Chapter 27: Echoes of Shadows

In the dimly lit lobby of Zhongyuan Apartment, the air hung heavy with tension. Broken tiles and a dilapidated chandelier adorned the luxurious space, creating a paradoxical atmosphere. 

The weary tenants, drenched in sweat, fixed their gaze upon a young man caught between two alluring women.

"This here is a Mossberg 930, a semi-automatic shotgun," Jin's voice echoed through the floor. "A direct hit to the head with a 12-gauge shell won't make it explode like a watermelon, but it will surely deliver severe concussions and internal damage."

"As for its high-capacity magazine, I reckon it's enough to take down an entire crocodile. What say you?" Jin's words sent a chilling shiver down the spines of those who heard them. 

The once-kind and courteous security guard had shed his old image, replaced by a figure who commanded both awe and fear.

Lao Yan and the tall, lanky young man named Liang Jun sneered in disbelief, confronted by this unexpected defiance from a mere security guard.

"Hmph! You underestimate yourselves, little brother. Do you honestly believe you can conceal your crimes from us?

"And even with that gun, whether you like it or not, you'll be arrested," Chen Hao, a young man with neat, short hair and glasses, spoke after a long period of silence. 

The disdainful expression on his face and the furrowed brow clearly displayed his contempt for Jin, a mere security guard.

Meanwhile, Chen Ying trembled as she held a hypodermic needle. Fear and hesitation filled her eyes as her gaze locked onto Jin, causing her legs to weaken, almost leading her to collapse.

At the same time, Wei Jingyi felt a jolt of surprise and inner turmoil upon hearing Jin's words about her betrayal. She cast apologetic eyes at Jin before closing her own eyes and taking a deep breath.

"Jin, put an end to this reckless behavior. Do you truly believe you can take on the entire world?" Her eyes opened, replacing her previous hesitance and worries with a cold determination as she narrowed her gaze at him. 

Her sword was already pointed in his direction, as she believed Jin's strength wasn't far behind her own. 

After all, she too had felt the sensation of leveling up. But as for Jin, how much could he grow within the first day of the apocalypse?

"Yes, that's right. He can't be that strong. He probably invested all his stats in strength," Wei Jingyi thought to herself. She bit her lower lip, her brows furrowing as she glanced at the floating screen before her.

[

· Name: Wei Jingyi

· Class: -

· Level: 4

· Race: Human

· Health: 67/67

· Mana/Stamina: 62/62

· Attributes: Strength: 8.50| Agility: 14 | Intelligence: 6 | Dexterity: 13 | Luck: 4 | Charisma: 5

]

[Free Attribute: 0]

[Time Blade (Active): Requires a sword to use. When activated, unsheathe the sword to slow down time for a short period of 4 seconds. Time is slowed down by 30%.]

"Furthermore, my level increased during the fight at the gate, where I battled more than ten Blood Slaves. And on top of that, I just discovered that crushing those five gems, which appear to be called Magic Crystals, grants attribute bonuses."

"In addition, I have my skills. I don't believe he can overpower me!" Wei Jingyi concluded, her determination growing stronger as she observed most of the tenants aligning against Jin. Only Sister Liu Yifan seemed hesitant.

Liu Yifan continued to nervously grind her nails and tap her feet on the floor. Her gaze flickered between Jin and the rest of the group, her concerns escalating when she noticed Jin's pupils narrowing.

"Young man, lower your weapon and surrender peacefully. I assure you that your alleged crimes won't be treated as they claim," Wang Mei, the young detective, spoke with unwavering confidence as she felt the cold barrel pressed against the back of her head.

She even dared to attempt persuading Jin, as if she believed it was impossible for a mere security guard, even a young one, to rebel against the government. 

She simply needed to convince him, to make him realize the vastness and magnitude of this world.

Only after witnessing everyone turning against Jin and witnessing her friend's courageous actions did Chen Ying, the young professor, regain her own courage. 

She managed to steady her trembling hands, although she still appeared hesitant as this was her first time handling such a potent poison. 

However, upon noticing the inhuman pupils in Jin's eyes, she seemed to have made up her mind.

Despite the constant babbling and persuasive words from the others, Jin remained silent.

"So this is what it means for the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer? Just like the weak being fodder for the strong," he thought inwardly, looking at them with disdain.

Birds of a feather flock together. That would be the perfect saying to describe the current situation. 

Among these people, most of them came from upper-class families or had financial backgrounds, while he was the only one from a lower class.

"Then why should I bother explaining myself to them instead of seeking justice for myself?" Jin reached a conclusion, and suddenly, a strange light began to glow in his eyes, conveying his hidden intentions.

BANG!

Like a blast of a watermelon, the shotgun fired at close range, turning the whole head of Wang Mei into countless pieces of flesh.

[You have successfully killed a Tier 0 - Level 2 Wang Mei!]

The moment this transparent screen flashed before him, Jin's attention immediately shifted down. With his agility, time seemed to slow down in Jin's eyes as he noticed the widened eyes of the young professor, who proceeded to stab the needle into his body.

