Chapter Twelve: Twin Tails

This was a row of connected two-story buildings. Shen Lie gave his surroundings a quick, cursory glance, then moved to the parapet to observe below. Before long, his gaze fell upon the enormous black cat hurling itself furiously at the three spider abominations.

It was clear the black cat harbored a deep grudge against these spider creatures. The specifics were beyond Shen Lie’s knowledge, but the scene unfolding before him was nothing short of perfect. The more fiercely the two sides fought, the happier he was; ideally, they would both be gravely wounded, allowing him to swoop in and reap the spoils. The largest spider might very well contain a crystal!

Crystals were a kind of mineral Shen Lie had discovered within the bodies of spider monsters. The higher the grade of the spider, the larger and more vividly colored the crystal. Not all spiders possessed them, however; ordinary ones rarely did, and even then the crystals were barely the size of a fingernail. Higher-ranked spiders, on the other hand, had a much greater chance of housing these treasures.

Whether these crystals were useful to others, Shen Lie couldn't say. But after fainting in the underground hall, he had absorbed fragmentary memories from the golden liquid in his dream. With time, he had managed to decipher a cultivation method lingering in those memories—Bloodboil Technique—which allowed him to convert the energy within the crystals for his own use.

By chance, he had obtained several crystals during his time in the other world, and that was the source of his current strength. He believed that if he could secure a steady supply, his abilities would leap forward in a short time, making survival in this apocalypse infinitely easier.

With that in mind, Shen Lie abandoned any thought of leaving immediately. He concealed himself behind the rooftop parapet, watching intently. His curiosity about the black cat only grew; by observing its combat style, he might glean some insight into post-mutation animal behaviors—a valuable reference should he encounter similar threats in the future.

The black cat’s yowl suddenly turned shrill. With a roar, it sprang at one of the smaller spider monsters, its powerful paw crashing down on the creature’s carapace with predatory force. The speed was astonishing—almost too quick for the eye to follow.

Shen Lie’s lips twitched involuntarily at the sight. He was intimately familiar with the spiders’ agility, and knew them to be extraordinarily nimble. Yet, this one hadn’t even a chance to dodge. The black cat’s speed must be truly terrifying.

“If it hadn’t been for the cramped quarters in the hotel earlier, I’d never have stood a chance against this cat,” Shen Lie thought, cold sweat prickling his back. He’d actually entertained the notion of hunting the black cat before—how naive that had been.

The smaller spider monster was sent flying by the cat’s blow, collapsing in a heap and showing no signs of recovering. The display didn’t frighten the remaining two; instead, it only enraged them, especially the largest. At the sight of its subordinate being struck, it let out a furious, screeching cry, raising its front claws high as they glowed with a sinister crimson light.

The great spider’s power was on another level entirely. Even from the rooftop, Shen Lie could feel the oppressive force of its gathering attack. The black cat, too, seemed to sense the threat, its demeanor growing taut with seriousness. Shen Lie watched, unblinking; he recognized the signs of the spider’s rampage—the prelude to its ultimate technique. He was eager to see how the black cat would respond.

“What’s this?”

Shen Lie’s eyes widened in disbelief. The black cat shifted slightly, its tail arching high, and before his astonished gaze, a second tail sprouted beside the first!

“A two-tailed black cat?” Shen Lie swallowed hard, genuinely intrigued now by the cat’s abilities. The aura alone set it apart—if even a fraction of this world’s animals mutated so dramatically, humanity’s prospects would become even bleaker.

The second tail was white and hadn’t grown as large as the first; it protruded just a short way before ceasing, as if still developing. But even this stub was enough to unnerve the great spider, which began emitting sharp, threatening cries, its claws glowing an even deeper red.

With a whoosh, the great spider unleashed its attack first, swinging both claws and sending two arcs of dark red energy slashing through the air in a cross.

But the black cat was ready. The white tail flashed, and a radiant glow enveloped the cat’s body. The spider’s crimson blades struck the shimmering barrier, as if blunted by some unseen force. The shield quivered but held firm, until the red blades dissipated harmlessly. Then the black cat counterattacked.

Both the black cat and the giant spider were visibly drained after unleashing their trump cards, but the spider was clearly worse off. Under the cat’s protected assault, it was beaten back relentlessly, soon driven to the edge of the street, pinned against a wall. As for the two lesser spiders, they were no threat at all—one still hadn’t risen, and the other, cowed by the black cat’s presence, lacked the courage to engage.

Seeing the three spider monsters on the verge of annihilation, Shen Lie was already pondering how to secure their crystals when a chorus of shrill screeches suddenly echoed from the far side of the street.

At the sound, both Shen Lie and the black cat’s expressions changed. The cat abandoned its hard-won victory without hesitation, darting away at lightning speed—gone from Shen Lie’s sight in a few agile bounds.

Now it was Shen Lie’s turn to grow grim. Escape was out of the question. Judging by the cacophony, at least a dozen more spider monsters were converging. If he descended and was discovered, he’d be devoured with nothing left behind. After a brief hesitation, he decided to stay put.

His choice was wise. Moments later, a swarm of spider monsters flooded into view—at least twenty, among them a colossal specimen, unmistakably formidable.

Yet, after some form of communication, the horde failed to notice him and instead charged off in pursuit of the black cat’s escape route.

Only when the spiders had vanished completely did Shen Lie finally relax, exhaling deeply. His first day back on Earth had been truly eventful. He had thought himself safer upon returning, but in the tidal wave of the apocalypse, nowhere was untouched.

“Hm?” As Shen Lie was scanning the street below, he suddenly noticed a lone spider monster that had been left behind—the one struck aside by the black cat’s paw. It now lay slumped in a corner, its condition unknown.

Shen Lie knew enough of spider monsters’ habits to realize they cared nothing for injured or dead kin; the others would not return for it.

With his survey complete, Shen Lie quickly left the rooftop and made his way down to the second floor, then descended to the street.

With a swift motion, he drove his black spear into the spider’s back, prying open its carapace and confirming its death—had it been alive, its defenses would have been far stronger.

If the spider had produced a crystal, it was most likely beneath the armor. Shen Lie jabbed twice with his spear, and a pale yellow crystal rolled into view. Elated, he snatched it up and hurried back inside.

As he pondered his next steps, toying with the yellow crystal, Shen Lie felt his luck had finally turned. Most ordinary spiders yielded this pale yellow variety, but this one was larger than any he’d found before—enough for another session with the Bloodboil Technique.

Unconsciously, he found himself back on the second floor. He paused, surprised, then shrugged it off. His original plan had been to leave via the rooftop—better visibility, and from his observations, spider monsters weren’t especially adept climbers. Staying off the street would reduce the risk of being surrounded. With over twenty already appearing, who could say how many more might show up?

He no longer wished to linger in this place, nor did he have any heart left to search the town for survivors. Once he left, he would head straight for the outskirts. But first, he needed a map—knowing his exact location was essential to choosing the right direction.

He flicked a switch, unsurprised when the lights remained dead. With spider monsters running rampant, basic infrastructure like power and communications was bound to have collapsed—who even knew if the power plant was still staffed?

The sun was dipping westward. Shen Lie realized he needed to move quickly; once darkness fell, the dangers would only multiply. He searched the house again, but found nothing of value, so he pushed open the door to the room where the big black cat had been.

“Who are you?”

The moment the door swung open, Shen Lie tensed, entering a state of full alert, his eyes fixed warily on the room’s interior as he spoke in a low, commanding voice.