The stench assaults the nostrils, mixed with a strong odor of rotting flesh, even diluted by the rain.

Thud.

Thud!

The tentacles slam hard against the building's surface, the sound like a drum beating, shaking dust from the walls.

As an Inspector.

From the first day of training, Cheng Ye has been intensely curious about Fusion Bodies.

Because these creatures have completely transcended the limitations of carbon-based life forms, like alien creations.

However, he never imagined that his first encounter with a Fusion Body would be a matter of life and death.

"Hide well! Don't expose your back!"

Gripping the Thunder 1, Cheng Ye commands deeply, and the four of them hold their breath in the stairwell.

If it were a Rotting Vine Fusion Body, he'd definitely be fleeing by now.

But in the drone footage, hundreds of similar tentacle monsters are climbing the high wall, their numbers causing a dilution in individual combat power.

This is an iron law of the infection source, something even a Stand-In Starfish cannot escape.

"It's coming!"

Before the words even settle, a distorted humanoid figure suddenly appears at the entrance of the complex.

Without hesitation, Cheng Ye pulls the trigger, pressing his finger down firmly.

Bang...

Bang bang bang...

The Thunder 1 earns its name for a reason, as its shooting sound cracks like thunder.

Deer Bullets spray from the barrel like a celestial maiden scattering flowers.

Even when fired by a single person, the 32-round capacity can form a fan-shaped net of firepower, and with continuous trigger pulls, a rain of lead covers the entire entrance!

The humanoid figure that just emerged is shredded to pieces by the furious firepower in the blink of an eye.

But...

"Not a Fusion Body?"

Cheng Ye pauses, suddenly realizing, instinctively dodging to the side with his Iron Body gear.

Sure enough, an enormous bang erupts right behind them, as a thick tentacle forcefully smashes through the external wall, landing precisely where he had stood!

"Damn!"

Cheng Ye's pupils contract sharply.

The outer wall of the electronics factory's complex isn't constructed from concrete blocks plus mortar like more recent structures; it's older, standard red bricks.

Serving as a vertical load-bearing wall, it's at least 240mm thick—yet it could be smashed through?

"Run!"

Without needing Cheng Ye to remind them, Huang Sheng and the others are already scrambling up the stairs.

Cheng Ye hesitates for only a moment, then rolls to dodge the tentacle, diving directly from the stairway toward the courtyard.

This is the fundamental difference between ordinary people and warriors.

Ordinary people instinctively flee to a "psychological safe zone" upon encountering danger; to Huang Sheng and the others, their fifth-floor home is a refuge amidst the crisis.

But a warrior's retreat, according to Brother B, must adhere to one iron rule:

Create conditions for subsequent combat!

If entering the building only traps you in confined spaces, unable to withstand the attacks of the Fusion Body, it might be better to reverse tactics, actively drawing the enemy away, and removing yourself from a passive situation.

As long as he has enough space to shoot, this Thunder 1 might still tear through the Fusion Body's defenses!

Descending the stairs, Cheng Ye glances behind him, seeing the Fusion Body's tentacle retracting, choosing not to continue striking the external walls, instead tearing apart the complex's facade.

Evidently, this attack isn't a common one; it likely requires charging to unleash.

Good news!

"Bastard, come and chase me!"

He roars, holstering the Thunder 1 with its remaining dozen or so bullets behind him, holding the Wild Bull Fighting Handgun and the Defense Handgun in each hand, firing shot by shot.

Due to the recent delay, the Infected Bodies from the other buildings have already reached the stairways.

Targets that were easier to handle earlier become thorny issues with a Fusion Body pursuing from behind.

Yet Cheng Ye remains unflustered, his Iron Body amplifying his physical control to the peak, allowing his shooting skills to nearly match Liu Bi, an extraordinary sharpshooter, at close range.

Coupled with the advancing effects of Moving Shooting, precision remains unaffected even while rolling and leaping.

When the Fusion Body climbs over the complex, appearing in full view, Cheng Ye abruptly halts, a grin spreading across his lips:

"You idiot, don't know what kite-flying is, do you?"

Ignoring whether the Fusion Body understands his words, he curses freely, striding back toward the stairwell.

The tactic works!

The Fusion Body no longer takes a detour, sweeping away the obstructing ordinary Infected Bodies with its tentacle, pursuing directly.

"Is it fixated on me?"

Cheng Ye's heart tightens, noticing that despite the enticing prey at the entrance, the Fusion Body disregards them, obsessively chasing him instead.

Perhaps I'm more tempting to it than those people?

"Come on, you little glutton, taste my flavor then."

The rotten stench nearly suffocates him, but Cheng Ye holds his breath, dumping the remaining rounds from the Thunder 1 in a single sweep.

Bang, bang bang!

Never before has pulling the trigger felt so exhilarating.

The bullets blast visible holes in the Fusion Body, some piercing through entirely, causing it to emit a sharp, pain-filled shriek.

It's got something like a mother's essence, but that's all it is!

Cheng Ye only sways slightly, promptly switching to the Ranger Rifle, continuing to fire.

Yet to his immense surprise, the creature...

Ran away?

Snatching up two ordinary Infected Bodies from the entrance, the Fusion Body vanishes into the rain at an astonishing speed.

Cheng Ye pauses, concluding it isn't attempting to lure him into pursuing, and grits his teeth, following after.

At this moment, every household in the complex is shrouded in darkness.

By the dim streetlight, he catches sight of a horrifying scene:

The Fusion Body is devouring the Infected Bodies!

The massive Starfish structure on its head suddenly expands, swallowing an entire human body whole.

In a flash, the deep holes and craters created by Thunder 1 visibly regenerate.

"This?"

Instinctively, Cheng Ye reaches for the high-explosive grenade hanging at his waist, hot sweat pooling in his palm beneath the rubber glove, as if rain had seeped in.

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