Chapter 32: Confrontations and Consequences

Meanwhile, inside the lavishly appointed restroom of the Zhongyuan apartment lobby, a peculiar gathering of tenants had taken place. 

The spacious area, meticulously designed with discerning guests in mind, boasted an array of toilet cubicles that catered to their privacy and convenience.

As one stepped into the restroom, a palpable sense of pristine cleanliness permeated the air. The marble flooring, flawlessly polished, stretched across the expansive space, reflecting the soft glow of the overhead chandeliers. 

The walls, adorned with tasteful artwork and decorative accents, exuded an ambiance of refined luxury, enveloping the room in an atmosphere of opulence.

However, the idyllic facade of luxury was shattered within the confines of the restroom. Chaos reigned, with severed hands and limbs strewn haphazardly across the floor. 

The once-immaculate tiles were marred by crimson stains, a testament to the violence that had unfolded within these walls.

Within this disarray, six sleek and modern toilet cubicles stood, each boasting a contemporary design that harmonized with the overall aesthetic of the restroom. The doors, crafted from frosted glass, provided a delicate balance between privacy and elegance. 

Upon entering, one would discover the surprisingly generous dimensions of these cubicles, affording guests ample space to attend to their personal needs.

However, this haven of comfort had been transformed into makeshift holding cells for the unconscious tenants who had engaged in a fierce battle with Jin moments earlier.

Their injuries were grievous, their bodies bearing the unmistakable signs of the violent encounter. Among them, Wang Mei's headless corpse and Lao Yan's corpse were being covered with white clothes.

Just moments before, as both Chen Ying and Lian Jung pursued Jin, who had selfishly and greedily sealed off the entrance to the basement, they were abruptly interrupted by a series of growls and thunderous footsteps. 

Instinctively, they retreated, their hearts pounding with fear and uncertainty, leaving them to wonder about the source of these unsettling sounds.

Merely five minutes elapsed before a horde of Blood Salves, their numbers seemingly endless, descended upon the main gate, sending waves of panic coursing through the group. 

In a desperate bid for survival, they hastily sought refuge within the confines of the restroom, converting it into their last line of defense.

As the rest of the tenants engaged in a fierce battle, barricading the door and utilizing their powers to their fullest extent, Chen Ying found herself unable to tear her eyes away from her corpse.

It was a harsh reality, as she thought Mei Leng could fully heal or revive her beast friend after she came back from comforting Jin to try getting weapons.

Her eyes hollow and lifeless, but then she instantly snapped back. She was not a young girl anymore, despite losing one of her best friends and feeling her heartache. She bit her lower lip with such intensity that the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.

Meanwhile, Mei Leng, a middle-aged woman known for her healing abilities, darted from one toilet cubicle to another, tending to the injured occupants with unwavering determination. 

Each time the radiant white light enveloped a wounded body, a visible transformation took place. Whether it was a subtle twitch or the receding redness that signaled the closure of an open wound, the effects of Mei Leng's healing power were undeniable.

"Professor Chen!" a woman's voice called out, muffled by the heavy double doors made of luxurious, polished wood. 

Zhang Mei, Liang Jun, and Yang Jie strained with all their might, pushing against the weight that threatened to seal their fate. 

Liang Jun, being the only male present, exhibited slightly more ease in his efforts, although the task remained arduous for all three. 

Their faces, pallid and marked with a sheen of perspiration, were etched with a mixture of hope and trepidation. Their trembling hands betrayed their anxiety, while their once-beautiful features now bore the burden of worry. 

None of them had anticipated being thrust into such dire circumstances, a testament to the capriciousness of fate, which had disregarded their social standing and economic status.

Nevertheless, despite their discomfort and discontentment, how could they dare to complain? In the grand scheme of events, they counted themselves fortunate to have avoided injury at the hands of the selfish and despicable security guards.

"Alright!" Chen Ying cast a worried glance at Zhang Mei and Yang Jie, their slender hands now bloodied and marred by torn skin and jagged nails, yet resolute as they strained against the door. 

Blood trickled through their fingers, a testament to their unwavering determination.

