C1 The Man with the Main Character Aura
In the twilight of a post-apocalyptic B City, a blood cloud stealthily obscured half of the sky. The air was thick with the stench of decay, carried by a chilling wind that swept into the distance. A murder of crows, their blackness blotting out the sky, descended upon a corpse that had long since rotted beyond recognition. The lead crow, with its scarlet eyes gleaming with a bloody sheen, surveyed its surroundings before letting out a series of raucous calls. At its signal, the flock began to flap their wings, frenziedly pecking at the putrid flesh.
On the outskirts of the southern suburbs, Chu Yue, drenched in blood, took refuge behind a crumbling wall. He swiftly attended to his wounds and bandaged them up.
"Mr. Chu Yue, are you alright?"
A tiny head emerged from the black backpack. The face was youthful and tender, belonging to a petite girl dressed in black and red, reminiscent of ancient attire. Her blood-red eyes shone like a crimson moon, and her silver hair, fashioned into twin ponytails with red bells, framed her face. A pair of small fangs peeked out from her lips, and a snowflake mark adorned her forehead.
This little one was Chuxue, a Sacrificer, or more precisely, a cheater with the power to regenerate and heal without the usual sacrificial cost. Chuxue was a girl of few words, often leaving strangers with the impression of an adorably mute charm. Yet, she was incredibly perceptive.
Chu Yue had always kept her existence a secret, for her abilities could place her in grave danger. Such power to regenerate and heal was formidable—so formidable that it inspired fear.
Chuxue retrieved several green capsules from her backpack and placed them into Chu Yue's mouth. He tilted his head back and swallowed them down.
"Don't worry, everything will be fine!"
Chu Yue affectionately stroked Chuxue's head.
"Mmm!"
Chuxue nodded, then coiled back into the safety of her backpack.
Chu Yue's eyes narrowed, his fists clenched in fury, "Damn it, that fool Zhao Loong actually fell for Zhang Zuosi's lies and forced me out of the base! Zhang Zuosi, just how badly do you want me dead?"
As a medic at the Survivor Base, Chu Yue never imagined Zhao Loong would take Zhang Zuosi's repeated provocations to heart, actually believing them and banishing him from the Survivor Base!
It's possible that Zhang Zuosi acted so ruthlessly because he was aware of Chuxue's presence.
If Chuxue's powers could fill the void required by the Sacrificer, then the Sacrificer could completely disregard the 'cost'.
With Chuxue present, the Sacrificer might operate without considering the 'cost'.
This could lead to problems.
However, this was merely a speculation by Chu Yue.
His eyes were icy as he fixed his gaze on the five men in windbreakers not far from the ruins, a surge of murderous intent flooding his mind.
"Damn it, if you're so eager to kill me, then prepare to lay down your lives right here!"
Chu Yue's intent to kill was palpable as he concealed himself behind the ruins' wall, waiting for the opportune moment.
...
Three months had elapsed since the apocalypse began, and during that time, Chu Yue had lived on the brink of fear and death.
These three months had only deepened his understanding of the horrors of human nature.
To survive, he realized, one must tread over the bodies of others.
The first month of the apocalypse was a period Chu Yue preferred not to remember.
Surviving in this post-apocalyptic world, overrun by the virus and zombies, was no small feat.
Death was no longer the ultimate escape but had become a symbol of weakness.
As the days of this brutal new reality increased, some of the lucky survivors began to stand out, marked by their agility or other extraordinary traits. Slowly, these exceptional individuals awakened to a potent Mutation Ability!
This Mutation Ability was known among the survivors as the Sacrifice.
It was akin to the biblical contracts between humans and demons, where one gains the Mutation Ability after the Sacrifice, at a steep price.
Yet, the Sacrifice's target was none other than the human body or an organ.
In the apocalypse, the Sacrifice was not a coveted gift but rather a 'blessing' forced upon them by a capricious 'God'.
Despite the Sacrifice's significant drawbacks, many still yearned for its awakening.
The Sacrifice represented power, authority, and the law of the new world order.
But the power gained from the Sacrifice was neither all-powerful nor everlasting.
For instance, Blackwater, the founder of the Survivor Base, is a prime example.
Blackwater awakened the Sacrifice, gaining Mutation Ability throughout his entire body.
After mutating, Blackwater could effortlessly disregard any infected individuals or Infection Beasts.
Zombies were mere ants to him!
However, the cost of Blackwater's Sacrifice was his very life!
He traded his life for a formidable and extraordinary Mutation Ability!
This kind of Sacrifice was a one-time use. Once activated, it signified that the Sacrificer had only three months to live!
The Sacrifice was inescapable and irresistible!
No one could predict the cost of awakening the Sacrifice. Some lost limbs, others their sight, and some paid with their lives to unlock the door to Mutation Ability!
...
A mere ten meters from Chu Yue's hiding spot, five men in trench coats were scanning the area with caution.
"Brother Tie, why do you think the boss suddenly went after Chu Yue? Isn't he a medical prodigy?"
"Exactly because he's a medical prodigy. With him around, Big Brother would never have a shot at taking over Zhao Loong's leading role at the base!"
"True, Zhao Loong is strong but dim-witted. Without Chu Yue as his right-hand man, Big Brother would've poisoned him long ago and taken over as the head of the base!"
"Enough chit-chat. Let's find Chu Yue, take him out, and head back to the base. This place gives me the creeps!"
"Sure, you're only comfortable when you're with a lady. Feel out of sorts away from the base, huh?"
"Kid, cut the wisecracks. This isn't within the base's sweep area. If we run into a Zombie Horde, I'd like to see how you handle it!"
"Brother Lei, don't freak me out. I'm not brave!"
