Chapter 32: The Claw of the Abyss

In the hallway of Bruce’s house, tireless "zombies" charged toward Sakya. She had to protect Bruce, who was in the bedroom on the second floor.

Fortunately, Sakya now possessed a way to resist the corrosion of the black fluid covering the zombies. She had learned a wondrous martial art from the master the Director had hired for her. This martial art was rooted in a marvelous breathing technique that could enhance one's physical strength and generate a unique energy, which, when channeled, could produce a healing effect. Depending on how one chose to use it, this energy could also be unleashed as a destructive force.

Sakya had not been able to successfully trigger this ability previously. Fortunately, her master had told her not to be in a rush, as it had taken him many years to master it himself. Her master had only once mentioned that because Sakya had a connection to the Origin Cube, he and the Director were both curious about what kind of effect this martial art would produce when it interacted with the residual energy of the Origin Cube within her.

"Hi-yah!"

Sakya struck the charging creatures with her wooden sword, imbued with this energy. Wherever the wood made contact, a sizzling, burning sound erupted. Even though it was just a wooden sword, for the black fluid, being struck by it was no different than being slashed by a real blade. Several more victims had the black fluid within them driven out!

She would give it her all and save as many people as she could. She only needed to hold out until the helicopter arrived. After dealing with the seven or eight enemies that had breached the hallway, Sakya stood ready, but after waiting for a while, she realized there was no further movement. Had they seen her prowess and become afraid? Outside, at the spots where they had smashed through the windows, no more enemies could be seen.

Sakya returned to the living room and peered out the window, noticing that the zombies outside were all standing perfectly still. It seemed she had bought some time. Just as she was about to exhale in relief, she felt that something was wrong. The "zombies" were not just standing there blankly; they were leaking black fluid onto the ground continuously. Even the fluid she had driven out of the house earlier seemed to be gathering in one place!

The black fluid coalesced, becoming thicker and thicker, while the people who had been possessed collapsed to the ground, one after another. At least they would be saved. The pool of black fluid grew larger and larger, and it began to flow toward the front door!

"!?!"

Sakya sensed danger immediately. Glancing at the entrance, she saw the black fluid already beginning to seep inside! Damn it, she couldn't let it continue, or Bruce would be in danger!

Channeling her energy into the wooden sword once more, Sakya prepared to block the black sludge at the threshold. The fluid—now much thicker, resembling the viscous gel she had seen before—continued to surge into the living room through the gap under the door! Sakya thrust her wooden sword into the mass, but because of its increased viscosity, the transmission of her energy seemed significantly less efficient. It felt as if she were plunging a red-hot iron rod into paste instead of water.

As Sakya gasped in surprise, several hand-like appendages suddenly reached out from the black sludge on the floor and gripped her feet tightly!

"Eek!"

Sakya hastily utilized her breathing technique again, pouring energy into her legs. Even so, these hands seemed capable of enduring a certain degree of searing; they could neither break through her energy to corrode her, nor could they be quickly driven away by her. It was only thanks to the protection of this energy that she wasn't done for already. Sakya struggled to move her body, attempting to break free from the grasp of the black sludge! It was now clear that the sludge wanted to break the door down and drag her outside!

"Ahhh!"

Sakya was yanked off her feet, landing hard on the floor, and the wooden sword slipped from her hand as she fell. With a loud crash, the front door of Bruce’s house was smashed open. Outside, the gathered black fluid had transformed into a humanoid shadow. It was exactly the same figure she had seen in the surveillance footage of the store massacre!

The hand of black sludge violently dragged Sakya toward the outside.

"Ah—!"

Sakya frantically clawed at the floor with both hands, but she could not resist the pull. She managed to grab hold of the door frame, but the entity's strength was immense; she felt as if her arms were about to be torn off! She was going to be dragged out! Sakya had not yet mastered covering her entire body with that energy, and if she were pulled directly into that mass, her chances of survival would be slim. This was the end... even with her physical strength enhanced by the breathing technique, it was to no avail. Her hands were slowly slipping from the frame!

"Qin Yun!"

Suddenly, Bruce’s voice rang out. He had rushed out from the bedroom at some point and grabbed Sakya, who was at her limit. Just as her grip was about to fail, Bruce grabbed her hand with both of his, bracing his feet against the door frame. The two sides were once again locked in a stalemate.

"Argh!"

The sudden, violent tugging caused the wound on Bruce's back to flare with agony. He couldn't help but cry out.

"You...!"

With one hand now free, she couldn't let Bruce's efforts go to waste! In her desperation, Sakya remembered the composite gun at her waist. She pressed the switch, and the body of the gun immediately glowed with the flow of energy. A massive beam of light erupted from the muzzle, piercing straight through the black shadow!

It worked! The attack had clearly inflicted damage; Sakya felt the strength of the grip on her legs loosen slightly, though it did not let go entirely.

"Damn it! Haven't you had enough!?"

Sakya fired several more shots in rapid succession, punching several large holes through the shadow. Black sludge splattered everywhere. It didn't seem to be a fatal blow, but it was certainly enough to rattle it. Sakya’s legs were released, and the mass of black fluid, seemingly needing to repair its damaged body, quickly recoiled.

"Huff... ha..."

Sakya was finally free, collapsing to the floor alongside Bruce.

"Ugh... Arghhhhh!"

Bruce’s condition was dire; the sudden exertion had reopened his wound, and blood had soaked through the bandages Sakya had applied. Fortunately, Sakya could now use her breathing technique to channel energy and provide a degree of healing. After she performed emergency treatment, Bruce immediately drifted into a faint, but at least the deterioration of his condition had been stemmed.

The wounded black sludge monster did not seem interested in a prolonged battle. It gathered all the remaining scattered globules and fluid, quickly coalescing before moving toward the storm drain.

"Don't you dare run!"

With Bruce out of immediate danger, Sakya could focus entirely on the enemy. She activated the mechanism on the composite gun, transforming the small device from a pistol into a rifle. Sakya raised the weapon and fired repeatedly at the monster. The creature twisted and turned, attempting to dodge, but it was hit time and again.

"Go to hell!"

She could not let it escape! Sakya was determined to destroy it right there. However, no matter how many times the composite gun struck it, its size seemed to be continuously increasing. Looking closely, she realized that several nearby sewer grates were leaking more black sludge onto the enemy, repairing its injuries!

Under the hail of Sakya’s gunfire, it continued to writhe until it reached the sewer and disappeared inside.