I transmigrated to a chaotic world and became the sole player.

Zhang Kui's words were like an ice pick, piercing through the little warmth Lu Zhao had just received.

Three ruffians approached in a semi-encircling formation, blocking his path back to the riverbank. Seeing this, the other refugees either hurriedly scattered or numbly continued digging their holes; no one dared to step forward. Even Master Zhao was subtly held back by several fearful refugees, and could only anxiously watch.

Lu Zhao's heart leaped into his throat. His attribute panel showed a mere 45% health and 30% stamina, a laughable drop in comparison to these three clearly stronger enemies. Strength 0.6 against at least 1.0? This wasn't a fight; it was suicide!

Run! We have to run!

The thought surged up like an instinct. He suddenly threw the water-filled bag in his hand at Zhang Kui's face, and at the same time, like a startled rabbit, he sprinted downstream towards a less crowded area!

"You little bastard! You dare to lay a hand on me!" Zhang Kui was hit squarely by the water bag. Although it didn't hurt, the muddy water smeared his face, which only fueled his rage. "Chase him! Break his legs!"

[Initiating a throwing attack (water bag), causing minor disruption to Zhang Kui.]

[Entering running mode accelerates stamina consumption.]

Lu Zhao didn't even bother to read the prompts. He ran with all his might, the wind whistling past his ears and his own panting like a broken bellows. On his attribute panel, his stamina was dropping rapidly at a visible rate: 29%...27%...25%...

The speed boost from "Agility: 0.7" was clearly insufficient to shake off the habitually aggressive scoundrel. The shouts and footsteps behind him grew closer.

"Where do you think you're going!"

"Grab him!"

"Don't run in a straight line!" Lu Zhao suddenly changed direction and rushed into a patch of waist-high withered reeds by the riverbed. The dry reed stalks scraped against his skin, causing a stinging pain, but they also temporarily obstructed the pursuers' view.

[Suffered a minor scratch, health -1%.]

But the price was worth it! Using the reeds for cover, he temporarily gained a few steps of distance. However, the terrain downstream became rugged, with jagged rocks, making running even more difficult. His stamina had dropped below 20%, and his legs felt like lead.

This won't do; we'll be overtaken sooner or later!

His eyes scanned frantically, searching for any terrain he could potentially exploit. Suddenly, a mud cliff, carved out by the flood, caught his attention to his right. Below the cliff was a dark cave entrance, resembling an abandoned den of some wild animal. The entrance was small, just large enough for one person to crawl in.

Take a gamble!

Without hesitation, Lu Zhao changed direction and rushed towards the cave entrance. Just as he was about to reach it, he heard a whooshing sound behind him!

"Sizzle!"

Although Zhang Kui's cleaver missed him, it grazed his calf, leaving a trail of blood, and the blade tore his trouser leg and flesh.

[Cut wound, HP -8%! Additional status: Bleeding (Minor)!] A sharp pain shot through Lu Zhao, causing him to stumble and nearly fall. His HP instantly dropped to 36%!

He gritted his teeth, endured the pain, and scrambled toward the hole, crawling inside without a care in the world!

The cave was deeper than he had imagined, and it sloped downwards, filled with a musty and foul odor. He huddled at the very back, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it would burst out of his chest.

"Damn it! They've gone into a hole!" Zhang Kui and the other two chased after them to the entrance of the hole, cursing as they went.

"Brother, this hole is too small, we can't get in!"

"Find a rock! Smash it out! Or smoke it!"

The angry shouts of the hooligans came from outside. Lu Zhao's heart tightened; if he were truly trapped inside, he would be like a turtle in a jar!

He nervously observed the cave. The light was dim, but with the faint light coming through the entrance, he could barely make out that it was a small space, with what appeared to be some dry bones and weeds piled up in the corner.

Suddenly, his gaze froze.

In the deepest shadows of the cave, two eerie green lights appeared, accompanied by a low, menacing hiss.

A snake, as thick as a baby's arm and covered in dull patterns, slowly emerged from the shadows, its cold, vertical pupils fixed on the uninvited guest who had invaded its lair.

Above the snake's head, a dark purple blood bar was floating!

[Mutant Spotted Snake, Level: 1]

Health Points: 100%/100%

[Status: Territorial Awareness (Active Attack)]

Strange! It's really strange!

Lu Zhao's hair stood on end; fear gripped him instantly. Blocked in front, and behind... a monstrous snake!