However, how could she possibly be faster than Jin? Still holding the shotgun with his hands, Jin rotated his waist and used the comb to forcefully slam against Chen Ying's chest.

BOOM!

With Jin's strength and the force carried by his momentum, the comb of the shotgun was fast and powerful enough to make Chen Ying's hands that were holding the needle drop, her body arched backward, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

The moment Chen Ying's body was sent flung backward and Wang Mei's headless body fell to the ground with blood dripping, screams and gasps of shock were heard from the rest of the tenants.

"No!" Among them, however, there was a young lady who had already swung her sword toward Jin's body. It was so fast that, after Jin evaded the needle, this blade instantly came into his view, making him realize only when it was closer.

"I'm sorry!" she shouted, and in an instant, a resounding growl filled the air, startling everyone present.

"You!" Jin was startled by the pain in his hand. He glanced to the side, only to find the blade sinking even deeper into his arm. She had intentionally aimed for the uncovered part of his body!

His eyes turned bloodshot as his active skill began to take effect. The rumbling sound from his stomach, already annoying enough, now combined with Wei Jingyi's attack.

CRACK!

Under the dumbfounded gazes of the other tenants, Jin, with his arms slashed by Wei Jingyi's sword, glared at her. With a forceful motion, he broke the sword and threw the shattered pieces back at her.

"Sister Wei, watch out!" a tenant shouted, and suddenly, a gust of wind blasted into Jin's face. In the next moment, Lao Yan appeared, using his body to shield Wei Jingyi from the shards.

"Ugh!" Lao Yan groaned in pain as the sharp pieces pierced through his abdomen and chest. Despite this, he continued to glare at Jin with a sneer and a bleeding mouth. "You're done, hahaha!"

Jin paid him no mind as he was unexpectedly pushed by a young woman who had been silent the entire time.

"Sister Liu?" Her piercing blue eyes glared at him as if he had just killed her closest friend. Surprisingly, her slender arms matched his half-strength as she tried to push and restrain his body with both hands.

Upon hearing Jin's question, Liu Yifan remained silent. The only sounds that filled the air were the gritting of teeth and the roughness of her breath, serving as her response.

The veins on her forehead bulged as her fair skin turned red, exerting all her strength to push and throw Jin's body.

"What a surprise," Jin thought, his feelings conflicted. The gentle sister could match half his strength, which was quite unexpected. He had thought she would possess a skill related to using her intelligence.

Thanks to her intervention, his sanity, which had been nearly overwhelmed by his skills, regained its clarity. He glanced at the rest of the tenants. Most of them trembled in terror, their bodies shaking.

Only a couple of individuals, such as the tall young man Liang Jun and the smart-ass Chen Hao, dared to meet his gaze and challenge him.

"Let's end this game," Jin decided. The night was still young, and he didn't want to be surrounded by more Blood Slaves. The thought of killing them briefly crossed his mind, but he quickly dismissed it.

With increased strength, Jin used both hands, which had initially held the shotgun, to lift Liu Yifan's body into the air.

"Whoa!" Liu Yifan, being lifted off the ground, was taken aback. Her cherry lips were agape, and the veins on her forehead gradually disappeared, replaced by beads of anxious sweat. 

Despite her efforts to struggle, she felt a cold wind passing through her clothes, but no matter what she did, she couldn't free herself as her hands were forcefully held down.

His action surprised the group once again, and when he felt it was high enough, he forcefully slammed her down, causing a loud impact to reverberate throughout the lobby.

"Ugh!" Liu Yifan coughed up a mouthful of blood before finally fainting.

Jin didn't stop there. Once Liu Yifan had fainted, he immediately picked up the shotgun he left on the ground and appeared in front of Lao Yan while reloading the shotgun.

"Goodbye," Jin indifferently spoke as the shotgun barrel aimed toward Lao Yan's head, who appeared to still be groaning in pain, unaware of his sudden appearance.

BANG!

[You have successfully killed a Tier 0 - Level 2 Lao Yan!]

Jin's body then reappeared behind the smart-ass young man, but it seemed that this smart-ass young man was quite skilled.

"No, please!" he begged, but Jin mercilessly slammed his head downward, causing it to hit the floor with great force. 

The impact rendered him unconscious, his eyes rolling up and a faint white mist bubbling out from his mouth. His face was stained with blood, which gushed from his head.

"Monster!" shouted the tall and lanky young man who had been annoying him. However, before Jin could teach him a lesson, the young man seemed to blend with the surroundings and vanished from the spot.

"Invisibility?" Jin was slightly stunned. But realizing that his opponent could hide, he shifted his attention to his final target.

The young lady, who had lost her swords, trembled with fear as she looked at Jin, her eyes reflecting her terror.

"Little J-" Before she could speak, a shadowy hand gripped her throat, and a powerful punch struck through her body.

"See you later, Miss Wei." That was the last thing she could hear before darkness began to consume her vision.