"Quit the yapping, kid. Let's find Chu Yue fast, report back to Big Brother, and get out of here. I've got a bad feeling about this place!"
"Chu Yue's wounded; he couldn't have gone far. He's likely hiding in one of these nearby ruins. Let's split up and search. Once we find him, we'll finish him off and toss his body to the crows!"
The men in trench coats conversed briefly before dispersing to search in five different directions. As confidants of Zhang Zuosi, these individuals were far more complex than they appeared at first glance. In the post-apocalyptic world, firearms like handguns, while ineffective against Zombies or Infection Beasts, remained lethal to survivors. However, the cataclysm had rendered many guns unusable or scarce. Nonetheless, at least two of the five were armed.
After splitting up, Chu Yue deliberately exposed a corner of his black backpack to bait a man in a green trench coat who was less than three meters away. The man in green quickly deduced the backpack's owner. Suspecting Chu Yue was nearby, possibly concealed behind the ruins or having abandoned the backpack to flee, the man cautiously drew a silenced pistol and advanced towards the debris.
Chu Yue, observing this, stealthily retrieved a military dagger from a strap on his calf and circled to the opposite side of the ruins, positioning himself behind the man in green. With swift agility, Chu Yue's dagger sliced through the air, targeting a lethal point on the man's back. The strike was silent and swift.
Chu Yue's intimate knowledge of human anatomy allowed him to execute the perfect silent assassination, leaving his victim to collapse in shock and despair, life ebbing away without a sound.
This was not Chu Yue's first kill. His eyes showed no sign of sorrow or fear, only a fierce determination. After the silent takedown, Chu Yue donned the green trench coat, gathered the man's supplies and firearm, quickly tidied the scene, grabbed his backpack, and set off towards his next target.
The first pursuer was dead, but this deadly game of cat and mouse had only just begun. The remaining hunters were no ordinary foes; they were all military-trained and highly skilled.
However, the clever Chu Yue had quietly reversed the roles of hunter and prey!
They never imagined that Chu Yue had not only healed his previous wounds but had also stealthily eliminated one of their own.
From that moment on, the remaining four pursuers were fated to become the hunted, about to be killed.
For the true hunter had already sprung into action!
After acquiring the firearm and green windbreaker from the man, Chu Yue's efficiency and success rate in hunting soared.
The agility of the remaining four was no match for the disguised Chu Yue's surprise attacks.
The second tiger cub hunting Chu Yue, dead!
The man in the blue windbreaker hunting Chu Yue, dead!
The fourth was a bit more challenging. If Chu Yue hadn't been trained and wasn't a medical genius, he might have been the one lying on the ground!
The fourth, Brother Lei hunting Chu Yue, dead!
"Now, only Lu Tieh is left. This guy is much more cunning than Brother Lei!"
When only Brother Tie remained of Chu Yue's pursuers, a hint of hesitation crossed Chu Yue's face.
Lu Tieh was a bona fide retired special forces soldier, far surpassing the four who had already perished. Lu Tieh's skills were exceptional, and he was a master of counter-surveillance and marksmanship!
The five of them had brought two pistols in their pursuit of Chu Yue. One was with the deceased man in the green windbreaker, Li Lin, and the other was in the hands of Lu Tieh.
"No matter how difficult, he must be killed! Today, it's either his life or mine!"
Chu Yue steeled himself, gripping the pistol even tighter.
...
Before long, Chu Yue encountered Lu Tieh.
"Li Lin? What are you doing here?" Lu Tieh, seeing Chu Yue in the green windbreaker, paused, puzzled. Just as he was about to question further, he sensed something off. "Hmm? No, you're not Li Lin. Who are you?"
"Tsk tsk... Worthy of being Zhang Zuosi's most valued confidant. Brother Tie, you really are formidable!"
Chu Yue had anticipated that Lu Tieh would recognize him, but he hadn't expected his cover to be blown so swiftly!
Lu Tieh was indeed extraordinary!
"You... You're Chu Yue! It looks like you've already killed them, huh? They really were worthless!"
A flicker of surprise passed through Lu Tieh's eyes, but he quickly reassessed Chu Yue.
"Chu Yue, I can't tell if you're naive or so confident that you think you can kill me just as you did those four nobodies. Either way, I must say I admire you!"
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Lu Tieh narrowed his eyes and spoke to Chu Yue with a hint of indifference. In a flash, he drew his pistol from his waist and fired three shots at Chu Yue in the blink of an eye.
"Ah!"
Chu Yue had replayed this scenario countless times in his mind, but when the moment came, he still got hit by two bullets, despite dodging one!
Thankfully, both bullets hit non-vital areas.
As Chu Yue staggered from the impact, Lu Tieh clearly saw a transparent fishing line wrapped around Chu Yue's finger, stretching to a wall behind him.
On that wall was a hole perfectly aligned with Lu Tieh's heart.
Inside the hole was a loaded gun, its trigger tied to the fishing line!
"I am a man blessed with the protagonist's aura!"
"Die!"
As Chu Yue fell to the ground, he shouted and yanked the fishing line!
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Five consecutive shots rang out, reverberating through the area.
Blood slowly trickled from the corner of Lu Tieh's mouth. In his dying moments, he realized just how formidable Chu Yue was!
Such meticulous and terrifying planning, as if everything was within his grasp.
No wonder he was willing to gamble with his own life!
Zhang Zuosi, this time you've truly sealed your fate. You probably can't even fathom the kind of fearsome enemy you've brought upon yourself with your decision.
You'll end up like me, filled with endless remorse at the moment of death.
Lu Tieh died, his final moments marred by regret and fear, lying in a pool of his own blood.
