In the darkness, dense clusters of red dots flickered like will-o'-the-wisps.
They were the eyes of mutants.
They clung to surrounding pipes, walls, and even the overhead steel frames, staring fixedly at the fresh flesh that had intruded into their territory.
Hiss—
A sharp screech shattered the dead silence.
Followed by the grating sound of countless claws scraping against metal.
They were moving.
Like a pack of starving wolves catching the scent of blood, they lunged from all directions.
Qin Yu initially intended to draw the S-rank S686 from his backpack.
It was an excellent firearm—a single blast could reduce these rotting flesh piles to scraps.
But he stopped himself.
This was the ship's bottom level—a massive iron tank.
Firing a gun in such an enclosed space would allow the sound to travel through ventilation shafts across the entire vessel.
What would be drawn then wouldn't just be these few dozen creatures; likely thousands of monsters from the entire ship would swarm in like madmen.
Though he wasn't afraid.
He simply found it troublesome.
Why use a cannon to kill a chicken? Especially against a pack of brainless beasts.
Shing!
The machete left its sheath.
Its gleaming blade traced a cold, mournful arc through the darkness.
No wasted words.
No wind-up.
Qin Yu stomped down, unleashing his enhanced, terrifying explosive force in an instant.
Instead of retreating, he charged headfirst into the horde of monsters ahead.
The mutant at the forefront had just opened its maw full of sharp teeth, not yet able to roar.
A flash of cold steel had already swept past its neck.
Thwump!
The grotesque head flew straight off.
Black, filthy blood gushed out like a fountain, splattering all over Qin Yu.
But the flowing light on the surface of his S-Class Nano Suit flickered slightly, causing the grime to slide off like water droplets on a lotus leaf, leaving not a single trace.
"First."
Qin Yu's voice was cold as ice.
Another monster lunged from the side, its sharp claws swiping viciously at Qin Yu's ribs.
Screech!
Sparks flew.
The claws, capable of tearing through steel plates, didn't even leave a scratch on the battle suit.
Instead, two of the monster's nails snapped from the excessive force.
The monster froze in confusion.
In that split second of hesitation.
Qin Yu reversed his grip and swung.
The heavy back of the blade smashed directly into its skull.
Crack!
The sound of shattering bone was unmistakable.
The monster's head instantly caved in, its eyeballs bursting out as it collapsed into the water like mud.
"Too slow."
Qin Yu shook his head.
These C-grade mutants weren't even as fast as that dead bald guy.
Aside from being ugly, they posed no threat.
The surrounding monsters didn't retreat because of their comrades' deaths.
The smell of blood only fueled their ferocity.
Seven or eight mutants attacked simultaneously from different angles.
Some grabbed his legs, others his arms, some tried to bite his neck.
Piling on like a human pyramid, they buried Qin Yu in an instant.
"Get off."
A low growl.
Qin Yu's muscles tensed violently.
The hardening function of the S-Rank Battle Suit activated instantly, turning his entire body into a steel statue.
Then, he pivoted at the waist, executing a sweeping spin.
The dozens-of-pounds-heavy machete in his hand now felt as light as a straw.
Whoosh—
Blades sliced through the air, stirring a foul wind.
Thump, thump, thump, thump!
A series of muffled sounds followed as sharp edges sank into flesh.
The five monsters surrounding him were instantly bisected at the waist.
Entrails, organs, and black blood spilled messily across the floor.
The remaining creatures were sent flying by the tremendous force, crashing heavily against nearby generators, unable to rise for some time.
Simple.
Brutal.
This was the absolute suppression of power.
Qin Yu flicked the blood off his blade and glanced toward the staircase leading upward.
It was blocked too.
Dense hordes of monsters were crawling down the steps like a black tide.
"This many? Interesting."
Qin Yu narrowed his eyes.
On open ground, he could take his time, slaughtering them all for experience.
But the narrow confines of the engine room were too cramped, too treacherous—there was no room to maneuver.
Moreover, the stench of decay was overwhelming; even with his battle suit filtering the air, it was unbearable.
Most importantly.
He had already obtained what he came for.
There was no need to waste energy on a pile of rotten flesh here.
