As Elizabeth’s words fell, the ghost-faced spiders surrounding Zhang Chen immediately retreated like a tide. Their movements were orderly and synchronized, clearing a small open space around the ghost-faced spiders controlled by Zhang Chen.
Hiss…
The spider queen and the small spiders likely shared a form of telepathy. These small spiders could react to Elizabeth’s thoughts. Therefore, it was too easy for her to identify him, an anomaly. It was highly probable that she had discovered Zhang Chen the moment she appeared. The reason she hadn't immediately exposed him but rather meticulously arranged everything in front of him before locking him into a combat state was likely due to Elizabeth’s absolute confidence in defeating Zhang Chen, or at least being able to stall him!
Once the ghost-faced spider tide erupted on the other side and consumed the survivors, a large amount of energy would flow into her. At that point, even if she and Zhang Chen fought to a draw, she could instantly reverse the situation. As long as Zhang Chen couldn't return to the camp, victory was assured.
"Hello, leader of the world's number one organization! I didn't expect you to have also evolved a mental control skill. However… I wonder who has the stronger ability between us?" Elizabeth looked at Zhang Chen with a smile.
Buzz~
In an instant, Zhang Chen felt a ringing in his ears. His vision began to blur. When the scene before him cleared again, Zhang Chen had returned to his own body. What he didn’t know was that the ghost-faced spider he had controlled in the distance had already exploded, its death a gruesome sight.
Squeak squeak squeak~
Continuous sounds echoed from all directions around Zhang Chen. Having lost the spiders’ vision, Zhang Chen’s observable range was now only a little over three meters. He, Bai, and Er Pang stood back-to-back, awaiting the attack of the ghost-faced spider army.
Squeak squeak squeak… squeak squeak squeak…
The cries of countless ghost-faced spiders erupted around Zhang Chen. Within three meters, he could even see their spider legs and sharp fangs. Without a doubt, Zhang Chen was surrounded. However, these ghost-faced spiders did not attack, merely milling around Zhang Chen. The squeaking continued to surge, flowing from the direction of the plaza and then gradually receding in waves…
No, these little spiders are not targeting me, but the camp! If these tens of thousands of little spiders charge into the camp simultaneously, coupled with the sudden explosion of those parasitized by the insect eggs… The camp, facing an attack from both inside and out, would suffer heavy losses! Every person lost from the camp now would make Elizabeth stronger. This battle cannot be delayed; it must be a swift victory, and we must disrupt the opponent’s plan by surprise! For now, at least, these ghost-faced spiders cannot be allowed to leave from under my nose so easily! Zhang Chen thought to himself.
"Dad, can we play now? Bai is impatient!" Bai said, wearing full gloves and a specially donned calm mask.
"Wait a moment, Dad will set off some fireworks, and then we'll start!" Zhang Chen said, pulling out a plastic lighter and tossing it onto the ground nearby. Then he took out his pistol. This was the first handgun he had acquired when he came to the apocalypse, and he had kept it ever since. It used to be for self-defense; now it was a memento.
"We're setting off fireworks? Great!" Bai exclaimed excitedly, clapping his hands.
Zhang Chen aimed the muzzle of his gun at the lighter.
Bang!
As he fired, a golden barrier instantly enveloped Zhang Chen, Bai, and the small-sized Er Pang.
[Divine Shelter]!
The barrier seemed alive, perfectly shielding the two and the wolf. The barrier's edge clung tightly to the fangs of the ghost-faced spider swarm just three meters away.
Bang!
Another explosion echoed.
Rumble!
The lighter's explosion produced an open flame, igniting the surrounding dense fog! Blinding flames instantly filled all vision, making it impossible to open one's eyes. The powerful explosion triggered a chain reaction of explosions within the fog zone. Puffs of black smoke, mixed with the smell of scorched ghost-faced spider remains, billowed skyward. The ground trembled violently as if an earthquake had struck. All the window panes of the surrounding buildings shattered instantly, and the buildings were ignited by the flames and heat of the explosions. All the vegetation in the park instantly turned to charcoal. The thick, dense forest was reduced to burning black wooden sticks of varying thickness in an instant…
The explosion consumed the nearby oxygen, forming a low-pressure vortex. A strong wind ensued, and the surrounding air surged into the fog. A second, even more terrifying explosion was imminent! Zhang Chen's expression became grim…
At the same time, he witnessed a puzzling scene. Some of the ghost-faced spiders outside that hadn't died immediately began to cannibalize each other. They attacked ferociously, biting off the heads of their companions with a single snap. What were they doing?
Zhang Chen didn't have much time to comprehend what was happening…
Boom!
The second, more violent explosion arrived. Zhang Chen recalled news reports of a cigarette butt causing a dust explosion in a flour mill, completely leveling the entire factory. Now, this dense fog not only reached the critical point for a dust explosion, but there were also countless flammable spider silks on the ground and in the air. The secondary explosion pushed this fireworks show to its climax!
Looking down at the entire Pingze City enveloped in fog, an explosion occurred at a single point, igniting flames. Subsequently, these flames began to burn and explode along the bowl-shaped fog layer, engulfing the surroundings and the sky above Pingze City in a blaze. Then, the fierce power of nature pushed strong winds towards Pingze City, instantly dispersing the fog. The flames burned around Pingze City, forming a ring of fire with a width ranging from one to several kilometers. Within this burning ring, tens of thousands of ghost-faced spiders were scorched into charcoal, then slowly transformed into a mist and rose into the air. The white mist and dense smoke intertwined and mingled before gradually dissipating after a long while…
At this moment, the [Divine Shelter] in front of Zhang Chen also shattered. A golden light shot towards Zhang Chen, forming a protective armor on his body’s surface. The explosion was even more violent than Zhang Chen had anticipated. Fortunately, before the second explosion began, Zhang Chen had activated Soul Burn at level 9 and then re-activated [Divine Shelter]. Otherwise, Zhang Chen would have been unable to withstand the powerful explosive impact force, which was strong enough to destroy a city. Even so, he sustained several abrasions, and the armor covering his body was still emitting wisps of hot steam…
Done for, one strike killed tens of thousands of ghost-faced spiders! Looking at the automatically collected data… Zhang Chen suddenly understood why those spiders began to bite each other during the explosion interval… This spider queen… is indeed a formidable opponent!