Cui Zhiyan instinctively shielded Xiumin behind her.
But Xiumin, this time, did not obediently hide behind Cui Zhiyan as usual.
Instead, she looked coldly at the person in front of her.
No one noticed that a sharp, small knife was hidden in her sleeve.
Bai Hanlin remained silent, quietly observing the scruffy man.
To describe it as simply "looking" wouldn't be accurate.
The word "observing" would be more fitting.
Bai Hanlin was quietly observing the scruffy man.
His gaze quickly swept over the man, much like a doctor examining a patient.
Soon, he arrived at a conclusion.
The person opposite him possessed the strength of an intermediate Awakened, specifically with a genetic evolution focus.
After the painful loss of his loved ones, Bai Hanlin had not succumbed to despair.
Instead, he began to leverage his medical expertise to furiously observe, dissect, and analyze infected individuals and deceased survivors.
Through extensive clinical trials.
He had developed the ability to roughly discern an opponent's strength, attack patterns, and other such information just by looking at them.
However, the scruffy man paid no attention to these details.
His eyes continuously drifted between Cui Zhiyan, Zhao Xiyue, and Xiumin.
Drool was almost dripping from his mouth.
He seemed to be contemplating whom to target first, or perhaps, how to take them all down at once.
The scruffy man completely disregarded Bai Hanlin.
He and a newcomer were pursuing a fleeing civilian convoy.
Anyone with combat capability had been deployed to reinforce the defense line; there was no way anyone significant would be left behind here.
Therefore, without a doubt, these were merely rear-echelon personnel like doctors and nurses.
However...
These professions were utterly unnecessary!
Because soon, everyone in the military base would perish.
Even the most skilled doctor couldn't revive the dead, could they!
Die, and don't get in my way!
The scruffy man drew his ice spike and lunged directly at Bai Hanlin.
*Swish!*
*Hiss!*
He was the third strongest individual in the organization.
Thus, he was extremely confident in his strike.
However, all he felt was a chill at his wrist as his attack missed.
"Hm? You're also an intermediate Awakened? I seem to have underestimated you!"
The scruffy man retracted his weapon and looked at Bai Hanlin with a sneer.
"I'm a doctor!"
Bai Hanlin emphasized.
"So what if you're a doctor? Should I kowtow to you?
This is the apocalypse, even the President would die here!"
The scruffy man's form suddenly surged, and he attacked Bai Hanlin once more.
The previous strike was due to underestimation.
This time, the scruffy man was serious.
His strength was at Stage 2 of an intermediate Awakened, a full stage above Bai Hanlin, giving him a complete advantage in power.
Bai Hanlin, knowing he couldn't dodge, decided not to.
He activated his [Energy Barrier].
He took the full brunt of the attack.
*Thump!*
Bai Hanlin was sent flying against the wall by the immense impact, then slowly slid to the ground.
The energy barrier had absorbed some of the damage, but the blow was too severe.
Bai Hanlin could feel his spleen rupturing, a potentially fatal injury.
At this moment, any movement or premature attempt to stand could put his life in grave danger!
He quickly covered the wound with his palm, and a white light then flared.
The wound quickly healed, preventing internal bleeding.
The treatment was timely. This skill was most effective for Bai Hanlin himself.
For those who lacked medical knowledge, they wouldn't even know where the problem lay, either in themselves or in another.
Without treating the exact spot, the skill alone would be futile.
"Again!"
Bai Hanlin slowly stood up.
If he had a health bar above his head.
The scruffy man would have been astonished to find that the blood bar, which had been halved moments ago, was now completely full.
"Heh, what a lunatic. Do you think you're some kind of hero?
Trying to show off in front of the women?
I'll indulge you!"
The scruffy man suddenly closed the distance and thrust his ice spike fiercely into Bai Hanlin's body.
The latter merely shifted his body slightly, avoiding a vital point.
After all, the speed difference between them was too great; completely evading the damage was impossible.
Concurrently, Bai Hanlin's hand patted the scruffy man several times.
*Gush!*
*Thud!*
Bai Hanlin was pinned to the wall, his feet hovering half a meter off the ground.
Blood slowly trickled from his wounds, dripping onto the ground.
The ice spike, while causing deceleration and sluggishness, also cooled the surrounding tissues.
However, it wasn't enough to freeze them, so it couldn't stop the blood from flowing.
Having immobilized Bai Hanlin with a single move, the scruffy man didn't stop there.
He suddenly crouched down and unleashed a barrage of punches and kicks to Bai Hanlin's chest and abdomen.
Finally, the scruffy man took a few steps back, then delivered a powerful flying kick to Bai Hanlin.
*CRASH!*
Bai Hanlin burst through the wall.
Shattered bricks scattered across the ground.
Bai Hanlin deactivated the energy barrier surrounding his body just as it was about to consume its last remnant of crystal core energy.
Ten crystal cores remained.
He couldn't afford to expend any more.
If he did, he would be unable to use his healing abilities.
But... his plan hadn't been realized yet.
Only one step remained!
"Heal!"
White light emanated from Bai Hanlin's hands.
He still chose to heal his damaged internal organs and abdominal muscles.
The ice spike in his chest had missed vital areas, and its chilling effect ensured the surrounding tissues wouldn't die immediately.
There was no need to rush treatment.
"Cough, cough..."
Bai Hanlin shakily stood up once more.
He had too many injuries; a single healing spell couldn't possibly mend them all.
Being able to stand was his utmost effort!
"Members of S13... cough... is that all the skill you have?"
"Your punches are as weak as a woman's!
Hahaha... cough cough... cough cough cough..."
Bai Hanlin's laughter aggravated his wounds, causing him to erupt into a violent coughing fit.
"What? You're still alive?"
The scruffy man was already preparing to make a move on Cui Zhiyan.
He hadn't expected Bai Hanlin to stand up again.
"If you had played dead and sneaked away while I was enjoying myself, you might have had a chance!
Now that you insist on ruining my mood and standing up to seek death... don't blame me!"
Bai Hanlin had thoroughly enraged the scruffy man!
If Bai Hanlin were allowed to stand again, where would his pride be?
If other members found out later, wouldn't they laugh him to death?
An elite fighting a lower-tier opponent for so long?!
So, he decided that this time, it would be a killing blow!
"[Rage]!"
In an instant, the scruffy man felt a surge of adrenaline!
Then, his skin began to turn red... oozing blood... *spurt!*
A large amount of blood erupted from the major arteries all over his body like a fountain.
"W-what's happening?"
"When did you...?"
"Stop, stop quickly!"
The scruffy man cried out in terror.
However... activating Rage was irreversible.
Unless the duration ended, it wouldn't stop...