Tap. Tap.
Wei Tian: Lim He, so far, we haven't seen any monsters that can fly. Let's rest here for a while and recover some stamina. If we go down there now, we're basically just delivering ourselves to our deaths.
Lim He: Agreed. Xuan Lan, you can come down now.
...
Lim He: Did she fall asleep?
Wei Tian: She passed out. The ground's flat here, so put her down first.
Lim He: Got it.
Lim He carefully laid Xuan Lan down on the floor.
Wei Tian: Alright, Lim He. From now on, we'll take turns meditating. We'll switch every two hours. At night, we'll take turns standing guard. Four hours for you, four hours for me. How does that sound?
Lim He: How about you sleep for two hours and I sleep for six?
Wei Tian: Keep bargaining, and you won't get to sleep at all.
Lim He immediately raised both hands as if surrendering.
Lim He: You're the one who asked for my opinion, aren't you?
Wei Tian: (I really can't argue with that...)
---
Somewhere in the Forest...
A massive monster lumbered through the forest.
Its body was enormous, its head was covered in pus-filled growths, and its mouth was large enough to swallow a person whole.
Flame: (That monster... It has to be at least pseudo-S-rank, right? My current strength can barely go toe-to-toe with an A-rank monster. All I can do is wait for it to leave.)
Flame hid behind a tree and carefully watched the monster.
After a while, he cautiously poked his head out.
Flame: Looks like it's safe now.
BANG!
Flame: !
Flame whipped around.
The massive Rift Monster was already standing behind him.
Flame: When did you get behind me!?
The giant Rift Monster raised its arm and swung it toward Flame.
Tap.
Flame leaped backward, narrowly avoiding the attack.
Flame: Wasn't the first wave supposed to have nothing stronger than C-rank!?
Flame: Flames!
Flames erupted from both of Flame's fists.
Whoosh!
Flame thrust his palm forward, sending a blazing fireball hurtling toward the giant Rift Monster.
Immediately afterward, he turned his back to the monster, dropped to one knee, and placed both hands against the ground.
Flame: Let me tell you something. The moment you decided to make me your prey...
Flame lowered his body.
Flame: ...was the moment you made a huge mistake!
He glanced back at the monster.
Flame: I may not be able to beat you...
A burst of energy surged through his legs.
Flame: BUT!
WHOOSH!
Flame suddenly shot forward.
Flame: I can sure as hell outrun you! HAHAHAHA!
Giant Rift Monster: ?
The monster stared blankly at Flame.
It clearly had absolutely no idea what he was talking about.
The giant Rift Monster chased after him, but it was far too slow.
Within moments, Flame had completely lost it.
---
Meanwhile, on a Highway...
Slash!
Yu Tian thrust his spear into a Rift Monster before following up with a powerful gust of wind that slammed directly into its head.
The monster collapsed.
But there were still countless Rift Monsters surrounding Yu Tian.
Yu Ran: What's going on with these monsters? Why are there suddenly so many of them?
Yu Ran stared at the countless monsters lying dead on the road.
Yu Tian: This is what I meant when I said the apocalypse.
Yu Tian looked around at the devastation.
Yu Tian: And it's not just here.
Yu Tian: It's happening all over the world.
Yu Ran: !
Suddenly, Yu Ran seemed to realize something.
Yu Ran: We have to hurry! We need to go help the villagers!
Yu Ran immediately turned and started running toward the village.
Grab!
Yu Tian caught her by the wrist, stopping her from taking another step.
Yu Ran: What are you doing!? We have to hurry!
Yu Tian: No.
Yu Tian cut her off.
Yu Ran: You... How can you be so selfish!? This is exactly when we should be working together and—
Yu Tian: I can't protect that many people!
Yu Tian interrupted her again, his voice growing heavier.
Yu Tian: And even if we went there, forget about increasing their chances of survival. We'd be lucky if we didn't just become a burden ourselves!
Yu Tian tightened his grip.
Yu Tian: I've already given them plenty of chances.
Yu Ran: But they didn't know this would actually happen! Now they know! So please, let's go help them!
Yu Tian: Help them?
Yu Tian's expression darkened.
Yu Tian: From the moment the first monster appeared, it was already too late.
He stared directly at Yu Ran.
Yu Tian: Help them with what? Help bury them?
Yu Ran: What are you talking about!?
Yu Tian: It's simple.
Yu Tian's voice became cold.
Yu Tian: They're already dead.
Yu Ran froze.
Yu Tian: You saw how strong these monsters are just now, didn't you?
Yu Tian: If even one of them finds that village, tell me...
Yu Tian stared at her.
Yu Tian: Is there a single person in that village who could survive ten seconds against them?
Yu Ran: I... I...
Yu Ran's legs gave out beneath her.
She collapsed onto the ground.
Yu Ran: Why...? Why won't you save them...?
Tears began streaming down her face.
Yu Tian clenched his fists.
Yu Tian: I've made myself perfectly clear! How can you still not understand!?
His voice was filled with anger.
Yu Tian: Don't tell me you've already forgotten how Mom and Dad died.