The hooligans outside were still yelling about finding stones, while the strange snake inside the cave had already arched its body, assuming an attack posture!

A dilemma! A desperate situation!

However, amidst this extreme fear, a cold, data-driven thought flashed through Lu Zhao's mind: Level 1 monster! Its health bar is purple, unlike humans! Killing it will definitely give you experience!

The will to survive overwhelmed everything! Rather than be captured and tortured to death by hooligans, it was better to fight to the death; perhaps there was still a glimmer of hope!

Just as the monstrous snake shot towards him like lightning, its jaws snapping shut on his calf, Lu Zhao moved! He didn't retreat (there was nowhere to retreat anyway), but instead channeled all his strength and remaining stamina into his right leg, kicking fiercely at the snake's head! His target was the trajectory of its attack—there, a tiny yellow exclamation mark flashed once more!

[Launch a kick! Trigger a weakness attack!]

[Damage caused to the mutated spotted snake!]

"Bang!" The foot landed squarely on the snake's head, sending it sprawling to the side, the attack missing its mark. The snake's health bar instantly decreased by about one-tenth!

"Hiss!" The monstrous snake, in pain, became even more frenzied and pounced again.

With his back against the cave wall, Lu Zhao had very little room to move around and could only rely on limited dodging and continuous kicks and punches to deal with the snake. The narrow space inside the cave actually restricted the snake's agility and attack angles. He stared intently at the snake's health bar and the weak point indicators that flashed before each attack, desperately fighting back.

[Block successful. Minor impact sustained. Health -1%]

[Kick hits! Damage dealt to the mutated spotted snake!]

[Attack power decreases when health drops below 10%!]

The thugs outside seemed to have heard the commotion inside the cave. Their shouting paused for a moment, then they became even more arrogant: "There's something in there! Haha, let whatever's inside kill him!"

Lu Zhao paid no heed; his entire focus was on the life-or-death struggle before him. His health had already dropped to 25%, and his stamina was nearly depleted (5%), with the [Bleeding] status continuing to drain his health. The serpent's health bar, too, had less than a third remaining.

Fight!

The moment the strange snake lunged to bite again, Lu Zhao did not dodge, but instead used his left arm to block it!

"Pfft!" The snake's fangs pierced through his torn sleeve and embedded themselves deeply in his flesh!

[Attacked by a bite! Health -12%! Additional Status: Poisoned (Mild)!]

A sharp pain shot through him, and his left arm went numb instantly. But Lu Zhao seized the opportunity, his right hand forming a claw, and with his last ounce of strength, he viciously dug at the yellow exclamation mark that had lit up again on the snake's head—the snake's vital spot!

[Launch a fatal attack! Critical hit triggered!]

"Crack!" A slight sound of bone breaking.

The monstrous snake's body suddenly stiffened, then slumped down limply. The eerie purple health bar above its head instantly emptied!

[Successfully defeated the 'Mutant Spotted Snake' (LV1)!]

[Experience points gained: 30!]

[Level increased to 1! All attributes slightly improved!]

[Health and stamina fully restored! All negative status effects removed!]

[First monster kill earns the title: 'Junior Hunter' (Slightly increases damage against low-level non-human creatures)!]

A warm current instantly flowed through my body! All fatigue, pain, and numbness vanished! The [Weakness], [Bleeding], and [Poison] icons in the status bar all disappeared! My health and stamina were instantly restored to full (100%)!

The sense of power returned to his body, even stronger than before! Lu Zhao looked at his left arm, which had recovered completely and even the scars had disappeared, and clenched his fist in disbelief.

It's upgraded! This is what an upgrade feels like!

He didn't have time to check the specific increase in his attributes, nor did he bother to look at his new title. As the light at the cave entrance dimmed, Zhang Kui's ferocious face peered in, a cruel smile on his face:

"Kid, all quiet? Got bitten to death by a snake, huh? Let grandpa see your corpse..."

His words came to an abrupt end.

Because he saw that deep within the cave, the boy who should have been seriously injured or dead was slowly standing up, his eyes cold, as if he had become a different person. And at the boy's feet lay a stiff, lifeless serpent.

"You..." Zhang Kui's smile froze, a hint of surprise flashing across his face.

Lu Zhao bent down and picked up the water pouch that had been used to hit Zhang Kui, now empty, and walked step by step towards the cave entrance. His voice was calm, yet carried a chilling undertone:

"Now, it's time to settle our score."