Just then, Niram leaped straight at Long Ming, its massive maw gaping as it lunged in for a bite.

Long Ming immediately rolled to the side, dodging by a hair’s breadth.

THUD~

Niram crashed into empty space.

Long Ming seized the chance to scramble to his feet, decisively ditching the Baka rifles slung over his back and sprinting for the exit with all his might!

Though it pained him to do so, he had no choice. There was no way he could run while carrying that much weight.

Fortunately, he was wearing power boots, so he could still run quite fast.

’Besides, that thing is huge. As long as I can get through the sealed door, I’ll be safe.’

Niram spun around, saw Long Ming fleeing, and gave chase at incredible speed.

RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE~

A tremendous rumbling echoed continuously.

Long Ming glanced back. Seeing Niram closing in, he pushed himself to run for his life, quickly bursting out of the plaza.

He sprinted down the corridor, reloading as he ran, but Niram was still closing the distance rapidly.

Seconds ticked by.

Just as Long Ming reached a corner, Niram caught up, now only a dozen meters behind him.

As Niram opened its cavernous maw, preparing to pounce...

Long Ming spun around, raised the grenade Carbine in his hands, and fired.

BOOM~

A massive explosion erupted.

The blast hit Niram square in the mouth. Its body froze for an instant, and it began spewing black smoke.

Long Ming seized the opportunity to dash around the corner and out of sight.

"SKREEE~"

Niram let out an enraged shriek and immediately resumed the chase.

But when Niram rounded the corner into the next corridor, it had lost sight of Long Ming.

It stopped dead. Its eyes darted about, revealing a cunning glint, and it began to creep forward slowly, craning its head to peer into the first room.

Meanwhile, in the second room, Long Ming was desperately holding his breath, trying his utmost not to make a sound.

Soon, Niram ambled to the doorway of the second room and stopped, its grotesque head poking inside.

The room was filled with toppled cabinets, but there was no sign of Long Ming.

Niram slowly pulled its head back and continued its search down the hall.

Inside the freezer, Long Ming heard the sounds growing more distant and couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief.

PHEW~

Still, Long Ming remained patient, huddled inside the freezer and waiting.

「A dozen or so minutes later.」

Having searched every room on both sides of the corridor and found no sign of Long Ming, Niram went to the sealed door and lay down, its body slowly melting into the darkness.

Hearing no movement outside, Long Ming cautiously pushed the freezer door open, leaving just a tiny crack.

He peered through the crack and, seeing that the monster wasn’t at his door, gently pushed the freezer open and slipped out.

Long Ming then crept to the doorway and gingerly poked his head out.

He found the corridor outside was silent and empty.

Long Ming slowly pulled his head back, his expression turning grim.

’I can’t believe this thing is so cunning. It’s actually trying to set an ambush for me.’

Even though he hadn’t seen a thing, Long Ming was sure the creature was still out there. He hadn’t heard it leave, after all.

Long Ming quickly ducked back inside the freezer.

Leaning against the inner wall of the freezer, he carefully took some water from his backpack and drank as he rested.

’I’m out of options. That monster is blocking my only escape route. There’s nowhere to run.’

’A direct confrontation is out of the question; I’d never win. Normal bullets can’t even get through its hide, and I’m out of the grenades that could do a bit of damage. Besides, they weren’t that effective anyway. What could I possibly fight that thing with?’

’The worst part is, that monster could kill me in one hit.’

With this in mind, Long Ming decided to lie low and wait it out, hoping the monster would eventually give up. So, he waited in silence.

「The next day arrived in the blink of an eye.」

Long Ming’s eyelids were drooping heavily. His head suddenly dipped, and the motion jolted him fully awake.

He raised his wristband to check the time, then gently pushed the freezer door open.

He crept to the doorway and looked toward the sealed main door.

Outside, it was still silent and empty.

Long Ming’s brow furrowed. ’The perception potion wore off a long time ago, and my vision is back to normal, but my gut is screaming that the monster is still out there.’

’This is a huge problem. It’s my third day in this game, and there are less than seventeen hours left on the clock.’

’If I can’t get out in time, this whole expedition will be a failure.’

’But the problem is, that monster is just too smart. It has me completely boxed in.’

’Is this thing even a monster? Or is it a person?’

For a moment, Long Ming was at a complete impasse.

But just then, an idea flashed through Long Ming’s mind. His expression was hesitant at first, but it quickly hardened with resolve. He decided to risk it all!

Long Ming checked his weapon, confirmed the magazine was full, and took a deep breath.

The next second, he charged out of the room, raised his gun, and opened fire wildly toward the sealed door!

BANG BANG~

A volley of bullets slammed into the camouflaged Niram.

Niram instantly became visible, letting out an enraged shriek as it scrambled to its feet.

Long Ming turned and ran back toward the main hall.

Like a furious hyena, Niram gave chase.

Niram quickly rounded the corner and saw, in the distance, a beam of light rushing into the main hall.

Niram pursued at top speed, bursting into the main hall and immediately locking onto the source of the light.

The next second, Niram froze. It saw nothing but a lone flashlight lying on the hall floor. There was no sign of Long Ming.

Just then, Long Ming scrambled out from under a cart back in the corridor and sprinted for his life toward the exit!

It wasn’t long before Long Ming rounded the corner and saw the sealed door in the distance. A look of excitement spread across his face; he was about to escape.

Unfortunately, just then, the sound of thunderous footsteps echoed from behind him.

The smile on Long Ming’s face froze. He immediately summoned every last ounce of his strength and sprinted forward with all his might.

He was getting closer and closer to the sealed door.

But Niram was catching up fast.

It stared at the fleeing Long Ming, its maw opening in excitement as it prepared to pounce.

But at that exact moment, two high-explosive grenades appeared on the ground right in front of it.

BOOM!

A huge explosion erupted, blasting Niram to a dead stop.

Long Ming didn’t look back. He just kept running for his life. The door—and his hope—was right before his eyes.

Seeing its prey about to escape, Niram let out an enraged scream. It then coiled its limbs and launched itself at Long Ming, its massive maw gaping for the kill.

Hearing the air split behind him, Long Ming’s pupils shrank. He summoned all his strength and threw himself forward in a desperate leap.

At the very instant Niram’s jaws were about to snap shut on him, Long Ming shot through the gap in the center of the sealed door and tumbled onto the ground outside.

CRASH~

Niram slammed headfirst into the center of the sealed door, sending a slight tremor through the entire base.

After rolling a few times across the floor, Long Ming scrambled to his feet, turned to face the thwarted Niram, and shot it the middle finger.

SKREE~

Refusing to give up, Niram shoved a claw through the gap, desperately trying to grab him.

Seeing how vicious Niram still was, the look on Long Ming’s face froze. He turned and bolted.