Apocalyptic Gratitude Duck - Chapter 25.1

Kexin’s combat form was incredibly draining on her physical energy. By switching to her non-combat form, she could conserve energy and use her ability to sustain attacks against the Giant Python.

In her combat form, Kexin’s strength was roughly equal to the Giant Python’s. If they engaged in close combat, she lacked the hardened scales of the python. Her massive size also meant that if she were entangled, it would be difficult to break free.

Quickly transforming into her non-combat form allowed her to evade attacks. Moreover, her enhanced physique greatly extended her flight endurance, giving her enough time in the air to locate the Giant Python’s weak points and inflict continuous damage.

Kexin soared through the air, drawing the Giant Python’s attacks while relentlessly pelted it with wind blades from a distance. This harassment bought more time for her Master to escape.

After the car containing Zhang Ping and the others was spat out by the Giant Python, it crashed to the ground and rolled several times. Chen Chuyue and Li Youming’s heads slammed against the roof, knocking them unconscious. Zhang Ping, trapped against the shattered window, had several ribs broken and struggled to free himself.

A cold, glinting axe suddenly appeared before him. A layer of cold sweat broke out on Zhang Ping’s back. He froze for a moment before looking up to see Qiao Yanyu standing before him.

Qiao Yanyu swung her axe at the car window, splitting the door in two. She wedged the axe between the halves, gave it a tug, and yanked Zhang Ping out through the window.

Zhang Ping’s eyes reddened instantly, an indescribable feeling welling up in his heart.

Qiao Yanyu shot him a cold glare. “Can you move? If you can, help me pry the door off.”

The Giant Python had crushed their car beyond recognition, embedding the doors firmly in the wreckage. Without removing the doors, they couldn’t escape.

Zhang Ping bent over, hastily helping Qiao Yanyu pry the door off.

As they worked, they also roused the unconscious Li Youming and Chen Chuyue. After climbing down from the wrecked car, Zhang Ping and the others moved to Qiao Yanyu’s vehicle.

“What should we do now?” Zhang Ping asked. “Continue forward or retreat?”

Their recent battle with the Giant Python had drained their strength. Staying to fight would only make them easy prey for the beast.

Qiao Yanyu watched Kexin fighting, then finally turned away and made her decision: “Cross the bridge!”

She pressed down on the accelerator, and the car shot forward like a cannonball.

The two-kilometer-long bridge made everyone’s hearts race with fear.

Hearing the roar of the car engine, the Giant Python suddenly saw through Kexin and Qiao Yanyu’s plan. Ignoring its injured body, it slithered onto the bridge.

Its icy tail, like a massive whip, lashed out, instantly throwing the car from the center of the bridge to the edge.

Kexin fanned out two wind wings, propelling the car back to the center of the bridge.

The Giant Python’s dark blue eyes glinted with cruelty. To it, the car was no more than a toy. Escaping from its territory alive seemed impossible!

The snake’s tail struck again, this time hurling the car into the river.

Kexin charged forward, her sharp claws tearing into the Giant Python’s tail with sickening squelches. But the python paid no heed, swiftly slipping into the water and vanishing without a trace.

The river surface was eerily calm, punctuated only by the muffled sounds of the sinking car.

Silence was more dangerous than battle.

Water was the Giant Python’s true domain!

Kexin stood on the bridge, her sharp gaze fixed on the water’s surface, trying to pinpoint where the python would strike next.

The violent jolts of the car made the passengers dizzy and disoriented. In the blink of an eye, they plummeted from the bridge into the water.

As the water level inside the sinking vehicle rose, the risk of death increased with each passing moment.

Qiao Yanyu acted decisively, opening the car door and leading everyone out by swimming.

The moment she surfaced, she spotted a white shadow sliding past her.

The Giant Python!

“The Giant Python is nearby! Everyone, split up and swim to shore!” Qiao Yanyu shouted, her heart pounding with alarm.

The group jolted into action, frantically swimming toward the shore.

The Giant Python moved with deadly grace underwater, quickly targeting the weakest among them, Meng Nuo. It lurked beneath the surface, swiftly closing the distance.

Unaware of the danger, Meng Nuo suddenly twisted her head around when she caught the stench of blood. The Giant Python had already opened its massive jaws.

The imminent threat of death blanked her mind.

