Chapter 68

A heavy armored vehicle rolled down an empty road; on either side, buildings stood vacant and silent. Though it was still daytime, not a single person could be seen on the surrounding streets, and many areas were overgrown with wild grass, untouched by any caretaker.

“This area is too close to the Ruin District—security is terrible, and dangerous incidents occasionally occur, so few people choose to live here. But as an investigator, I often come this way, because many rogue cultivators immediately think of fleeing into the Ruin District.”

Inside the vehicle, Wang Jian scanned the surroundings through the window.

The buildings around him were unfamiliar to others, but he knew them well.

Yet as Wang Jian surveyed the area, his eyes suddenly flickered—he thought he saw something, but couldn’t be certain. He immediately told Zheng Gong, the driver beside him, to steer slightly left.

After adjusting his line of sight, Wang Jian’s expression changed instantly.

Not only him—the driver Zheng Gong also noticed something. He instinctively slammed on the brakes and exclaimed, “What the hell is that thing crouched on top of that building? Did I just imagine it?”

The others in the cabin immediately followed the first two men’s gaze—and their pupils shrank sharply.

There, in the shadowed wall of a largely abandoned building not far off, crouched a gigantic, monstrous humanoid figure. Its skin was gray-white, its limbs unnaturally long—each arm alone measured at least ten meters. Every limb was embedded like talons deep into the concrete, anchoring its massive body firmly in place, like a giant spider.

“Where the hell did this thing come from?” Chen Hao gasped, eyes wide in disbelief.

“It’s a Spider-Man from the Danger Zone—not of our world, and usually moves in groups. Extremely dangerous. But this is the largest one I’ve ever seen,” He Xiong muttered, his eyes narrowing as he instinctively gripped his firearm tighter.

Li Yi’s face was grim: “I’ve encountered them in the Danger Zone before. Two of my teammates died in a pack of Spider-Men. But the ones I saw last time were only four to five meters tall, had eight limbs, and were gray-black in color. This one’s different—missing several limbs, different color, and its size is absurdly huge.”

“Though its form and color differ, I’m certain this monster is the same species as those Spider-Men.”

Wang Jian immediately growled: “He Xiong, use anti-supernatural rounds. Eliminate this thing. We can’t let it crawl freely through the city.”

“Understood.” He Xiong immediately pulled out a special round coated in red paint.

He pulled back the bolt, chambered the round.

Though he had only one arm, He Xiong still handled the sniper rifle with ease.

“Zheng Gong, once we hit it, prepare to withdraw immediately—no hesitation,” Wang Jian added.

“I understand,” Zheng Gong replied, sweat beading on his forehead. This was his first mission—and he never imagined encountering such an impossible monster.

If this thing isn’t taken out in one shot, it might be enraged and charge—then they’d all be in grave danger.

“I’m ready. The monster hasn’t noticed us—our chance to hit is high. Wang Jian, where do you want me to shoot?” He Xiong whispered.

Wang Jian snapped: “Don’t aim for the head. First shot: center of its chest. Even if it doesn’t kill it, a crippling wound is worth it. With the power of the Supernatural M200, if its body isn’t reinforced, one shot could blow it apart.”

“Got it.”

He Xiong rose instantly, crouching inside the cabin, then expertly opened the roof hatch. He stepped onto the footrest, half his body emerging from the vehicle, immediately raising the rifle and locking the barrel onto the humanoid monster crouched on the distant building.

The entire motion was seamless. He Xiong knew these terrifying creatures had absurdly high alertness—even distant aiming could trigger detection. Before acting, you couldn’t even pre-aim, or you’d surely alarm them.

Yet just as He Xiong was about to fire—

Suddenly—

He Xiong sensed something. Every hair on his body stood on end. A terrifying danger had locked onto him.

At that moment, Li Yi in the cabin also sensed it. His eyes glowed faintly as he turned sharply toward the right side of the cabin.

But his peripheral vision caught only a massive black shadow flashing toward him.

“No! He Xiong, abandon the shot and retreat!” Wang Jian roared.

He realized: other dangers were lurking nearby. The entire armored vehicle had been targeted all along. They hadn’t been attacked earlier because no one had exited. Now, with He Xiong exposing most of his body to take the shot, the enemy had their opening.

