Chapter 77: The Price of Recklessness

After using my flame ability to completely deal with the Corpse Orb, I withdrew the hand I had extended.

However, I didn’t simply lower my hand. Instead, I flicked my index finger lightly to the side, sending a small cluster of flames toward the tire of a vehicle still attempting to flee.

With a resounding ‘bang,’ the tire burst effortlessly.

Though I didn’t turn around, I knew the vehicle wouldn’t escape today. Thus, I didn’t immediately concern myself with the stopped car; instead, I led my sister to collect the crystal cores scattered on the ground.

These crystal cores, strewn across the ground, were like glittering gold coins!

The reason I hadn’t fled earlier was that while Corpse Orbs were formidable opponents, the risks involved were directly proportional to the rewards reaped.

If I were to hunt zombies individually, it would not only consume a vast amount of time and energy but also yield only a meager collection of crystal cores. Encountering a Corpse Orb, however, was an entirely different matter.

Resolving a Corpse Orb meant eliminating thousands of zombies in one fell swoop, promising an exceptionally generous reward of crystal cores.

My decision to employ my flame ability was also driven by the sheer convenience it offered for collecting crystal cores.

Incinerating all the zombies into ash saved a considerable amount of time compared to meticulously severing each zombie’s head with a blade.

“Brother, all the crystal cores have been collected.”

“Mm, good. Thank you for your trouble.”

“It’s nothing. As your sister, helping with such a small matter is only right.”

My sister spoke with a face full of pride, simultaneously gathering the collected crystal cores in the folds of her clothing as she swiftly walked to my side.

I nodded at her, then reached out and stored all the crystal cores she had gathered into my spatial dimension.

The spoils from dealing with this small Corpse Orb alone surpassed the combined total of all the crystal cores I had collected over the past while.

What’s more, the process was considerably easier, to the point where I actually began to hope for more Corpse Orbs to appear.

Among the accumulated crystal cores, those with the ‘Heaven’ attribute were reserved for leveling up and replenishing energy, as both my sister and I possessed ‘Heaven’ attribute abilities.

As for crystal cores of other attributes, I planned to hold onto them until we reached City B, hoping to find others for an exchange.

Should that prove impossible, keeping them in hand would still be beneficial. I wouldn’t have to worry about a shortage of crystal cores if I encountered suitable items or black market auctions in the future.

After all, with my spatial dimension, I had no concerns about finding a place to store a large quantity of crystal cores.

Simply put, the more crystal cores, the better. No one would ever complain about having too many.

“Now that the Corpse Orb is dealt with, it’s time to address those who lack common sense.”

Having completely settled the matters on this side, I finally turned around. My gaze fell upon the SUV still parked in place, and a faint smile involuntarily curved my lips.

They wished to scheme against me? Then they would have to pay the price.

After I used my flame ability to force the car to stop, the people inside didn’t dare to breathe a sound, let alone get out and flee.

Thus, as I strode towards the vehicle, the SUV remained utterly silent, as if no one were inside.

However, when I reached the car and abruptly yanked open the door, a dark, menacing gun barrel was already aimed directly at my head.

“You… you monster, don’t… come any closer, or I’ll shoot…”

The man in the driver’s seat looked utterly terrified, his hand clutching the gun trembling. Yet…

I watched the man in the car expressionlessly, and when I saw a glint of cunning flash in his eyes, my eyebrow involuntarily twitched slightly.

He was too green to try such petty tricks in front of me.

“I am here. So, what will you do?”

“You’re pushing me too far! I had no choice just now. Please, I beg you, spare my life!”

Even though I had already guessed the man’s intentions, I didn’t expose him at that moment. Instead, I slowly spoke, playing along with his desires.

Simultaneously, my gaze shifted behind the man. Several women, bound in the back seat, were continuously shedding tears and shaking their heads at me, signaling for me to quickly escape.

“I won’t let you go today.”

“Then I… I’ll kill you!”

Immediately, with a ‘bang’ of a gunshot, the man’s finger swiftly pulled the trigger of the pistol before he could even finish his sentence.

A triumphant smile spread across the man’s face as the bullet instantly flew from the muzzle, hurtling towards my head.

In a face-to-face confrontation, at such close range, it would be impossible to dodge, leaving one only to accept the painful death of a bullet piercing the brain.

But that was only true for ordinary people.

For me, now a Level 6 ability user, I harbored no fear of such a small bullet, even without resorting to my spatial ability.

So, as the bullet flew towards me, its speed seemed agonizingly slow in my eyes.

After estimating the distance between the bullet and myself, I merely tilted my head slightly to the right, and the bullet whizzed past my cheek.

My hair was swept aside by the bullet’s passage. As the projectile vanished into the air, I directly extended a hand and seized the man by the throat.