C12 Preparing for Battle

"Let me help you!" In that critical moment, Wang Gang finally found the courage to charge forward.

Despite being terrified by the Ratmen outside, spurred on by Qin Feng's cry, he steeled himself and surged ahead, ramming his shoulder against the right-hand door.

Qin Feng extended his hand, swiftly securing the left gate. Together, they pushed with all their might to close the doors.

Both doors shuddered and finally shut tight.

Yet, the danger was far from over.

As soon as the doors clanged shut, the Ratmen outside sprang into action. Almost instantly, a fourth and fifth creature burst from the shadows, slamming their bodies against the gate.

The relentless pounding echoed as the doors quivered anew, the frame threatening to splinter.

Wang Gang's mouth quivered with fear as he cried out, "It's no use. The doors won't hold them back!"

"Move!" Qin Feng yelled. With a powerful kick, he sent the door flying open, repelling the Ratmen who were frantically battering it. In the next instant, he secured the latch in one fluid motion.

The onlookers were left in awe.

From Qin Feng's swift dispatch of three monsters to his and Wang Gang's seamless teamwork in fortifying the door, the ordeal lasted less than ten seconds!

But those brief seconds laid bare the horrors of carnage for all to see.

Qin Feng's actions left them particularly astounded.

The skirmish had quieted for the moment. Yet, the floor was still littered with convulsing carcasses, the air thick with the stench of blood – a grim tableau.

Leaning against the door, Qin Feng gasped for air.

In his past life, as a Level Four superpowered individual, he could have effortlessly annihilated all the monsters at the door in a blink.

But now, he was merely a regular person with a nascent evolution. The Source Qi he had absorbed was insufficient to significantly bolster his physical strength. He was just a bit stronger than the average person, and it left him exhausted, his fingers clutching the Dragon Bone trembling involuntarily.

After taking a deep breath to quell the turmoil in his chest, Qin Feng turned to face the banquet hall's petrified crowd and said icily, "Does anyone dare to question me now?"

Silence enveloped the room.

Everyone was petrified by the spectacle before them.

A voice, quivering with fear, broke the silence: "What on earth are those things outside the door?"

"They're Devil Eye Ratmen," Qin Feng replied, his voice devoid of emotion, "a low-level monster born from the abyss. Individually, their combat strength doesn't even measure up to a Level A monster. But they're communal creatures. The presence of one Ratman signals that the entire race has set its sights on this place."

He spoke in the calmest of tones, laying out a harsh reality.

"The emergence of the Devil Eye Ratmen is merely the overture to the apocalypse. The Blue Star world is on the cusp of a profound transformation. The breadth and longevity of this upheaval will far exceed anything you can imagine."

The skirmish they faced was trivial in the grand scheme of the apocalypse—a disaster beyond the wildest dreams of the privileged elite.

Wang Gang rose to his feet, visibly shaken. "Is everything you're saying true? Qin Feng, how do you know all this? What's really happening?"

Wang Gang had entered the banquet hall with Qin Feng, but he was as clueless as the rest about Qin Feng's intentions. His confusion mirrored that of everyone else present.

The question on Wang Gang's lips was the same one on everyone's mind.

All eyes, filled with bewilderment and inquiry, were locked on Qin Feng.

Despite being the focus of attention, Qin Feng's demeanor remained cool and detached. Utilizing the Dragon Bone to draw in Source Qi from the air, he continued, "These so-called Level A monsters are the most feeble of the abyssal mutated beasts, with the least combat strength and resilience. But above them are the B-class, C-class monsters, and the formidable Level S Vicious Beasts!"

Qin Feng harbored an enduring fear from his past life, where he met his end under the claws of a Level S Vicious Beast, the Dragon Turtle.

Yet, in the early stages of the apocalypse, the Blue Star world wouldn't see the likes of an S-class Vicious Beast. For now, the Devil Eye Ratmen emerging at the Abnormal Spot were merely the most basic and common of mutated beasts, not even reaching Level A.

Aside from their marginally greater strength, slightly increased speed, and razor-sharp fangs, the Devil Eye Ratmen possessed few other advantages. This was precisely why Qin Feng had the confidence to venture into the Abnormal Spot.

"What in the world is happening?"

Despite Qin Feng's clear explanation, the crowd remained baffled. The blond man who had previously confronted Qin Feng raised his hand to ask, "Can you clarify what this Abnormal Spot is?"

Qin Feng took a moment to regulate his breathing, enhancing the fusion of his blood with Source Qi. Seizing the moment, he began to educate the group on the realities of the apocalypse. "An Abnormal Spot is a spatial conduit formed between the Abyss World and Blue Star following the collapse of the Abyss World. It's through these enigmatic channels that all the monsters infiltrate Blue Star."

From his past life's memories, Qin Feng was aware that J City would see the emergence of 18 Abnormal Spots. Their presence signified the connection between the Abyss World and Blue Star.

Initially, these Abnormal Spots were structurally unstable, with entrances too small to allow anything but the most basic monsters through. Yet, as time progressed, the Spots would widen, creating more robust gateways. When that happened, the true apocalypse would begin.

Faces around him blanched. Some reached for their phones to call the authorities, only to find no signal.

Of course, there was no signal; Source Qi disrupted the electromagnetic waves in the air. Cell phones would soon become obsolete in the post-apocalyptic world.

Unlike the others, Wang Gang didn't attempt to call for help. He faced Qin Feng, his voice quivering, "Are you saying that once an Abnormal Spot appears, it will permanently exist on Blue Star, growing ever larger and never closing?"

"Yes," Qin Feng confirmed coolly, adding, "One such Abnormal Spot is right here in this resort. Those Devil Eye Ratmen outside emerged from it."

"Our luck is dismal. Given the resort's proximity to the Abnormal Spot, we're the first targets for these creatures until they've devoured us all."

"It's too horrifying. It can't be true!"

No sooner had Qin Feng spoken than a woman's cries of despair pierced the air. He instinctively turned to see Zhong Yanan kneeling beside a man with a gruesomely opened abdomen. Blood-soaked and stricken with grief, her face was the very picture of despair and sadness.

"Sadly, it's the truth."

Qin Feng gave her a silent look before turning to address the group. "Starting now, everyone needs to arm themselves with any available weapons. Both men and women must be prepared for combat."