Chapter 544: Killing Through Attrition
Wei Dinghai had tried to ambush the wounded Yuan Kongye, hoping to steal her Superhuman Core.
But he had underestimated her.
Even in her weakened state, she was still terrifyingly powerful.
With just one attack, she killed him instantly.
The sight shocked everyone watching from the ruins.
Even injured, Yuan Kongye was far beyond their level.
They werenât Zhang Yiâthey didnât have limitless resources, and they certainly didnât have his insane spatial defense.
Zhang Yi might have been untouchable, but she could wipe them out like insects.
After disposing of Wei Dinghai, Yuan Kongye quickly fled into the distance.
Zhang Yi pursued at a leisurely pace.
As he walked, his gaze swept over the survivors hiding in the ruins.
He smiled and said, "Everyone, Yuan Kongye is severely wounded right now. If you want her Core, go ahead."
His voice was calm, but to the others, it dripped with mockery.
He was clearly ridiculing Wei Dinghaiâs foolishness.
A wounded Epsilon-level Superhuman was still beyond their reach.
Of course, even though none of them dared to act, they had all been thinking about it.
Silence filled the air.
Everyone knew they stood no chance against Zhang Yi.
After scanning the crowd one last time, Zhang Yi smirkedâthen vanished through a spatial jump, continuing his pursuit.
He wasnât in a hurry.
Because time was on his side.
Yuan Kongye couldnât kill him.
And he couldnât kill herâyet.
But they were both human.
She needed rest. She needed food.
And nowâshe was blind.
No sleep. No food.
No matter how strong she was, she would eventually break.
Meanwhile, he had everything he needed.
He even had military-grade stimulants to keep himself awake and alert.
This was a battle of endurance.
As Zhang Yi and Yuan Kongye disappeared into the distance, the survivors finally exhaled in relief.
Slowly, they emerged from their hiding spots.
Baili Changqing stared after Zhang Yi, his expression complex.
"In the end⊠heâs the biggest winner."
If Zhang Yi absorbed Yuan Kongyeâs Core, he might immediately ascend to the Epsilon level.
At that point, he would become the strongest Superhuman in Jiangnan District.
And when that happenedâthey wouldnât even be able to stand in his shadow.
Baili Changqing scratched his head.
"The Captain wanted him to join our team back thenâŠ" He laughed bitterly. "But if he did now, heâd probably be our leader."
Explosives expert Ye Jikang walked over, his face serious.
"But why do I feel like⊠this was all part of his plan?"
"We were all his chess pieces."
Baili Changqing glanced at him, then sighed helplessly.
"Maybe we were. But what choice did we have?"
"He was one step ahead of us."
He had no resentment toward Zhang Yi.
As long as the outcome was good, and their mission was accomplished, he had no reason to be bitter.
Because without Zhang Yi, they never would have uncovered the secrets of the Followers of the Snow God.
If their mission had failed, the entire Jiangnan Districtâmaybe even all of Chinaâwould have been doomed.
"Itâs just a shame about the Captain⊠Maybe⊠he couldâve lived longer."
A shadow of grief flickered in Ye Jikangâs eyes.
Bian Junwu had been their pillar of strength.
His death was a devastating loss to the team.
Baili Changqing fell silent.
Could they blame Zhang Yi?
If Zhang Yi hadnât been involved, maybe Bian Junwu wouldâve lived a little longer.
But they all knewâhis body had been deteriorating for a long time.
Even without Zhang Yi, he wouldnât have lasted much longer.
And at leastâhe had died in battle, going out in a blaze of glory.
Perhaps⊠that was the best ending for him.
Meanwhile, Yuan Kongye was still running.
She knew she couldnât beat Zhang Yiâbut she was determined to outlast him.
But she was blind.
Her body was falling apart.
She needed to find a place to heal.
She had dozens of abilities, including several healing powers.
If she could just find some time, she might be able to cure herself.
But she wasnât alone.
She could feel his presenceâ
The cold, predatory gaze watching her every move.
Even without seeing him, she knew he was there.
Waiting.
Like a vulture, circling a dying animal.
Zhang Yi wasnât in a hurry.
He kept his distance, just watching.
Every time she tried to stop and rest, he fired an Origin Bullet, forcing her to keep moving.
And if she turned back to fight himâ
He would simply teleport away, dodging her attack.
Each time she used her abilities, her condition worsened.
Meanwhile, Zhang Yi would just sit somewhere, pull food from his Dimensional Space, and quietly eat.
This was like breaking a wild eagle.
He had even injected himself with a military stimulant.
It kept his body alert and his mind sharp, allowing him to stay awake for three days straight.
He could wait.
And when it was finally overâ
He would claim the greatest prize of all.
The Superhuman Core of an Epsilon-level Superhuman.
The concentrated power of dozens of elite Superhumans.
With thatâhe would ascend.
Yuan Kongye stumbled through the snow, her body barely holding together.
Her vision was completely gone.
All she could do was run on instinct.
On the second day, she somehow managed to find a supermarket buried in the snow.
But just as she was about to enterâ
A rocket flew in from the distance, striking the store dead center.
BOOM!
The explosion obliterated the building, incinerating all the supplies inside.
Yuan Kongye was numb to everything now.
But after an entire day without food, desperation finally began to creep in.
She turned around, her lifeless gray eyes staring into the distance.
Atop a small hill, Zhang Yi stoodâ
A rocket launcher on his shoulder.
A wisp of smoke curled from its barrel.
His expression was playful.
And the scent in the airâ
Was the scent of despair.
Yuan Kongyeâs face was blank.
She lifted a hand, summoning a raging blizzard, aiming to bury the entire mountain in ice.
Butâ
No matter how powerful the storm, it couldnât touch him.
Two massive Dimensional Gates surrounded him in a triangular formation, shielding him from everything.
"Nothing can touch me."
Zhang Yi looked at her calmly.
"You still havenât given up?"
"Everyone you cared about is dead."
"Your parents are dead. Zheng Yixian is dead. The tens of thousands of followers of the Snow Godâyou led them all to their deaths."
"And now, youâre alone."
"Even if you had won, you wouldâve been alone."
"Every single person died because of you. Do you really feel no guilt?"
"Because the truth isâ"
"The one who shouldâve died firstâ"
"Was you."
Author's Note