Chapter 168 – Key (11)

◎ Where did this ugly creature come from? ◎

Swoosh—

The spatial rift violently fluctuated, dispersing and disappearing in an instant. Qing, dragging a severed arm, fell out of thin air, stumbled two steps, lost balance, and fell to the ground.

Where he passed, a shocking bloodstain was left behind, nerves cut, awakened energy stagnant, difficult to mobilize. The destructive power of the metal-type ability was formidable, causing the magnetic field within his body to completely lose balance.

Qing’s face, like golden paper, leaned against a tree trunk and slowly sat down, supporting himself to observe the surroundings. Sand and dust raged in the air, a dense flock of crows squatted overhead, peering, with gray-white pupils silently watching, as if patiently waiting for his death, ready to feast on his flesh.

The barrier of the Northern Base had anti-space ability devices, and Qing couldn’t escape directly. His original plan was to retreat to a safe house first and then figure out a way to leave the area. However, his spatial-type companion was killed instantly, the teleportation path went wrong, leading him to a desolate forest somewhere.

Faint rustling sounds came.

Qing raised his head alertly, branches swayed with the wind, and a light green leaf gently floated down.

The surroundings were eerily quiet, only the coarse and rapid panting of Qing could be heard.

Qing’s eyes were sinister, and after a while, a smile of relief and self-mockery appeared.

That S7 didn’t chase after him.

He lifted his left hand, which had only two remaining fingers, took off the blood-stained mask, revealing a half-female face.

This S4-level sorcerer turned out to be a “hermaphrodite” with both male and female characteristics!

Qing muttered obscure and difficult-to-understand spells, switching the mask to the other side as he put it on.

With his movements, those fatal injuries were magically transferred away. Although the severed arm and fingers couldn’t regenerate, the pain lessened, and Qing’s complexion improved slightly. Unfortunately, the other half of his face, his male face, was completely ruined.

At this moment, Qing had completely transformed into a woman with delicate eyebrows and eyes.

A very light breathing sound echoed in his ears, as if someone gasped.

“Who’s there?” Qing suddenly stood up. “Come out!”

Several nesting sparrows were startled and flapped their wings, flying to higher ground. Qing coldly raised his hand, two fingers trembling, and the sparrows fell, instantly stiffening and turning into corpses, not one left.

Qing’s gloomy gaze swept around, finding no anomalies. She returned to the shade of the tree, activated the terminal, and a deliberately lowered voice faintly came through, “…It’s me. Ye Zheng isn’t dead. The operation failed.”

On the other end, who knows what was said, Qing’s hoarse voice suddenly rose, “Why not kill him?!”

“…Temporary change of plans, no time to notify us? Heh.”

The dust invaded, the lush trees were covered in murky yellow soil, and one green leaf suddenly shook, with sand falling rustlingly.

“Utopia? What new policy?”

“Forget it… let’s talk when I get back. Send someone to the safe house to pick me up. Qi is dead.”

Qi was the name of that spatial-type awakener.

Qing hung up the terminal, exhausted, leaned back against the tree trunk, and closed her eyes to rest temporarily.

Whoosh—

Whoosh whoosh—

Without warning, the nearby forest suddenly shook violently, and a deep blue light crackled. Countless leaves turned into sky-covering flying knives, all shooting towards Qing. She abruptly opened her eyes, but it was too late. Her body was pierced like a hedgehog, breathless, falling to the ground.

How is this possible…

Clearly, there were no anomalies. When did she catch up…

The shocked and angry expression froze on her face. Until death arrived, Qing still couldn’t figure out the answer.

Plop.

A small thing fell down.

Triangular head, two bulbous protruding eyeballs resembling light bulbs, a plump body, a tail rolled into a ball like a bubblegum, and nanocrystals on the surface of the skin constantly changing colors with the environment.

This was a chameleon from the lizard suborder.

It was also due to the radiation impact that an unknown gene broke out and Song Ke was transformed again.

Song Ke quickly climbed onto Qing’s corpse, stomped back and forth, confirming that she was dead beyond revival.

Then she exposed her claw tips, tried to pry Qing’s terminal, cleverly stored it in her own space, and turned to let Lu Xiaoyu crack it.

With the mission accomplished, Song Ke’s cone-shaped eyeballs rotated 360 degrees, attempting to speak through her main body.

Swoosh! A long and thin tongue stretched out, and in a fleeting moment, it quickly swept away a jumping cricket.

Song Ke: “…?” She spat out, and the unlucky cricket limped away.

Oops, it seems the tongue is a bit unruly.

Song Ke stood still for a moment, seemingly lost. She struggled to retrieve her small terminal, and the messages from her teammates calling out to her had already flooded the screen.

Awkwardly, she opened the group chat, attempting to type a message to report her safety. However, chameleons have fused toes, and what does fused mean? It means the first three fingers are a group, and the fourth and fifth fingers are another group, very uncoordinated. She often accidentally touched the wrong keys, producing a string of strange characters for no apparent reason.

