Chapter 3: The Corpse-Eating Ghoul
????A razor-edged tail spike punched through the sheriff’s heart, extinguishing his life in a heartbeat.
??His final scream crackled over the radio, unleashing a torrent of frantic voices:
??“Liu Feng! Liu Feng, respond!”
??“What happened?!”
??“He’s run into an Anomaly!”
??“Second and Third Squads en route to Baida Plaza, Seventh Street!”
??“…”
??With a look of distaste, Xu Yan brought her heel down on the radio, grinding it to splinters. “So damn noisy.”
??She turned back to the corpse at her feet—a young woman, blood pooling beneath her—and sighed, almost ruefully. “Such a fine specin… What a sha. But the mood’s ruined, and you’re hardly appetizing now.”
??She shrugged, voice light. “Oh well—ti to hunt for sothing fresh.”
??Trailing bloody footprints, she strode out from the shadowed alley.
??The mont she stepped into the open, the surrounding sheriffs converged, guns raised and trained on the blood-drenched woman erging into the light.
??“Shit!”
??“She’s an Anomaly!”
??“Liu Feng is dead!”
??“Open fire!”
??Gunfire erupted, the sharp reports echoing off stone as panicked civilians scattered in every direction. Chaos swept across Baida Plaza.
??Yet, as bullets tore through the air, Xu Yan rely stretched languidly, a lazy yawn escaping her lips as she advanced. The scorpion-like Kagune^1 unfurled behind her, its armored tail forming an impenetrable barrier—bullets ricocheted harmlessly off its gleaming surface. The few that struck her flesh left wounds that closed almost instantly, skin knitting together before their eyes.
??The sight drained all color from the sheriffs’ faces.
??“What the hell is that? Is that… a tail?”
??“Backup! We need backup!”
??“Squad Two, get over here!”
??“This woman’s a monster!”
??“Aaaah—!”
??The Kagune’s tail morphed into a razor-sharp spike, impaling a sheriff and hoisting him aloft—his body twitching, used as a living shield.
??“Old Chen!”
??“Damn you! I’ll take you down with !”
??“Where’s the sniper?!”
??“Bring in the heavy weapons!”
??“We can’t! The civilians haven’t been evacuated! We—”
??“Aaaah—!”
??Screams rose and fell, one after another. Several sheriffs sprawled in widening pools of blood, their fates uncertain.
??“We’re here!”
??Second Squad stord onto the scene, rifles raised as they unleashed a fresh volley at Xu Yan.
??“Liu Qian! Has the Investigation Bureau arrived yet?” barked a middle-aged man at the front of the squad.
??“They’re still mobilizing—it’ll be a while longer!” Liu Qian replied, her voice taut.
??“Tell them to hurry!” The man bit down on his cigarette, nerves fraying. “This thing’s way beyond us!”
??“I already did, but they won’t make it in ti. We have to hold out!” Liu Qian’s grip tightened on her radio, hands trembling as she stared at the blood-soaked woman in the distance.
??Even with over twenty sheriffs, rifles and grenades at the ready, nothing they did could slow that monster.
??It was a massacre—utterly one-sided.
??Her tail spike punched through riot shields and bulletproof vests as if they were made of paper. Before her, humans were as fragile as ants.
??Liu Qian bit her lip, terror twisting her gut. She’d transferred to Ninghang City’s sheriff’s office only a month ago—who could’ve imagined facing sothing this horrific so soon?
??Damn this cursed world!
??“Well, well… What do we have here?”
??Suddenly, Xu Yan’s gaze fixed on Liu Qian at the rear. A spark of delight danced in her eyes.
??“Such perfect prey… Just looking at you makes
ravenous.”
??“Tonight’s dinner… will be you.”
??No sooner had she spoken than another scorpion-tail Kagune burst from her back, shredding a sheriff to bloody ribbons. In a blink, she lunged for Liu Qian!
??“She’s coming! She’s after Liu Qian!”
??“Shit! Stop her!”
??“We can’t—she’s too fast!”
??“Take aim! Hurry!”
??“Aaaah—!”
??“We’re no match for her!”
??“Run for it!”
??“No, the civilians aren’t out yet! We can’t leave!”
??“Sobody, help us!”
??Panic swept the sheriffs; they fired blindly as they retreated. Liu Qian, the focus of Xu Yan’s hungry gaze, was drenched in cold sweat, her body trembling uncontrollably.
??“Ah~ Got you.”
??Xu Yan burst through the crowd, stopping right before Liu Qian.
??A chilling grin twisted her lips, saliva glistening on blood-red flesh. Hunger blazed in her eyes as she looked Liu Qian up and down.
??Liu Qian froze, paralyzed by terror.
??“I’ll take you ho~” Xu Yan crooned, reaching for Liu Qian’s chin. Her voice dropped to a whisper. “And then, we’ll spend a beautiful night together…”
??She flicked out a crimson tongue, droplets of sweet, sickly-scented saliva glimring at its tip.
??No… no…
??Liu Qian’s body locked up, seized by fear. She tried to scream, but her throat was so tight that not a sound escaped. She knew—no one could save her from this monster.
??She was dood.
??But just as Xu Yan leaned in, a blinding golden light crashed down from the sky, slamming into her with thunderous force.
??“Ah!”
??Xu Yan shrieked, reeling as she released Liu Qian and staggered back.
??“What the hell?”
??“What just happened?”
??The sudden turn left the surviving sheriffs gaping, unable to comprehend what they’d witnessed.
??Liu Qian, too, looked around in shock. All she’d seen was a flash of golden light—and suddenly, the monster’s grip was gone.
??Then ca the clear clang of tal behind them, followed by a cold, crystalline voice: “Step back. She’s mine.”
??The sheriffs turned, eyes widening as a golden-haired woman in white and gold armor strode toward them, calm and unhurried.
??“Who are you?” soone managed to ask.
??The woman—Serene—did not answer. Her steps were asured and steady as she advanced on Xu Yan. She mid drawing a sword, but her hand closed on empty air, as if wielding a blade invisible to the world.
??“God, that stings…” Xu Yan hissed, shaking off the lingering burn of holy light. Her gaze snapped to Serene—and the mont she took in the armored woman’s presence, her excitent surged anew.
??“Ahh~ You’re the perfect al! I’ll strip off your armor and eat you, bite by bite!”
??She barely finished before Serene’s deliberate stride beca a blinding charge.
??Despite the heavy armor, her speed erupted—she crossed the distance in a heartbeat. Before anyone could react, her unseen blade slashed down, severing Xu Yan’s arm in a single, decisive stroke!
??“You—!”
??Xu Yan staggered back, eyes wide with panic as she stared at her severed right arm. The wound shimred with golden light, suppressing her monstrous regeneration.
??She couldn’t believe it—she’d actually been wounded?!
??What was that power?
??Xu Yan stared at Serene, confusion and dread battling in her gaze.
??The woman’s hands were empty—so how…?
??“Hmph. Interesting.”
??Xu Yan’s mocking smile vanished, replaced by a chill as deep as the grave. She fixed Serene with a wary glare. “You’re sothing else, aren’t you?”
??At her words, two scorpion-tail Kagune shot toward Serene like arrows.
??Serene didn’t flinch. She raised her hand, gripped her invisible sword, and surged forward.
??Clang! Clang! Clang!
??In a flash, the Sword of No Light t the twin Kagune with a blinding spray of sparks.
??The two won moved so fast that the sheriffs could only gape, unable to follow the battle.
??That golden-armored knight—she was holding the monster at bay with nothing but her own strength?
??Was she… actually winning?
??She… couldn’t be human, could she?
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