cats, dogs, and rodents were also in a frenzy, chasing down humans. These once-docile animals now had bloodshot eyes, and their speed had more than doubled. While they lacked the corpse venom of the zombies, their claws and speed made them equally deadly.

In addition to these newly mutated native creatures, there were also some strange beings amidst the chaos. Beetles the size of millstones crushed people with a single pincer. A grotesquely enlarged maggot spewed corrosive liquid from its mouth, which instantly ate through any human it touched.

Giant rock beetles, Sulfuric acid worms.

The apocalypse had unleashed not only strange energies into the air but also countless dimensional rifts. These creatures had crawled out of those rifts, ravenous and unstoppable.

Blood, screams, roars.

Countless horrific scenes unfolded before Chen Feng's eyes. He moved quickly, making his way toward a nearby convenience store that he remembered.

Although Chen Feng was primarily a spiritual summoner, his physical abilities had been enhanced. His reflexes and agility were now far beyond that of an ordinary person.

In the ocean, a shark wouldn't waste time chasing a single nimble fish. The chaotic crowd provided Chen Feng with the perfect cover, allowing him to slip into the convenience store unnoticed.

A feast of slaughter.

The panicked masses drew the attention of most of the monsters. Only when the streets were devoid of life would the shops and buildings become the next targets. Chen Feng knew he had enough time to gather supplies.

The convenience store was empty; its customers had fled during the initial outbreak of chaos.

After shutting the windows and barricading the door with shelves, Chen Feng turned the store into his temporary base.

"I need high-calorie food."

"Chocolate, bread, meat..."

Chen Feng wandered through the store, gathering supplies. By the time he finished, he had a large bag full of food, as well as several jugs of water.

The Dretch's stomach was enormous, and since these supplies were unopened, Chen Feng could command it to swallow them, turning the creature into a mobile storage unit.

The convenience store was small and located in a busy area, making it unsuitable for long-term hiding. But moving during the day would make him an obvious target, so Chen Feng planned to leave under the cover of night.

Rustle... rustle...

The sound of fabric rustling reached Chen Feng's ears.

"Someone here?"

The noise came from the direction of the checkout counter. There was no stench of blood or monsters, suggesting that it might be another human hiding.

Still, Chen Feng remained cautious, ready to summon the Dretch at a moment's notice.

"Who's there?!"

Chen Feng approached the counter, his voice cold and sharp.

"Did the monsters leave? I'm so scared..." A weak voice came from under the counter, followed by the emergence of a young girl in a school uniform.

She appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen years old. Despite her exhausted and disheveled state, her delicate features and petite face were still noticeable. She seemed frightened, adding to her already vulnerable appearance.

She was dressed in a cute cartoon T-shirt under her school uniform, blue school pants, and plain cloth shoes. At her age, she should have been enjoying her time at school, but now she was a mess, her body covered in dirt, and her neck bright red, as if she had been grazed or chafed.

The large red mark on her neck caught Chen Feng's attention for a moment, but he quickly dismissed it.

"Brother, are the monsters gone?" The girl asked timidly, but Chen Feng did not respond. He merely stared at her coldly.

The girl didn't seem to notice his expression. She looked out the door, and seeing the blocked entrance and empty store, she relaxed slightly. Then, tears began to well up in her eyes.

"They're dead... everyone's dead..."

"So many monsters, so many terrifying monsters..."

"We'd just finished school when the monsters attacked us. Zhang Linlin was snatched into the air and killed... she was just gone just like that..."

The girl was clearly traumatized, tears streaming down her face as she trembled uncontrollably. Though her words were somewhat incoherent, Chen Feng pieced together the general story.

It was the tale of a group of students who had been attacked. After the slaughter, this girl was the only survivor.

A lucky one.

Chen Feng glanced at the girl indifferently. For someone so fragile to have escaped the chaos of the streets and made it here was nothing short of a miracle.

The girl looked up at Chen Feng, her voice trembling as she said, "Brother, my phone just broke... Can you call the police? I'm so scared..."

"My dad is a police officer. Just call him, and he'll come for us!"

She raised her small hand, clutching a cracked phone. Her palm was scratched, blood and dirt mixing together in a painful mess.

"Call the police?"

Chen Feng shook his head. The apocalyptic storm had destroyed all communication systems. The so-called mobile phone was now nothing more than a useless brick. Calling for help? That was nothing but a foolish dream. Even if communication were still possible, would a mere policeman be able to turn the tide? Monsters were everywhere. Even if a bullet could kill one zombie, the next second the shooter would be overwhelmed and devoured by another.

From this moment on, everyone could rely only on themselves.

"Don't talk, don't cry, and don't make any unnecessary movements. Most importantly, don't bother me again."

Chen Feng dismissed her completely, ignoring even the girl's desperate hope in her broken phone. He turned away and sat down, closing his eyes to rest.

The girl's face showed a flicker of panic. Chen Feng's stern warning still echoed in her ears. She had always been the center of attention at school, admired for her good looks and academic excellence. Never before had anyone spoken to her so harshly.

Astringent, bitter.

It was a feeling she had never experienced before.

"You're a bad man!" The girl muttered under her breath, pouting as she wrinkled her little nose.

Chen Feng didn't care about the girl's feelings. He leaned against the shelf and closed his eyes to rest. He needed to recover his strength before nightfall.

Sleep began to creep over him.

Bang...

It was unclear how much time had passed when a sudden noise jolted Chen Feng awake. His body reacted instantly, moving toward the source of the sound.

Years of surviving in dangerous environments had made his body more sensitive than his consciousness.

Bang...

The door was pushed again.

In the narrow gap, several dark shapes appeared, flitting through the air and emitting strange cries. The stench of blood clung to them.

"Night Bats?"

Chen Feng's eyes narrowed as he recognized the creatures...