Chapter 82: Between Life and Death (Part One)

As the hydra grew increasingly irritable, Kong Zhe’s eyes lit with sudden realization. It was already perilously close to giving birth, and very likely would do so within minutes. That was why it was so desperate to deal with the trouble before it.

If that was the case, then perhaps there was a chance to win.

Having made up his mind, Kong Zhe sprang up from the ground at once, sword in hand, and charged toward the hydra’s belly while issuing an order to the tentacles.

The hydra saw that the human actually meant to strike at its abdomen and flew into a rage. Just as it was about to bite this audacious fool to death, it discovered that the tentacle attacks before it had suddenly grown fierce and relentless, wholly ignoring its own assaults as they lashed repeatedly across its body.

Its vision obstructed, the hydra could no longer track the figure on the ground. Then, all at once, it felt a sharp pain in its stomach. It did not need to look to know that it had surely been struck by that tiny human.

With an enraged hiss, the hydra roared and, paying no heed to the tentacle monster’s savage blows, moved to tear the wretched human apart. Yet when it lowered its head, it found that the human had already slipped back behind the tentacles. All that remained on its belly was only a scratch.

The human’s attack had not even broken through its defenses.

At once the hydra understood: this man had only meant to strike once and flee, drawing its attention so that the tentacle monster could attack it. The trouble was that the child in its belly was the thing it cared about most right now, and it could not possibly ignore it.

Realizing it had been toyed with, the hydra glared furiously at Kong Zhe, hidden behind the tentacles, and kept hissing at him. It wanted nothing more than to rush over and bite him to death, but the tentacle monster before it, having been interrupted just now, had had the venom’s effects wiped clean and had become as vigorous as ever. It simply could not force its way through.

What was more, from that moment on the tentacles’ attacks had changed. They were now striking relentlessly at its abdomen, forcing the hydra to dodge with difficulty. The tentacle monster’s attacks were nothing like the weak, feeble blows of that human. It was already at the final stage of labor, and if its belly took a direct hit, it might even miscarry. So for a time, the hydra not only lacked the spare strength to attack the tentacles, but was driven back by their repeated assaults.

Two minutes passed like this, and the hydra had been whipped to the brink of collapse, its health dropping to its lowest point. Even worse, it could feel the child inside kicking violently, and a small part of it had already begun to push out from near its tail. Labor was clearly imminent; it had to find a safe place and give birth at once.

So this time it did not pause at all. Ignoring the human’s taunts entirely, it turned and crawled off into the distance. But because it was badly wounded and wracked with excruciating pain below, its pace was painfully slow.

Damn it.

Seeing that the hydra would not even deign to respond to his taunts and was simply fleeing, Kong Zhe immediately understood its condition. He had already been at this for most of the day, and with the finish line in sight, how could he let it escape so easily?

The trouble was, the hydra had already moved beyond the tentacles’ range. As for his own attacks, he had already tried them. Even if he rushed in and managed to hold the hydra in place, the vast difference in their levels meant he could do it no harm at all.

With a dull crack, amid a burst of drifting white flecks, the battered tentacles vanished from where they stood. Clearly, the summon time for the tentacle monster had run out.

As the giant serpent moved ahead, one of its heads twisted back to glance over its shoulder, just in time to see the tentacle monster vanish. It paused, cold light flashing in its narrow eyes. After a moment’s hesitation, however, the hydra chose to spare these humans for the time being and kept crawling onward. It could not afford to delay its birth any longer. It would be better to bear the child first; once it had recovered from its injuries, it could follow the human’s scent and find him. By then, devouring him slowly would not be too late.

Watching the hydra recede into the distance, Kong Zhe could not help hesitating as well. Before him lay two paths. First, he could take advantage of the giant serpent’s lack of fighting spirit and leave at once with the three women. Though it would be a pity to miss the chance to kill such a high-level beast, safety was the greater virtue.

The second path was to charge forward and force a desperate fight with the hydra, which now bled black. Even in its current state, it would still be a considerable challenge. Even if he succeeded in killing it, he would very likely be badly wounded. And now that the little dog was dead, they had no healer among them. For a wounded Awakened to drag along three ordinary people in this apocalypse of endless peril was far too dangerous. Any slight mishap could mean utter annihilation.

After thinking it over for a while, Kong Zhe could not help but sigh. In his heart, he was already leaning toward the second choice. After all, he still carried that curse of misfortune, and chances at rebirth were few and far between. Since caution was possible, he ought to favor it as much as he could.

