Chapter Thirty: A Grand Display

A slender, delicate figure stood before a sea of a hundred thousand zombies. In comparison, Xu Nuo’s silhouette was so slight it seemed to vanish, as if she might be swallowed up at any moment by the endless horde.

Xu Nuo, utterly composed, asked, “Brother Gu, Brother Lin, do you trust me?”

Lin Qisheng nodded eagerly. “Yes, yes, I do.”

Gu Xingze positioned himself protectively in front of Xu Nuo. Though he said nothing, his clenched jaw moved in a subtle nod.

“Step aside, both of you. It’s my turn to put on a show.” With a reckless grin, Xu Nuo drew out two massive cannons from behind her.

A thunderous roar split the air.

The explosions were deafening, bursting so suddenly that Lin Qisheng barely had time to react before the world was awash in fire. It was as though they stood in the heart of an inferno, surrounded by snarling, hideous zombies and the cataclysmic destruction of the bombardment. Their escape route was obliterated by the flames.

Xu Nuo burst into laughter, wild and free. After so long spent in peace, tending to a quiet life, she’d been stifled. Now, hefting the artillery, she didn’t even bother to aim—just fired, blasting craters into the horde, sending zombies flying in every direction.

Under this overwhelming barrage, Gu Xingze and Lin Qisheng could do nothing but watch as Xu Nuo shouldered her cannons, blowing apart zombies in a spectacle bordering on the surreal.

Tens of thousands of zombies never even got close, perishing under the relentless assault. Yet the zombies, mindless and unfeeling, continued to charge blindly toward their doom.

Though Xu Nuo had shown a glimpse of her skills before, nothing compared to this. Was she using up these shells as if they were free? Where did she even get them—did she rob an armory? And this level of firepower—since when did cannons have such might? Whose artillery could match this?

After a relentless barrage, Lin Qisheng, numb from the onslaught, finally heard Xu Nuo remark, “Ah, I’m out of ammo.” For a moment, he felt a strange sense of liberation.

So… the ammunition wasn’t infinite after all.

Lin Qisheng ventured, “So… it’s time for us to go, right?”

“Go? Why leave? I’m not done having fun yet.” On the battlefield, Xu Nuo was a different person—gone was her usual calm. Instead, she radiated an irrepressible fighting spirit.

Clad in black, she tossed aside her now-useless weapons. In her hands appeared two fantastically ornate guns, almost toy-like in their extravagance.

Gunfire rattled—a sweeping burst. The zombies in front were shredded like paper, blown apart in a gruesome spectacle the likes of which neither Lin Qisheng nor Gu Xingze had ever witnessed.

Far off, the soldiers gripped their binoculars in disbelief. “What’s going on?” They hadn’t even opened fire, and yet the zombies were already exploding.

It took the task force a moment in the chaos to distinguish the figure at the center of the carnage—a girl, flamboyantly dressed, wielding twin pistols and unleashing a storm upon the undead.

Was that truly a girl? Who could face tens of thousands of zombies alone and survive? Could such a person even be called human?

Even the army envied that firepower; their eyes were green with jealousy.

“Captain, should we still proceed to rescue those, uh, survivors?”

“Rescue? Who needs rescuing?” With that firepower, who could even be called a survivor? That girl was a merciless harvester of the undead.

“Whew, I’m a little tired now.” After firing off a few more rounds, Xu Nuo finally discarded her guns, showing the first sign of wanting a break.

“Have some water.” Gu Xingze, ever considerate, offered her a bottle.

Lin Qisheng, struggling for words, managed, “Miss Xu, if you’re tired, then do rest a bit.”

The livestream chat erupted, cheers and gifts flooding the screen.

[This is what we came to see!]

[One word: exhilarating!]

[You can always count on Empress Xu!]

[Congratulations, host! You’ve earned the ‘Godlike’ title. According to the livestream system, you eliminated fifty thousand enemies in this battle, with unquantifiable firepower…]

Agent 007 was momentarily stunned, then completely shocked. [What? Godlike? Why did my host get this title? This is supposed to be a romance game!]

[Little System, don’t you know? The host is now featured on the homepage. No matter the game type, as long as you reach the ‘Godlike’ standard, you get the title—and plenty of rewards. It’s a boon for up-and-coming streamers…]

[But, but—this is a romance game…] 007 was speechless. [Even romance games need a ‘Godlike’ title?]

After a brief rest, Xu Nuo plunged back into battle. After mowing down several more waves, she found herself growing bored.

Xu Nuo mused to 007, “Little Seven, I feel like I’ve been playing as a marksman the whole time.”

[Ah, yes, that’s true.] 007 felt a sudden sense of dread. [So… what do you want to play next?]

“Switch it up.” Xu Nuo fired her last shot, tossed aside her pistols, and pulled a sword from her backpack.

“It’s too mindless to just stand and shoot. This time, I’ll be a warrior.”

007: [Ahhhhhh!!!] It was at its breaking point. Its host had thoroughly shattered the delicate, innocent persona right in front of both capture targets, and she was only getting more outrageous. Who could save it now?

“Don’t be reckless.” Gu Xingze stepped forward to stop her. As far as he knew, Xu Nuo’s strengths were in ranged firepower, not close combat. To dive straight into the zombie horde—he could hardly imagine the outcome.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. Trust me.” Xu Nuo flashed Gu Xingze a confident smile, so dazzling that Lin Qisheng was nearly blinded. How could anyone be even more brazen than him?

[Lin Qisheng, Heartbeat +8]

007 was numb—utterly numb. Whether it was its host, this game world, or the capture targets, everything was absurd beyond belief. When would this ludicrous game end, and when would it finally be free?

Unable to dissuade her, Gu Xingze watched as Xu Nuo, sword in hand, plunged straight into the horde. Wherever her blade flashed, zombie limbs fell. It was as if she wore invisible armor and wielded omnipresent blades—no zombie that neared her could rise again. Her movements were ghostly, her swordsmanship divine.

The others were utterly dazzled, as were the viewers in the livestream, who spammed “666” in awe.

[No one compares to our Empress Xu. When she strikes, the whole scene explodes.]

When Xu Nuo finished her spectacular display, not a scratch marred her. She returned to find both capture targets staring, shocked and bewildered.

Before, they’d witnessed the power of her relentless ranged attacks—impressive, but not a direct showcase of skill. Now, her martial prowess left them utterly stunned, her performance a dazzling spectacle beyond anything they’d imagined.