Just as Meng Nuo resigned herself to death, the Giant Python’s body convulsed violently. Blood filled the water as a golden figure emerged, clutching a bloody mass. With a swift motion, it swept past Meng Nuo, speeding across the water’s surface.

“Hurry, let’s go!” Chen Chuyue grabbed Meng Nuo’s hand and pulled her toward the shore.

Qiao Yanyu was halfway across the river when she suddenly felt her body lighten, and she was lifted into the air above the water.

“Master, don’t be afraid! Kexin will fly you away!”

Kexin, worried about Qiao Yanyu’s safety, had transformed into her combat form. Her sharp claws gripped Qiao Yanyu’s clothes, hoisting her out of the water.

Touched, Qiao Yanyu glanced down at the river surface and suddenly noticed something amiss.

“Kexin, why are we flying in the opposite direction?”

“Quack! Quack! Quack?”

Kexin was flustered. After helping Meng Nuo subdue the Giant Python, she rushed to rescue her master without slowing down, inadvertently carrying her in the opposite direction.

“Now, Kexin will turn around, Quack!”

Trapped beneath Kexin’s claws, Qiao Yanyu remained motionless, hoping to make the turn smoother for her.

Only when you actually ride the Duck-Duck Express do you realize how wildly this duck flies. Qiao Yanyu felt like the sharp turns alone would make her dizzy, let alone the high-speed flight.

“Master, isn’t Kexin super awesome? Faster than a car, right?”

Qiao Yanyu felt like she’d kicked herself in the foot. She’d taken Kexin out on the motorcycle, but she’d never intended to train her for wild, reckless flight speeds!

Qiao Yanyu had no choice but to call out, “Slow down!”

At this rate, Master’s back is going to fall apart!

Hearing Qiao Yanyu’s words, Kexin slowed down a bit. Before landing, she let out a series of quacks, set Qiao Yanyu down on the shore, folded her wings, and transformed back into her little duck form.

Quack, quack, quack! Your Duck-Duck Express has arrived at its destination!

Qiao Yanyu pressed her fingers against her temples. “Can you still fly?”

Kexin flew too fast just now and is all out of energy~

What a playful little duck! Qiao Yanyu had no control over her at all and could only cradle the utterly exhausted Kexin in her arms.

If Master needs me, Kexin can still fight!

Qiao Yanyu stroked Kexin’s small head. “Rest now.”

Kexin had already bought them precious time and dealt a severe blow to the Giant Python. The others were also gradually making their way ashore. There was no need to push Kexin to her limits and risk further danger to help them.

Kexin nuzzled her Master’s palm. Her Master’s warm embrace always made her feel safe. Soon, exhausted, she closed her eyes.

Zhang Ping and Li Youming, being the strongest, were the first to reach the shore, followed closely by Meng Nuo and Chen Chuyue.

A wave of relief washed over their faces as they escaped the danger, but their joy was short-lived. The Giant Python’s tail suddenly reemerged from the water, swiftly coiling around Zhang Ping and Li Youming before swallowing them whole in an instant.

Qiao Yanyu had already raised her axe, preparing to rush to their rescue. But just as the situation seemed hopeless, a powerful explosion erupted behind her.

She turned to see three military trucks parked on the shore. Dozens of men leaped out, their firearms trained on the Giant Python. A hail of bullets rained down, accompanied by Ability Users unleashing a barrage of abilities that pummeled the python’s body.

Within seconds, the Giant Python’s hardened scales were nearly all stripped away, its body riddled with wounds. It desperately tried to retreat into the water.

But the attackers were prepared. They didn’t give the python a chance to escape. Dozens of flying tiger claws embedded themselves into the python’s body, yanking it forcefully onto the shore.

Already severely wounded by Kexin, the Giant Python suffered further damage from the bombardment, leaving it utterly defenseless. Like a lamb awaiting slaughter, it was quickly dragged ashore.

Meanwhile, the wound on its underside grew larger as two sharp knives suddenly pierced through the flesh, following the existing injury to carve open a massive gash.

Zhang Ping and Li Youming, covered in blood, crawled out from the Giant Python’s belly.

Chen Chuyue rushed over and helped them up. “You scared me half to death! Brother Ping, Li Youming, are you both alright?”

Qiao Yanyu and Meng Nuo also approached.

*******

Li Youming’s face was pale, his calves trembling uncontrollably. He stood speechless for a long moment before his expression finally steadied. He spat on the ground, his stomach churning. “It was absolutely foul inside—half-digested corpses everywhere. If that snake hadn’t been injured, Brother Ping and I would have suffocated in there!”

