Chapter 14: The Serpent Demon

The shape of the spatial black hole gradually expanded, reaching about one and a half meters in diameter. No one could predict what kind of creature would emerge. Qin Hao, however, already had a suspicion in his heart.

When the vortex finally stirred and a monster crawled out, Qin Hao was not surprised.

Serpent Demon.

This creature had neither hands nor feet; its entire body resembled a gigantic earthworm, smooth-skinned yet bristling with backward-pointing barbs. It lacked eyes, but possessed an enormous mouth, its diameter easily a meter and a third, like a massive tire—large enough to swallow a human whole.

The monster’s body slammed onto the ground with a heavy thud. When it opened its cavernous maw, the gape stretched to nearly two meters. The aura it exuded made every bone in one’s body tremble; it was the primal terror one feels when facing a beast, legs weak, breath rapid, strength to resist drained away—an intimidation born of overwhelming power.

Even Qin Hao, who had devoured the flesh of others to strengthen his own bloodline, found his breathing labored.

Before all four creatures had fully emerged, Qin Hao thrust his Star-Slaying Divine Weapon forward. His superb combat skills allowed him to pierce the serpent demon’s neck in an instant—the very spot where its cognitive center lay, akin to the human brain, its fatal weakness.

With a squelch, the long blade plunged in and swept aside, leaving a gaping wound.

Blood gushed forth in torrents.

The serpent demon tumbled out of the spatial black hole above, crashing onto the stage of the grand theater and leaving a crater in its wake.

Meanwhile, Zihui’s expression changed. Her pupils darkened to pitch black, lips tinged with purple and black, making her appear strangely bewitching.

In a flash, a jet-black light enveloped the corpse of the fanged giant demon.

Then, incredibly, the corpse began to move once more.

Zihui seized the creature’s mind, reviving it as her puppet.

Between the two, a semi-transparent black thread appeared—a manifestation of the ability Zihui had just pioneered: Psychic Control of Darkness.

With no more audience members to supply her with cognitive power, Zihui naturally resorted to more efficient means.

Boom! Boom!

The other three serpent demons crawled from the spatial black hole, launching themselves at Zihui and Qin Hao with astonishing speed.

Zihui found her eyes barely able to track their movements. She could only summon the controlled serpent demon to circle her, defending her from attack.

“Hach!” The serpent demon let out a strange cry. One lunged at Zihui, while the other two pursued Qin Hao.

Qin Hao began to run, the serpent demons in relentless pursuit. At that moment, the tendrils of his mind whirled into action.

The metal from the fixed seats, previously scattered across the floor, now transformed into long, sharp spears, their points leveled at the serpent demons.

Still chasing Qin Hao, the monsters paid no heed to this change. The first serpent demon smashed into the tip of a spear, gouging a massive wound.

It howled in pain, its thick tail thrashing wildly and sending chairs flying—the destructive force was astonishing.

Another serpent demon seized the opportunity, leaping up to bite at Qin Hao.

That dreadful mouth, bristling with razor-sharp teeth—even the thick tongue bore vicious barbs. A single lick could strip flesh from bone.

Qin Hao’s eyes tracked the creature’s movement. With a sudden leap, he dodged its attack.

The serpent demon missed its bite, but twisted its body and struck Qin Hao.

He felt a surge of immense force.

“Ah!” Qin Hao roared, muscles surging with power, his body slamming back against the beast.

Bang!

The collision echoed like two trucks crashing together.

The shockwave swept up dust in all directions, creating a blast of air. Qin Hao’s strength was great, but his body was smaller; under the pressure, he was sent flying.

Clatter!

A row of joined benches were smashed aside.

Fortunately, Qin Hao’s body was now as tough as an ox, suffering only minor pain to his flesh.

The serpent demon previously wounded by the spear seized its chance, lunging with its gaping maw—ready to swallow Qin Hao whole.

Inside the live broadcast room, viewers watched in horror, many unable to bear the sight, some averting their gaze.

Anxiety gripped them; some faces turned pale.

The monsters were simply too powerful. The trembling footage testified to the ferocity of the battle below.

Outside the grand theater, the survivors’ faces were just as pale. Holding their phones, they watched the unfolding fight, their hearts sinking.

If they had been present, such monsters would have torn them to pieces in an instant.

Yet, they wondered: why did that man and Zihui possess such strength? What had they experienced? Were these people superhuman heroes, hidden among ordinary folk, only emerging when the world faced annihilation?

Many theories abounded, but none could be proven.

At that moment, military trucks arrived, bringing better-equipped forces.

The command post had been hastily set up in a nearby high-rise. On the laptops, surveillance images flickered. Commander Bo Zhiyi swiftly issued orders.

Even if Zihui and Qin Hao seemed capable, their mission was to control the situation—not to wait for some anonymous hero to kill the monsters.

Qin Hao and Zihui were not just heroes—they were citizens.

Their duty was to protect the people.

Even at the cost of their lives.

It might sound absurd, but it was what they must do.

“Prepare for action.”

Soldiers in advanced gear, rifles at the ready, prepared to enter the hall.

But fans watching immediately intervened.

“No, you can’t go in!”

“If you go in, the number of monsters will increase—you’ll doom them.”

“Didn’t you see how powerful those monsters are?”

A voice came through the captain’s earpiece: “What’s happening?”

“Commander, these people say the monsters inside increase according to the number of people present. They’re telling us not to go in.”

“Do they have any proof?”

The captain turned to the fans. “The commander asks if you have any evidence.”

They faltered, unable to answer directly.

“It was that man inside who told us. If you go in, you’ll doom them. Think about it—when there were a thousand people present, there were just as many monsters, right? Now there are only four monsters. Isn’t that proof enough?”

“Commander, should we proceed?”

The captain awaited Bo Zhiyi’s response.

Bo Zhiyi frowned deeply, then finally said, “If we do nothing, what was the point of the nation training us? Prepare to attack.”

“Yes, sir.”