Chapter 3: Level Up! |
In the corner of the restaurant, Lin Shuman was deeply focused, communicating with Captain Lin Wu.
"Xiaoman, let me repeat the intel."
"Zhao Hong's physical enhancement focuses purely on 'strengthening.' His cellular strength and metabolic capabilities have greatly increased, giving him immense power and regenerative abilities. However, the excessive proliferation of nerve cells has intensified his pain and muddled his mind."
"He's tough to handle head-on but clumsy in action. Try kiting him. If you can hit vital spots like his eyes, you can cause damage that takes time to heal."
"But Fang Minmin is easier to deal with."
"Her ability is rated C-minus, mainly a combination of flesh and special mental control. According to the experts' research on the blood samples from the rescued survivors, her power only works within a certain range, and once she dies, the control breaks."
"So your primary task is not to kill them but to lure these two out of the restaurant and into our ambush... Then we can rescue the controlled people."
"Got it?"
Lin Shuman took a deep breath, replying seriously, "Got it!"
Lin Shuman drew her gun from behind her leg, closed her eyes briefly to let her gaze unfocus, then stood up and moved slowly towards the kitchen.
Strangely, the waitress, Fang Minmin, who had been patrolling the restaurant, seemed not to notice her. Even when her gaze swept over Lin Shuman, she continued walking.
This was Lin Shuman's special ability—"Lack of Presence."
Though it sounded ridiculous, it was a rare and powerful cognitive rewrite ability.
However, due to her currently weak mental power, the conditions for activating it were stringent.
Ordinary people wouldn't detect her at all, but it was more troublesome with other ability users.
If they detected her gaze or heard her, they might discover her.
Thus, she had to be extremely careful.
There was only one chance to critically wound Zhao Hong! If she could anger him, the chance of luring him away would be one hundred percent! And since Fang Minmin always followed Zhao Hong, she would undoubtedly leave with him.
In the kitchen, the butcher was taking down an arm from a nearby hook—an arm that clearly belonged to Fang Minmin—chopping it up and mixing it into the meat for the customers.
"Chop, chop, chop, chop..."
The sound of chopping meat grew closer, accompanied by the heavy, coarse breathing of the butcher, making Lin Shuman's skin crawl with goosebumps.
The constantly moving figure flickered in the kitchen's shaky light, as if it could turn around at any moment.
Lin Shuman raised her gun.
But suddenly, Zhao Hong seemed to notice something, turning sharply.
Lin Shuman rolled to the side, under a table.
Cold sweat broke out instantly, but Zhao Hong just muttered something and waved away some flies.
"Phew..."
Lin Shuman let out a long breath, that was close...
"Hey? This guy?"
Just as Lin Shuman was about to stand up, she noticed the young man sitting next to her—the last customer who had entered the restaurant before her operation began.
"Strange, his meat hasn't been touched... He didn't eat any?"
Lin Shuman was puzzled.
Ordinary people influenced by Fang Minmin's ability should have uncontrollable cravings for her flesh.
But this young man hadn't taken a single bite.
Just as Lin Shuman's curiosity peaked, the young man suddenly looked around and then lunged towards her.
"Huh?"
Lin Shuman was bewildered, the unexpected move leaving her no time to react.
Instinctively, she raised her gun.
But in the next moment, the young man snatched it from her!
"...What?!"
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——
Guan Shan reached for the glowing spot and indeed grabbed a handgun, which automatically went into his inventory.
Though he didn't understand why there was a gun in a restaurant, he didn't care.
Isn't it common knowledge that horror games are filled with weapons and ammo? As he thought.
As soon as he left his seat, the waitress noticed the movement, turned sharply, and let out an indescribable scream.
"Ahhh—!!!"
The slick, purple-black chunks of meat on her face split open, revealing dozens of frenzied eyes that all fixed on Guan Shan!
All the customers in the restaurant looked up, their faces covered in web-like black veins.
The chopping in the kitchen stopped abruptly, and the meat mountain let out an inhuman roar, smashing through the wall.
"Boom!"
The massive shadow squeezed out of the narrow kitchen, instantly crushing the diners around it into meat paste.
The chef's bloated, fleshy face sprouted countless tiny tentacles, waving as bloodshot eyes filled with murderous intent glared.
The three-meter-tall chef focused directly on Guan Shan.
"Roar!"
He roared, and his tumors and tentacles flailed wildly, stomping with a butcher knife, cracking the floor like a steamroller.
"Damn, damn, damn!"
Guan Shan's scalp tingled, his hair standing on end.
Not daring to stop for a second, he started running, trembling as he raised the gun towards the small monsters around him.
As soon as he aimed, a targeting reticle appeared in his vision, following his gaze.
Locking his sight, the gun's barrel also locked, highlighting weak spots on the monsters.
Auto-aim! Thank goodness! This game is playable! Guan Shan felt tears of relief well up.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Three consecutive shots, all headshots.
The staggering customers fell instantly.
These level 1 customers had 75 health, taking two shots with the gun's 50 attack power.
But headshots meant instant kills.
[EXP +50] [EXP +50] [EXP +50]
[lv.1 → lv.2]
[Current EXP: 50/200]
[Current Health: 100 → 200]
"Leveled up!"
Guan Shan was ecstatic, feeling a strange warmth spread through his body, making his punches feel lighter and stronger.
But this small improvement was still far from enough.
The raging giant behind him was closing in.
Guan Shan dodged and weaved, shooting more 2nd and 3rd level monsters, quickly leveling up to 5.
[Current EXP: 150/500]
[Current Health: 400 → 500]
The visibly longer health and stamina bars gave Guan Shan a better chance of survival.
But now, he only had 5 bullets left.
Suddenly, he spotted a white glint near the bodies of the small monsters.
Loot! His eyes lit up, just as a chilling sensation crept up his back.
Guan Shan turned instinctively, seeing the sharp blade rushing towards him!