Chapter 87

The survivors were aiming their fire at what they believed to be the bloater’s vulnerable spot. And perhaps it actually was. The fastest way to kill the monster was likely to shoot it in the belly, causing the bloater to blow up. And the survivors kept firing at its paunch as they held their ground, allowing the massive monster to draw nearer and nearer. They were confident they could handle the threat well before it came within striking range. Only they were unaware of the mutant’s ability to explode. Had they known that, they would’ve made sure to stay as far away from the bloater as possible.

The bullets they fired drilled into the mutant’s huge belly with wet, sickening sounds, and the glow emanating from inside grew brighter, as if warning of an imminent danger. Since Jake didn’t know how big the explosion would be, he couldn’t allow the bloater to get any closer to the group, fearing they might be within its effective range. With one survivor already lost, he was determined to do whatever it took to prevent any further casualties. The outcome of his quest relied on it.

He sprinted toward the bloater, running through the barrage of bullets. He felt some of the shots punch him in the back, causing him to stagger but inflicting minimal damage on his hardened mutant body. Some of the bullets failed to penetrate deeply into his rigid carapace, becoming embedded in his obsidian-black flesh. They would be expelled from his body when the wounds healed. And the bullets that penetrated his body deep enough to reach the mana stored within him would soon be disintegrated by that magical energy.

The survivors ceased firing their weapons as soon as the monster’s belly was shielded by his frame.

“What the hell are you doing?” Frank yelled from behind. “Get out of our line of fire, you idiot. Aren’t you supposed to be half intelligent, dammit?”

Ignoring the group leader’s angry shouts, Jake swiped his claws at the bloater in front of him. His talon-like fingers racked the organic growth covering most of the mutant’s body, leaving grooves in its surface. While the four resultant gashes were long and deep, they began to close almost immediately. Judging by the speed at which they were healing, the wounds would seal shut within seconds. In that respect, the bloater was very similar to shamblers and whippers. Jake quickly assessed the mutant in front of him, looking for any vulnerable spots on its body not shielded by the protective layer. To his dismay, there were none to be found. Even its neck and half of its head were encased in the thick organic covering. Bringing down the bloater would be a time-consuming task. Causing the mutant to explode by targeting its belly would have been a quicker and easier way to kill it, but Jake couldn’t risk endangering or injuring his temporary companions.

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The bloater swung an arm at him, but Jake easily dodged the attack. Aside from its two special abilities, this elite mutant appeared to be relatively harmless, at least to Jake, being no match for his sharp reflexes. He unleashed a series of rapid violent slashes, tearing through the protective organic layer without giving it a chance to restore itself. At last, his claws cleared a section of the mutant’s chest, revealing its actual skin beneath. The bloater emitted a horse cry when Jake racked his claws across the vulnerable flesh of the mutant, causing it to bleed profusely. The bloater lurched toward him, swinging another arm as if trying to swat away a bothersome fly. Easily evading the blow, Jake kept slashing at the bloater’s exposed flesh.

From behind him, he heard one of the survivors shout a warning to the others. He swiftly glanced over his shoulder to see what the commotion was about. He saw the spells cast on the walkers to slow them down had just worn off, and now all the weaker mutants were advancing on the group at an accelerated pace. Noticing that Jake had engaged the bloater, the survivors shifted their focus to the swarm of walkers closing in on them from all sides. The bullets they fired ripped through their bodies, sending chunks of flesh flying and blood splattering everywhere.

The cacophony of sounds engulfed his senses. The sharp crack and chatter of gunfire mixed with the screams of mutants charging and dying, overwhelming his hearing. One of the survivors shouted something to the others, but even with his enhanced senses, Jake struggled to discern the exact words amid the clamor. When he was about to glance back to check on the group once more, he became aware of the sound of thundering footfalls approaching. Turning his head, he spotted a shambler charging toward him. Before he could react, the massive mutant was already dangerously close.

The shambler raised its massive arm, thick as a log, poised to strike him. He was about to dash aside, but it was already too late. He felt the mutant hit him with the force of a freight train, propelling him across the entire room. He crashed into one of the concrete walls with a force that dented it and caused a network of cracks to sprawl across its surface. If he had been a mere human, the collision would have shattered his spine and numerous bones in his body. However, as a morphus, he only felt a few minor cracks forming on his back upon contact. Other than that, the collision left him unscathed.

As Jake got back on his feet, he immediately became aware of a few things. First, encouraged by its successful attack, the shambler let out a triumphant roar before lunging at him once more. Second, the survivors must have noticed him being hit because they momentarily stopped firing at the mutants. They stared at him with various degrees of disbelief on their faces, clearly surprised to see he had not only managed to survive such a powerful blow but also seemed to have not received any serious damage. Third, he saw the bloater halt a few yards away from the group. Facing them, the massive monster arched its back slightly, opening its mouth wide as the glow from its belly intensified, growing increasingly bright.

The bloater was on the verge of unleashing one of its special abilities, preparing to spew a stream of acidic liquid onto the group of unsuspecting survivors.