Chapter 84: Racing Against Time

The Frog Demon was the most powerful of all first-level evolved creatures sent by the Kaya civilization. Though its body was not particularly large—indeed, it was about the size of a human—its combat prowess was formidable. Its name, translated by the invading civilization from its sounds and colors, belied its true nature; its mode of attack closely resembled that of the Razorclaw Insect Tribe. It possessed razor-sharp forelimbs, a thick, muscular tail, and even its spine jutted out like the blade of a sword-backed dragon, capable of slicing enemies apart with a single movement.

This creature was a true blade master.

When the Frog Demon spotted Qin Hao, it naturally would not let him go and gave chase with incredible speed. Yet its swiftness was nothing compared to Qin Hao, who had reached the third stage of evolutionary advancement. It simply could not keep up.

But just as Qin Hao was sprinting ahead, he suddenly came to a halt and turned to face his pursuer.

The Frog Demon accelerated, its eyes brimming with murderous intent. The two sharp, elongated blades that were its forelimbs slashed toward Qin Hao. Any foe struck by those blades would be instantly decapitated.

In that critical moment, Qin Hao produced a weapon of his own—a transparent sword etched with snowflake patterns.

The Abyssal Frost Sword.

Brimming with icy energy, the sword drifted lightly across the Frog Demon’s body. In the next instant, its form was sheathed in frost, suspended motionless in midair, its posture stiffening before it suddenly toppled to the ground.

A muffled thud sounded, not like flesh hitting the earth, but more akin to a statue crashing down. The Frog Demon’s body had split cleanly in two, yet not a drop of blood flowed—it simply lay there, lifeless.

A cascade of Star Crystals spilled onto the ground, nearly a hundred in number.

Qin Hao had no time to gather the Star Crystals; he had no need of such things. The most urgent task at hand was to hunt down the Voodoo Demons.

Though Qin Hao left the spoils behind, several humans, hidden and trembling in the shadows, witnessed everything.

“The flesh of that creature will surely make me stronger. I’m so close to becoming a first-level evolved. Now that these alien monsters have appeared, if I don’t become powerful, how can I go on living? How will I protect my family?”

“No, please, don’t go!” pleaded a woman.

“Dad, it’s too dangerous!” cried a child.

The man concealed in the darkness finally steeled his resolve. He rushed out, seizing half the Frog Demon’s corpse and grabbing a handful of Star Crystals before fleeing back to safety. Three young women also darted out to claim the other half of the body. The two groups exchanged a knowing glance but swiftly returned to their hiding places.

As they divided the Frog Demon’s flesh, their hearts were filled with gratitude for the hero who had slain the monster. They did not know who he was, but they remembered him, hoping to repay him one day.

Qin Hao sensed his Hero Points increasing. Since killing alien monsters no longer earned him Hero Points, these were all the more precious. Someone must have witnessed his battle and was silently thanking him.

He did not dwell on it and soon located the Voodoo Demon.

At that moment, the Voodoo Demon was scaling a tall building—an office tower, to be precise. With the success of the Sky Dome Base, many heroes had chosen office buildings as their strongholds, and in this city of commerce, there was no shortage of such towers.

Having been away from the city for some time, Qin Hao was unfamiliar with the local factions that had formed. In fact, this very building had been the stronghold of a hero—one who had perished thanks to the ludicrous schemes of Lu Shaohua.

The Voodoo Demon climbed rapidly along the outer wall, finally finding a weak spot and slipping inside.

A crash of breaking glass rang out as the creature entered the tower’s interior, following the scent to the stairwell and beginning its ascent.

Survivors within the building cried out in terror.

“It’s coming up! It’s coming up!”

“Guard the stairwell!”

“All civilians, evacuate through the other exit!”

A handful of first-level evolved shouted orders, then nervously took position at the stairwell, bracing for the Voodoo Demon’s arrival.

Just then, a shriek echoed from below.

Qin Hao had intercepted the Voodoo Demon in the stairwell. If it were allowed to reach the humans, the consequences would be unimaginable.

“Ice!”

A sheet of frost quickly formed in the air, sealing the Voodoo Demon’s path. The creature flew into a rage, but before it could turn to retaliate, Qin Hao unleashed his next power. The steel railings twisted and stabbed into the demon’s body.

The Voodoo Demon screamed, emerald blood splattering across the floor. It turned, glaring at Qin Hao with venomous hatred, and spat a cloud of toxic mist at him.

“Come, fire!”

Qin Hao brought his hands together, and a torrent of flames burst forth. The demonic gene fragment from the Flame Demon allowed Qin Hao to command fire itself—now, as a third-level Mind Evolved, he could conjure any power at will. Even if there was no fire in the air, it mattered not; with the force of thought and Star Energy, flames would arise inexhaustibly.

In an instant, fire surged toward the Voodoo Demon, engulfing it in a raging inferno.

The creature shrieked again and again, but was soon reduced to ashes.

The Star Energy shrouding the Voodoo Demon dissipated, coalescing into Star Crystals that fell to the ground. This time, Qin Hao gathered them with a thought, and left a message scrawled on the wall.

After Qin Hao departed, the survivors above waited a long while before venturing into the corridor. There, they saw the traces of frost and fire.

Someone gasped, “There’s writing on the wall.”

“Green toxin will turn humans into zombies. Burn it at high temperature.”

“Green toxin? Zombies? My god!”

“It came from that monster. Quick, bring fire, burn away all the poison—inside and outside the building. Seal off this stairwell; from now on, no one is to use it. Take the other emergency exit.”

The survivor base bustled with activity, their gratitude for their savior overwhelming.

Even the evolved among them, who knew that heroes could collect Hero Points by saving others, could not help but feel deeply thankful. When one’s life is saved, gratitude is the first instinct, regardless of what may come after—whether apathy or betrayal. Few remember a savior for a lifetime; but a moment’s gratitude and awe is enough.

Qin Hao roamed the city, hunting down Voodoo Demons. His power was now leagues above what it had been during the first disaster, when he had to grow step by step. Now, he towered above these predatory creatures.

His only purpose: to annihilate every last Voodoo Demon.

In two hours, Qin Hao had slain twenty-one Voodoo Demons, clearing the city of their presence at last.