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Chapter 32: The Battle
It was heat.
Take snakes, for instance—pit vipers possess specialized organs called "loreal pits" that allow them to detect even the slightest changes in temperature. In complete darkness, they can sense the warmth radiating from warm-blooded creatures like mice and strike with precision.
These monsters likely operated on a similar principle.
They followed the godlike entity responsible for the biting winds, existing within its domain of blizzards where visibility was near zero. Unable to rely solely on sharp eyesight to hunt prey on the ground as birds might, they had evolved the ability to locate food through thermal fluctuations instead.
Ordinarily, this would be an ingenious hunting mechanism. Amidst the freezing gales created by their divine master, most living beings would struggle just to stay alive. Their body heat would act as a beacon, drawing these predators directly to them.
When Li Xingyuan and his companions first entered the service station, they remained undetected. But once they lit the fire for warmth, the sudden spike in temperature drew the creatures' attention like moths to a flame.
If that was the case...
"I’ve got it!"
Li Xingyuan formulated a bold plan.
"There’s a gas station right next to the service station!" he shouted to Lin Song. "We need to blow it up!"
Detonating the gas station would send the surrounding temperature soaring, drawing the monsters toward the explosion. This diversion could give them a chance to escape.
But calling the plan "bold" felt like an understatement. They were far too close to the gas station; if it exploded...
"Fine!" Lin Song didn’t hesitate. He was so close to home now—just a little further, just a little more! How could he accept dying here? Even the slimmest chance of survival demanded everything he had.
Under Old Liu’s covering fire, Lin Song leapt out of the window and sprinted toward the nearby gas station.
Outside, the cold was even more punishing. Snow continued to fall, and the service station’s interior was now riddled with drafts. Li Xingyuan's body trembled slightly as his muscles contracted in an attempt to generate heat. He knew this wasn’t the worst of it—not yet. When the shivering stopped, that would be when things truly became dire.
The storm battered him relentlessly. Inside, Old Liu was surrounded by the creatures. Though clumsy in combat, the monsters possessed immense strength. Li Xingyuan had no doubt that a single blow from their hooves or claws could leave someone gutted—or at the very least, shattered beyond repair. For now, Old Liu’s movements remained quick, but the thick plumes of steam escaping his mouth and nose betrayed how little time he had left.
The stronger the individual, the faster the cold stole their warmth. How much longer could Old Liu hold out?
Gritting his teeth, Li Xingyuan grabbed a loose metal shelf lying on the floor and charged at one of the monsters attempting to ambush Old Liu.
Using the momentum of his run, he drove the sharp end of the metal rod into the creature’s throat. It locked eyes with him, pulling its massive frame closer despite the fatal wound. Li Xingyuan tried to let go of the rod and retreat, but his hands—frozen stiff—were stuck to the icy metal.
The monster exhaled a putrid breath, its life ebbing away. Though mortally injured, it still bore down on him with unbridled ferocity.
Li Xingyuan felt the tip of the rod piercing deeper into the beast’s flesh—through skin, muscle, trachea, and finally bone. He couldn’t resist the brute force pushing him backward, stumbling under the weight of the dying creature.
"Damn you," Li Xingyuan growled, locking eyes with the fading monster. In this raw contest of death, intellect and wisdom meant nothing. What remained was primal instinct—the raw savagery buried deep within him.
Planting his feet firmly, adrenaline surged through him, momentarily dulling the cold. With every ounce of strength, he twisted the rod embedded in the monster’s throat. His skin tore against the frozen metal, leaving ghastly wounds that froze over almost instantly.
The creature let out a final shriek, and Li Xingyuan roared back. At first, curses spilled from his lips, but soon coherent words gave way to primal screams. Only one thought remained: Do not yield.
They stared each other down, locked in a deadly duel, cursing and hating one another in silence.
Finally, the blood loss sapped the monster’s strength. Its eyes dulled, and its massive form collapsed sideways, nearly dragging Li Xingyuan down with it.
Gasping for air, Li Xingyuan’s sweat froze before it could trickle down his face. Each labored breath brought frigid air into his lungs, triggering violent coughs that felt like they might tear his insides apart.
There was no time to recover. Clenching his jaw, he forced himself to stop coughing. Black spots danced before his eyes, and a high-pitched ringing filled his ears—a warning signal from his body. One more encounter like this, and he’d be dead. But damn it all, damn it all, damn it all.
Summoning what little strength he had left, Li Xingyuan lunged at another monster. His gaze burned with feral intensity, matching—if not surpassing—the malice emanating from the creature.
The monster recoiled, folding its wings and lowering its head. Fear flickered in its eyes. This was human malice—the kind honed over millennia at the top of the food chain. Only true predators carried such unfiltered hostility.
But these creatures weren’t predators. They merely followed their deity, scavenging weak prey amidst the ice and snow. They lacked the same predatory resolve.
Hesitating, the monster backed away, staggering a few steps before leaping out of the window and vanishing into the storm.
Li Xingyuan steadied his breathing. Adrenaline came fast and faded just as quickly. He could feel his body growing numb, the shivering ceasing altogether. This wasn’t a good sign—it was far from it.
Dizziness clouded his mind, and double images swam before his eyes. Shaking off the haze, he raised the iron rod once more.
Few monsters remained inside the service station. Many had fled, though not because they were cowardly—they simply lacked the relentless aggression of Zan gods. Still, their numbers were overwhelming, pouring in endlessly from outside. To stop them, there was only one option—
BOOM!
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