Watching the S2 wriggling within the curtains as it was kicked into the burning pit, Zhang Xiao Qiang heaved a sigh of relief. He immediately felt the fiery temperatures that he had been withstanding and could feel his airways being assaulted by the smog. Even his hair and eyebrows were starting to turn crisp from the fire. His skin was feeling tender and red, and he hurried to retreat back.
At this time, Zhang Xiao Qiang was feeling ecstatic. He had settled the D2, even the new S2. Although the speed of the S2 was terrifying, he had managed to find its weakness. As long as he could take away its advantage, he could take his time to deal with it. Today, the experience in dealing with the S2 was incredibly precious, and he knew that in the future, it would aid him in future situations and he would not be as unprepared.
This time, he had relied partly on luck, and the other, on his calm and cool head as well as judgment. He had managed to settle on a solution even in the midst of danger and did not suffer too much when exchanging blows with the S2. He had even managed to slice off one claw from it.
He was beginning to feel more proud of himself. Who would have thought? That an otaku like him could have his achievements today? He could handle himself on equal footing against a D2 as well as an S2! As long as he did not meet any strange Mutant Beasts, he would at least be able to guarantee this little life of his.
The zombies on this side of the bank had been turned into ashes in the pit, and Zhang Xiao Qiang let down his guard, until…
A powerful force knocked into his right waist. He was caught off-guard and was sent flying through the air, before slamming into the ground like a wretched mutt fighting for food. His right hand loosened its grip, his Jing Wei Sword falling to the side. He gritted his teeth with his chest in pain, as he tumbled, the sky and earth constantly changing position. Feeling his head becoming dizzy, he forcefully grunted and came to a stop. By the time he felt safe to prop himself up, his surroundings were swaying and his mind felt like he had just been in a rock concert, ringing incessantly.
"Pa…." He slapped himself hard, shaking himself out of his stunned state.
At the location where he was attacked, a figure that was charred entirely black turned around. It was precisely the S2 that had been kicked into the burning pit earlier, it had actually climbed out of the pit, and its current state was extremely pitiful. Earlier, its decomposed skin had been black, although there was still some parts where flesh could be seen. However, it was now like an entirely charred black bean, with multiple wounds everywhere, some parts still smoking.
One of the shoulders was burnt until only a stump left. The other claw had been charred and of the 5 fingers, there were only 3 slightly shorter claws left. Its legs had been heavily burnt, one of them slightly shriveled more than the other. Zhang Xiao Qiang guessed that one of the major tendons or veins might have been torn when it was burning. The S2's nose had been affected, and it swiveled around trying to get a grasp of Zhang Xiao Qiang's position. Its throat continuously growled out, and it was the first time Zhang Xiao Qiang heard it making any noise.
Of the zombies that he had come across, ordinary zombies would not make any noise, only silently shambling about. They were like soulless spirits doomed to wander the face of the earth. The S-types would make some noise from time to time, their expressions like cold-hearted killers when they were hunting. Nothing could shake them out of it during a hunt, just like the D2.
When it came to the D-types, the D-types would roar in excitement or in pain, sometimes when other ordinary zombies get too close to it as well. The vocal boxes of the D-types were exceptionally powerful, and the D2 need not be mentioned, when Zhang Xiao Qiang had stuck the Beast Horn Spear into the butthole of one, it had roared out almost all the way till its death.
The sounds from the throat of the S2 was like a hiss from a venomous snake. Hearing it caused Zhang Xiao Qiang's scalp to go numb, and he pulled out his military knife holding it in front of him while inching slowly towards the Jing Wei Sword. He had not taken more than a few steps when the S2 suddenly turned to face him and immediately propelled itself explosively towards his direction.
Although the S2 only had 3 limbs left, its speed was still not slow. Of course, there was a difference compared to earlier, however, it was still faster than ordinary S-types. Zhang Xiao Qiang saw the S2 nearing him as it reached out to claw at his stomach. He had already prepared himself, and wouldn't let the S2 get its way. When the S2 raised its claws, Zhang Xiao Qiang leaped forward.
"Tong!" He had leaped over the S2's head to jump behind it, before striking out with the military knife towards the back of its head. The S2 felt itself grabbing thin air and swiped backward. "Dang!" The military knife struck the claws of the S2, which twisted slightly to grab towards Zhang Xiao Qiang. He felt his wrist hurt, and the military knife was sent flying by the claw of the S2, after which the remaining claw reached out for his face.
This time, Zhang Xiao Qiang was left bare-handed, without any weapons, he was slightly at a loss. His confidence and skills had been built on his handling of weapons, now he regretted not getting Yuan Yi to teach him some martial arts. At this critical juncture, Zhang Xiao Qiang finally came to an understanding: "Machismo will kill oneself!"
Zhang Xiao Qiang dropped to the side, one of his legs kicking out at the shorter, burnt leg of the S2, and it also fell to the ground unsteadily.
The S2 immediately tried to hack at Zhang Xiao Qiang as it fell on the ground, forcing Zhang Xiao Qiang to squirm out of the way. He got to his feet and made a dash for the small hill.
As he turned around with his backside facing the S2, he suddenly thought of a saying: "It’s not that my troops are incompetent, the enemy is too crafty!"
Zhang Xiao Qiang's hands were empty, and his running speed was faster due to the lesser load. His aim was to obtain the Beast Horn Spear from Yang Ke'er or even allow her to deal with the S2 behind him. Although it was a thinking that he would never admit to, at the end of the day, who else but himself to blame for losing his weapons?!
He turned around to take a look, and he immediately sought to increase his pace and speed. He saw that the S2 was already near him, even with its 3 limbs, it was so much faster than him.
Seeing the grimy and dirty signboard, Zhang Xiao Qiang quickened his pace. He was already near the hills. "As long as I get past that signboard, I'll be fine." He consoled himself.
"Tatata…" the strange rhythm of the S2's running had already traveled to his ears. Zhang Xiao Qiang could even hear that hair-raising sounds the S2 made with its throat. He knew he didn't have the time to get past the signboard any longer. He aimed for the space beneath the signboard and immediately executed a slide that most international soccer players would be proud of, his whole body sliding towards the signboard.
When he reached the space under the signboard, he felt his entire backside burning, as though it had been ground away during the slide. He had not climbed up when "Peng…" The signboard was knocked away, the S2 having crashed into it and appeared right in front of Zhang Xiao Qiang, blocking his way.