Apocalypse Forecast

Chapter 645: Chapter 536 Minotaur_1

”BLEAARGH!!!”

It was a vomit that blacked out the sky and dimmed the earth.

Huai Shi had no idea how long he had been vomiting. Even after his stomach was empty, he couldn’t help but feel nausea and the urge to retch.

Logically speaking, with the constitution of a Sublimator, he should have been perfectly suited for any common man’s profession. He had thought that even if he were to sit in NASA’s astronaut training centrifuge, it wouldn’t be a problem, but now Huai Shi profoundly realized that even Sublimators had their limits... One should not arrogantly challenge professions and rules they don’t understand.

It was as if he had personally opened a bottle sealing a Demon, and now his heart was filled with deep regret. What the hell kind of wild driving was it that made him feel like his life was flashing before his eyes?!

If he had to make a comparison, it would be like being tied up, stuffed into a cannon, and then shot out.

Screaming and speeding forward, ready at every moment to embrace the world rushing toward him, to meet a shattering end.

Even though Huai Shi considered himself well accustomed to witnessing storms and waves, he couldn’t handle such a thrilling experience.

Not to mention, he wasn’t tied in an isolated and shielded compartment, but right on the passenger seat.

It was bearable while in the car, as he could barely restrain himself. But as soon as he got out of the vehicle and stood on the ground, he immediately felt dizzy and disoriented. The accumulated dizziness then erupted.

He vomited without any defense.

They really should have taken the opportunity to finish him off when he was at his weakest.

It wasn’t a cartoon for kids where you couldn’t hit someone during a Magical Girl’s transformation.

Around Huai Shi, those tens of shrieking Alien Species weren’t aware of any so-called chivalry; faced with such an available piece of flesh, they couldn’t wait to open their mouths wide, inhaling deeply the sweet scent of flesh and blood before lunging forward.

Then there was no ”then.”

By the time Huai Shi looked up, amidst the bustling flames, only a dozen or so grotesque corrupted carcasses lay on the ground.

On those still twitching tenaciously, thorns and leaves grew wildly and chaotically from their swollen, ruptured skins, drawing from the life force of the Abyss Species and flourishing.

”Sorry, I couldn’t hold it in.”

Huai Shi took out a pack of tissues from his pocket and blew his nose, finally feeling much refreshed.

Inhaling the air filled with acrid scents and the smell of dust, he apologized to the wriggling creatures at his feet, then lifted his foot and stamped down. CRACK!

The wailing stopped, and the world grew peaceful, mostly.

In the distance, aside from the roaring of the beasts, there was the thunder of explosions. Sharp noises of metal scraping were getting closer.

Through the flames, striding over the shattered earth, colossal figures emerged, their curved horns inlaid with metal reflecting a cruel gleam in the firelight.

The ground trembled once again.

The hefty Great Swords, which ordinary people could hardly wield, were casually dragged in their hands, sparking along the ground with shrill noises.

On their grotesquely angular, thick Armor, marks from sword strikes proliferated, yet their bull-like faces bore no expression.

Unlike the randomly summoned Alien Beasts, they were the true Abyss Horde, the Minotaur Warriors from White Mane Village, a corps renowned even within the Abyss.

The moment the truck raced into the fire scene, they had already noticed it. In a brief moment, they had surrounded them and blocked their way forward with a stern array.

They stood ready, dozens of steps away.

It wasn’t that they didn’t want to advance but they instinctively sensed an invisible boundary. Through eyes different from those of other Abyssal Creatures, they glimpsed the ’ominous’ aura emanating from Huai Shi.

It was a sight of terror that had almost solidified into reality.

At this moment, the invisible disasters rising from every part of Huai Shi’s face, limbs, and shell manifested in a greenish hue, spreading, diffusing, fluctuating, forming nothing less than a sea of toxicity.

With his breath, countless tiny crystals spontaneously grew, intertwined, and proliferated under Huai Shi’s feet, like crystals growing in a mine.

Once the restraints were lifted, those materialized toxins created a stunning spectacle around Huai Shi.

As long as he breathed, such vast disasters would ensue.

The power from Rotten Dream caused countless toxins within Huai Shi’s shell to mutate wildly, and with the irrigation of his Source Substance, created a perilous realm.

”You can’t make money from the employer by just standing there,” Huai Shi sighed softly.

”Won’t you come over?”

He took a step forward, weaving through the clusters of toxic crystals, waving his hand as the Sword of Virtue grew from his grasp, slicing through the flickering firelight with a sharp arc.

”Then I’ll come over—”

In his other hand, a burning Banner materialized, crashing down to the scorched earth, rustling in the scorching wind. Then, mist began to spread in all directions.

The Buried Sacred Place descended here.

The authority of Soloist operated in this dreamlike darkness, continuously eroding this piece of Hell, expanding its territory.

Gently bestowing fear, toxins, and nightmares upon all living beings.

”The war has begun, friends.”

Huai Shi raised his Sword Blade and pointed forward. ”Just as you wish.”

Accompanied by his words, a sharp sound of steel friction came from the truck behind him. On the body of the truck, the armor plate suddenly lifted, revealing the metallic shine hidden within the compartment.