"Since you're all so eager."
Qin Yu looked up at the faintly lit exit above.
"Let's play somewhere else."
He leaped suddenly, grabbing a rusted pipe overhead.
With a powerful pull from his arms, he swung upward like an ape, bypassing the crowded monsters on the ground and landing directly on the second-level platform.
"ROAR!!!"
The monsters below, seeing their prey escape, frantically began climbing upward.
Some even trampled over their companions in their desperation to leap higher.
"Chase me, then."
Qin Yu sneered and immediately broke into a sprint.
His speed was astonishing, navigating the complex corridors as if they were flat ground.
Any monsters blocking his path were cleaved apart with a single slash, without even breaking his stride.
In such narrow terrain, he was in his element—a master of solo combat.
But the commotion behind him grew increasingly intense.
The entire ship seemed to come alive.
Countless footsteps, roars, and impacts converged, vibrating the steel plates beneath his feet.
He burst through a warped fire door.
Raced through a blood-stained crew mess hall.
Kicked away an Eyeless Monster attempting an ambush, using the momentum to dash into a maintenance passage.
It was too narrow here—the monsters couldn't squeeze through, left to rage impotently behind him.
This gave Qin Yu a moment to catch his breath.
He quickly traversed the passage, returning to the vast hollow he had been in earlier.
Light beckoned from above.
The entrance to the deck.
"Still chasing?"
Qin Yu glanced back.
In the darkness, countless pairs of crimson eyes fixed on him, as if intent on devouring him alive.
"Then come out, all of you."
"I don't mind the numbers."
Qin Yu seized the precarious iron ladder, scaling it in a few swift moves to emerge onto the deck.
The sunlight outside was blinding.
A sea breeze, salty and fresh, swept over him, dispersing the lingering stench of decay.
"Hah…"
Qin Yu exhaled deeply.
The air outside was far more pleasant.
He glanced down at the deck.
The monsters showed no fear of the sunlight.
Ugly heads soon emerged from the dark openings.
They seemed somewhat light-sensitive, squinting, but their craving for flesh overpowered any hesitation.
One, two, ten…
More and more monsters swarmed onto the deck.
Hunched over, they emitted low growls, slowly closing in on Qin Yu.
Not just from the engine room.
Monsters crawled out from the wheelhouse, from between container gaps—everywhere.
The stern section of the sunken ship now resembled a stirred-up anthill.
At a rough glance, there were at least three to four hundred of them.
"Perfect."
Instead of being alarmed, Qin Yu was pleased.
Having them all gathered in one place saved him the trouble of hunting them down individually.
He didn't linger to fight.
Turning around, he dashed to the railing in a few strides and leaped over.
"Thud!"
He landed steadily on the "Black Hawk" assault boat waiting below.
The impact caused the assault boat to sway violently on the sea surface.
Qin Yu immediately took the driver's seat and pressed the ignition button.
"Vroom—"
The engine roared.
The monsters on the deck rushed to the railing, stretching their claws to grab him but catching only air.
Some monsters, unable to stop in time, plunged into the sea like dumplings dropping into boiling water.
"Splash! Splash!"
The fallen monsters thrashed wildly in the water but, unable to swim, quickly sank beneath the surface.
Watching this, Qin Yu curled his lips in mockery.
"A bunch of landlubbers."
He stepped on the accelerator.
The assault boat cut a white wake through the water, instantly putting distance between him and the sunken ship.
But he didn't go far.
Instead, he stopped a few hundred meters away from the wreck.
This was a safe distance.
The monsters could only roar at him from the deck, powerless to do anything.
Qin Yu took out a bottle of water, unscrewed the cap, and took a sip.
Moistening his slightly dry throat.
"System, locate my main ship."
[Locating...]
[Distance from host's current position: 20 nautical miles.]
[Time required for full-speed travel: 45 minutes.]
Qin Yu glanced at the island-like sunken ship.
Though broken, the steel, equipment, and supplies in its containers represented a staggering amount of resources.
Moving it all alone would take forever.
And these monsters were a nuisance.
Using a blade was too exhausting.
Using guns wasted too much ammunition.
