Chapter 16: Annihilation World – First Layer!

The six members of the Chase Wind Squad sprinted away, deliberately taking narrow alleys and sometimes even running straight through abandoned buildings, quickly leaving the massive herd of Beast Soldier‑rank monsters they were chasing far behind.

"Upstairs!"

When passing a ten‑story residential building, Lei Hong shouted loudly! "Swoosh swoosh swoosh!"

One person quickly turned and slipped into the building.

He swiftly cleared the roaming monsters inside, then slammed shut the fire Route leading to the rooftop; only then did everyone collapse onto the ground, panting heavily.

"Damn it, every time I snatch food from the beasts' mouths it costs me half a life!"

Zhou Yang's father Zhou Yong shouted boisterously.

"Don't show off. I ask you, next time this happens, will you go up or not?"

His close buddy Lao Liu snapped at him.

Zhou Yong forced an awkward smile, then said without hesitation: "Going up, why wouldn't I? I still need to save up more bride points for my son Yangyang!"

"Come off it, you think Yangyang can even get a wife?"

The group laughed for a while, but squad leader Lei Hong gathered everyone together.

"Everyone did well just now, especially Zhou Yang. From now on we'll adjust duties: next time we face a General‑rank monster, Old Zhou and Zhou Yang, you two provide support; Lao Liu and Chen Chong, you guard Zhu Xia."

"Yes, Captain!"

None of them objected.

Previously, Lei Hong's second‑in‑command had always been the two most senior and strongest members, Zhou Yong and Liu Qiang.

However, since Zhou Yang joined the squad a few days ago, despite limited engagements, he has shown remarkable strength.

He has quietly become the strongest after Lei Hong.

Moreover, he's so young and his power is rapidly advancing; Lei Hong's arrangement also indicates he intends to cultivate him as the team's core.

Seeing no objections, Lei Hong nodded lightly and ordered:

"Rest for an hour; after recovering stamina, we move on!"

"Understood!"

For the next month, the Chase Wind Squad temporarily set up base in County Town No. 02011.

During the day they hunted, and at night they used a building rooftop as a resting outpost.

In subsequent battles, Lei Hong deliberately trained Zhou Yang to serve as the squad's secondary attacker.

When they encounter a lone Primary General‑rank monster, Lei Hong and others would create openings for Zhou Yang to duel the monster alone, honing his combat skills.

Zhou Yang's performance lived up to expectations.

During this month, his strength surged dramatically! The footwork, stance, and transformation methods described in the First Layer of "Annihilation World" now flow more smoothly, giving a sense of the "man‑and‑spear as one" described in ancient texts; when he exerts force, another faint power subtly surges within his body!

Zhou Yang understood that when this power truly erupts, it means he has truly mastered the essentials of the First Layer of "Annihilation World"! More importantly, with daily practice of the Gene‑circulating primal energy cultivation method and the continual nourishment of Meteor Tear, his bodily qualities improve rapidly.

Although he cannot yet measure exact numbers, after comparing with Lei Hong, Zhou Yong and others, he is certain his physical condition has already reached Primary General‑rank level!

When Lei Hong and the others learned this, they were thoroughly shocked.

Consider that Zhou Yang is only 18; an 18‑year‑old at Primary General‑rank is a huge concept! Legend has it that in the Kyoto Base City there is a 21‑year‑old intermediate General‑rank prodigy; in their eyes, Zhou Yang reaching Primary General‑rank at 18 is even more extraordinary! "Captain, we've spotted a twin‑tailed tiger cat!"

On the rooftop, Chen Chong, holding a telescope to scout prey, shouted excitedly.

"Let me see." Upon hearing this, Lei Hong and the others lifted their telescopes toward the distance; about three kilometers away on the street, indeed a massive tiger cat with twin tails, its whole body jet‑black with mottled patterns, was calmly roaming.

"A Primary General‑rank tiger cat? Guys, this is our chance!"

Lei Hong called out, and the group eagerly sprang into action.

During this month, they've been hunting General‑rank monsters everywhere, and now solitary General‑rank beasts are rarely seen in this desolate county.

The remaining ones mostly come with large packs, which they usually avoid provoking.

They haven't slain a General‑rank monster in several days.

"Feline monsters tend to roam alone; this Primary General‑rank tiger cat has no large herd nearby, so let's let Zhou Yang warm up first. No objections?"

On the road, Lei Hong asked the group.

"No objections!"

"Haha, of course, waiting for his little brother to carry us to victory!"

Several people laughed and agreed.

Staying in one spot for too long in this peril‑filled wilderness is extremely dangerous; any sign of combat can draw a massive monster swarm.

Zhou Yang knows everyone works hard to create an environment for him to hone his footwork and spear technique, each minute bearing great risk, and he feels moved.

"Lei Shu, everyone, thank you!"

He solemnly expressed his gratitude to everyone.

"No need for formalities, we're all brothers!"

"Exactly, kid, we're the ones who watched you grow up."

The squad members chuckled merrily.

Zhou Yang said no more, simply keeping the camaraderie in his heart.

Ten minutes later, the Chase Wind Squad approached the location of the twin‑tailed tiger cat.

Lei Hong led a few members to spread out, securing the routes to the surrounding exits, while Zhou Yang, gripping his Long Spear, swiftly engaged the Primary General‑rank tiger cat.

He knows such solo battles against a Primary General‑rank monster are rare, so he treats it with extra seriousness.

The twin‑tailed tiger cat's strength is average among Primary General‑rank monsters, but its speed far exceeds typical ones.

While constantly dueling the twin‑tailed tiger cat, he silently recalled the power‑generation points described in the First Layer of "Annihilation World", then continuously refined them to suit his own traits.

"The spear moves like a snake, limbs swift; upon seeing flesh, split the spear, press the shaft deep, the circle becomes the primal spirit, forms divide into use, rapid successive strikes blend hardness and softness, attack and defense applied together!"

Meteor Tear in his chest continuously released a cool, refreshing energy that flowed into his mind, making his thoughts especially lively and his five senses extremely clear.

During the fight, his movement grew smoother, his Long Spear attacks became ever more fierce, and his steps, body, and spear gradually attained a sense of oneness.

At a certain moment, they seemed blessed with inspiration, swiftly lunged forward in a bow step, after the Long Spear thrust out, a sudden force within their body erupted again, propelling the Long Spear to accelerate sharply! "Puff!"

The spear tip, glittering with specks of starlight, directly pierced the double-tailed tiger cat's neck.

At this moment, Zhou Yang, holding the Long Spear, suddenly had his eyes brighten! "World End, First Layer, achieved!"

(End of Chapter)