Kong Zhe, give me that laser gun!

Just as he had resolved to leave, Xue Feifei’s voice came from behind him, making him pause in surprise and turn instinctively to look at her.

What are you standing there for? Hurry up, or if it gets too far away, there will be no chance!

Her anxious expression snapped Kong Zhe to attention. Could it be that this woman’s laser gun could actually injure the giant serpent?

It might not be impossible.

Kong Zhe suddenly realized this. He had been influenced all this time by the experience of his former life, subconsciously assuming that only products of magic-driven technology could wound high-level beasts. That was why, when Xue Feifei had mentioned the laser gun yesterday, he had not paid it much mind. Now, however, he abruptly understood that such a possibility did exist. After all, this woman’s talent was not something those scientists of his past life could compare with. If it had been made by her, perhaps it truly could harm that beast.

Thinking of this, a trace of delight could not help appearing on Kong Zhe’s face. Seeing that the giant serpent had already put some distance between itself and them, he quickly found the laser gun he had stored away in his ring that morning.

It needs time to calibrate. Keep it occupied for a bit!

Xue Feifei shouted to Kong Zhe.

Kong Zhe blinked, then nodded. If all he had to do was hold it off, that would be much simpler. At the hydra’s current speed, it could not threaten him at all.

He threw the cannon-like laser gun toward Xue Feifei’s direction. Without lingering, Kong Zhe drew his sword and charged once more at the hydra.

From afar, Tuan Tuan leaped up and caught the laser gun steadily, carrying it over to Xue Feifei.

Xue Feifei took it, pulled a stand-like device from beneath the cannon barrel, and easily fixed the barrel to the ground. Then she began swiftly manipulating it, all the while keeping an eye on the situation in the distance from the corner of her vision.

The monster in the distance had already been pinned down by Kong Zhe. He was constantly dodging and shifting position to avoid the furious hydra’s attacks. Though it looked easy, Xue Feifei knew it was anything but.

He was risking his life to buy her time, and Xue Feifei could not help gritting her teeth as her hands moved even faster.

...

Kong Zhe narrowly avoided the hydra’s attack and rolled away quickly, putting distance between them. By now, sweat had already broken out on his forehead. Looking back, he saw that, indeed, the enraged hydra no longer cared even about giving birth; dragging its laboring body behind it, it kept pursuing him relentlessly.

This time, the hydra was truly furious. It had already spared this human, yet he still dared come back and pester it. The instant Kong Zhe had stabbed its tail just now, all reason had been swallowed by rage. It had decided that even if it were to delay giving birth today, it would first tear this human limb from limb and crush him to death on the spot.

An enraged hydra was clearly not so easy to deal with. Forget luring it now—Kong Zhe did not even need to try to draw it on. The hydra would not let him go no matter what. Instead, he had to flee desperately, dodging its attacks all the while. Several times he had nearly been bitten.

Now the swelling in the hydra’s abdomen had shifted to its tail, and one could clearly see another small tail emerging there. The agony of labor continued to drain its health, and at this point it had completely entered a critically wounded state. Kong Zhe even felt that if he could only turn around and land a single blow—just a light one—he might be able to kill it outright. But he could not. At present, he did not even have the chance to look back. Though the hydra’s speed had slowed, it had matched his own, and stayed right on his heels. He could feel that if he were to turn around, the hydra would surely strike during the instant his movements faltered. By then, even if he killed it, he would still be bitten by its venom, perhaps even dying from grievous injuries. That would be a terrible trade indeed. So for the moment, he could only keep running in circles, while making sure not to lead the hydra toward Xue Feifei.

But if this went on, he would not be able to hold out much longer. His stamina was dropping rapidly. Hearing the furious roars behind him, Kong Zhe could not help glancing anxiously toward Xue Feifei.

Be careful, Brother Kong Zhe!

Little Lei watched the scene with a clenched heart. For some reason, she had the strong feeling that something terrible was about to happen. That ominous intuition was so intense it made her panic, and before she knew it, her feet had begun to move.

Little Lei, come back!

Tuan Tuan blinked, only to realize with alarm that, in the briefest lapse of attention, Little Lei had actually started running toward Kong Zhe. Hastily, she cried out.

Just then, Xue Feifei rose from the ground. The cannon barrel, once so plain, had now been transformed almost beyond recognition. A sight, a grip, and a trigger had appeared as if by magic, and the laser gun was gradually taking the shape of a true firearm.