"Gunfire?"
Hearing the intense gunshots ringing out from the distance, Chu Xun's face immediately grew grim.
Although in this age where supernatural abilities reign supreme, the status of firearms had been steadily declining, the power of high-caliber weapons could still not be underestimated. Even a low-tier awakened with supernatural powers would be in grave danger if struck by such firepower—one careless mistake could lead to severe injury, or even death.
However, what truly made Chu Xun wary wasn't the guns themselves, but the chaotic and frantic nature of the shooting. While he wasn't an expert in firearms, he could still tell that the sheer intensity and disarray of those gunshots could not have come from just one or two weapons. And for a group of armed shooters to be so panicked, all firing at once—it could only mean their target was something truly terrifying.
Realizing this, Chu Xun's expression became even more serious. Without hesitation, he gripped his weapon tightly and began heading in the opposite direction of the gunfire, taking the Xenomorph with him.
After the incident with the wild girl, Chu Xun had learned one crucial lesson: never stick your nose where it doesn't belong.
His decision turned out to be wise. Not long after he set off, he faintly began to hear shrill, agonized screams coming from the distance. At the same time, the once-chaotic gunfire gradually died down, eventually ceasing altogether with one final, bloodcurdling scream.
There was no doubt about it—those shooters had been completely wiped out.
The thought sent a chill down Chu Xun's spine, and he quickened his pace. Whatever creature had decimated that group of armed men was certainly not something he could afford to face at his current strength.
Fortunately, with the Xenomorph now acting as his personal bodyguard, his journey forward had become significantly smoother. Every time a zombie appeared, the Xenomorph would spring into action, dispatching it with lightning speed and then devouring the corpse.
At the same time, Chu Xun was finally able to confirm something important: the Xenomorph could indeed grow stronger by consuming zombies. After devouring seven of them, its body had clearly grown larger. Though it still wasn't the monstrous size seen in movies, including its tail, its length had already reached around 1.5 meters.
In other words, its size had increased by 50% in less than an hour!
That was an astonishing growth rate.
After nearly an hour of fast-paced travel, Chu Xun finally arrived at the stream he had been searching for. The sight of the crystal-clear water flowing through the creek immediately lit up his eyes, and he rushed over with renewed energy.
He was currently covered in layers of dried zombie blood, which reeked to high heaven. While he had gradually grown used to the stench, there was no reason not to clean up if he had the chance.
Splash!
With a dull splash, Chu Xun leapt into the shallow stream, which only came up to his calves. The icy water sent a shiver down his spine, but the refreshing sensation that followed made him cry out in delight.
Meanwhile, the Xenomorph stood dutifully at the stream's edge, keeping watch. Unlike Chu Xun, its smooth exoskeleton allowed any splattered gore to slide right off. So even after slaying over ten zombies, it remained sleek and spotless.
"Ahh, that's the stuff!"
After rinsing off the blood, Chu Xun scooped up mouthfuls of water to drink. The sweet taste made him cheer once more.
He had to admit—since the fall of human civilization, nature had been making a comeback. In the old days, he never could've imagined drinking such pure, sweet spring water.
However, had there been a seasoned hunter nearby, they would have immediately warned Chu Xun that his behavior was courting death.
Not because the stream was poisoned, but because it was too clean. A crystal-clear creek like this was bound to be a water source for many creatures. And this close to a danger zone, that was a red flag.
Hissss!
Chu Xun was about to learn a painful lesson from his inexperience. While he played and drank in the stream, the Xenomorph by the shore suddenly let out a warning hiss—but didn't immediately strike. Clearly, even it had sensed something dangerous.
"What is it?"
Alerted by the hiss, Chu Xun immediately grabbed his battle blade lying beside the stream and tensed up.
Moments later, in the nearby woods, large and muscular shapes began to emerge—slowly advancing in Chu Xun's direction.
The forest outside the city was teeming with zombies, a result of countless people dying in the wild. But zombies weren't the only predators out here.
There were other, far more terrifying creatures.
Creatures even more dangerous than zombies—some of which even hunted the undead. And if they encountered humans, they certainly wouldn't mind switching up their menu. After all, fresh human meat was far tastier than rotting flesh.
Among these predators, one of the most common and dreaded was the fearsome creature now creeping toward Chu Xun—mutant hounds.
Dogs were far more susceptible than humans to viral infection and mutation. After the Great Cataclysm, nearly all canine species mutated. A minority turned into zombie dogs, but the majority simply underwent extreme physical changes—becoming larger, stronger, and more savage.
Even worse was their reproductive capability. According to reports, a single mutant bitch could give birth 1–3 times a year, producing 2–5 pups per litter. And considering that dogs had once been the most common household pets, their sheer numbers now made them one of the most feared and ubiquitous predators in the wild.
Especially because they hunted in packs.
"Damn it, what the hell were these mutts eating to grow like this…"
Seeing the ever-growing number of mutant hounds emerging from the woods, Chu Xun's face turned grim.
Most of them were Chinese village dogs—"tu gou" as they were called. But these tan-colored "mutts" were nothing like the ones Chu Xun remembered. Now, they were monsters.
Mutant hounds were typically 2–5 times larger than their pre-mutation counterparts. The ones Chu Xun now faced were all at least 1.5 meters tall at the shoulder, with massive, muscular builds that looked like canine versions of Schwarzenegger. Their metallic fangs gleamed like daggers—leaving no doubt that a single bite would spell disaster.
These hounds had clearly tasted human flesh before. As they stared at Chu Xun, saliva dripped from their gaping maws. But they were also wary of the Xenomorph. So rather than charging in, they began to fan out—forming a semicircle as they slowly closed in.
At this point, their behavior was more wolf than dog.
"Shit… looks like it's do or die time."
Staring at the encroaching pack, Chu Xun's eyes narrowed in determination.
Mutant hounds were even more dangerous than zombie dogs. They were smarter, more cunning, and knew how to coordinate as a team. If Chu Xun had been alone, he'd already be dead. There was no way he could outrun or outfight this pack on his own.
But now, with the Xenomorph by his side, there was still a glimmer of hope.
Fortunately, the pack wasn't massive—about a dozen hounds in total. While they would still be hard to deal with, if he could manage to kill a few, the rest might retreat.
After all, they were mutated—not brain-dead. The instinct for self-preservation should still be intact.
The only question now was—how to hit them hard enough to make them back off?
"Awoo!"
Before Chu Xun could come up with a strategy, the hounds lost patience. With a wolf-like howl, one of them—a towering brute nearly two meters tall at the shoulder—lunged at him with terrifying speed.
Hisssss!
At the same moment, the Xenomorph let out a piercing screech. Its powerful hind legs launched it like a black lightning bolt straight at the attacking hound.
Mutant hounds versus the Xenomorph—
A blood-soaked battle was about to erupt!