Taking a deep breath, Chen Ying closed her beautiful, piercing blue eyes, shutting out the chaos around her. 

In that moment, she directed her focus inward, immersing herself in her own abilities. Almost instantly, a translucent white screen materialized before her mind's eye, displaying the coveted skill she had acquired.

[Telekinesis (Active): Allows the user to manipulate objects with their mind. The skill enables the user to move, lift, and control objects within a certain radius. Mana Consumed: 5 points per use.]

This was her hard-earned reward, a result of successfully answering the enigmatic questions that had challenged her and her fellow tenants. 

Each member of the group had already honed the basics of their supernatural powers in the aftermath of their initial disaster, but now, faced with a dire situation, their true capabilities would be tested.

With a swift motion, Chen Ying's eyes snapped open, revealing a determined gaze. A multitude of slender white threads materialized, connecting each of the six toilet cubicles.

Using every ounce of her willpower, she commanded the objects to obey her telekinetic prowess.

"Move!" she roared, her voice thunderous and filled with unyielding resolve. The strain of manipulating these hefty objects was evident, manifesting in her pale complexion and the bulging veins on her forehead. 

Nevertheless, she persevered, defying the burden that threatened to overwhelm her body.

...

Under the shimmering silver light of the moon, a scene unfolded outside Zhongyuan Apartment that would have sent shivers down the spines of even the bravest souls. 

The air reverberated with the eerie sound of flapping wings as the membranous skin of numerous Level 5 vampiric bats rustled in the night. 

Their ominous growls resonated through the sky, a chilling symphony that sent a clear message of impending danger.

With cunning intelligence, the vampiric bats surveyed the entire apartment complex from their aerial vantage point. They observed the frantic movements of countless Blood Salves, their shadows casting an eerie dance upon the ground below. 

Like an army of ants drawn to sugar, they scaled walls and infiltrated through broken windows, leaving no place untouched by their relentless advance.

However, the Level 5 vampiric bats, astute in their observations, detected a sudden resistance emanating from the tenant groups within the building. 

Just as they prepared to intervene, a thick metallic scent permeated the air, assaulting their sensitive nostrils and heightening their predatory instincts. 

Ears twitching, their crimson eyes instantly darted towards a corner of the apartment where a path descended into darkness, already teeming with the presence of numerous Blood Salves.

Curiously, the absence of any return from those who had ventured down the path intrigued the vampiric bats. 

Instead of emerging, the remaining Blood Salves on each floor were inexplicably drawn to the tantalizing aroma of fresh blood, their frenzied footsteps echoing through the corridors as they rushed towards the mysterious depths of the building.

In response, the Level 5 vampiric bats growled in displeasure, their unsettling voices carrying a mix of frustration and annoyance. 

Yet, they maintained their position in the sky, silently observing the unfolding situation with an air of detachment, seemingly unaffected by this perplexing turn of events.

As if struck with an overpowering sense of trepidation, one of the Level 5 vampiric bats, with its massive body resembling that of the Flying Golden Fox, a mutated creature of extraordinary size, stiffened. 

It dared not raise its head to gaze upon the blurry, colossal figure looming on the ground below. 

For a fleeting moment, the mysterious entity cast its eyes skyward, as if contemplating the vastness above, before finally turning its gaze toward the basement's dimly lit corner.

With deliberate, measured steps, the enigmatic figure commenced its slow approach, each footfall sending a shiver down the spines of all who bore witness. 

The air seemed to grow heavy with an unspoken presence, as if the very essence of darkness had descended upon the scene. The figure's form remained indistinct, a silhouette shrouded in an impenetrable veil of mystery.

...

Within the confines of the basement, a gruesome tableau unfolded before Jin's eyes. Countless Blood Slaves, their features twisted with feral desperation, resorted to utilizing their razor-sharp fangs and claws in a futile attempt to breach the impenetrable iron security shutters. 

Yet, despite their efforts, an uncanny occurrence took place—the lower portion of the shutters, seemingly closed, revealed a hidden opening, allowing the cunning Blood Slaves to contort their bodies and slither through from beneath.

However, their entry into the basement was met with a swift and lethal response. In an instant, their heads were obliterated, their lives extinguished without mercy. 

