Forced Breakthrough

Rip.

Slash.

Tear.

Scratch!

My mind and eyes were muddled by flesh and blood as I focused on my cultivation. The energy in my body was going uncontrollably wild and I could tell that the virus is taking advantage of it. It's all thanks to the additional virus that I got from Wu Yan. If it weren't for it, then I would have taken the reins of my raging self sooner than later.

Well, all I could say was that it was worth trying it out. Wu Yan is now completely without the virus. As for my party, I figured they would be able to get to safety now that I'm taunting each and every rabid human here.

From all around me, the rabid humans clawed and tried to grab me by my appendages but I was too nimble for their liking. Of course, there were some Screechers who managed to sink a bite because some of them were Stage-Five's.

And that's a bit problematic.

Every time I suffer a bite from a rabid human, my body becomes more and more uncontrollable. If I stayed longer here, I don't think I'd live to see another day. If I'm not careful, the virus might completely take over my mind with no chance of me getting it back.

But I'm stuck inside a horde with my escape routes cut off. So... it's not like I have any other choice here. I might as well fight to eliminate as much as I can before I get an opening.

Everywhere I look, my sight is filled with the rotten faces of rabid humans with their mouths gaped open. It's like they are willing to sink their teeth into anything if they find a suitable host. My hands and feet were like a flurry of punches and kicks as I tried to get away from them while I tried to regain my control.

Technically, I wasn't the one controlling my body. Right now, it's on autopilot mode and it seems like my body didn't want to get away from here.

<Ti-ring!>

<You've leveled up!>

"Yeah, right now's not a good time. I'll check my stats later." I told myself, refocusing my concentration towards my Virus Qi Core and Original Core which are both running rampant. As for the System, I could tell that she's also working hard on her end.

However, no matter how much we tried, it was impossible to take control of my mind. Even my consciousness feels like it's slipping away from my mind instead of closing in on it.

"System, any progress?" I asked, gritting my teeth in my consciousness.

"No, the Virus is too strong! I don't think we'll be able to survive this one, Yongrui!" The System responded in a panicked tone.

"So, if we go by your words, that means I should be able to overcome this if I'm stronger than the Virus, right?" I asked.

"Are you thinking about breaking through to the Sixth-Level of the Spirit Realm? No, you can't do it now!" The System screamed. A brief feeling of concern emanated from her voice.

I've already made up my mind, however.

"Yes, that's the only case. There's a risk that I might completely lose to the Virus but if we don't do anything now, then I'd just die sooner than later. At least, if I managed to successfully break through, my Qi Core should get bigger, and such would be the case for the Virus Qi Core as well. Well, of course, that doesn't guarantee my safety but it's worth the try. It also increases the chances of regaining my mind back."

"You got it right but... sigh~" The System trailed off. "I'll assist you in stabilizing your Qi Cores once you finish the breakthrough. Just... don't die in the middle of it. I don't want to disappear into oblivion as well, just like what would happen to you if you can't take control of your mind."

"I'm ready."

Amidst the blood and gore in my midst, I decided to relax as the prompt appeared in my mind.

<Do you want to break through to the Sixth-Level of the Spirit Realm?>

<Yes/No>

Click!

.....

Liu Zhi's POV

As the head of the party, I was responsible for the safety of both Wu Yan and Blade. And even if I weren't, I'd still hold myself accountable if anything bad happens to them.

That's why when Wu Yan was bitten in front of me, I felt hopeless. I thought that it's just about time before all of us would succumb to our gruesome deaths.

It was unexpected... totally unexpected. I thought that the spores encompassing the atmosphere were the only thing I should keep in mind. Who would've thought that a horde was waiting in ambush outside.

But miracle of miracles, Yong Rui, our newly-found member, managed to get rid of the virus inside Wu Yan's body. And not only that, he sacrificed himself just so the three of us could get away from that hell of a place. As the leader of the party, I can't help but compare myself to Yong Rui who was all the man that I wasn't.

Strong and resolute, there's no other way to describe him. He's like an impenetrable wall against the horde of zombies.

"How's Wu Yan?" I turned back and asked. We were able to find solace by the edge of the forest and there, we await Yong Rui's glorious return.

"It's been two minutes. She still didn't show any signs of turning. Whatever Yong Rui did, it worked." Blade simply answered. He was constantly checking Wu Yan's temperature but it didn't rise up.

"Is it the Blood Element? Or maybe he knows some other technique that could purify the blood?" I asked myself before my sight wandered towards Yong Rui once again.

There he was, surrounded by the Horde just as usual. But this time, he seemed to be struggling. He had already suffered countless bites all over his body but he relentlessly continued his attack.

Swish!

Suddenly, I heard a noise from behind me, making me inadvertently turn around.

"Man, why are you just standing here. Shouldn't you help that young man over there?" That person asked.