The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

He Xiong, experienced and sharp, abandoned the shot the instant he sensed danger and retracted his body swiftly into the cabin.

The massive black shadow flashed past. A foul, gale-like wind roared through the roof hatch—like a heavy truck screaming past mere inches away. Even a brush of that force could kill.

Fortunately, He Xiong pulled back in time, narrowly avoiding the deadly strike.

But the colossal impact struck the armored vehicle itself.

Instantly—

The heavy armored vehicle was flipped upward by a terrifying force, slid several meters along the ground, and finally toppled sideways against a nearby wall.

“Roar!”

Outside, a bestial bellow shook their skulls, ringing in their ears.

“Don’t get trapped inside! If we do, we all die. Get out! The moment you see that thing outside, use your gaze to pin it down, then reposition. I’ll draw its attention first—stay alert.” Wang Jian roared, then prepared to open the door to buy time for the others to escape.

“Wait—Wang Jian, the sniper rifle’s gone!” He Xiong’s face darkened, revealing a critical fact.

Losing the Supernatural M200 meant they’d lost their only reliable weapon against the monster.

Wang Jian froze, then said: “It must’ve been knocked loose during the attack. Get out together—while pinning it down, look for the rifle.”

But just then, the side door of the cabin suddenly burst open.

A lithe figure dashed out.

“Li Yi, don’t be reckless!” Wang Jian shouted, trying to stop him—but it was too late.

Li Yi had already charged out.

Yet everyone understood: Li Yi wasn’t fleeing—he was buying time. The first one out was the most vulnerable, the most likely to be targeted by the unseen monster. He might be killed the moment he exposed himself.

“I’m wearing armor made of Qiu Long hide—I have the highest survival rate. I’m the best choice,” was the only thought in Li Yi’s mind.

He knew it was dangerous—but Wang Jian’s actions had moved him.

In this crisis, Wang Jian had immediately chosen to risk himself to delay the threat and protect the others. So Li Yi was willing to step forward and help his teammate.

Indeed—

The moment he burst from the cabin, another bestial roar erupted beside him, followed by a stench-laden gust.

In the blink of an eye, a towering black figure lunged before Li Yi.

Li Yi’s pupils shrank sharply—he tried to counterattack, but it was too late.

A thick, black-furred arm swung toward him.

The force was terrifying. If struck, Li Yi had no doubt his head would explode.

Fortunately, he’d braced himself. He raised both arms into a defensive stance.

“Crack!”

A thunderous boom.

Li Yi was blasted backward by immense force, smashing through the tempered glass of a nearby abandoned shop, rolling and sliding, destroying countless chairs and debris inside, before finally slamming hard against a wall and coming to a stop.

After the strike, the monster sensed Li Yi was still alive. It roared and lunged again.

But Li Yi had bought the others precious time.

Now, Wang Jian, He Xiong, Chen Hao, and driver Zheng Gong seized the chance to burst from the cabin and repositioned themselves.

Then, all four of them—eyes blazing with white light, brilliant and intense—

Gaze Lock!

The four locked their gaze onto the towering black figure.

The monster’s movement paused briefly.

Only then did they clearly see what had attacked their armored vehicle.

It was a black bear, over three meters tall, covered in thick black fur, walking upright. Unlike ordinary bears, its head resembled a human’s more than an animal’s—its facial fur had fallen away, revealing gray-black skin. Its eyes were cruel and cunning, more like a beast-wearing-man than any wild animal.

“It’s a Human-Bear—a ferocious beast in the process of evolution. If it continues cultivating, it won’t take long before it becomes a Bear Demon, a supernatural being. There were legends of Human-Bears in the north. This one is terrifying—likely at the Spiritual Awakening realm.”

He Xiong’s face darkened—he recognized the creature.

Human-Bears, like Biao and Shanxiao, were ferocious beasts that had cultivated some degree of power, existing between beast and demon.

Though He Xiong was explaining, his eyes quickly scanned the ground around them.

He was searching for the sniper rifle.

Though the Human-Bear was terrifying, his sniper rifle was stronger. If he could retrieve it, and with his teammates providing distraction, he could definitely snipe this beast down.