Apocalypse: Grinding EXP through Hunting

Chapter 45: Chapter 45: No, It Can’t Be! I Can’t Harm Him

The 7th captain, the one most skilled in defense, was carried down. A medic removed his armor and bandaged his wounds.

He gritted his teeth through the pain and said, "It’s strange. When I fell, I didn’t feel anything pulling me. His awakened ability probably isn’t Telekinesis. Every time, right before I slipped, he’d point at me and say ’slip.’ Is it some kind of curse?"

Generally, the abilities of an Awakened don’t just appear out of thin air.

They’re usually related to their Cultivation Technique. For example, Martial Artists from Flame Camp often awaken flame-related abilities.

The Black Mountain Camp practices the Night Divine Fist, and their general’s abilities are related to darkness.

They are said to be extremely skilled in night combat.

An Awakened like the one on the platform was an anomaly who awakened early—a genius, in other words.

Their abilities might have nothing to do with their Cultivation Technique.

They could be purely genetic, passed down from their parents or ancestors.

"Mm. Rest and recover well." Commander Zhao patted him and had his men carry him away.

There was a ten-minute break after each match.

Commander Zhao said to Tang Wen, Zhou Bing, and the others, "You all saw it. His ability may be instantaneous, but it’s not completely impossible to defend against. From now on, the strategy is still to focus on defense. Watch his mouth. The moment he opens it, you have to be careful!"

After he spoke, the captain of the 3rd team was about to go up.

Suddenly, Zhou Bing stood up first. "I’ll go. Maybe I can get him to reveal more of his weaknesses."

She was the strongest among all the captains.

Commander Zhao nodded slowly. "Very well."

After he said that, he suddenly froze, tilting his head as if listening to something.

Half a minute later, he spoke. "General Zhou just told me the mission has changed. Our goal is no longer to stop their winning streak. The objective for everyone who goes up is to train themselves and to probe the abilities of the man on the platform."

The captains nodded in silence.

Tang Wen also breathed a silent sigh of relief. ’General Zhou is a good man,’ he thought. ’He saw it was an impossible task and immediately adjusted the strategy.’

When the time was up, Zhou Bing prepared to enter the ring.

Tang Wen couldn’t help but advise her, "Be careful. Don’t push yourself too hard."

The Ice Beauty’s lips curved into a slight smile. "My special ability is being a husband killer, and his is making people unlucky. Who knows, maybe I can counter him."

Huh?

Everyone was taken aback. That actually seemed to make some sense.

But Tang Wen didn’t believe for a second that she actually had such an ability. He quickly said, "Don’t even think that way! You have to fight him as if you have no special abilities of your own!"

"Don’t worry."

Zhou Bing swung her ponytail and strode onto the platform with her long legs.

Commander Zhao looked Tang Wen up and down. ’This kid’s got guts!’ he thought.

On the platform, Zhou Bing, with her tall, supermodel-like figure, stood more than a head taller than the Awakened across from her.

The Awakened’s expression was grim. "A woman built like a mare, a cow... Kneel and beg me now, and maybe I’ll spare your life!"

Zhou Bing ignored him.

His expression turned even fouler.

CLACK.

A pebble hit the ground.

Zhou Bing’s almond-shaped eyes were deep and focused, unaffected by her opponent’s trash talk. She held her spear and advanced steadily.

"Fall!" the Awakened used his ability.

Her foot twisted, and she lost her balance, about to topple backward.

Unflustered, Zhou Bing planted the butt of her spear on the ground, springing back up with a flick of her waist to instantly regain her balance.

CLANG!

Her long spear collided with his short one.

The Awakened, holding his spear with one hand, felt the webbing of his thumb go numb. He hadn’t gained the slightest advantage.

Seeing Zhou Bing close in, he shouted in rapid succession, "Fall! Slip!"

He then charged forward again.

Zhou Bing’s body arched backward as her feet slipped from under her, and it looked like she was about to fall flat on her back.

But instead of resisting the fall, she used the momentum, sweeping her long spear toward her opponent’s throat as she went down.

Trading a wound for a kill!

The Awakened had no choice but to abandon his attack, using his shield to bat the spear tip aside.

Zhou Bing executed a perfect iron bridge, springing to her feet. Her spear bloomed into a flurry of strikes, intercepting the incoming Blood Spear!

"Yeah!"

The onlookers from Flame Camp roared their approval.

Tang Wen felt a bit of relief as well.

"So this mare actually has some skill!" Zhou Bing’s fierce assault had made the Awakened much more cautious.