Zhang Ping draped an arm over Li Youming’s shoulder, also taking a long time to recover. His face ashen, he looked gratefully at Qiao Yanyu. “We were lucky. If Kexin hadn’t torn open that initial hole earlier, we really would have suffocated inside. Did Kexin save us?”

“No, it’s the military,” Qiao Yanyu said.

With the military’s involvement, obtaining the Giant Python’s Crystal would become significantly more difficult. All of Kexin’s previous hard work would have been in vain, benefiting others instead. Would Kexin be upset when she woke up?

“The military?”

Zhang Ping frowned deeply, scanning the area. As expected, he spotted numerous soldiers in uniform approaching, armed with various firearms and ropes. They likely represented the pre-Apocalypse armed forces of China.

A tall, burly officer with a dark face strode forward, his booming voice demanding, “Where are you from?”

“Lanqin City,” Qiao Yanyu replied calmly.

“Are all of you Ability Users?” he continued.

Qiao Yanyu nodded in confirmation.

The dark-faced officer nodded slightly, showing a newfound respect for Ability Users. He introduced his unit: “We are the garrison troops of Songyuan City. I am Third Battalion Commander Xu Feng, in charge of this operation to subdue the Giant Python. Would you be willing to join the military?”

Suddenly offered an olive branch, none of them quite believed it.

Qiao Yanyu, who had always mistrusted the military, was the first to speak. “I have some personal matters to attend to. I can’t consider anything else until those are resolved.”

The others also expressed their cautious reservations.

Xu Feng seemed accustomed to this response and didn’t take it personally. After urging them to stay safe, he led his team to begin dealing with the python.

As soon as Xu Feng left, the Cleanup Squad members began discussing the matter among themselves.

“Brother Ping, didn’t you say you were going to join the army and serve the country? Why aren’t you going now?” Li Youming asked bluntly.

Qiao Yanyu’s gaze sharpened with curiosity as she looked at Zhang Ping. She clearly remembered how passionately patriotic he had presented himself to her.

Zhang Ping flushed, then punched Li Youming in the arm. “We don’t know what the military situation is right now. Who knows how Ability Users will be treated? If it turns out badly, getting in is easy, but getting out might be impossible.”

Li Youming agreed, “Actually, I think we’re doing pretty well as a team. We’ve gelled really well, and I’m worried the military might break us up.”

Zhang Ping cautiously probed Qiao Yanyu, “Big Boss, if you find your sister, will you join the military?”

*****

After days of working together, the team had grown close. They knew that despite her cold exterior, the Big Boss had a warm heart and wouldn’t abandon them as deadweight in a pinch. They knew nothing about the military, and couldn’t trust them to treat them fairly. Staying with the Big Boss made them feel secure.

Qiao Yanyu replied coolly, “It depends on the situation.” If both her sister and brother-in-law were in the military, she might not be able to leave so easily.

“Sister Qiao, is your sister also in the military? Why don’t you ask Battalion Commander Xu?” Meng Nuo asked innocently.

Qiao Yanyu smiled faintly, offering no explanation.

Battalion Commander Xu had clearly demonstrated the capabilities necessary to hold his position—whether in combat or leadership. However, these skills alone didn’t make her trustworthy in Qiao Yanyu’s eyes.

Chen Chuyue pulled Meng Nuo aside and whispered, “Little Nuo, Sister Qiao and Battalion Commander Xu just met, and they’re not even related. Yet she entrusted him with such an important matter. Who knows if he’s even willing to help her?”

Moreover, they were outsiders who hadn’t demonstrated any real capabilities yet. The fact that anyone even spoke to them politely was already a courtesy.

After dealing with the python, Xu Feng retrieved a cold, yellow crystal from its brain. The crystal felt heavy in his hand, and a bitter taste filled his mouth. His several good brothers had been killed by this python, and all he’d gotten in return was an honorary title. The higher-ups still insisted on killing the python and turning over the crystal.

Just as Xu Feng slipped the crystal into his pocket, he felt an especially sharp, icy gaze, making him feel like he was being stared at.

Xu Feng tensed instantly, trying to locate the source of the gaze.

Meanwhile, Kexin, upon waking and realizing her trophy had been stolen, was furious, itching to claw Xu Feng to pieces.

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