"Bang!" The door was violently struck from the outside.

"Crack!" A hand, covered in green scales, brutally pierced through the door. Soon after, a second hand followed suit. The two arms flailed wildly, tearing at the door like electric saws, quickly carving out a large opening.

Through the gap, a half-beast youth crawled inside. Gao Yang immediately recognized him—it was the village's literary youth, Ah Zhi.

His eyes bulged grotesquely beneath his glasses, showing only eerie whites. His face was contorted, savage, dripping with a ravenous slime. Half of his body had already forced its way into the room. "Human... human, human, human..."

"Bang!" A bullet shot through his eye.

"Ahh—" He let out a howl of agony.

A sharp Tang blade pierced through his gaping mouth, slicing through his throat. Ah Zhi convulsed for a moment before going still.

"Zzt!" As Qing Ling withdrew the blade, a streak of blood splattered across Wang Zikai's face.

Wang Zikai stood frozen in place. Though he had been the most vocal earlier, it seemed the reality of combat wasn't as thrilling as he'd imagined.

"Don't just stand there!" Officer Huang shouted at Wang Zikai.

Jolted, Wang Zikai snapped back to his senses.

"Die!" Wang Zikai kicked Ah Zhi's body, which was wedged in the doorway, sending it flying outside. For a young beast, Wang Zikai's strength was truly astonishing.

"Boom, boom, boom—" More beasts charged from the courtyard, slamming into the door.

The already fragile and damaged door could no longer hold, collapsing with a thunderous crash. Three half-human, half-beast villagers clambered over the fallen door, ignoring their kindred Wang Zikai, and lunged toward Qing Ling and Officer Huang.

"Bang!"

"Slash!"

The sound of gunfire and flashing blades filled the air. Blood sprayed in all directions. The beasts on either side fell, while the one in the middle was caught by Wang Zikai in a bear hug. His arms swiftly morphed into massive, bronze "iron pincers."

With a roar, Wang Zikai squeezed, snapping the beast's spine in a crisp series of cracks. The beast let out a dying wail, its jaws opening wide to reveal red fangs, which sank savagely into Wang Zikai's shoulder.

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"Arghh—" Wang Zikai screamed in pain.

"Bang, bang, bang!" Three consecutive shots rang out, piercing the "Fanged Beast's" skull. Its head jerked back violently, blood spurting forth as it went limp.

Realizing the beast in his arms was dead, Wang Zikai released it with labored breaths. The creature slumped to the ground, gradually reverting to human form—it was none other than Fan Jie, the woman who had once served them tea.

Wang Zikai's shoulder was shredded, his skin torn apart, blood pouring from both his own wounds and those of his enemies.

It was Wang Zikai's first time killing a beast, and a torrent of emotions—exhilaration, fear, rage—flooded his mind. His reason, fragile at best, snapped in an instant.

"Arghhh!" Wang Zikai let out a long howl, his muscles swelling across his legs, chest, and back, transforming into a coarse, bronze-colored skin, resembling a more handsome version of the Hulk.

Outside, countless beasts surged forward, scrambling to get inside. Wang Zikai rushed headlong toward the swarming "beast horde."

"Stop!" Gao Yang shouted, but Wang Zikai couldn’t hear him.

Alone, Wang Zikai charged outside, fists and feet flying. One punch shattered a beast's skull, one kick sent another soaring. He rampaged through the horde, cutting a swath of destruction, utterly lost in the frenzy of battle!

Wang Zikai's power exceeded everyone's expectations—he felled seven or eight beasts in one breath. But he was still outnumbered. More beasts piled on him, like ravenous wolves attacking a lion. They latched onto his body, biting and tearing, until they overwhelmed him, burying him beneath a mass of writhing bodies.

The remaining beasts bypassed the pile and surged into the house, where they were cut down by bullets and blades. Yet their numbers were overwhelming, and the defensive line formed by Officer Huang and Qing Ling was on the verge of collapse.