Song Ke became increasingly frustrated, her tail straightening into a line, but the more anxious she got, the worse she typed.

In the end, giving up, she reluctantly managed to type the message “I’ll come back by myself,” closed her eyes, and pressed the send button with determination.

The small chameleon confirmed the direction, changed its skin to a deep brown color, perfectly blending into the dusty ground, and swiftly crawled away, shaking its head and tail.

*

Bang! Bang!

The ferocious flock of crows crazily collided, like an endless black cloud covering the city. The fragile barrier finally couldn’t bear the weight, flickering in and out of existence. In that moment of disappearance, tens of thousands of ferocious beasts rushed in, and cries of alarm echoed incessantly. The awakeners on the scene grumbled while clearing them out. Fortunately, in the next moment, the barrier reappeared, keeping the majority of the forces outside.

Zhuang Qingyan looked at the Martian language message sent by Song Ke, with mixed feelings in his heart.

The assassination attempt on Ye Zheng had been resolved, and the scattered remnants had also been controlled. However, the crisis at the Northern Base had not been lifted. Due to wasting too much time at the 13th channel, the city defense line was on the verge of collapse.

Two fully armed bulletproof vehicles rushed in, and before coming to a stop, elite guards and medical teams jumped out. “General!”

Healers nervously surrounded Ye Zheng, setting up a ventilator and a mobile nutrition chamber for on-the-spot first aid. Bai Qi was also carried away on a stretcher.

Ye Zheng was on the verge of collapse. He looked up at the sky, as if about to move forward.

“General, please don’t move. You must receive treatment immediately!”

“You can no longer use your awakened abilities, and you must avoid mental and physical exertion, or your body won’t be able to take it…”

“City Defense Department…”

Ye Zheng murmured a sentence. If they couldn’t stop the flock of crows in time, the tragedy at Qianzhan City would repeat.

Through the crowd, Ye Zheng and Zhuang Qingyan locked eyes, the handsome young man gripping the pocket watch in his hand, nodding solemnly towards him.

…

Zhuang Qingyan’s clothing fluttered in the wind as he, led by the elite guards, smoothly entered the City Defense Department.

The harried staff, noticing an unfamiliar face intruding, hastily interrogated, “Who are you? How did you get in? Hurry and leave—”

Without a second word, Zhuang Qingyan shoved his terminal onto his face, and the “highest command authority” representing Ye Zheng conspicuously appeared.

Two nearby elite guards quickly explained, “From now on, Mr. Zhuang will fully represent the General, and all commands will be under his authority.”

“Bring up the entire city map,” Zhuang Qingyan said coldly.

His deep and mysterious eyes seemed to contain endless pressure, making people involuntarily submit.

The broadcast across the entire Northern Base echoed again, “Attention, one minute from now, the City Defense Department will launch a counterattack against the ferocious beast tide. Everyone pay attention to terminal messages and follow the commands.”

“Ancient Street, Tangning Road, Inner Ring Commercial District… residents in the following areas must evacuate immediately. Evacuation routes have been sent to your terminals.”

“Second and Sixth squads, provide cover.”

Disciplined soldiers executed their tasks with precision and determination.

Orders were issued steadily by Zhuang Qingyan. His mind calculated rapidly, fingers inputting commands skillfully.

Schools, hospitals, stations, and other public places were quickly cleared, and residents entered underground shelters as instructed.

“Suppress.”

The transparent skywalks that traversed the entire city dissipated into thin air, replaced by the rising barrels of pitch-black cannons. This batch of munitions, named “Hell Fireworks,” originated from Mu City and represented the highest lethality of the Alliance’s weaponry.

Boom—

Boom boom—

Dazzling fireworks bloomed, painting half the sky in burning red. The stench of charred flesh wafted through the air. Countless crows fell like hail, and hundreds of wind-type awakeners arrived at designated positions, activating their abilities simultaneously. Fire took advantage of the wind, and the wind fueled the flames. The roaring fire spread like wild grass. The eyes of every defender reflected a resolute determination.

The patrolling teams hovering between ground and sky were responsible for the finishing touches. Logistic cleanup vehicles shuttled back and forth, sweeping away the piled-up crow corpses.

“Sector Clear.”

In the west of the city, where lush woods were ill-suited for artillery attacks, Zhuang Qingyan entered commands into the console. Within seconds, the barrier switched through hundreds of forms. Suddenly, a mistake occurred—a gap appeared.

The crows, possessing rudimentary intelligence, seized the opportunity and swarmed in through the opening.

Zhuang Qingyan smiled coldly, easily deceived.

“Flash.”

The newly replaced barrier suddenly emitted a glaring white light, illuminating the group attack-type awakeners lying in ambush below, as well as the ultra-low voltage electric grid.

The densely packed crows were caught in a trap, their small grayish-white eyeballs faintly showing fear.

Simultaneously, various awakeners and electric lights lit up the sky, accompanied by excited cheers. The awakeners at the Northern Base were ecstatic.

“Darn, I killed over 300 of them! So satisfying!”