Not far away, Black Old Ghost said with a grimace, "Zhou Datou, is that your niece? Why not marry her off to my brother? We can team up, kill the Flame Lady, and you can become the leader of the camp. What do you say?"

General Zhou shot him a look. "Wouldn’t it be easier if you just called me your godfather?"

Black Old Ghost didn’t get angry. "What’s so great about that pathetic camp of yours? Look at our Black Mountain Battalion! Our Martial Artists have wives and concubines galore, living high and mighty. If we need something, we just go and take it! See a beautiful woman? Take her as a concubine! Now that’s what I call living."

"That’s called being a beast!" General Zhou cut him off.

"Heh heh, still so unappreciative of a good offer. No matter. When your camp is wiped out, you’ll have your chance to bow your head!"

"That’s a day you won’t live to see."

While the two were bickering, the situation on the platform changed.

The Blood Spear Awakened’s ability was strange, and his Martial Arts were not weak either.

He tossed his shield aside and gripped his spear with both hands, trading blows with Zhou Bing in an even exchange.

"Slip!"

In a battle between experts, a single mistake could be fatal. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

Zhou Bing was prepared. She ducked low, and the Blood Spear grazed over her head, snapping the band holding her hair.

Her dark hair cascaded down like a waterfall.

Stunning, yet full of heroic spirit.

"Slip! Split!"

The Awakened was a seasoned fighter. As he spat out the two words, Zhou Bing’s legs slid apart simultaneously, forcing her into a side split on the ground.

She could only manage to raise her spear to block!

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The Blood Spear came smashing down in a furious barrage.

Strength was not Zhou Bing’s forte. Forced into a hasty defense, she took the full brunt of his attacks and suffered for it.

"Die!"

The Awakened swept his spear. The impact sent a shock through her, making her a beat too slow. She had just started to raise her spear when the Blood Spear struck!

BANG!

Zhou Bing was sent flying several meters, her spear clattering with her.

PFFT!

She spat out a mouthful of blood.

"I surrender!"

"Strain!"

The two shouts came at the same time.

The Awakened leaped and thrust his spear forward.

Zhou Bing frowned. She couldn’t quite lift her left arm—it was clearly strained.

In that split second, she could only grip the spear with her right hand and hurl it with all her might.

She was gambling!

Gambling that he would dodge!

As expected, the Awakened wasn’t willing to risk it. He swatted her spear aside with his own, but by the time he looked to strike again, Commander Zhao was already standing in front of Zhou Bing.

He could only withdraw his Blood Spear with resentment.

Tang Wen was right behind him. He shot a glare at the Awakened, then bent down, lifted Zhou Bing into his arms, and carried her back.

"My spear! My spear!"

Zhou Bing cried out from his arms.

Wu Tian from the team ran over, retrieved it, and placed it in Zhou Bing’s hands.

Zhou Bing’s spear was of high quality, a heirloom from her father.

Back by the carriages, a medic was already waiting.

After a brief diagnosis, he said, "Miss Zhou’s internal organs just suffered some shock. It’s good that she spat the blood out. I’ll go brew some medicine. Once she drinks it, she must rest."

"Okay."

"Thank you." Tang Wen gently set Zhou Bing down in the carriage, tucking a bolster behind her back.

A warmth spread through Zhou Bing’s heart. "I’m fine. He’s incredibly strong, but he has limits. It seems he can’t use his ability three times in a row, or I’d be dead. Also, there’s a short delay between each use..."

She held Tang Wen’s hand, recounting every detail she had observed.

"Ahem, ahem!" Commander Zhao cleared his throat.

Zhou Bing pulled her hand back, a flicker of disappointment in her heart.

Commander Zhao said, "Captain Zhou, you fought well. You wore him down quite a bit. I saw it—the bastard’s eyes were bloodshot. Everyone we’ve sent up so far has been a close-range fighter. Alright, Tang Wen, you’re up next."

"Alright!" Tang Wen didn’t object.

He stood up to leave but paused when he saw Zhou Bing’s dark hair obscuring her vision.

He walked over to a nearby tree, broke off a branch the length of a chopstick, and drew his Flying Blade to strip off the bark.

Returning to the carriage, he gathered her long hair and fashioned it into a bun with the stick.

What?

Everyone was watching!

"All done," Tang Wen said, nodding to the blushing, completely stiff Zhou Bing. "I’m off."

He then headed for the platform.

Zhou Bing covered her face with her hands. Her oval face was burning hot.

But in the next moment, despair washed over her. ’No, this is wrong! I can’t bring him harm!’