Chapter 6: The Demon Flower's Devour and the Hidden Passage

"Action!"

At Chen Mo's command, Su Yu and Han Qing surged out of the cover like arrows shot from a bow. The soda cans and broken glass exploded with a harsh noise on the open ground in front of the police station, instantly drawing the attention of all the corrupted vine creatures.

Just as Su Yu subconsciously released that indescribable ripple, a sudden anomaly erupted!

The LV. 5 corrupted demon flower's massive blossom suddenly swiveled toward Su Yu, and the violet energy in its stamen converged at an unprecedented speed, emitting a shrill wail that seemed ready to tear eardrums. Its thick purple‑black vines thrashed the ground, carving deep furrows, and its huge body, moving at a speed incongruous with its size, lunged toward Su Yu!

Its desire for Su Yu far exceeded Chen Mo's estimate!

"Retreat! Quickly retreat toward the commercial building!" Han Qing's face changed dramatically, grabbing the still‑dazed Su Yu and turning to run.

Seven or eight corrupted vine creatures followed close behind, like rolling rotting flesh tides, their dripping slime corroding the ground into hissing white vapor. The entire monster horde was successfully lured away, leaving the police station entrance empty!

"Now! Charge in!" Chen Mo growled low, yet moved like a specter, using the faint boost from 【Shadow Affinity】 to cling to the shadows of the street‑side buildings, circling to the side‑rear of the monster horde. His target was the corrupted demon flower that, due to extreme "excitement," had drifted slightly away from the group's protective core!

Zhang Yang, Li Siwen, Wang Hu, and Zhao Lei's hearts pounded as they clenched their teeth, crouching low and sprinting across the intersection at the fastest speed of their lives, stepping onto the corpse‑strewn, slime‑slicked ground and racing toward the police station's gaping doorway. Liu Qian followed closely, gripping a whetstone and a small first‑aid kit.

Meanwhile, Chen Mo had already closed in on the side‑rear of the corrupted demon flower. He could distinctly smell the nauseating sweet‑fishy odor and see the ominous patterns writhing on the vines.

Now!

A cold glint flashed in Chen Mo's eyes, his legs suddenly surged, and he sprang from the shadows! He raised his fire‑axe high as 【Corrupt Venom Saliva】 and 【Bone Armor Technique】 activated simultaneously!

The axe blade instantly shrouded in a grim green glow, while a gray‑white bone layer flashed over his right arm and chest in front of the axe.

"Die!"

He exerted all his strength, the fire‑axe whistling as it tore through the air, slashing fiercely at the relatively slender "flower stalk" that linked to the massive blossom of the corrupted demon flower!

"Puff—!"

The enchanted axe blade successfully breached the purple‑black vines' defense, embedding deeply! Green poison and corrosive energy poured in wildly!

"Screech—!!!"

The corrupted demon flower emitted a scream of extreme pain and fury, its massive blossom flailing wildly, the violet energy gathered in the stamen losing control from the agony and explosively releasing a circular violet shockwave outward!

Chen Mo's pupils contracted; he had no time to dodge, so he crossed his arms to shield himself and braced against the blow!

"Bang!"

A massive force slammed into his bone armor and body; he felt as if a truck had rammed him head‑on, sending him flying uncontrollably, crashing heavily against the side door of an abandoned car, producing a dull, thunderous clang.

【HP: 73/100】

Just being hit by the aftershock knocked out more than a quarter of his health! Chen Mo felt a sweet taste in his throat, forcing himself not to spit blood.

The corrupted demon flower also suffered; its flower stalk was split open with a massive wound, green sap mingling with violet energy continuously oozing, its movements visibly becoming slower yet more ferocious.

"Mo Ge!" Zhang Yang and the others, who had already surged to the police station entrance, turned and saw the scene, their hearts lodged in their throats.

"Don't worry about me! Get in quickly!" Chen Mo hoisted his fire‑axe and stood, shouting loudly. He stared intently at the wounded demon flower, knowing a swift finish was essential; otherwise, once it recovered or the preceding vine creatures returned, it would be over!

The corrupted demon flower seemed to focus on the human who wounded it; its massive blossom turned toward Chen Mo, and the stamen began gathering violet energy again. Though the speed had slowed considerably, the destructive aura still sent a chill down the spine.

We can't let it unleash that shockwave again!

Gritting his teeth, Chen Mo surged forward again! He used 【Keen Smell】 to dodge the dripping corrosive slime on the ground, his body moving like a swimming fish as he circled the massive form of the corrupted demon flower, seeking an opening.