So, what was the solution?
Overwhelming firepower, of course.
"Since I have an advantage, why should I brawl with you?"
A glint of sharpness flashed in Qin Yu's eyes.
His current base, the 800-square-meter "President," was no longer the shabby raft it once was.
"Returning."
Qin Yu turned the boat around.
The assault boat shot like an arrow toward the base.
...
Twenty minutes later.
A massive dark shadow appeared on the sea.
It was a steel fortress on the water.
Spanning 800 square meters and expanded and reinforced multiple times, it had begun to take shape.
Heavy steel plates formed a high wall around its perimeter.
A two-story structure stood on the deck—their living quarters.
At the four corners of the wall.
Dark, cold barrels were faintly visible, exuding a deadly aura.
This was Qin Yu's confidence.
As the assault boat approached.
"Qin Yu!"
The moment he landed, Yao Xue ran over.
She was still wearing her black battle suit, a scalpel gripped tightly in her hand, clearly having remained on high alert.
Seeing Qin Yu return safely, though somewhat dirty, without any visible wounds.
Her anxious heart finally settled.
"Are you alright?"
She stepped forward, intending to check him over.
"I'm fine."
Qin Yu waved her off and jumped down from the assault boat.
"What about the bald guy?"
Yao Qian also came over, peering curiously into the boat's cabin.
"Dead."
Qin Yu said indifferently, his tone as casual as if he were talking about stepping on a cockroach.
"Tried to scheme against me. I dealt with them."
The two women exchanged glances but remained silent.
In this world, such things were all too common.
"Then... did you find the engine?"
Yao Qian was more concerned about this.
"Found it. It's in the backpack."
Qin Yu walked to the center of the deck and glanced at the familiar massive ship.
"Not only did I find the engine."
"I also discovered a treasure trove."
He turned to face the sisters.
"Get ready."
"We're moving."
"Moving?"
Yao Xue was taken aback.
"This ship... we're taking it away?"
"Yes."
Qin Yu nodded.
"There's a shipwreck ahead, full of supplies."
"And it's a natural sheltered harbor."
"When the cold wave hits in three days, hiding next to that large ship will be much safer than being on the open sea."
"But..."
Yao Qian pointed at the sea.
"Our ship has no power. We can only rely on sails and currents. How do we get there?"
"Who said we have no power?"
The corner of Qin Yu's mouth lifted.
With a wave of his hand—
"Clang!"
A loud crash echoed.
The several-ton diesel generator appeared out of thin air on the deck.
Startling both women.
"And this."
Qin Yu then produced the C-class propulsion component.
"Though it's defective, I have a way."
Qin Yu walked to the power slot at the stern—a space he had reserved.
"System, fuse and repair."
[Repairing...]
[Fusing...]
A dazzling flash of light swept through.
The generator and the propulsion component miraculously fused together, automatically installing themselves into the stern's power slot.
The previously worn-out parts were now completely renewed.
Transformed into a massive, technologically advanced propeller propulsion system.
[Congratulations, Host! Obtained: Adaptive Hybrid Propulsion System (B-class)!]
[Power: 2000 horsepower.]
[Features: Silent, fuel-efficient, durable and robust.]
"Done."
Qin Yu dusted off his hands.
"Yao Qian, to the control room."
"Head southeast, full speed ahead."
"Roger! I'm the captain now!"
Yao Qian cheered excitedly, dashing toward the control room with her long strides.
"Yao Xue, check the weapon systems."
Qin Yu's expression turned serious.
"Especially the 'Deep-sea Guardian' and 'Deep Sea Specter.'"
"We've got a tough battle ahead."
Yao Xue nodded, her gaze sharpening.
"Understood."
...
Two hours later.
The outline of the shipwreck reappeared in sight.
This time.
Qin Yu hadn't come alone.
He came piloting his Steel Fortress.
The massive "President" cut through the waves like a colossal whale, approaching the stranded cargo ship with an unstoppable momentum.
The monsters on the shipwreck seemed to sense the threat.
They gathered on the deck, roaring furiously at the behemoth.
Their numbers had increased since Qin Yu left.
