The Scythe Beetles were no larger than an office chair—small by the standards of the Zerg. In terms of sheer power, they ranked below even the Crimson Beetles.
Yet they were called human harvesters for a reason: they could fly—and with terrifying speed. Coupled with their razor-sharp, sickle-like mandibles, their killing efficiency was monstrous. In mere seconds, they could claim several lives, reaping humans as easily as farmers cut wheat.
"Th-those... those are Scythe Beetles? Oh no! Quick, close the windows!"
A dozen beetles buzzed past the teaching building, their crimson compound eyes gleaming with cruel amusement as they searched for prey. Several students, pale with terror, scrambled to shut the windows—but Li Jiayu stopped them with a hand on the shoulder.
"Don't be foolish. Their impact force is stronger than a motorcycle crash. A single pane of glass won't stop them. Hide under the desks—protect yourselves."
The girls instantly dove beneath the tables, curling up like frightened kittens. Even some of the boys, faces pale and trembling, hesitated before following suit.
At last, only five boys remained standing beside Li Jiayu. Their bodies quivered, their breathing ragged—but in their eyes flickered a strange mixture of fear, excitement, and a faint, stubborn thirst for battle.
In this world, though cowards and escapists abound, there are always a few who, knowing death awaits, still choose to stand tall and face the storm head-on.
"You should hide too," Li Jiayu said coolly, sweeping his gaze over them. "I don't need your help."
"Don't look down on us, Li Jiayu!"
The tallest among them, Lin Zhibin, slapped his own face to steady his nerves. His fists clenched, veins bulging.
"You used to be soft and timid, but now you're brave enough to pick up a weapon and face those monsters alone. I'm taller and stronger than you, and I've trained in combat. How could I let you fight by yourself? Besides, I swore to protect Zhou Jiamin. If the beetles want to hurt her, they'll have to step over my corpse first!"
"That's right!"
Another boy, thin and trembling, spoke up, his voice cracking with emotion.
"I—I may be weak... but I don't want to be a coward anymore! I've always dreamed of being a hero—just once! The world's already ended. I'd rather die with honor than live in shame!"
"Oh?" Li Jiayu's tone softened slightly, though a trace of disdain still lingered. "You're not afraid of death, then? Not even of fear itself?"
"Of course I'm afraid," one replied, "but hiding won't save us. I'd rather fight for a slim chance than wait to die. And with you leading us... I believe we can kill those things!"
It was Sun Weiwei who spoke next—her face flushed, trembling but resolute. She crawled out from under the desk, clutching a heavy metal hammer she had made during her internship. Her eyes burned with determination.
"Very well," Li Jiayu said. "If that's your decision, I won't stop you. But don't try to fight them head-on. Focus on distracting the beetles—draw their attention. Be smart, move fast, and if you can't dodge... roll!"
Then, without changing expression, he turned to Sun Weiwei.
"You wet your pants earlier, didn't you? I can smell it. Give me your underwear. And the rest of you—girls hiding back there—throw yours too. We're short on time."
"What?"
The entire class froze. The girls, especially, flushed crimson—eyes wide in disbelief. What kind of pervert would demand that in the middle of a crisis?
"Don't misunderstand," Li Jiayu said flatly. "I'll use your scent to lure the beetles away. If you can't part with your underwear, stockings or skirts will do. Hurry! What's there to be shy about? I don't even mind the smell—why should you?"
His shout carried such commanding force that the girls, gritting their teeth, quickly stripped off what they could—silk stockings, tights, skirts—and threw them at his feet. One particularly bold girl even tossed her underwear, her eyes glinting with something unreadable.
Ignoring the strange looks from everyone else, Li Jiayu calmly picked up the pile of garments, giving them a brief shake. He wrinkled his nose slightly.
"Hmm... stronger scent than I expected. Perfect for bait." He turned to the boys. "You five—don't just stand there! Grab some chairs. The beetles' shells aren't that hard, but their joints, eyes, and wings are their weak points. Hit those, and they won't be able to fly!"
He had barely finished speaking when a dark shape darted through the air outside—one Scythe Beetle locked onto him, its blood-red eyes glowing like coals.
"It's coming—it's coming straight for us!"
Panic surged anew through the five boys and Sun Weiwei. Their legs trembled, but they forced themselves to grab nearby chairs, wielding them like makeshift weapons.
Whirr!
With a sharp buzz, the beetle lunged—fast as lightning, black as night. For an instant, it vanished, reappearing at the window in a blur.
Crash!
The reinforced glass shattered as though made of paper, fragments scattering across the floor in a glittering storm.
"So fast," Li Jiayu muttered under his breath. "This body's untrained—too slow to react. But thankfully... I still have my dynamic vision."
His eyes sharpened, the world seeming to slow. The beetle's movements halved in speed in his sight.
(My mental power is weak—I can only maintain this state for half a second... but that's enough.)
The Scythe Beetle dove, its mandibles glinting as they aimed for his skull, the wind of its charge whipping his hair upright.
"Hah!"
With a swift pivot of his foot, Li Jiayu sidestepped, bringing the fire axe around in a blazing arc—a streak of silver light like a falling star—cleaving straight toward the onrushing beast.