Strange Phenomenon

But the human body is a complex thing, and it takes time to fully absorb the power of these pills.

Through exercise, this time can be shortened.

In other words, by constantly fighting, attributes should still increase, but the increase may not be significant.

Bruce Roberts estimated that an increase of 5-8 points in each attribute should be the limit.

"Hey, Bruce Roberts, what are you thinking about?"

Cynthia Sanchez's voice brought Bruce Roberts back to reality.

Bruce Roberts snapped out of his thoughts and stopped overthinking.

Taking a look at the relatively safe corridor, he took a deep breath!

"Nothing! Let's go!"

Most of the monsters from the first and second floors had gathered on the third floor to chase the survivors because of the noise.

So, there weren't many monsters left in the corridors of the first and second floors.

Bruce Roberts encountered almost no obstacles from the third floor to the first floor.

After killing two low-level zombies and three lizardmen, Bruce Roberts grabbed two pot lids from the kitchen on the second floor to use as shields!

The three of them cautiously arrived at the first floor.

Closed the corridor doors!

Bruce Roberts led the two to the checkout counter, using it as cover, and casually surveyed the situation on the first floor.

The lobby on the first floor was now in ruins.

Tables, chairs, and benches were overturned, and glass shards were everywhere.

As far as the eye could see, there were no lizardmen!

There were only two mid-level black iron zombies and two sickle mantises that had evolved to high rank after feeding!

The sickle mantises didn't attack the living zombies.

The zombies didn't attack the living sickle mantises either?

This was a very strange phenomenon.

[Name: Sickle Mantis.]

[Level: Black Iron High Rank.]

"Another Black Iron High Rank?"

Bruce Roberts didn't have time to think about this. After glancing at the distribution of the monsters, he quietly said!

"Cynthia Sanchez, hand me the crossbow!"

Cynthia Sanchez obediently passed over the crossbow arrows.Bruce Roberts set aside the Andúril sword and took out the crossbow arrows, aiming at one of the sickle mantises as he whispered, "Cedric, take care of those two zombies! Be careful not to get bitten!"

"No problem, leave it to me!" Cedric grinned, raising the pot lid in his hand and whispering, "With a shield, it's not so easy to get bitten!"

"Okay!" Bruce Roberts nodded in agreement.

Although the pot lid wasn't a real shield, it could help block the zombies' attacks and buy some time.

For Cedric, who had enhanced his physique, this bit of time was enough for him to deal with the two zombies.

Bruce Roberts aimed the crossbow arrow at the back of one of the mantises' heads.

He took a deep breath.

"Ready..."

The two sickle mantises had evolved into Black Iron High Rank, slightly larger than the average ones.

But precisely because of this, Bruce Roberts found it easier to aim.

The bellies of the two mantises were bulging, clearly having overeaten.

Bruce Roberts even wondered if these creatures would evolve to bronze level after digesting the food in their bellies.

Fortunately, at this moment, the two mantises were dozing off in the lobby, completely relaxed and off guard.

Without hesitation, Bruce Roberts aimed at the back of one of their heads and pulled the trigger of the crossbow arrow.

Swish!

The arrow, with a swooshing sound, accurately hit one of the mantises' heads!

Hiss!

The injured mantis began to thrash around in pain.

Without wasting time, Bruce Roberts quickly withdrew behind the checkout counter and handed the crossbow back to Cynthia Sanchez.

The howling of the injured mantis attracted the attention of the other one.

At that moment, Bruce Roberts took a deep breath, dashed out from behind the counter.

"Die..."

Without further ado, he gripped his longsword and launched a wind blade at the other mantis.

Swoosh!

The fierce wind blade, accompanied by a powerful gust of wind, headed straight for the mantis, which was momentarily distracted by its companion's agonized screams.Even though it was a Black Iron High Rank creature, it was caught off guard by Bruce Roberts's wind blade.

The wind blade struck its body, sending it flying.

Seizing the opportunity, Cedric charged forward and engaged the two zombies.

Meanwhile, the mantis that was hit by Bruce Roberts's crossbow arrow in the head didn't die immediately!

It shook its head, struggling to support its body as it flew towards Bruce Roberts.

However, with an arrow lodged in its head and a full belly, it flapped a couple of times before falling from the air.

"Hey! Goodbye!"

Bruce Roberts smirked, swiftly maneuvering around the mantis with the agility of a human.

With a powerful swing of his sword, the bronze-ranked Andúril sword aimed straight for the mantis's neck.

Crack!

A head, covered in disgusting slime, rolled to the ground not far from Cynthia Sanchez.

The mantis, hit by Bruce Roberts's arrow and slowed down due to its full stomach, was unable to evade the attack, resulting in its decapitation.

Without pausing, Bruce Roberts immediately confronted the other mantis, which had been struck by the wind blade but not fatally injured.

Due to the resilience of a Black Iron High Rank creature, and the limited power of Bruce Roberts's wind blade, this mantis, despite bleeding and sustaining gruesome wounds, still posed a formidable threat.

The mantis wielded a saw-toothed sickle at least a meter long, incredibly hard and sharp.

However, Bruce Roberts showed no fear.

Evading the creature's attack, he swung his Andúril sword towards its right forelimb.

Swish!

The saw-toothed sickle collided with the Andúril sword, and without any suspense, snapped into two pieces.

"Wow... so strong!" Cynthia Sanchez exclaimed, astonished as she watched Bruce Roberts effortlessly sever the mantis's sickle.Bruce Roberts's sword is indeed exceptionally sharp.

 Not only did it pierce the skull of the large lizard monster earlier, but it also managed to sever the sickle of the sickle mantis.

The sickle mantis's saw-toothed sickle is known for piercing through flesh and cutting bones.

 The fact that Bruce Roberts's sword was able to easily sever it is a testament to its sharpness and Bruce's skill.

Perhaps Cynthia Sanchez's perception of Bruce Roberts's attractiveness has been influenced by their time spent together. 

In moments of danger and action, individuals often appear more admirable and attractive.

As Cynthia Sanchez rushes to search for the crystal, Bruce Roberts efficiently dispatches the remaining mantis, leaving it powerless to resist.

 With swift strikes, he pierces its skull from behind, ending its threat.

Cedric's successful handling of the zombies also brings relief to Bruce Roberts. 

With the immediate threats neutralized, he focuses on retrieving the crystal.

Cynthia Sanchez, using her intuition, locates the crystal within the mantis's head. 

Its distinct features, including its size and the darker markings under its wings, distinguish it as a Black Iron High Rank mantis.

Despite being of a higher rank, the mantis's slower speed and Bruce Roberts's enhanced physical capabilities allow him to outmaneuver and defeat it.