A sigh escaped the lips of the survivors, who slowly rose from the ground.
"Where is this? It feels… different."
"Yeah, wasn't there a Soul Eater attack? Where are the Soul Eaters?"
"Why are so few of us left? Where are the strong ones?"
They exchanged bewildered glances, murmuring to each other.
"Given the strength of the powerful, they couldn't awaken at this stage. I suspect… we've fallen into reincarnation!"
"Just like those guys with the yellow rings on their hands. Except now, we are the strongest in this world!"
"Reincarnation has given us a new life, a chance to enter the ranks of the strong!"
The mustachioed man, Buck, said with a smile.
"Mr. Buck, you jest. You yourself are already strong, why would you need a chance to enter the ranks of the strong?"
A newly awakened survivor flattered him obsequiously.
"Me? Heh, there's still a gap between me and true strength. But after this, that gap will be gone!"
Buck smiled, his gaze drifting towards the direction Zhang Chen had disappeared.
"I wonder what his standing is among these survivors."
Buck had assumed all survivors in this world were weak. He had originally intended to keep everything for himself.
However, his recent fight with Zhang Chen had changed his mind.
If everyone else was as strong as him, it would indeed be troublesome.
He would need an army to guarantee victory.
"And…"
Buck conceived a better plan.
He knew the strength of everyone in the camp.
He knew who possessed combat power comparable to his own.
If he could awaken, it meant those people would also awaken within the next few days.
At that time, he would ambush them nearby. The moment these people awoke, he would strike them down.
By collecting their corpses, his own strength could advance further!
Buck's plan was flawless, encompassing both the original survivors of this world and those from reincarnation.
*Crash…*
Suddenly, the sound of crumbling stones and rubble echoed from the building across the street.
Following closely, Zhang Chen emerged, slowly brushing dust off his body.
Despite appearing somewhat disheveled, he bore no visible wounds.
"Hmm? You're not dead yet?"
"This truly surprises me!"
Buck said with mild astonishment.
"Brother Buck, who is this kid? Do you really need to deal with this kind of scum yourself? I can handle it!"
"That's right, I can too. From now on, we'll follow Brother Buck and live a life of ease!"
"Everyone, be quiet. Listen to Brother Buck's commands. Do as he says!"
The crowd lavished him with praise.
In the apocalypse, flattery was a crucial skill.
After all, when facing the strong, not only was one's freedom compromised, but their very life was in the other's hands.
Some had been killed on the spot by the strong for speaking their minds.
Such cases were not isolated; they were commonplace.
The strong were the law, the rules. Offending them was a direct path to death.
Thus, many were forced to set aside their pride and dignity, diligently learning to flatter. Sometimes, pleasing the strong could not only save their lives but also earn them rewards like equipment, bringing numerous benefits.
"You all move aside. This is my prey, and I need to stretch my legs!"
Buck smiled faintly and said.
Five or six awakened survivors quickly retreated into the alley, watching silently.
Buck's strength was absolute among this group, and he possessed an epic-grade energy talent.
Not only did he gain extra bonuses from picking up core crystals, but all his energy-based attacks also dealt double damage.
Had it not been for the Soul Organization's deliberate suppression of Buck, turning him into a mere tool for collecting core crystals,
Buck would likely have grown even more powerful than the members of the Soul Organization.
Therefore, in their eyes, this battle was a foregone conclusion.
It was purely Buck's solo performance, a demonstration of his power and the opponent's weakness.
"I don't know how you survived, but the fact remains that you cannot defeat me!"
"I'm offering you one last invitation: join me, become my guide, and I will treat you like one of my brothers!"
Buck spread his arms and said with a smile.
Simultaneously, six crystals appeared behind him.
Zhang Chen knew that Buck was just putting on a show; he was already prepared to kill him.
"You already have your answer, why the hesitation?"
"You're so much stronger than me, yet your full-power strike only stirred up some dust?"
Zhang Chen mocked him brazenly.
"This kid is crazy! He's going head-to-head with Buck!"
"Buck is extremely image-conscious. He'll blast this kid to smithereens for saying that in front of us!"
"Let's fall back. Buck's temper is notorious. It won't be safe standing this close when he gets angry…"
Everyone instinctively retreated over a hundred meters. Watching Buck's figure, now as small as a fingernail cap in the distance, they finally felt a semblance of safety.
"Very well, since you're bent on death, I won't let you die in vain!"
"Experience my true terror!"
Buck was indeed concerned about his image.
Furthermore, he still couldn't comprehend why his previous powerful attack hadn't killed Zhang Chen.
Not even a scratch had been made.
Regardless, he still had a crowd of followers watching.
This time, he had to ensure a one-hit kill.
Otherwise, his first battle after awakening, having dragged on for so long with a junior reincarnator, would make his earlier boasts utterly meaningless!
Such a thing absolutely could not happen!
"Soul Burn" Level 9!
"Aetheric Sublimation" Activated: Consumes a large amount of energy core crystals, increasing energy damage by 500%, and doubling the number of attack crystals!
Buck could normally summon a maximum of 6 crystals.
However, with "Aetheric Sublimation" activated, the number of summoned crystals instantly became 12!
Each crystal fired an energy attack equivalent to his own energy attack.
With this, combined with Buck's two hands,
it was as if 14 hands were simultaneously unleashing "Charged Strike"!
*BOOM!*
Blue flames instantly engulfed Buck's entire body, and faint blue sparks could be seen constantly arcing around him.
The energy field drew debris, fragments, and pebbles from the ground into the air.
Even the plaster on the walls of the buildings lining the alley was ripped away by this violent energy…
Then, a blinding beam of light shot out with immense force!
*VROOOOM!*
14 intensely dazzling energy projectiles streaked towards Zhang Chen.
The 8x damage increase from "Soul Burn" Level 9, combined with the 5x damage boost from "Aetheric Sublimation," and the concentrated power of 14 energy waves!
The final energy wave formed like a colossal golden python, slithering through the air, its massive maw gaping as it charged towards Zhang Chen!
"Die!"
Excitement flickered in Buck's eyes.