NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 45: This Is My Prey
Was Chu Xiu cold-blooded?
Of course.
However, he wouldn't deliberately act indifferent to highlight his cold-blooded personality.
In Chu Xiu's view, true coldness was extreme selfishness.
Were serial killers cold-blooded? Naturally. But so were those seemingly amicable capitalists who engaged in charity to build their reputation while accumulating wealth by exploiting others behind the scenes.
Chu Xiu preferred to be the latter.
Because the latter could integrate into society and strengthen themselves by leveraging the power of others.
Therefore, in Chu Xiu's eyes, the goodwill of those who could be of help to him was also an important "asset."
Shen Zhuo was one, and so was Yun Lu.
The former's family could provide him with support, while the latter's talent for finding food would allow him to focus more on leveling up and exploration.
Although the absence of these aids wouldn't significantly impact him, Chu Xiu wouldn't let go of even the smallest advantage.
That's why he had given his clothes to Yun Lu on that cold night.
His previous aloofness was merely a tactic to make Shen Zhuo realize his firm stance and negotiate a better deal.
He wouldn't miss any opportunity to gain favor without any cost.
And what better way to earn goodwill than to save someone in their time of need?
However, Chu Xiu walked away directly.
That was because...
"A stark contrast leaves a deeper impression."
A faint smile played on Chu Xiu's lips.
In truth, he had already dispatched his three Yin Ghosts to slaughter the scattered ghouls.
Neither Shen Zhuo nor Yun Lu would be in danger, and he wouldn't miss out on the experience points.
But he was greedier, wanting to maximize his gains, and he had a perfect plan for it.
Moreover, he didn't want to waste time. If this delay caused him to lose that high-level ghoul to someone else, it would be a huge loss.
Lost in thought, he had already pinpointed the high-level ghoul's location using the Blood Moon's senses.
It was on the other side of the 32nd-floor stronghold!
Not far from the elite ghoul, a bright red dot flickered in his perception.
Chu Xiu snorted, his pace quickening. Every step he took on the ground produced a heavy thud. His powerful thigh muscles exploded with the strength of an elephant as he moved swiftly through the corridor!
Suddenly, a figure flashed past him, followed by a massive black shadow that slammed its thick palm onto the figure!
"Bang!"
With a loud crash, the figure was sent flying, but upon landing, they gracefully absorbed most of the impact. They swiftly got up, arms crossed in front of them, resuming a fighting stance.
Chu Xiu's eyes narrowed. In the Blood Moon's light, he saw a cold and proud side profile. It was Guan Ke!
At this moment, Guan Ke was a far cry from her usual self. Gone was the self-conscious and withdrawn demeanor caused by her scars. Her face was now filled with sharpness and determination, along with a ferocity that Chu Xiu, as a demonic cultivator, was all too familiar with.
She wore a form-fitting black soft armor, a metal cube attached to her back. Six mechanical arms extended from it, three of which were already destroyed, revealing broken cables.
Her hands were covered with gloves wrapped in copper coils, wielding a heavy metal hammer. The hammer's handle was entwined with layers of electrical wires, and the head was engraved with intricate patterns, occasionally sparking with electricity.
"Roar!"
The black shadow lunged at her again. Guan Ke yelled, the coils on her gloves glowing brightly. Energy seemed to flow from the gloves to the hammer's wires, converging on the hammerhead!
In the next moment, a dozen thin, azure electrical arcs shot out, striking the airborne shadow!
"Bang!"
The shadow crashed to the ground, a pungent burning smell reaching Chu Xiu's nose.
"Not bad." Chu Xiu narrowed his eyes in surprise.
He could see that Guan Ke had reached Level 5. He had paid special attention to her at the beginning of the Blood Moon ritual when she was only Level 4. The extra 100% experience gain had clearly allowed her to break through quickly.
She was indeed a bold and decisive one.
Having reached Level 5, even though the Machinist was the weakest A-rank profession in the early stages, coupled with her lightning hammer and mechanical arms, she possessed considerable combat power.
"She should be stronger than my Level 7 Yin Ghosts, but not a match for a Level 8."
Chu Xiu made a silent judgment.
However, just as he thought Guan Ke would finish off her opponent, she turned and ran without hesitation!
Almost as soon as she took a step, the black shadow on the ground roared, struggling back to its feet.
Only then did Chu Xiu get a clear look at the monster under the moonlight. It was a bipedal humanoid creature, nearly three meters tall, its entire body covered in layers of exoskeleton, like a muscular man clad in giant insect armor.
Its left hand had claws similar to an ordinary ghoul's, only thicker, longer, and sharper. Its right hand was unbelievably massive, its circumference likely exceeding one hundred centimeters! The front of the arm seemed to be embedded in a boulder. With a casual swing, the monster created a large crater in the ground!
[008-Type Ghoul]
[Rank] F-rank Level 8
[Attributes] Physique 25.6, Spirit ?, Energy Level ?
[Skills] Power Burst (Doubles strength for a short time)
[Traits] Giant Strength, Heavy Armor
[Talent] Tough Skin (Skin Defense +5.5, significantly enhances heat resistance, acid resistance, and impact absorption)
The panel before him made Chu Xiu click his tongue.
Good heavens, this was practically a super-heavy tank!
One must know that his +7 Energy Absorption Heavy Armor only had a total of 11.4 Defense, and this ghoul's talent alone provided 5.5 points!
Adding the additional enhancements...
He finally understood why Guan Ke had run. This 008-Type Ghoul was inherently defense-oriented, and with the +300% health regeneration speed, it was practically unkillable.
Guan Ke's lightning strikes were nothing more than tickles to it! Even if she used the paralysis to attack with her hammer and mechanical arms, she wouldn't be able to inflict fatal damage.
Escape was indeed the most sensible choice.
He glanced at the direction Guan Ke had fled. It was down the stairs, which surprised him.
If it were him, he would definitely try to lure the ghoul towards Shen Zhuo. It seemed that although this girl was as cunning as him, she was still a little kinder.
Without further hesitation, Chu Xiu kicked off the ground, his immense strength erupting. In the blink of an eye, he crossed a distance of over ten meters, twisting his waist and straightening his body mid-air. The bone spear in his hand, propelled by the momentum, shot towards the heavy-armored ghoul's head like a dragon emerging from the sea!
His speed was too great. The ghoul had no time to react, only managing to slightly halt its charge. Chu Xiu's bone spear pierced its chest!
With a loud clang of metal, spiderweb-like cracks spread from the point of impact on the heavy armor protecting the ghoul's chest. Then, with a crisp "crack," a palm-sized piece of exoskeleton shattered and fell from the ghoul's chest.
"Bang!"
The heavy-armored ghoul stumbled back, its bloodthirsty red eyes staring at Chu Xiu in astonishment. For a moment, it didn't retaliate.
"Chu Xiu!"
From the other side, Guan Ke, who had turned back upon hearing the commotion and witnessed this scene, was overjoyed. She immediately stopped running and shouted, "You came at the right time! Let's work together, we might have a chance to take down this..."
However, before she could finish, the retractable bone spurs on Chu Xiu's back shot out, slamming into the ground in front of Guan Ke!
Rubble flew everywhere as the immense force left a clear hole in the concrete floor.
"You..." Guan Ke looked up in bewilderment, meeting Chu Xiu's cold gaze.
"Get lost, or the next strike will be aimed at you."
"This is my prey. What makes you think you're entitled to a share?"