NOVEL SIMPLE CHAPTER 82
Chapter 82: The Price of Mercy
Sima Xiao prided himself on his adaptability, much like the flexibility of his eight tentacles. In this dire situation, with the monstrous human clearly targeting him, he was more than willing to grovel, to beg, to do whatever it took to survive.
Lu Ming, towering over the humanoid zombie, observed him for a moment. "You can talk?" he inquired, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
A fawning smile spread across Sima Xiao's face. "Yes, I can, sir."
"And you also know how to beg for mercy..."
"Yes, I can do that too," Sima Xiao eagerly confirmed.
Lu Ming let out a low whistle. "You're not lacking in intelligence..."
Sima Xiao's smile faltered, a flicker of unease crossing his features. He knew his intelligence was a double-edged sword. It allowed him to strategize and manipulate, but it also made him more dangerous in the eyes of his enemies.
Lu Ming, sensing Sima Xiao's apprehension, narrowed his eyes, a decision forming in his mind. But first, there were questions to be answered.
"Do tentacle monsters like you have a name?"
Sima Xiao, eager to cooperate, readily provided information. "Yes, zombies like my type are called Devourers."
"What about the big guys?"
"Those are called Tanks."
"Are they all Level 4?"
"Yes, all of them are Level 4."
"Do you have any special abilities?"
Sima Xiao's eyes darted around, contemplating a lie to make himself seem less threatening. But the sight of Lu Ming lifting the colossal sword and gently tapping his shoulder with the flat of the blade quickly dispelled that notion. The immense pressure, as if his shoulder were about to be crushed, forced him to abandon his deceitful thoughts.
"Tanks are an advanced version of Tyrants and have no special abilities," he hastily explained. "Devourers, on the other hand, can obtain special abilities by devouring Awakened ones, hence the name."
"Of course," he added, "we all have the ability to command low-level zombies."
Lu Ming lowered his sword, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Then you Devourers are very powerful."
Sima Xiao offered another ingratiating smile. "No, not that powerful. Definitely not as powerful as you, Big Brother."
This one's a slippery one, Lu Ming thought to himself, a wry smile tugging at his lips. I'll need to keep a close eye on him.
Outwardly, he maintained his stoic demeanor. "It's not impossible for me to spare your life," Lu Ming began, "but you have to help me with something."
Sima Xiao, his eagerness to please evident, nodded fervently. "Of course! No problem! Whatever Big Brother wants me to do, I'll do it!!"
Lu Ming raised his sword once more, a glint in his eye. "You said you can control low-level zombies. Now, please summon them all to me."
Activating his Swordstorm, Lu Ming began to accelerate. "After I deal with this zombie wave, I'll seriously consider my arrangements for you," he promised.
With the Swordstorm reactivated, Lu Ming no longer needed to seek out the zombies. They came to him, a seemingly endless tide of the undead, drawn by Sima Xiao's desperate command.
"Everyone, come here!!" Sima Xiao roared, his voice tinged with desperation.
The other three Tanks, along with the Tyrants, Hunters, Giant Zombies, and countless ordinary zombies, charged forward. The sheer number of them threatened to engulf Lu Ming, but his newfound strength and endurance held strong. The Swordstorm, like a ravenous maw, devoured the zombies without relent.
Five hours later, within the shelter, Zhang Chengcheng and the others still stood on the platform, their eyes fixed on the dwindling horde and the unwavering storm that continued to rage.
Their numbers had swelled. Huo Sheng, Bai Tianyu, and a group of soldiers from the official shelter had joined them, their faces a mixture of awe and relief.
Their expressions mirrored those of Zhang Chengcheng and the others—mouths agape in disbelief, their worldviews shattered.
In truth, Bai Tianyu, Huo Sheng, and the others had arrived at the battlefield earlier that morning, armed with heavy weaponry and a determination to fight to the death. They had no intention of abandoning the Guangping Street gathering place or Lu Ming, their fates intertwined.
Huo Sheng had viewed this battle as a fight for the survival of all Nanxiang City survivors, and they had come prepared for the worst. But Lu Ming's one-man spectacle had completely upended their expectations.
After five hours of witnessing Lu Ming's awe-inspiring display, Huo Sheng could only chuckle wryly. "We came here for nothing..."
Indeed, their presence seemed superfluous. The Awakened from the official shelter, the heavy weapons they had brought—all of it was for naught.
Bai Tianyu remained silent, his eyes fixed on Lu Ming. Finally, Huo Sheng nudged him. "What are you thinking about?"
Bai Tianyu shook his head, a puzzled expression on his face. "I was just thinking that Lu Ming and I are both humans. Why is the difference so big?"
Lu Ming's strength was beyond his comprehension, a source of both shock and admiration.
Huo Sheng, ever the pragmatist, offered a simple answer. "Don't think too much if you don't understand. Let's go. Come with me."
"Where are we going?"
"The front line. Find Lu Ming and..." Huo Sheng's gaze shifted towards Sima Xiao, the Devourer kneeling in the distance, frozen in fear. "...and that thing."
The Swordstorm, having raged from morning till afternoon, finally subsided. The dark clouds parted, revealing the warm afternoon sun, which cast its rays upon the scene: the forty-meter-long sword, the towering figure of Lu Ming, the crimson carpet of gore beneath his feet, and the cowering Devourer at his mercy.
Lu Ming's chest heaved with exertion, his muscles still twitching from the prolonged effort. He felt tired, like a university student after a grueling run, but the sensation was fleeting.
He took a deep breath, the metallic tang of blood filling his nostrils. The zombie tide was no more, reduced to a vast expanse of minced flesh and bone. The ground squelched underfoot, a testament to the carnage he had wrought.
In the distance, Bai Tianyu and Huo Sheng approached, their footsteps hurried as they navigated the grisly landscape.
End of Chapter 82