[AR] Chapter 14: The Broodmother and the Escape

Leaning against the wall, Ye Xintong slowly shifted her body forward. Beside her, a purple, pulsating cocoon writhed faintly. They had the misfortune of stumbling upon a Corrupted Broodmother in an active state.

Fortunately, all nearby Corrupted Vanguards had already been wiped out. Without sight or smell, the creature couldn’t detect them.

But its tendrils spread across the entire passage. To get through, they either had to risk taking an unknown detour or slip past a dangerously narrow side path without stepping on the tendrils.

Ye Xintong took the lead, as always. She had been the bravest and quickest to grow among them, even before the apocalypse. Whether before or after the end, she had always been a source of safety for everyone.

Up close, the Broodmother’s purple body was grotesque. What she thought would be silk-like fibers was instead human skin, complete with fine hairs. The skin was mottled purple, covered in rotting sores that dripped foul-smelling pus.

Glancing back at the terrified group, Ye Xintong gripped her greatsword tighter. If she faltered now, the others would crumble even faster.

From inside the cocoon came a rattling crackle. Chen Fengling recognized it—the sign of a Corrupted Skirmisher about to be born.

These creatures were at least D-rank, far stronger than E-rank Corrupted Vanguards. They lacked the rudimentary intelligence to use tools or tactics, instead favoring insectoid limbs and razor fangs. They had tough bodies and devastating power—deadlier to these weapon-poor students than the more cunning Vanguards.

As Luo Yuan’s turn came to slip past, disaster struck.

A group of survivors from the blocked road’s far side ran toward them, chased by two infected weaker than even the Vanguards.

They were shouting loudly, and one of them stepped on a tendril.

“Quick! Get over here!” Ye Xintong shouted urgently.

Sensing danger, the Broodmother began hatching early. A jagged, saw-like mouthpart pierced the cocoon’s surface, slicing it open bit by bit.

Luo Yuan yanked Chen Fengling through the gap just in time to avoid the lunging mouthpart. The narrow space became chaotic, people shoving and panicking. Someone struck the cocoon in desperation.

The blow scraped its soft shell but only hastened the creature’s emergence.

Luo Yuan dragged Chen Fengling forward. Ahead, Qingtang wanted to help the stragglers, but Tian Bo stopped her.

“I get it, President… but in a disaster, you have to protect yourself first.”

The cocoon split fully, revealing a spider-like creature with six long legs and a yellow exoskeleton. Its sharp mandibles tore into the nearest attacker.

The commotion drew nearby infected and Corrupted Vanguards. Weaponless people fleeing into any direction were quickly caught.

Wang Wei still held his weapon, but twenty Vanguards surrounded him.

“Guess this is it for me…” he muttered, glancing at two trembling classmates. “Run. I’ll hold them off.”

With a knight-like charge, he rushed into the swarm.

…

The insectoid Skirmisher scuttled after the fleeing group, moving nearly as fast as a sprinting human.

Chen Fengling found herself leading what was left—only four survivors from an original dozen. Surrounded ahead, they had to change course. She glanced at Ye Xintong’s reddened eyes. She could have used her divine machine to save everyone, but she hadn’t.

Chen Fengling had learned: in this cruel world, you couldn’t save everyone. She had to ensure key people like Luo Yuan survived.

A lone infected blocked the way. Chen Fengling beheaded it cleanly. A few grateful survivors recognized Luo Yuan.

“Take us with you, for Brother Yuan’s sake,” they pleaded—two of them being Luo Yuan’s old roommates.

Chen Fengling’s gaze darkened. In the previous life, they had betrayed Luo Yuan during a Skirmisher raid a month later. Ye Xintong had barely saved them then. But now… it wasn’t time to act.

The D-rank Skirmisher was closing in, slowed only by a spear lodged in its body. The group was exhausted; it still kept pace.

One of the newcomers shoved Luo Yuan to the ground. “That’s for hitting me yesterday! Go feed the spider!” he sneered.

The Skirmisher targeted Luo Yuan, lunging with its bladed forelimbs.

Chen Fengling’s eyes gleamed with a cold, chaotic light. She marked every betrayer in her mind and dashed forward, blocking the strike.

Agony tore through her arm and shoulder as the forelimbs pierced her, pinning her to the wall. The Skirmisher hesitated—its primitive mind sensing danger.

She raised a finger to her lips. Silence.

Luo Yuan’s vision blurred as rage overwhelmed him. Chen Fengling, her silver hair matted with filth, her white dress stained crimson, was lifted like an offering to a dark god.

A second strike was coming when a greatsword slammed down, severing the limb pinning her. Purple blood sprayed across Luo Yuan’s face.

Tian Bo thrust Chen Fengling into Luo Yuan’s arms.

“Go! Take your girl! We’ll hold it off!” he barked, long spear in hand.

“Move it, loser!” he added, using Luo Yuan’s own self-mocking nickname. Luo Yuan had no choice but to run toward their last stretch of escape.