Just like the first floor, the deeper part of the second floor was guarded by high-level Honkai Zombies. But unlike the single Lightning Soul on the first floor, the second floor had two of them.
Jotun's Mad Wolf, the higher-level evolution of the Claw Honkai Zombie.
Similar to the Claw Honkai Zombie, three yellow claws extended from the front of its arms. Its smaller body was hidden in a black cloak, and it was extremely skilled at pouncing.
The light inside the Tenshukaku was not bright. Hidden in the darkness, the Mad Wolf was like an experienced hunter, quietly waiting for its prey to enter its attack range to deliver a fatal blow.
Their small size allowed them to easily hide in dark corners. Their powerful limbs gave them extraordinary explosive power. Their sharp claws were their tools for tearing apart prey. They were born hunters!
The moment Ming Yu stepped into this room, before he had time to observe his surroundings, he caught a glimpse of two claws, filled with chilling killing intent, pouncing at him from both sides. In the next moment, they would have pierced him through.
After the lesson from the Archer Honkai Zombies, Ming Yu had drawn Sakura Fubuki early on. However, how could the speed of a mere Archer Honkai Zombie compare to that of a Mad Wolf in its explosive state?
Even though the Archer Honkai Zombie used a bow, it was still a step slower than the Mad Wolf's burst of speed.
It was too late to dodge. He had no time to get out of the way.
At this critical moment, Ming Yu felt as if time had slowed down. The Spirit Blade in his hand swung out like lightning, and a bright crimson blade of sword qi slashed towards the Mad Wolf on the left. At the same time, Ming Yu lifted his left leg and kicked at the path of the Mad Wolf on the right.
The Mad Wolf on the left saw the sword qi and instantly lost the courage to continue its pounce, hastily dodging. Although it could have left a wound on Ming Yu, it wasn't worth the price of its life.
The Mad Wolf on the right, however, did not dodge, its claws continuing their momentum, leaving three deep claw marks on Ming Yu's calf. Ming Yu's hasty kick had very little power and was of limited lethality. It only managed to send the Mad Wolf flying, unable to cause any serious damage.
Feeling the pain from his leg and looking at the two Mad Wolves gathered together, Ming Yu's heart grew heavy.
Sword qi alone would not be effective against the speed-oriented Mad Wolves. Compared to their speed, the sword qi was still a bit too slow.
And in close combat, with his injured leg, it would be difficult for him to gain any advantage. He wouldn't be able to handle the combined attack of the two Mad Wolves.
This is a bit tricky. The hand holding the Spirit Blade couldn't help but tighten its grip, and Ming Yu's face grew more solemn.
Theresa had also arrived in the room by now and saw the standoff between one person and two Honkai Zombies. Although she couldn't see Ming Yu's expression, she could see his constantly bleeding calf.
"Ming Yu, are you okay?" Theresa called out worriedly. "Should we retreat for now?"
The little fox also had a worried look on her face, calling out in a low voice, "Big Brother Yu~"
Ming Yu didn't turn around, simply saying, "Higokumaru, protect the Principal."
The two Mad Wolves were still looking for an opportunity, constantly moving around Ming Yu, sometimes close, sometimes far, trying to find a flaw in his defense to deliver a one-hit kill.
When dealing with prey, the Mad Wolves were very patient, relying on their speed advantage to wear down the prey's stamina and endurance, and launching the final blow when the prey became exhausted and revealed an opening.
Looking at the two Mad Wolves, Ming Yu made a decision in his heart. It was time to try that move. Taking a deep breath, he slowly sheathed his Spirit Blade with his right hand. Honkai Energy gradually gathered in his legs, and a dangerous aura began to permeate the room.
The two Mad Wolves also noticed the change in Ming Yu and became even more vigilant, their speed increasing by a fraction.
Fixing his gaze on the closer Mad Wolf, Ming Yu's eyes instantly sharpened. He whispered, "Flash!"
In the next instant, Ming Yu's body vanished from its spot.
A flash of crimson blade light streaked by, and the Mad Wolf's arm was severed from its body. Ming Yu appeared next to it.
The dismembered Mad Wolf let out a piercing scream, clutching its severed arm with its remaining hand, and its body lost its balance and fell to the ground.
Looking at the wailing Mad Wolf, Ming Yu sighed. *Still not proficient enough. Otherwise, this single strike could have sliced the Mad Wolf in two.*
The effect of the flash-step allowed Ming Yu's speed to break its limits for a moment. Combined with the iaijutsu slash, it could deliver a decisive killing blow in an instant. Against enemies of the Honkai Zombie's size, the effect was quite significant.
Unfortunately, Ming Yu's mastery of this move was still lacking. He couldn't accurately judge the position of the slash, only managing to sever one of the Mad Wolf's arms.
Although he was lamenting inwardly, Ming Yu's actions were swift. He immediately followed up with a blade of sword qi to end the Mad Wolf's life.
Panting slightly, Ming Yu looked at the remaining Mad Wolf and said with a hint of a smile, "And now, you're the only one left."
Only then did this Mad Wolf react. The prey had suddenly turned into the hunter and had killed its companion in an instant.
Looking at its companion's corpse slowly dissolving into motes of light, the Mad Wolf roared and charged at Ming Yu with a thick mix of grief and killing intent, its claws lashing out at Ming Yu's body like a storm.
Seeing the Mad Wolf attacking him recklessly, Ming Yu could only parry clumsily for the time being. The Spirit Blade and claws clashed, producing the clang of metal on metal.
For him right now, the burden of "Flash" was still a bit too much. Not only was it physically demanding, but his mastery of this attack method was also insufficient. Forcing himself to use it inevitably caused damage to his body, leaving him somewhat exhausted.
Fortunately, the Mad Wolf was like a crazed animal, only knowing how to swing its claws wildly, lacking any technique. Although it was difficult to defend against, as long as he could hold out through this period of exhaustion, he could quickly turn the tables and kill it.
While fending off the Mad Wolf's attacks, Ming Yu couldn't help but feel a little emotional. Can Honkai Zombies have feelings?
Ming Yu didn't know the answer to that question.
But it seemed that emotions did exist among Honkai Zombies. At least, Ming Yu could clearly feel the grief and anger of the Mad Wolf before him. This was something that couldn't be experienced in the game.
This also made him deeply realize that the Honkai Zombie before him was not just data, but a real enemy that could kill him. He was not playing a game, but engaged in a real life-and-death battle.
If the Mad Wolf had been cautious, he would have had to put in more effort to deal with it.
The Mad Wolf was inherently an assassin. Frontal combat was not its strong suit; surprise attacks and assassinations were its specialty.
Now, the Mad Wolf had abandoned its advantage. Its attacks, though seemingly fierce, could not be sustained for long. The moment its offensive weakened slightly would be the moment of its demise.
When the Mad Wolf grew tired and its attacks slowed down, Ming Yu also gradually recovered.
A sharp glint flashed in his eyes. The Spirit Blade in Ming Yu's hand swung out rapidly, tracing a graceful curve that bypassed the Mad Wolf's claws and plunged straight into its chest.
Perhaps it was a trick of the light, but as the Mad Wolf dissolved into motes of light, Ming Yu thought he saw a hint of relief in its eyes.