A Tier 4 initial-stage zombie lunged towards Ye Feng's neck with extreme speed. Ye Feng could even smell its rotting stench.
Ye Feng's expression was ashen, but he showed no panic. He planted his feet firmly, dodged backward, and narrowly avoided the zombie's sharp teeth.
"Crack~"
The Tier 4 initial-stage zombie missed, its teeth clattering against each other.
At this moment, Ye Feng had already gripped the fire axe in his hand. He swung it down with immense force, aiming for the bald head of the Tier 4 initial-stage zombie.
"Chop!"
"Clang!"
The fire axe cut through the zombie's flesh but got stuck, emitting a metallic sound.
"Hum~!"
The force of Ye Feng's swing was considerable, sending a strong recoil up his arm, leaving his hand slightly numb.
"Bang!~"
Although the axe didn't penetrate the zombie's skull, Ye Feng's blow caused its head to sink downwards, almost burying it in the ground.
"Roar~!"
The Tier 4 initial-stage zombie roared, then jerked its head up and clawed at Ye Feng's legs with its sharp, black fingernails.
Using the force of the zombie's upward head movement, Ye Feng stomped on the ground and leaped backward, creating distance between them.
"Is its skull made of iron?"
Looking at the fire axe, which was now completely blunted, Ye Feng frowned.
This fire axe was newly purchased from the [Shop] a few days ago, but now...
"Roar~!"
After the axe was pulled out, the wound on the back of the zombie's head healed rapidly. It roared and lunged at Ye Feng again.
Ye Feng narrowed his eyes, tightened his grip on the fire axe with his right hand, and clenched a steel bar in his left. He slammed them both towards the zombie's head.
"Clang! Clang!"
"Hum~ Hum~!"
Two crisp metallic impacts were followed by the sound of vibrating metal. Ye Feng's fire axe and steel bar struck the zombie's head. The flesh dented, but it was immediately pushed back by the skull.
"Damn... this guy's skull is too hard!"
After another failed attempt, Ye Feng was quite frustrated.
"Roar~!"
At this moment, the Tier 4 initial-stage zombie twisted its body, tilted its neck, and lunged at Ye Feng's neck again.
Ye Feng sidestepped, bent his knees slightly, then stomped hard on the ground and leaped up, delivering an elbow strike to the zombie's jaw.
"Bang!"
A muffled thud echoed. The jaw of the over 3-meter-tall Tier 4 initial-stage zombie was dislocated by Ye Feng's strike. Its entire body was sent flying backward over ten meters, crashing into the ruins of a building.
Not far away, some of the fleeing explorers were watching this scene through binoculars.
"Holy crap, that kid is amazing! He tanked a Tier 4 initial-stage zombie head-on and even knocked it away!"
"Indeed, I didn't expect that small frame to have such strength!"
"What's the use? Attacks like that are just tickles to a Tier 4 initial-stage zombie!"
.........
"Someone who injected the enhancement serum? The last time I saw someone go head-to-head with a Tier 4 initial-stage zombie was the boss of Tyrannosaurus Rex Base, Han Xianxing, who tore one apart with his bare hands..."
...........
"No, we need to move further away. These Tier 4 initial-stage zombies have a wide range of activity. Without heavy machine guns, they can't be stopped..."
.........
Some explorers continued to retreat as they observed.
Inside the large iron gate,
Ye Feng had already retrieved an arcane gemstone the size of a fist. His eyes narrowed, and his innate arcane energy surged rapidly, with wisps of white fluorescence covering the arcane gemstone.
The arcane gemstone responded, emitting wisps of white arcane energy, which were then drawn into Ye Feng's body by his innate arcane energy.
"Hoo~!"
After absorbing the arcane energy, Ye Feng felt a surge of strength within him and let out a soft sigh.
"Roar~!"
At this moment, the Tier 4 initial-stage zombie, which had been observing Ye Feng for a while, lunged at him again.
Ye Feng's expression became serious. He gripped the arcane gemstone in his left hand, continuing to absorb arcane energy, and clenched his right fist, his innate arcane energy surging. He then slammed his fist into the zombie's chest.
"Boom!"
The Tier 4 initial-stage zombie was sent flying a considerable distance, knocking over a group of regular zombies.
"Roar~!"
The next second, the zombie roared, sprang up from the ground, and lunged at Ye Feng again.
Ye Feng didn't dodge or evade. He charged forward.
After all, this kind of pure physical combat was rare, and it was beneficial for him to absorb arcane energy to temper his body...
"Bang! Bang bang!"
"Roar~ Roar~!"
"Boom~ Crack! Bang~ Rumble~"
.........
Next, Ye Feng and the Tier 4 initial-stage zombie engaged in a brutal exchange of blows. One moment the zombie was slammed into the ground, the next Ye Feng was buried in the collapsed building ruins. The sounds of collisions, grunts, and roars filled the air.
In the distance,
Li Yidao and his men watched this scene with stunned expressions.
"Dao... Dao Ge, what is Mr. Ye thinking? Why is he fighting this Tier 4 initial-stage zombie hand-to-hand?"
"Yeah, although this zombie's bones are hard, they're about the same as a Steel Scale Bear's hide. Mr. Ye's Tang blade cut through Steel Scale Bear hide like slicing vegetables..."
"Exactly. This zombie isn't that fast either. With Mr. Ye's reaction speed, he could have just lopped off its head with a single strike?"
"Or attacked its eyes, mouth, or other areas not protected by its hard skull..."
Many of Li Yidao's subordinates were confused.
"This... Mr. Ye probably has his own reasons?!"
Li Yidao was also unable to fathom Ye Feng's intentions.
.........
"Bang!~"
Another muffled thud echoed as the Tier 4 initial-stage zombie was sent flying by Ye Feng's punch.
Ye Feng was quite pleased at this moment, as he could feel his body strengthening and becoming more agile through the close-quarters combat.
"Ding~!"
"Congratulations to the host for breaking through Black Iron Advanced and advancing to Steel-grade powerhouse!~"
At this moment, a crisp beeping sound was followed by the system's mechanical voice.
"Finally, I've reached Steel grade!"
Glancing at his personal information panel in his mind, Ye Feng let out a sigh of relief. His accumulated usable points had been completely depleted.
Then, Ye Feng stored the arcane gemstone into his spatial warehouse.
"Keke~ Roar!~"
At this moment, the roar of the Tier 4 initial-stage zombie sounded from behind Ye Feng.
"Just promoted to Steel grade, let's give it a try!"
Ye Feng muttered. His innate arcane energy surged instantly. He then turned sharply, extending his left hand, which glowed with white fluorescence, and grabbed the zombie's clawing right hand.
The zombie furiously clawed and tore at Ye Feng's arm with its sharp black nails, but the arcane energy blocked them.
Immediately, Ye Feng lowered his stance slightly, clenched his right fist, and swung it backward. The next moment, arcane energy surged, and a powerful punch was rapidly delivered towards the zombie's head.
Simultaneously, Ye Feng's left hand exerted immense force, pulling the zombie's body downwards...
"Thump!"
"Crack!"
A muffled impact resounded. The zombie's head caved in entirely, and its eyeballs burst out with a "pop!"
The cracking sound was the zombie's skull being struck with tremendous force, breaking its neck along with it...
After the crisp sound of bone fracture, the Tier 4 initial-stage zombie's body warmed and it collapsed to the ground, completely still.
"Hiss~"
"This Tier 4 initial-stage zombie's skull is outrageously hard!"
His swollen, red fist, throbbing with pain, made Ye Feng gasp and frown deeply.
Even with the protection of arcane energy, Ye Feng was injured by that punch...
.........