As the cover slowly rose, sharp hisses burst from the giant lizards, and the neatly arranged Snake-man Undead Army raised their pupils in unison.

In the midst of roaring, the elders pulled on the reins, the massive lizards trampled the floor, followed by a cavalry formation rushing out like a torrent.

Behind them was a vast swarm of Abyss Ratmen.

These Ratmen, holding all sorts of odd weapons and screeching chaotically, showed not a hint of their usual slickness and cowardice—each charged faster than the last, as if drugged.

As long as the dark shadow behind them pointed forward, they seemed utterly oblivious to the heavy great swords in the Minotaur Samurai’s hands or their formidable size, standing twice as tall as the Ratmen themselves.

The Department of Justice makes the best enforcers. Once a contract is agreed upon, they can execute it forcefully. Wherever they are, the morale of these Ratmen is locked at full—whether it truly was full didn’t matter.

In any case, none would flee even if it meant being the last to die.

It must be said, such expendable tools, whose deaths would cause no grief, are dreadfully useful.

With a wave of Huai Shi’s hand, within the area covered by the Buried Sacred Place, the horde of Ratmen paused in action, and their fur rapidly hardened. Sharp, toxic crystals with edges and corners began to grow all over their bodies.

A large amount of toxin merged into their blood, quickly stimulating hormone secretion. The toxin itself, which could be used as stimulants and illicit drugs, spread through their blood and spinal cords. This caused their muscles to swell instantly as they entered a thoroughly berserk state.

”For the smelly hag!!!” Those creatures gasped violently, their faces contorted into stupefied smiles as they excitedly shouted nonsensical things. Their eyes were bloodshot, and they drooled while lunging at the Minotaurs. Then, naturally, those who charged first and fastest were cleaved in two by the sweeping great swords.

Splashes of fluid flew, and the manner of death was too gruesome to bear.

The collapse was instantaneous.

However, the Minotaur Warriors did not show any sign of pride or joy, instead becoming even more solemn. Killing these creatures required no effort at all, but what about after that? These weren’t mere Ratmen; they were clearly suicide bombers charging forth, filled with poison! It wasn’t a question of whether they could be beaten, but how messy and disgusting the aftermath would be.

But now that the battle had begun, hesitation and cowardice meant certain death.

Minotaurs naturally possess extraordinary physique and resistance. Although the toxins were dreadful, they would not die immediately. As long as they could resolve the situation quickly, they could buy time to inject Antidote and find a cure.

Without any hesitation, the Minotaur Warriors roared and quickly switched formations. A few Minotaurs wielding large shields moved to the forefront, forming a wedge formation. They ignored the offensive of the Ratmen and the Undead Army, heading straight towards Huai Shi.

Faster than them were the dark shadows swooping down from the sky.

The Gargoyles that had been hovering for some time finally made their move.

With giant bat wings folded, they swooped down, hurling their javelins with the force of the dive.

In the thunderous noise of Space Break, the javelins instantly penetrated the heavy shields and lodged deep into the lungs of the Minotaur Warriors. A simple dive completely crushed the Minotaurs’ counterattack.

Straight after, the disbanded formation of the Minotaurs was swallowed up by the Undead Army’s cavalry.

Despite the undeniable difference in size, the mobile Undead Army would not tangle head-on with them. Only after two distant volleys did they draw their Curved Knives and charge.

In just half a minute, a team of forty heavily armored Minotaur infantry was utterly defeated.

In the chaos, the team leader, far from giving up hope, picked up a large shield from a fallen comrade, stood firm against the Undead Army’s charge, and dashed madly towards Huai Shi.

The fearsome mass of over four hundred kilograms trampled the earth. THUD. THUD. THUD.

The burly Minotaur took cover behind the large shield, rushing at Huai Shi with reckless abandon.

As the iron bulwark advanced, the shield scraped against the ground, creating sparks.

In the oncoming hurricane, Huai Shi lifted his hand and thrust forward with his sword in a moment too close to call.

The Sword of Virtue pierced through steel and, despite the heavy shield, like a hot knife through butter, ran through the Minotaur’s reddening face and emerged from the back of the skull. Then, the charging Minotaur passed by Huai Shi. The heavy shield brushed Huai Shi’s robes and hurtled forward.

Only after running dozens of meters did it slowly come to a stop.

Kneeling on the ground, it did not get up again.

”Everyone, don’t waste time outside, look for signs of the Exploration Team. I will deal with that thing in the sky—”

Huai Shi flicked his sword, flinging the blood from the blade, and gave the command with his head held high.

The sharp sound of a flute burst forth.

The roars of Alien Species resounded once more.

The agitated beast horde sensed the situation here. Hidden among them, hunchbacked pipers blew several sharp notes. The monsters, lured by the flute’s call, let out restless shrieks.

In the blaze, the rampaging beast horde abruptly turned around. More Abyss Heterogeneous, attracted by the firelight, were also immersed in the lure of the flute’s call, recklessly hurling themselves towards this location.

Amid noisy sounds, Huai Shi paused in action. He suddenly looked up, towards the sky.

Sharp steel lights fell from above.

Surprise attack!