The corpses of the fallen Blood Slaves obstructed the path, effectively sealing off the method of entry for their comrades. 

Yet, to the bewilderment of those present, the lifeless bodies were gradually dragged away, as if manipulated by an unseen force, but with an eerie slowness that defied normal perception.

[You have successfully killed a Tier 0 - Level 1 Blood Slave!]

Jin, calmly sipping from his soda can, had strategically positioned a chair near the security shutters. In a display of lethal precision, he dispatched one of the Blood Slaves that had managed to slip through the opening. 

The scarcity of ammunition rendered his gun impractical, but his resourcefulness knew no bounds.

"Easy," he remarked with a self-assured smile. It was evident that these gaps in the security shutters were deliberately created by him, a means to exploit the situation and harvest experience points. 

No matter how cunning some of the Blood Slaves appeared to be, their intelligence was limited, and Jin exploited this weakness to his advantage.

"But I hope they all fall for this trick," he mused, his lips curling into a mischievous grin. With a swift gulp, he downed the remainder of his soda can in a single swig. 

Fuelled by his formidable strength, which now reached an impressive 50 points, his fist lashed out, crashing through another gap in the shutters. 

Blood splattered, and eyes rolled out in a macabre display of violence, a testament to Jin's relentless pursuit of power.

[You have successfully killed a Tier 0 - Level 2 Blood Slave!]

[You have successfully killed a Tier 0 - Level 3 Blood Slave!]

[You have successfully killed a Tier 0 - Level 1 Blood Slave!]

[You have successfully…..

"Heheh, the increasing levels of Blood Slaves must mean they have consumed a substantial amount of human blood, right?" Jin pondered aloud, his thoughts momentarily interrupted by the image of a woman flashing in his mind. 

However, his joy gave way to a furrowed brow as he contemplated her existence. 

Would the Blood Slaves also evolve their intelligence through continued killing? Or was she a unique case? Perhaps she had become one of them as a result of some special reward.

"Argh, it's complicated," Jin muttered, shaking his head and easing the furrowed lines on his brow. At that moment, he couldn't fathom the intricacies of her transformation or her peculiar connection to the bloodsuckers.

Meanwhile, as the relentless killing spree persisted, a growing number of Blood Slaves appeared to catch on to the trick, their grim satisfaction evident. 

Unbeknownst to them, however, peril lurked just beyond their newfound entry point. While the Blood Slaves reveled in their success, Jin, too, found joy in the collection of magical crystals and the thrill of each kill.

…

Ten minutes elapsed, yet the relentless tide of Blood Slaves attempting to enter through the gap showed no signs of abating. 

Jin's happiness grew with each subsequent wave, his fervent wish for all the Blood Slaves to converge upon him. 

"This is a bug!" he exclaimed with unabashed delight, surrounded by piles of magical crystals that accumulated behind him. 

"I wonder how long I'll have to wait for a Level 5 vampiric bat!" He shook his head, but his eyes shimmered with unwavering hope, eagerly anticipating a new challenge and the rewards it may bring.

Unlike the Blood Slaves, Jin was well aware that the Level 5 vampiric bats possessed a higher level of intelligence. They were the progenitors of the mutation, having evolved from their original bloodline. 

No matter how many Blood Slaves he encountered, their rewards paled in comparison to what awaited him from the Level 5 vampiric bats.

RUMBLE!

Suddenly, amidst Jin's farming spree, the entire basement trembled, causing him to almost lose his footing. A smirk formed on his lips. 

"They're here!" he exclaimed, his excitement palpable. The temptation to tear through the security shutters and face the impending challenge head-on tugged at him, but a flicker of caution stayed his hand.

It would be foolish to disregard this advantage. However, lingering doubts persisted in his mind. "Is the security iron door sturdy enough to withstand their power?" he wondered aloud. 

Yet, before Jin could reach a decision, the robust iron door, much to his astonishment, developed a gaping hole large enough for his entire body to pass through.

The sight left him dumbfounded. A head, sporting a menacingly elongated mouth, breached the thick iron security shutter. Jin's eyes widened in disbelief as he beheld the seemingly impossible.