Bam!
Kweuk!
Bam!
No matter how many times Ji Woo was slammed against each pillar, he still stood up, fighting against the monstrosity of an ant.
Where Xuan lay bloodied, tears filling his eyes and pain sending chills through his brain, he saw Ji Woo get tossed across the room several times.
But the now half-beast, half-human didn't quit.
Ji Woo had activated his gene, making him more of a man-beast. His legs were that of a white-furred lion, as well as his hands—now white-furred claws.
"Stand up, Xuan. I'm getting exhausted. Don't you have someone waiting for you outside, Teras?" Ji Woo barely muttered before getting slammed against another pillar.
Kweuk!
"If I could just draw blood from you, it's enough antidote, so dieeeee!" Ji Woo roared.
The man-beast quickly ran on all fours toward the ant beast, dodging every laser attack thrown at him. Seeing this, the humanoid ant monster dashed at him as well.
Although Xuan felt his body wouldn't respond, he knew Ji Woo was right.
Ji Woo was desperately fighting against that monster to get a little blood—for Soo Jin. Just like him, he was here because of Xue Chen.
He was the only thing his sister had in life. Working day and night wasn't enough to feed them and send her to school, so Xuan made Teras his target—kill enough monsters to get rich.
For that, his body found a new will to survive. Almost as if picturing the smiling face of his purple-haired sister made his eyes extremely wet.
"I can't die... not like this. I... I can't leave Xue Chen behind."
With his right leg cut off, he struggled to crawl toward the altar, sweat and blood streaming down his face. He kept crawling, his severed leg leaving a trail of blood behind him.
Kaboom!
The collision between Ji Woo and the monster created a momentary earthquake around the room, sending dust and debris flying.
Both opponents interlocked in a test of strength, but as the Ant King noticed Xuan getting close, its eyes prepared for another laser.
"Don't you dareeeee!" Ji Woo yelled.
He slammed his face against the ant's eyes, causing the lasers to tear the ground apart. Ji Woo received a fatal, bleeding wound on his forehead.
Before Ji Woo could regain his stance, the Ant King had already grabbed his throat and then sank its poisonous claws through Ji Woo's heart.
By this time, Xuan had reached the altar. He stretched out his hand and was able to reach the purple egg, but then he heard something hit the floor hard.
It was Ji Woo's body. Ji Woo had died, his trousers ripped to shorts, and blood escaping the bare chest of the dead Ji Woo.
"Ji... Ji Woo..." Tears rolled down Xuan's eyes. He didn't want to die, but the situation wasn't giving him much of a choice.
The Ant King had only one target left. It walked menacingly toward Xuan.
Looking at the altar, the egg was gone.
Xuan licked his lips. He had eaten the God Gene. But then, he picked up the almost-cracked blade beside him, resting against the altar with the bloody sword facing his opponent.
"You dared mess with me. I am Xuan Chen, you bastard... You... You—"
Before Xuan could continue, the ant monster roared tremendously—so loud and fierce that its falling wings spread like wildfire.
The aura was overwhelming enough to send fear down the spines of those weaker than it—those like Xuan Chen.
Then, it began walking toward Xuan. The gene was taking time to develop, and Xuan was going to die soon. His miserable life flashed before his bloody face and watering eyes.
But the Ant King didn't pity him. Its mandibles were already clapping together as if saying it would chop off Xuan's head.
What Xuan didn't expect was the Ant King picking up a sword as well. It was already in front of him. Xuan could see his own frightened face, mixed with tears, blood, and a running nose.
"I don't... I don't want to die. Please... please just give me a second chance," Xuan muttered.
Then he saw it.
A notification appeared on the blue interface.
-[You have obtained a God Rare Gene]
-[Evolution Path Obtained]
-[To Complete The Gene Development; Player Must Die]
That was the last message Xuan saw before his head was cut clean from his body, rolling on the floor like the others in the room. It was a massacre.
—————————
Sitting quietly at his table, Mr. Shuang filled out paperwork from various hunters and also managed the organization of hunter leagues.
His office was more of a mini room, with a couch, a flower vase, and a TV. Two hunters were also stationed in front of his door.
Brz! Brz!
Shifting his attention, he picked up his cellphone almost immediately.
"Mr. Shuang, you were right about us abandoning the God Gene raid."
"What happened, Jun?" he asked, then stood up to face the transparent window glass.
"Sir, it was a massacre. Top guilds were killed. Also, sir, a hunter from the China League was there."
"China League?"
"Yes, sir. We barely found him alive. He was the only one who survived the massacre. Every other one in the raid was mostly beheaded."
"Do you know anything about the hunter?"
"No, sir, but his registered power level is making it impossible for me to believe he's alive. He's at exactly 100, sir."
"Who is it?" Mr. Shuang asked, wanting to know the man behind the legendary raid.
"Sir—"
Before Jun could reply, the network disconnected.
But Mr. Shuang was a bit relieved to know that whoever the young man was, he was alive.
Yet something else had him smiling.
"Hope."