Chapter 26: Firelight in the Darkness
An Zi Heng clearly hadn’t thought that far ahead; those were worlds only Qin Hao could see.
“We’ll talk about that when the time comes. Anyway, earning a hundred Hero Points is already a profit.”
After all, a piece of meat was nothing to fuss over.
Qin Hao smiled faintly. Perhaps the other still did not realize how precious food would become, nor did he understand how terrifying the world would soon be. That innocence was understandable.
Qin Hao said no more. These were things An Zi Heng would have to experience for himself. Now was not the time for such discussions.
Nine o’clock at night—once, this was when nightlife began, with the internet thriving and people everywhere watching computers, playing on their phones, lying in bed with games. For the first time, countless human survivors felt the world so dark, yet the starlit sky suddenly dazzling.
Moonlight served as illumination. In the darkness, enormous shapes seemed to crawl ceaselessly, filling people with dread.
Monsters gathered; in the near-silent environment, their heavy breathing and hurried steps could be heard.
Qin Hao’s senses were keen—his nose carefully distinguished the scents around him.
One, two...
Ten, a hundred...
These monsters, unable to endure any longer, began their assault.
Crash!
The sharp sound of breaking glass rang out, followed by a human’s piercing scream.
“Ah!”
Cries of agony echoed, but within seconds, silence descended.
Yet if one listened closely, the sound of voracious chewing emerged.
An Zi Heng’s expression grew tense.
“Old Wine, Mo Mo, Si Si, come out!”
Three large dogs rushed from the rooms. The two cats, strengthened as well, possessed combat abilities, and now crouched, eyes fixed on the window.
“March, April, you stay inside.”
Compared to the dogs, the cats were still too small. An Zi Heng dared not let them out.
But as he extended his mental tendrils, he found himself seeing through the cats’ eyes, witnessing the scene outside.
The entire courtyard was densely packed with monsters.
There were Fanged Infants and Serpent Demons.
His spine chilled.
“Qin Hao, there are monsters—so many—at least seventy or eighty,” An Zi Heng spoke, his tongue trembling.
How could they withstand such numbers?
“I know.”
Qin Hao replied calmly.
“What do we do?”
---
What do we do?
Qin Hao’s expression was relaxed. He reached into his spatial ring and retrieved the Star-Slaying Divine Weapon.
“Of course—kill them all!”
Qin Hao had known these monsters would come.
Because he and An Zi Heng had committed the most fatal mistake in the apocalypse.
A light source.
The entire world was plunged in darkness, yet they had lit an alcohol lamp to cook food.
It was suicidal.
Countless monsters would be drawn to them.
Fanged Demons and Serpent Demons lacked eyes. Their planet was perpetually dark, with frequent polar nights; their daytime strength diminished greatly, but at night, they became terrifying.
And if light appeared in the night, it seemed to provoke them.
It would have been strange if the monsters hadn’t arrived.
Qin Hao had replenished his stamina, his body unfatigued, ready for another battle.
Especially since his efforts during the day had yielded few kills.
He knew he possessed the advantage of soul rebirth, but his time was too limited; he could not afford rest or sleep.
He needed to fight at every moment, only then could he hope to reach his goal before humanity was wiped out.
To become a god.
With this resolve, Qin Hao opened the window and leapt down.
“Qin Hao, what are you doing?” An Zi Heng exclaimed, rushing to stop him.
Yet at that moment, a new task appeared in An Zi Heng’s mind.
[Rescue]
Within two hundred meters around you, there are 1,482 survivors. Before dawn, ensure their survival; each survivor earns you 100 Hero Points.
Hint: Over two hundred alien invasion creatures have entered the area, their numbers increasing with time, forming a small monster horde. Hunting them is the only way to ensure human safety.
Task reward: Hero Points.
An Zi Heng was stunned by the task.
Not because protecting four hundred people could earn a large number of Hero Points—
But because their residential area had been invaded by over two hundred extraterrestrial creatures.
Such a terrifying number.
He was utterly powerless to cope.
Qin Hao had already jumped down.
He too had received the task notification.
Now, he leapt from the sixth floor, landing atop a Serpent Demon.
---
This Serpent Demon was not on the ground, but had climbed up to the third floor, smashing through the glass and stretching its head into the room to bite the occupants.
Crunch!
A baby stroller was crushed, blood spraying everywhere.
In the kitchen, Xu Qian, holding a knife, stood stunned as she witnessed the scene.
Then came an ear-splitting scream.
“Ah! My child, my child!”
Xu Qian shrieked in madness.
Everything that had happened today had pushed her nerves to the brink. Her beloved had gone out to work, even kissing her cheek before leaving, which she pushed away in annoyance.
Now, the man had not returned, monsters roamed outside, and Xu Qian knew in her heart he was unlikely to come back.
And now, her only child had been swallowed by a monster.
Why? Why wasn’t it her who died, so at least she wouldn’t suffer?
But as that thought arose, another voice echoed within.
Why wasn’t it these monsters who died?
A fierce rage suddenly surged in Xu Qian’s heart.
Somehow, courage propelled her forward. She rushed at the Serpent Demon, hacking at its head with her kitchen knife.
The serpent’s skin split open, blood oozing out, though not much.
The knife’s depth was negligible against the Serpent Demon’s powerful body. It was like a small cut on human skin—perhaps painful, but not life-threatening.
Enraged, the Serpent Demon lunged at Xu Qian.
At that moment, a figure descended from above, landing on its back. In the next instant, immense force pressed down, causing the Serpent Demon’s body to plummet.
Crash!
The Serpent Demon retreated, the third-floor window shattered completely, cold wind pouring in through the empty frame, yet it failed to calm Xu Qian’s mind.
She flung open the door and rushed out.
To kill the Serpent Demon and retrieve her child.
She raced down the staircase.
At that moment, An Zi Heng ran down as well.
“Those on lower floors, get upstairs! My room is open, head to the sixth floor, quick, hurry!”
An Zi Heng pounded on doors.
Now, not only those below the third floor but even fourth-floor residents opened their doors and rushed upstairs.
An Zi Heng shouted, “Everyone in the building, listen! Get to higher floors, seal your windows, and protect yourselves!”
His hysterical cries reached every resident, but also drew the attention of countless Fanged Demons and Serpent Demons.