Chapter Eight: The Power of the Two Ghouls

“These ghouls seem to be attacking humans selectively… choosing vagrants and other targets who won't be easily missed…” Lin Lei’s eyes flashed as thoughts raced through his mind. Even though they were only the lowest grade of monsters, gathered together they still posed a considerable threat. The Investigation Bureau would never let them run rampant—this could only mean the Bureau hadn’t noticed them yet.

“These creatures may be more intelligent than I thought…”

Without betraying his intent, Lin Lei crept forward, slipping into the shadows beside the moonlit spot, both hands gripping his Tang blade tightly, his burning gaze fixed on the circular well hole above.

Suddenly—a thud!

Another dark figure was thrown down from above.

This time, it was a blood-soaked husky, whimpering pitifully and not quite dead.

And right after the unfortunate dog, two more shadows leapt down.

These two shapes bore humanoid bodies, but with canine heads and sharp claws!

“Ghouls, as I suspected!” Lin Lei instantly spotted their crimson eyes. Prepared long in advance, he thrust his sword out violently!

Decapitation would require cutting through the spine at the neck, a feat demanding even greater strength. Lin Lei still didn’t know how many more ghouls lurked above—he dared not repeat the same tactic!

He drove his sword forward!

With a sickening rip, the blade pierced flesh.

Long dwelling in the darkness of the sewers, ghouls had naturally excellent night vision. Yet, having just jumped in from the moonlit world above, and with Lin Lei’s own body exuding the scent of their kind, this particular ghoul never expected an attack.

Completely off guard, it was ruthlessly impaled straight through the chest by Lin Lei’s strike.

Having already slain several ghouls, Lin Lei had a rough idea of their anatomy, and this thrust found the heart.

Once skewered, the ghoul convulsed violently, then went still!

There was no need for Lin Lei to even withdraw his Tang blade—“Gluttony” activated, and the corpse was swallowed by an invisible maw.

A roar!

The second ghoul had realized what was happening. It growled and slashed with razor-sharp claws at Lin Lei.

He raised his sword to block.

A metallic clang rang out!

These monsters’ claws were far tougher than mere flesh—almost as hard as steel!

The creature kept swinging madly, determined to rip Lin Lei apart.

“But instinct alone won’t win against me…”

Lin Lei dodged back slightly, then surged forward with a twist of his blade, drawing a semicircle to circumvent the claws and stab into the ghoul’s chest.

Another sickening rip!

The reach of the long blade far exceeded that of the ghoul’s claws.

These ghouls relied solely on instinct in combat, wasting the advantage of their resilient bodies and brute strength.

If he’d had a pistol or other firearm, and could aim well enough, one bullet to the head or another vital point would have been enough to take them down.

As Lin Lei dispatched two ghouls in quick succession, angry roars echoed from above, and yet more ghouls leapt down one after another—four in all, each baring their fangs and glaring at Lin Lei with murderous intent.

He was already short of breath and weary.

In truth, even at his best, facing four ghouls at once would have been a challenge. Now, after a night of running and several battles, his stamina was nearly spent.

But he did not choose to flee.

Instead, he activated Gluttony to consume the second corpse. His stored energy finally reached eight units—the amount needed to trigger “Plunder” on a ghoul!

He took a deep breath, blade raised, licking his lips.

“If I can just kill one more, I can trigger ‘Plunder’…”

His strength would surge, and his wounds would heal!

Eyes ablaze, exhausted but undaunted, Lin Lei charged the four ghouls.

They raised their claws and lunged at him.

He fought like a madman, ignoring their savage attacks, focusing on one ghoul and slashing with his sword.

Though he succeeded in sinking the blade into his target’s chest, the other three raked him with their claws.

Agonizing pain erupted across his body, his black clothes instantly soaked in fresh blood.

But his eyes glittered even brighter.

“Plunder—activate!”

Gritting his teeth against the pain, Lin Lei focused on the ghoul he’d just slain, activating “Plunder.”

“Plunder” could be used on living targets, but the energy cost was ten times greater than on a corpse.

So even having accumulated enough energy, he had to kill one more ghoul first!

A surge of power ran through him, the dark tattoo on his chest fading instantly.

The skewered ghoul’s corpse vanished before his eyes.

And then—

A torrent of strength flooded his body, flooding his limbs in an instant!

A wild joy flashed in Lin Lei’s eyes as a warm current swept through him, a tingling numbness spreading over his skin—his gaping wounds knitting closed at a speed visible to the naked eye.

At the same time, he could feel the terrifying, surging power within, rising to a new peak…

The power of two ghouls, achieved!

Slaughtering ghouls all night had finally allowed him to vent some of his pent-up negative emotions, but now they surged back, stronger than before…

Red light danced in his eyes as he gazed at the three remaining ghouls.

With a slash, he swept his blade in a diagonal arc, decapitating a ghoul beside him with raw strength!

In the past, he would have needed a running start to pull off such a feat.

When he’d possessed only the power of a single ghoul, Lin Lei could, with his Tang blade and skill, defeat one ghoul head-on, possibly handle three or four, but no more.

Now, after a second Plunder, his strength had nearly doubled, his stamina and wounds fully restored—his advantage was overwhelming!

In a matter of moments, the last two ghouls fell one after the other.

He exhaled deeply, finding himself in better shape after the brutal battle than before it began.

His eyes were still rimmed with blood, his heart surging with an uncontrollable urge to kill and fight…

“Kill, kill, kill!”

“Wipe out every last ghoul in these sewers!”

“Leave none alive!”

At that moment, even someone as self-controlled as Lin Lei was utterly consumed by the urge to slaughter, teetering on the edge of madness.

But just then—

A faint whimper sounded by his ear.

Lin Lei’s mind jolted. He turned his head and saw, not far away on the ground, a pair of clear, glistening eyes…