The demon flower swung its thick vines wildly, each strike heavy and forceful, shattering the ground and scattering fragments of stone.

Chen Mo narrowly avoided another sweeping strike, seized the moment the vine retracted, and surged forward again! The fire‑axe, trailing afterimages, slashed once more at the wound previously inflicted!

"Crunch!"

This time, it almost severed more than half of the entire flower stalk!

The corrupted demon flower emitted a dying wail, and the gathered energy instantly dissipated. Its massive blossom drooped helplessly, and the thrashing vines softened.

Would Chen Mo let this chance slip? His gaze icy, he stepped forward, raising the fire‑axe high, mustering his last strength, and struck down hard at the nearly severed wound!

"Sizzle!"

A sound like thick fabric tearing rang out as the massive blossom, along with part of the stalk, was completely cleaved! It crashed to the ground with a thud, convulsed a few times, then lay still. The purple‑black vines quickly lost vitality, turning withered.

【Successfully defeated LV. 5 corrupted demon flower (Elite), gaining 300 EXP!】

【Level up to 4!】

【Death Echo triggered! Successfully replicated skill: Life Drain (LV. 1)!】

【Life Drain (LV. 1): Active skill. Channels energy to siphon HP from target units (including corpses) to restore self. Effect halved on living units, ineffective on undead or constructs. Cooldown 2 minutes.】

A torrent of heat far more overwhelming than any before surged through his body, dispelling the pain and instantly restoring the HP he had just lost! Simultaneously, a skill imprint brimming with ominous aura formed in his consciousness.

The elite monster's granted skill truly is powerful! It's a rare recovery skill!

Chen Mo didn't have time to examine it, as from afar the characteristic squelching movement sounds and angry roars of the corrupted vine creatures arrived, clearly sensing the elite's death and rushing back in a frenzy!

"Chen Mo! Get in quickly!" At the police station entrance, Su Yu and Han Qing, having also managed to shake off the pursuit, turned back, waving anxiously at him. Their faces were pale, dust covering them, clearly indicating that their maneuvering inside the commercial building hadn't been easy.

Chen Mo no longer hesitated, sprinted a few steps to the police station entrance, joined the others, and rushed inside.

"Close the door! Block it quickly!" Li Siwen and Wang Hu together pushed a heavy blast‑proof iron door up, securing the latch. Zhang Yang and Han Qing swiftly moved tables, chairs, and filing cabinets to brace the doorway.

Outside, the frenzied crashing and roaring of the corrupted vine creatures kept echoing, the massive iron door groaning in a teeth‑aching way, but it held for now.

Everyone leaned against walls or obstacles, breathing heavily, their faces a mix of post‑disaster relief, battle fatigue, and awe at Chen Mo's near‑monster strength.

Inside the police station lay chaos: documents scattered everywhere, walls marked with obvious bullet holes and corrosion stains, and a few police and monster corpses lying in the corner.

"Search! Move quickly! Focus on the armory, the duty room, the archive room!" Chen Mo suppressed the turmoil in his heart and immediately ordered. He didn't know how long the vine creatures would keep battering the door outside, so they had to act fast.

The others immediately dispersed.

Soon, from Zhang Yang's side came a disappointed voice: "The armory is empty! Looks like those who evacuated or the previous survivors took everything!"

Li Siwen and Wang Hu also emerged from the duty room, finding only some scattered batons and a few shabby anti‑stab vests.

Hope seemed to be fading.

At that moment, Su Yu, who had been silently observing from the corner, suddenly whispered, "Chen Mo, come see here."

Chen Mo walked over and saw Su Yu standing at the doorway of a room labeled "Archive Room." Inside it was also turned upside down, but Su Yu pointed to a metal filing cabinet overturned in the corner.

Behind the filing cabinet, a narrow, downward‑facing dark opening just large enough for one person to pass was revealed! A cold draft scented with mildew and dust drifted slowly from the hole.

The edge of the opening bore clear signs of manual excavation and reinforcement, impossible to have been made by a monster.

"Is this... a secret passage?" Han Qing stepped over, astonished.

Chen Mo crouched down, 【Keen Sense of Smell】 allowed him to catch a faint trace of human scent in the wind, and... a weak energy fluctuation.

He recalled the purple light pillar Han Qing had mentioned, as well as the abnormal reaction of the corrupting demon flower to Su Yu.

This police station seemed to hide more secrets than they had imagined.

Chen Mo stood up, his gaze sweeping over the curious and apprehensive faces of everyone, finally settling on the deep, dark cave entrance.

"Get ready," he said in a low voice, "We're going down."