Volume One: The Apocalypse Descends Chapter 10: A Human Tragedy

Xiang Xiaoxiao forced herself to approach the mite-monster, eventually taking a deep breath and raising her riot baton.

Although the monster was already pinned down by the riot fork, Xiang Chenguang stayed close to protect her, just in case. Seeing her close her eyes as she raised the baton, he remarked, "This creature sprays a dark green fluid when attacked. Are you sure you want to keep your eyes closed?"

The baton, which had been about to descend, froze in mid-air. Xiang Xiaoxiao opened her eyes, glared at him fiercely, and then—as if imagining the monster was someone else entirely—gritted her teeth and swung the baton down with all her might.

The mite-monster was pinned against the gatehouse wall by the riot fork at its chest, with only its two hindmost appendages touching the ground, which was why it couldn't struggle free.

Xiang Xiaoxiao’s strike was aimed at the monster’s ugly little head, but her aim was off, landing right beside it.

The chitinous shell, which had seemed as fragile as paper under Xiang Chenguang's attacks, barely dented and only developed a few cracks under her two-handed, desperate blow.

Though Xiang Chenguang didn't say anything, the phrase "a total piece of trash" that he had used earlier automatically echoed in her mind.

A surge of rage filled her. She raised the baton again and struck the monster’s head viciously.

This time, the blow landed squarely. The monster’s small head seemed to retract slightly into its chest cavity, and dark green fluid oozed from its mouthparts.

Bolstered by this success, Xiang Xiaoxiao landed two more consecutive blows on its head. Finally, the chitinous shell shattered, and nearly half of its head was crushed into its chest cavity, with dark green fluid flowing incessantly from the wounds and mouthparts.

Although its remaining appendages were still twitching erratically, it was clearly dead.

Though Xiang Xiaoxiao was panting for breath, her tense face showed a hint of joy; she must have received the system’s kill notification.

During the struggle, although Xiang Dongliang and his wife were filled with worry, one remained focused on pinning the monster while the other kept watch over the sky and the residential entrance; neither spoke.

After confirming the area was safe, Xiang Chenguang walked over to close the other iron gate. It let out a harsh, grating screech, but this time, it drew no other monsters. He slid the bolts into place but did not lock it. These gates could only deter mite-monsters; they were useless against monsters like spider-creatures or giant centipedes with superior climbing abilities.

Within the residential complex, unless something drew their attention, these creatures were unlikely to intentionally bypass the gate to enter. The gate’s primary purpose was to prevent the complex from being overrun, ensuring they had a relatively secure base, rather than serving as a total barricade against every threat.

Soon, the four of them resumed their formation, with Xiang Dongliang leading the way and Xiang Chenguang bringing up the rear, reaching the steps of Building 1, Unit 1.

The giant dragonfly was still struggling on the ground. A large hole had been smashed into its chest by the flail, and its two pairs of massive, translucent wings were completely limp.

Its tiny appendages scratched aimlessly at the concrete, leaving jagged white marks—a chilling reminder of the damage those limbs could inflict on human skin.

Xiang Chenguang said, "Mom, this giant dragonfly is yours."

He Wan took the riot baton from Xiang Xiaoxiao without a word, while Xiang Dongliang quickly stepped forward and used the riot fork to pin the dragonfly to the ground, rendering it immobile.

He Wan didn't rush. She carefully observed the creature’s anatomy before raising the baton high and bringing it down heavily on the junction between the dragonfly's head and body.

The strike was clean and decisive; the slender neck snapped instantly, and the round head rolled away.

Xiang Chenguang gave his mother a thumbs-up. Then, glancing at Xiang Xiaoxiao, he asked, "Mom, how much spirit energy did this little dragonfly provide?"

He Wan, typically gentle and refined, looked somewhat excited. "18 points."

Xiang Chenguang replied, "That means we only need to kill three of these to level up. That’s quite efficient. It’s just a shame there aren't many dragonflies; the 'little trash' like those mite-monsters are the most common."

Xiang Xiaoxiao pouted, took the makeshift flail from him, and followed behind her father.

Xiang Chenguang reclaimed the riot baton from his mother and resumed his position at the back. "Let’s head to Unit 2. I heard screams from there when I came back earlier; a monster must have broken in."

In the short time they had been out, the team had already killed five monsters without suffering any injuries. This had bolstered the courage of He Wan and Xiang Xiaoxiao significantly. Even knowing that entering Unit 2 would likely mean another close-quarters fight, they followed Xiang Dongliang without hesitation.

The four apartments on the first floor of Unit 2 were tightly sealed. The group headed straight up to the second floor.

The corridor on the second floor was a scene of chaos. The security door to the left, diagonally across from the stairwell, stood wide open, and a thick, pungent smell of blood hit them.

He Wan and Xiang Xiaoxiao, who had felt their nerves tempered by their previous kills, were nearly sickened by the stench.

He Wan, looking pale, whispered, "This is Old Qin’s place. It’s just him, his wife, and their grandson who just started second grade. This situation..."

The complex was small, and most residents were local government clerks and their families, leading to relatively close-knit relationships. He Wan, who ran a small shop nearby, knew almost everyone here.

Xiang Dongliang tightened his grip on his riot shield and fork, took a deep, steadying breath to ignore the stench, and stepped resolutely into the blood-spattered apartment.

Xiang Chenguang stopped the hesitant He Wan and Xiang Xiaoxiao, whispering, "Space is limited inside. If the monster is still there, too many people will just get in the way. Stay outside and keep watch."

He then followed closely behind Xiang Dongliang.

The scene inside was gruesome. Splattered blood covered the floor and walls. A trail of drag marks, along with torn clothing and strands of hair, led toward the master bedroom.

On the bed in the master bedroom, a large pool of blood had soaked through the mattress and the thin quilt, with only scattered tufts of hair remaining near the pillows.

It was clear that Old Qin’s wife and their grandson, not even ten years old, had been killed; only those haunting, messy tufts of hair remained as proof they had ever existed.

Xiang Dongliang turned around, his eyes red, and said in a hoarse voice, "Chenguang, we must protect your mother and Xiaoxiao. We cannot let such a tragedy happen to our family."