The crimson patterns were the power of the Skeleton Talisman, fully activated when Su Changxing was attacked.

The Source of Plague opened its mouth wide, revealing rows of black fangs, preparing to swallow him whole.

Su Changxing fired his revolver at the Source of Plague’s head, creating a large gap, with black blood gushing out, accelerating continuously.

He used the "Blood Extraction" ability, disrupting the creature’s body, separating its blood from its flesh.

An ink-green eye appeared on the roof.

"Poison Eye."

A variant form of Su Changxing’s Domain, greatly increasing the damage suffered by organisms covered by the Domain.

More and more black blood spurted out from the Source of Plague’s body, sticking to the walls like a viscous semi-solid.

Yet, even so, it continued to suppress Su Changxing, pressing a claw against his chest and sinking into it.

Both knew this was a life-and-death moment; only by killing the other could they survive and achieve ultimate victory.

Nobu stood not far away, shooting at the Source of Plague’s body with firearms, each bullet leaving a small blood hole.

But such blood holes meant nothing to the Source of Plague’s massive body, and it continued to suppress Su Changxing, refusing to let go.

Finally, the Source of Plague’s claw pierced through Su Changxing’s skin and bone, inserting into his body and emerging from the other side.

At this moment, Su Changxing seized the opportunity when the Source of Plague relaxed, breaking free from the restraint.

"What a beast."

He cursed through gritted teeth, feeling the plague virus entering his body through the wound.

[You have been infected with the plague]

[Gained Weak Status]

"The explosives are here."

Weigen charged down with a barrel of explosives, lighting it and throwing it at the Source of Plague.

With a violent explosion, the Source of Plague was blasted back into the passage, losing half its head and body.

This time, it was afraid, choosing not to charge out again but instead turning to flee, crashing into walls, causing loud noises.

Su Changxing knew he couldn’t let this thing escape, or else if it reached the surface from elsewhere, the city would be doomed.

He grabbed the barrel of explosives thrown by Weigen, chasing down the dark passage, littered with shattered corpses.

The Source of Plague seemed to have a bizarre habit of crushing bodies before eating them, but it only liked the upper body, above the heart, ignoring intestines entirely.

Su Changxing quickly caught up.

The Source of Plague sensed the pursuer behind, accelerating again, legs moving forward swiftly.

Su Changxing fired at one of the Source of Plague’s legs, simultaneously having two identical clones follow to shoot, breaking one of its legs.

He then lit the explosives in his hand and threw it in front of the Source of Plague, retreating a few steps.

Due to the passage’s narrowness, the explosive force was concentrated, causing the entire passage to shake violently, starting to collapse.

The Source of Plague was also blasted again, losing another part of its body, lying motionless.

This time it seemed really dead.

No, not yet dead.

Su Changxing noticed no kill notification on his phone, meaning it was faking death.

This beast was surprisingly cunning, with intelligence not low, previously appearing clumsy only because its strength crushed others without needing thought.

A being of absolute power needs no excess thinking.

"Run! The passage is collapsing," Weigen shouted from outside, noticing numerous cracks in the red-tiled walls.

Su Changxing’s face turned grim, dragging his long Scythe, quickly approaching the Source of Plague, repeatedly slicing at its body.

Each time, the blade carried fierce blood and fragments of bone, until the Source of Plague was entirely dismembered.

Finally.

The monster met its end at his hands, truly dead, letting out a tragic wail before dying.

[Killed the Source of Plague, gained five Black Coins]

As expected, he got Black Coins.

Just as Su Changxing had thought, from the first glance at the Source of Plague, he guessed it was the mutation of that player.

Only he was a bit late; earlier, he might have found the player before they transformed into the Source of Plague.

It wasn’t the player’s issue but a problem with the world causing the player troubles.

Weigen watched in shock as Su Changxing was buried in the collapsed passage, standing there dazed.

He knew Su Changxing was a Heretic, but didn’t expect him to be so fierce, confronting the monster directly, refusing to flee.

"Quickly, dig him out. The sir saved us," someone, likely Nobu, said.

"Dig what? The plague is everywhere here; do you want us dead?" said a woman’s voice.

...

"Someone’s dead, plague is everywhere, get out of here quickly."

"Leave quickly, the monster’s body is covered in plague, staying here means getting infected."

...

"No one on this street is allowed to leave, stay inside; you’re all quarantined. Anyone wanting to die, step out!" someone shouted through a Big Horn outside, repeating it constantly.

...

In a daze, Su Changxing heard chaotic shouts nearby, with many people gathering outside, then dispersing, and gathering again.

Though he ultimately killed the monster, the virus from its body surged toward him, clinging to him, weakening his body, numbing his spirit.

[You have been infected with the plague]

[Plague spreads in your body, +1 Plague Resistance]

[Plague spreads in your body, +1 Plague Resistance]

[Plague spreads in your body, +1 Plague Resistance]

...

Su Changxing soon regained consciousness, his gas mask long shattered, lower body buried under rubble, blood everywhere.

He noticed his skin was in a state of decay, the plague virus spreading throughout his flesh.

He was now a human Source of Plague; only his strong Physique and the protection of the Skeleton Talisman kept him from death or mutation.

His body, in the struggle with the plague, gained additional resistance, continually gaining the upper hand.

"Indeed, though all are plague, there’s still a vast difference."

Su Changxing shifted his body, forcefully pushing away the stones pressing on him, crawling out from below.

With the passage collapsed, a small space had formed here.

A leg of the Source of Plague lay beside him, with ant-like bugs crawling over it.

The plague on the Source of Plague, and the plague others caught, were not on the same Level, terribly frightening, far beyond his expectation.

Without the Skeleton Talisman, he would have been in grave danger this time.

Of course, without the Skeleton Talisman, he wouldn’t have made such a dangerous move, engaging the Source of Plague up close.

The final result was still good; he killed the Source of Plague, earned Black Coins, and gained access to the Ninth Dimension.

However, the outside situation seemed unfavorable; due to the Source of Plague, the plague erupted again, sealing the entire street.