A dense, swarming mass.
A sight that made one's scalp crawl.
"My god... so many..."
In the control room, Yao Qian stared at the monitor screen, her face pale.
"This is the treasure trove you mentioned?"
"This is practically a monster nest!"
Qin Yu stood on the command platform at the bow.
The sea wind whipped his clothes, making them flutter noisily.
He watched the snarling monsters without a trace of fear in his eyes.
Only icy killing intent.
"Don't be afraid."
"In the face of absolute firepower, numbers are just statistics."
Qin Yu picked up the walkie-talkie.
His voice was steady and powerful.
"Yao Xue, 'Deep-sea Guardian', preheat."
At the bow of the ship.
Two heavy steel plates slowly slid apart.
The sci-fi-style twin-barrel automatic turret rose into view.
[Deep-sea Guardian ((S-class·Damaged))]
[Rate of Fire: 3000 rounds/minute]
[Function: Auto-targeting, Plasma Cannon Fire]
This wasn't made for fighting people.
This was designed to take down missiles and aircraft!
The dark, gaping muzzles, driven by servo motors, slowly rotated and locked onto the most densely packed area on the sunken ship's deck.
The cold, mechanical presence made the beasts, driven purely by instinct, feel a hint of unease.
Their roars noticeably quieted.
"Lock complete."
Yao Xue's calm voice came through the walkie-talkie.
"Open fire."
Qin Yu didn't hesitate in the slightest.
Even though there were hundreds of lives before him.
Even though they were once human.
In this post-apocalyptic world, resources belong only to the strong.
"BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM——!!!"
It was the roar of death.
Countless plasma cannon shots instantly crossed hundreds of meters and slammed mercilessly into the horde of monsters.
"BANG BANG BANG BANG!"
A series of dense explosions erupted across the sunken ship's deck.
Flesh and blood flew everywhere.
Literally everywhere.
The tough skin that the C-class mutants were so proud of was as fragile as paper against these plasma cannons.
Each exploding shell took out four or five monsters.
Severed limbs, shredded flesh, and black blood mixed together, forming a foul, bloody mist in the air.
The monsters' screams were completely drowned out by the cannon fire.
This was a slaughter.
A one-sided massacre.
The previously arrogant monster horde instantly collapsed.
They tried to flee, to hide back in the ship's cabins.
But the cannon fire was too dense.
There were no blind spots.
Steel plates were torn apart, containers were pierced.
The entire deck looked as if it had been plowed over.
"Something's coming from underwater!"
Yao Qian's alarmed voice came through the walkie-talkie.
"Radar shows a large lifeform rapidly approaching the ship's hull!"
Qin Yu glanced at the sonar screen beside him.
Several large red dots were rushing up from the deep sea.
They were deep-sea behemoths, drawn by the scent of blood.
Or perhaps they were the original guardians of this sunken ship.
"Hmph, so there are still big ones."
Qin Yu sneered.
"Just waiting for you."
He pressed another red button.
"Activate 'Deep Sea Specter'."
At the ship's bottom.
Two black hatch doors opened.
[Deep Sea Specter (SS-class Defensive Heavy Weapon: Fully Automatic High-pressure Water Cannon]
They emerged.
Only two sky-shaking water cannons, like the scythes of death, swept rapidly through the water.
A few seconds later.
"THUMP!!!"
Two dull, massive thuds echoed from the seabed.
Immediately after.
Two enormous water columns shot into the sky, reaching over ten meters high.
The seawater instantly turned ink-black.
Countless large chunks of flesh floated to the surface.
They were the tentacles of some giant octopus, each thicker than a human thigh.
The red dots on the radar vanished instantly.
Instant kill.
The world fell silent.
The cannon fire ceased.
The smoke cleared.
The once crowded and noisy deck of the sunken ship was now empty and desolate.
Only scattered flesh and smoking craters remained.
Qin Yu stood at the bow, lowering his binoculars.
He picked up a bottle of water and took a leisurely sip.
The feeling of being in complete control made every pore in his body relax.
"Mission accomplished."
He spoke into the walkie-talkie.
"Bring the ship closer."
"It's time to start collecting our goods."