“This wave is a bloody profit. I’m getting rich!”

“Points~ Little money~ Here I come~”

These were not ferocious crows; they were clearly angels sent to the Northern Base to deliver money and points, improving the quality of life for the awakeners!

Under Zhuang Qingyan’s command, the entire city operated in an orderly manner, resembling a massive machine.

At the City Defense Department, numerous eyes from all directions secretly assessed the calm and composed young man in front of the console.

One official muttered sarcastically, “What’s so remarkable? This kind of aggressive approach is bound to destroy a large amount of infrastructure. When it’s time to rebuild, you’ll be the one to suffer. Let’s see how you restore it!”

Zhuang Qingyan, holding a transparent screen, continued to work diligently. Amidst the busy atmosphere, he spared a glance at him, lightly smiling, “Send the design sketches to Oda Ken. The Northern Base doesn’t keep idle people; let him do some work.”

Oda Ken, an S2-level engineering awakener, arrived at the Northern Base on the same day as V587, even taking the VIP route in front of Song Ke.

Zhuang Qingyan didn’t think of himself as someone who held grudges; he simply believed in making the best use of resources.

Official: “…” With an S-level engineering awakener around, what’s so difficult about rebuilding? He could even construct an entirely new city!

At the bustling entrance of the command room, Ye Zheng, draped in a coat, silently observed the figure inside through the glass door.

Having just received emergency treatment, he had his injuries under control. Due to concerns, he insisted on coming to take a look.

However, the situation was somewhat unexpected. It was even better than he had anticipated. Zhuang Qingyan knew everything about the facilities, city defense passwords, and personnel information, and he operated flawlessly, achieving victory in the counterattack with minimal casualties.

It was as if he were a born commander.

“General, where did you find…” The nearby official was dumbfounded.

Ye Zheng smiled faintly, covering his mouth as he left, “Just an old friend… My body can’t take it. Standing for a while tires me out. I’ll go back to continue treatment. Oh, by the way, call Xiao Fang.”

In the moment he turned around, Ye Zheng’s smile disappeared, and his expression gradually turned cold.

While he could still stand, it was time to settle scores.

*

The Awakener Department building, second-to-top floor.

After Qing’s death, the parasite lost control. He Qiuhong regained consciousness from the manipulated state, her hair disheveled. She crawled to the floor-to-ceiling window, staring blankly outside.

T005 was operating again, and the raging sandstorm was rapidly receding. With the concerted effort of the Northern Base, the crow population decreased rapidly, and the night sky returned to its initial tranquility.

This round, the Northern Base had overcome the challenge.

The office door suddenly swung open, and several military personnel wearing supervisory uniforms entered with solemn expressions.

“Director He… He Qiuhong, you are arrested for treason. Come with us.”

Cold iron shackles locked her hands, eliminating any use of abilities. He Qiuhong became what she feared most – an ordinary person. She was numbly dragged away.

What awaited her would be the most severe trial.

…

The chaotic day finally came to an end.

When Zhuang Qingyan left the City Defense Department, it was nearing midnight.

The other members of V587 were waiting outside. Fang Zhixu threw a bottle of water towards him, and Zhuang Qingyan caught it without drinking.

Feeling mentally exhausted, he took off his glasses, rubbed his temples, and let a few strands of bangs fall on his forehead. “Where’s Song Ke? Any news?”

Lin Youyou opened her terminal, and ten minutes ago, Song Ke sent a message in Martian script: “$#on.”

“I know, I know!” Xu Xing eagerly answered, “Sister must be saying, ‘soon’!”

“Wow, our Xiao Xing is so clever.” Lin Youyou covered her red lips and exaggeratedly praised.

“…” Xu Xing pursed his lips, unsure if she was sincerely complimenting him or teasing him.

Just as Zhuang Qingyan was about to speak, his expression suddenly froze, and a chill ran down his spine.

A cold creature jumped onto his foot. “Swish,” it slipped into his pants, crawled over his thigh, narrow waist, chest… finally, it nestled in the hollow of his clavicle. It poked its head out from the open neckline, breathing in the fresh air.

Zhuang Qingyan’s eyes turned dangerously cold. He pinched the troublesome creature and slowly raised it to eye level.

The camouflage faded away, revealing a clueless chameleon. Its flat head turned left and right as it was being held.

Zhuang Qingyan’s eyes showed disgust, feeling an itch all over his body. He wished to immediately return to his apartment for a hot shower. Clenching his teeth, he asked slowly:

“Where did this ugly creature come from…”

The chameleon’s tail stood upright with a bulging belly, angered. Its long tongue darted out and bit Zhuang Qingyan’s slender finger.

The saliva of reptilian creatures was sticky and viscous. It slid down the finger, and Zhuang Qingyan’s forehead veins throbbed. He shook his hand forcefully but couldn’t get rid of it.

Ting! A familiar small terminal fell with a clang, rolling to his feet.

Zhuang Qingyan froze for three full seconds, his actions stiff. “…Song Ke?”