Apocalyptic Gratitude Duck - Chapter 16

The scorching flames erupted like a volcanic eruption, fueled by the raging winds as they relentlessly spread across the charred earth, reigniting it with crimson flames.

Deafening explosions and crackles of fire echoed incessantly!

The Mutated Beast, stunned by the parrot’s furious cries, hadn’t even had a chance to escape before it was engulfed in a sea of flames.

Kexin dodged dozens of Flame Wings, but suddenly, a sharp whistle pierced the air as burning wings reappeared before her.

The Mutated Parrot’s attack carried a razor-sharp intent to kill. Even at a distance, Kexin felt searing burns across her body.

Guided by combat instincts honed through countless battles, Kexin’s body narrowly brushed past the flames. In the next instant, she lunged forward, her sharp claws seizing the Mutated Parrot’s chest. With a violent tug, she tore a swath of gray feathers into shreds, becoming inextricably entangled with the creature.

At that moment, a torrential rain began to fall under the darkened sky. Strings of raindrops splashed into the exploding flames, instantly vaporizing into thick plumes of black smoke.

The battle intensified. Within the curtain of dark rain, dark and light figures intertwined so completely that it was impossible to distinguish Kexin’s form with the naked eye.

Amidst the hail of gunfire, Qiao Yanyu’s body was already soaked with blood as she knelt on one knee, her gaze fixed on the two figures locked in mid-air combat, powerless to intervene.

A thunderous roar split the sky as lightning cracked across the heavens, and a torrential downpour descended.

The two figures finally separated, crashing to the ground with earth-shattering impacts.

The Mutated Parrot’s wings, once engulfed in flames, were now extinguished, its original form unrecognizable. Reduced to a mangled mass of feathered flesh, its razor-sharp claws pierced Kexin’s sternum, its body radiating a murderous aura. Kexin’s body sank deep into the muddy earth, blood streaming from her head. One wing lay broken and limp on the ground, while the remaining half of her duck-like beak clamped down viciously on the parrot’s wing.

A wave of lethal intent washed over the Mutated Parrot, signaling its impending doom. Trembling violently, it retracted its claws and fled in panic.

But it was too late. A sharp axe sliced past its head, severing a claw, while Kexin tore off one of its wings.

Qiao Yanyu unleashed a relentless barrage of Ability attacks against the parrot, her actions bordering on frenzied desperation.

With both a claw and a wing lost, and relentlessly pursued by Qiao Yanyu, the Mutated Parrot, driven by sheer terror, resorted to its last resort: another Sonic Attack to escape.

Qiao Yanyu’s mind felt like it was frying in a hot oil pan. Her vision blurred, her steps staggered, and the sound of gunfire had completely faded into silence.

Amidst the chaotic clamor of countless voices, she faintly heard the feeble quack of a duck.

It was Kexin!

She raised her blade and slashed her left arm. Her vision cleared, and guided by the sound, she pushed through the chaotic crowd.

A collapsing corpse nearly crushed Kexin’s small body. Without hesitation, Qiao Yanyu threw herself forward, shielding Kexin beneath her.

Kexin’s body seemed to have been fished from a pool of blood—her once-white feathers stained crimson, not a single unscathed patch remaining.

Qiao Yanyu’s lips trembled, her voice choking in her throat, unable to form words.

Kexin tilted her head back, catching the scent of her Master, and let out a weak quack.

She wanted to nestle into her Master’s arms as before, but having lost a wing, even standing became a struggle.

With trembling hands, Qiao Yanyu cradled Kexin against her chest and whispered, “Let’s go home.”

As Qiao Yanyu wrapped her arms around Kexin and prepared to stand, she realized she was surrounded by a dense crowd.

“Is the Golden Pomelo Fruit on you?” Qin Dafei stepped out from the crowd, holding a bloodstained orange crystal from a Mutated Beast.

“It’s not here.”

She wiped the blood from the corner of her lips, her icy gaze settling on Qin Dafei.

Qin Dafei’s muscles trembled. Since being promoted to Level 1, he hadn’t encountered such a menacing gaze.

But he wasn’t one to back down. He had even killed a mutated parrot with his vines; this woman couldn’t possibly cause any trouble, especially in her severely injured state.

Qin Dafei shot her a sidelong glance, his voice dripping with malice. “Not here? Then you’ll stay here all night until we finish searching the place.”

“If you don’t want to die, then get out of my way!” Qiao Yanyu snapped.

“What a bold claim! Get her!”

At Qin Dafei’s command, his henchmen charged toward Qiao Yanyu, weapons raised.

Qiao Yanyu activated her Ability with her right hand and charged toward Qin Dafei at breakneck speed.

No one could stop her. They didn’t even touch her clothes before they were dead in the middle of their charge.

The physical prowess of a Level 1 Ability User wasn’t something ordinary people could hope to contain!

Qin Dafei cursed inwardly at their incompetence. As Qiao Yanyu closed in, he directed two thick, brown vines to lash out at her.

Qiao Yanyu twisted her body, the vine tip brushing against her smooth skin and leaving a gruesome, bloody mark.

She surged forward again, swiftly severing nearly ten vines in succession. Then, with one hand, she gripped Qin Dafei by the throat and hoisted him off the ground.

Qin Dafei was terrified, but the crushing force in Qiao Yanyu’s grip immobilized him completely, rendering him unable to struggle.

Qiao Yanyu parted her red lips, her voice soft yet chilling enough to drain the color from Qin Dafei’s face.

“Feeding these vines must consume a great deal of crystals and blood, doesn’t it?”

In the apocalypse, there were two types of people who could control mutated plants: those with wood-type abilities who could manipulate plant mutations, and ordinary people who could only control mutated plants by nourishing them with their own blood and crystals. The Safe Zone had experimented with this method in the later stages of the apocalypse, but only a handful of people had succeeded.

His face turned purple from suffocation as he gasped out broken words: “Don’t… kill… me…”

His trembling left hand picked up a crystal and fumbled it toward Qiao Yanyu. His right hand moved slightly backward, straining his wrist to accelerate the flow of blood.

At the same moment, a dark gun barrel pressed against Qiao Yanyu’s back. “Let go of Big Fei, or I’ll kill you.”

Qiao Yanyu’s expression remained calm as she said, “Trash who treats women as playthings have no right to live.”

Support Apocalyptic Gratitude Duck