Chapter 268: Red

Red. An overwhelming tide of red surged into Zhang Wenda's body, completely igniting the fury in his heart. Bright red flames erupted uncontrollably from every orifice, and barbs all over his body grew rapidly, curling as they emerged.

In just a few short seconds, Zhang Wenda had become even more ferocious and terrifying.

As Zhang Wenda slowly opened his right hand, the red within the hearts of everyone in the room was absorbed into his body. In an instant, the world within the room changed, as if shrouded by a sea of red.

"Die! Just fucking die, all of you!!"

The next second, Zhang Wenda vanished. When he reappeared, his entire body burst out from within one of the men in camouflage uniforms, splattering crimson blood all over the wall.

Realizing that Zhang Wenda had actually dared to kill, the instructors finally understood they had provoked someone they never should have. They immediately scrambled for the exit in a blind panic.

But it was too late. Zhang Wenda became a red afterimage, flashing swiftly through one body after another.

The difference in their power was too vast. Before the current Zhang Wenda, these men were as fragile as paper.

Feeling the sensation of flesh tearing beneath his hands, feeling life fade away at his touch, a sliver of pleasure surged from his heart.

'I am a monster, so why was I suppressing my own nature? My former self was so stupid.'

'So what if I only have red? As long as there's enough of it, I can still kill Qianxi!'

Another strike. Watching the desperate head fall to the ground, Zhang Wenda lifted his right foot and stomped down hard. As blood and brains splattered everywhere, he threw his head back and let out an excited howl.

He was less a man and more a bloodthirsty beast.

Just then, the red energy overflowing from Zhang Wenda's body sensed something.

He quickly sidestepped half a pace to the left, watching five scythes slowly slice through the air in front of him.

Looking at the scythe monster before him, one size smaller than himself, Zhang Wenda revealed a cruel smile. "Too slow!"

After speaking, he shot out his right hand, thrusting it straight toward the other's chest.

As his sharp scythe cut through the skin and began to pierce deeper, Zhang Wenda saw the scythe monster before him freeze for a moment, then rapidly retreat at twice its previous speed, dodging his attack.

Only then did Zhang Wenda realize that another scythe monster had yanked the first one back, pulling on an umbilical cord-like rope attached to its body.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. The kid's gone crazy!"

Before they could finish speaking, the larger scythe monster's body suddenly went rigid. When he looked down at his abdomen, he saw four scythes had pierced clean through it.

The distant Zhang Wenda had vanished at some unknown point.

"Old Zhang!!!"

Following his scream, Zhang Wenda—who had appeared behind Old Zhang at some point—put all his strength into his hands and with a vicious tug, forcibly ripped the larger scythe monster in two.

Smelling the mist of blood in the air, watching the intestines fly through the sky, Zhang Wenda felt a wave of relief wash over him from head to toe. The pressure of so many years was completely released in that moment.

When he saw the look of utter despair finally appear on the other's face, Zhang Wenda's expression finally broke. "Hahahaha! So good! This feels so damn good!"

And now, the smaller scythe monster before Zhang Wenda watched it all happen, tears streaming uncontrollably from its eyes.

"What have you done! We were doing this for your own good! Staying inside for a while is better than risking your life out here!"

Zhang Wenda swung his right hand, and half of the other monster's face, including its jaw, was ripped clean off.

"I've been wanting to rip your fucking mouth off for ages! Nagging day in and day out! You talk more shit than anyone else in the family! Can you shut up for ten minutes? Can you just shut up for ten minutes?! Can you?!"

Seeing her retreat, clutching her face in disbelief, Zhang Wenda extended his right hand and, without hesitation, raised his scythe and slashed at her neck.

Scythe monsters were fast, but that was in the past. In Zhang Wenda's eyes, her speed was now pathetic.

"Too slow, too slow!" Watching his sharp scythe close in on her neck, Zhang Wenda's eyes showed not a hint of hesitation, only a craving for bloodshed.

'It feels like I've been waiting for this moment for a long, long time.'

Just as Zhang Wenda was about to succeed, a beam of blue light shot out and froze him in place.

Straining against the blue light's control, Zhang Wenda managed to turn his head. He then saw 2826 holding a flashlight.

And it wasn't just 2826. From behind the Rainbow Gate, Hu Maomao, Song Jianguo, and Wang Xiaohua had all arrived.

They were clearly shocked by the bloody scene before them.

"Holy crap! Haozi, what the hell are you doing?! No wonder you scared Black Coal!" Song Jianguo, spear in hand, stared at him with wide, shocked eyes.

But Zhang Wenda ignored her, his gaze fixed on 2826, who was holding the flashlight. "Let me go."

2826 didn't comply. Instead, he looked at Hu Maomao and asked, "Senior, do you know what's going on? Zhang Wenda's condition seems off."

Seeing Zhang Wenda begin to struggle, Hu Maomao didn't dare to be careless and also raised her flashlight, adding another beam of blue light.

"Wenda is trying to walk the path of Self-Awakening. So many have had accidents on this path. Looking at him now, he's clearly gone astray."

"I! Said! Let! Me! Go!" Zhang Wenda growled, each word a struggle. Even when Wang Xiaohua shot another blue beam at him, under the combined power of three lights, he could still speak and move.

Just as he was about to break free, Song Jianguo transformed into six black cats, leading a swarm that completely surrounded Zhang Wenda.

The cats that had once formed his armor now acted like a straitjacket, binding Zhang Wenda tightly, even covering his mouth and nose in an attempt to suffocate him into unconsciousness.

However, their attempt to control him was wishful thinking. As the flames on Zhang Wenda's body flared, he clenched his right fist, and the red energy within everyone present was effortlessly drawn into him.

Without the red energy in their bodies, the three flashlights instantly went out. The Black Cats forming the armor also went limp, turning back into little black cats and tumbling off Zhang Wenda.

When the freed Zhang Wenda stood before them again, everyone was forced to back away from his overwhelming presence.

'This is bad! The current Zhang Wenda is too powerful. We're no match for him,' Hu Maomao thought anxiously.

Song Jianguo, however, wasn't thinking about that. Seeing the singed fur on her Black Cats, she grew furious, and the red energy reappeared in her heart.

'A legitimate chance to beat up Zhang Wenda? I can't pass this up.'

With a sharp whistle, the swarm of cats waiting behind the gate poured through the portal in an endless stream. Under her command, they surged toward Zhang Wenda like a tidal wave.

No matter how much red energy Zhang Wenda absorbed, new Black Cats kept emerging. In no time, the swarm of cats was upon him.

Burning with feverish heat, Zhang Wenda stared at the feline horde, his gaze locking onto Song Jianguo in its midst. The killing intent in his heart swelled.

His cheek twitching, he forced his mouth open. "I just want to kill two people. Why is that so hard? Why does everyone have to come and stop me?!"