Chapter 4: A Frenzied Run Beneath the Night Sky
(This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation)
Lin Ze came back to his senses and began planning his next steps.
First on his list was visiting the hospital to procure blood packs. These were essential for a Vampire’s survival. After all, he hadn’t fully shed his humanity yet. The idea of drinking human blood outright was still too much for him to stomach.
Next, he needed to figure out how to boost his Blood Factor Concentration. Whether it was to reduce his dependence on blood or to enhance his strength for survival in the Apocalypse, increasing his blood factor concentration was imperative. However, aside from drinking human blood, Lin Ze couldn’t think of any quick methods to achieve this.
Suddenly, Zhuang Rui’s mention of Martial Arts Techniques came to mind.
“Techniques that can strengthen the body… maybe they could be effective,” he pondered.
Having made up his mind, Lin Ze decided to look for an opportunity to visit the Manlan Hotel and see if he could acquire one of these mysterious techniques.
When he snapped out of his thoughts, Lin Ze noticed the sky had darkened.
“Speaking of which, the Vampire race has two talents: Dark Vision and Child of Eternal Night,” he muttered to himself. Rising, he stepped out onto the balcony.
The night was deep, and darkness blanketed the entire city. Yet, in Lin Ze’s eyes, everything outside was as clear as day. This was the power of Dark Vision, a trait that allowed Vampires to move unhindered even in pitch-black conditions.
As for Child of Eternal Night, this talent enhanced a Vampire’s abilities at night. Physical attributes, stamina recovery, and even the speed of healing injuries were all significantly amplified. Lin Ze could feel it clearly—a strange energy was welling up from within, coursing through his body and making him feel lighter and stronger.
“This is what it means to be a true nocturnal predator,” he mused, impressed by his newfound abilities.
Initially, he had planned to search for blood packs at the hospital the next morning. But now it seemed that heading out at night would be a better option.
Since the Cataclysm, survivors had learned one hard truth—never venture outside at night!
Many beasts had evolved eye structures suited for nocturnal activity, and Monstrous Beasts not only retained this trait but had also significantly advanced it. Most possessed talents similar to dim vision, far surpassing humanity’s capabilities.
Nighttime belonged to the Monstrous Beasts. This was a universal truth among survivors.
But Vampires were different.
Under the veil of night, Vampires could see even better than most Monstrous Beasts. Coupled with the boost from Child of Eternal Night, Vampires were undoubtedly more suited to the darkness than their monstrous counterparts.
For Lin Ze, traveling at night was actually safer.
Having made up his mind, Lin Ze wasted no time. He swapped his clothes for durable outdoor gear, packed his bag, and grabbed a kitchen knife from the shoe cabinet by the door. It was the only weapon he could find at home. Though unwieldy, it provided more comfort than going unarmed.
He had considered looking for a better weapon. He knew there was a handcrafted blade store in the city center. The shop owner had a collection of remarkable items, and Lin Ze was certain he could find something suitable there. The only issue was that the store was four or five kilometers away from his community. Under normal circumstances, the drive would take just over ten minutes. But in the Apocalypse, this short distance was fraught with danger. Ordinary humans wouldn’t make it halfway before falling prey to the claws of Monstrous Beasts.
However, for the current Lin Ze, this wasn’t a problem anymore.
“The route to the hospital passes near the blade store. I’ll stop by to take a look,” he decided.
Leaving his apartment, Lin Ze took the emergency stairwell down to the ground floor. There, he noticed the building’s glass entrance door had been shattered, fragments strewn across the floor.
Recalling the sound of breaking glass he had heard earlier in the day, Lin Ze realized what had happened.
“So this is when the door got wrecked. No wonder the Blood-Eyed Wolf managed to get in afterward,” he muttered. He couldn’t help but wonder what had caused the door’s destruction.
Stepping over the shards, he exited the building.
The residential complex was eerily silent. Not a single soul was in sight. All the surrounding buildings were pitch-black; there wasn’t even a glimmer of light.
Those who had survived thus far weren’t foolish enough to use light at night. Doing so was akin to shouting at flying Monstrous Beasts, “Come and get me!”
Beyond the complex lay a broad road, and across it stood the once-bustling Jinxing Square. Now, it was a desolate and foreboding wasteland. The once-bright plaza was now shrouded in darkness, resembling a gaping beast’s maw, waiting to devour any who dared to approach.
Looking skyward, Lin Ze saw the moon hanging high, a crimson hue tainting roughly a quarter of its surface. The red-tinted moonlight gave the world an ominous glow.
This phenomenon had begun shortly after the Cataclysm. At first, only a sliver of the moon turned blood-red. But over time, the crimson expanded, now covering about a quarter of its face. Lin Ze had a foreboding feeling. When the moon was entirely consumed by red, something catastrophic might occur.
Shaking his head to dispel the thought, Lin Ze focused on his task. After orienting himself, he dashed toward the hospital.
Since the Cataclysm began, this was his first time venturing out at night. The desolate streets were littered with car wrecks, trash, and blood-stained bones, creating an atmosphere of hellish dread. Initially, the grim environment unnerved him, but his thoughts soon turned elsewhere.
For the first time, he was running at full speed. He felt like a car racing through the dark streets. Buildings blurred past him, and the wind roared in his ears, tugging at his clothes. The sheer exhilaration of unleashing his potential filled him with a strange euphoria.
By the time Lin Ze regained his focus, he had already arrived at the handcrafted blade store. Checking his watch, he realized the entire journey had taken less than seven minutes. What’s more, he didn’t feel the slightest fatigue. The energy coursing through him made him feel as though he could sprint hundreds of kilometers more.
“Looks like I’ll never need a vehicle again,” Lin Ze chuckled, turning his attention to the blade store before him.
The store’s glass door was mostly shattered, with shards scattered across the ground. Blood stains smeared the floor, the threshold, and the display windows. Peering into the dim interior, the shop looked eerily ominous.
Clutching his kitchen knife tightly, Lin Ze cautiously stepped inside.
Unsurprisingly, the shop was a mess. Knives of various shapes and sizes were strewn across the floor and display counters. Upon closer inspection, he noticed none of them had been sharpened.
He wasn’t disappointed, though. The knives displayed here were legitimate goods for customers to peruse. The true treasures—those honed to razor-sharp perfection—were undoubtedly stored elsewhere.
After thoroughly searching the ground floor, Lin Ze turned his gaze upward.
The blade store was a combined commercial and residential property. The ground floor served as the shop, while the second floor was the owner’s living quarters. If the prized blades were anywhere, they would be upstairs.
Taking a deep breath, Lin Ze climbed the stairs. When he reached the second floor, the instant his right foot touched the landing, a cold gleam of light suddenly flashed toward him from the right!
In a split second, Lin Ze ducked low and lunged forward. He landed on the floor and quickly rolled to his feet, spinning around to face his attacker.
Thanks to his Dark Vision, Lin Ze quickly identified the assailant.
It was a Monstrous Beast resembling a wolf or a hound, with a long black scorpion-like tail swaying behind it. The tail’s razor-sharp tip gleamed ominously in the moonlight filtering through the window.
A Scorpion-Tailed Beast!