"Higher Vitality than mine!"
"Li Jiayu actually used her own life to summon such a monster... this is going to be tricky."
"Lin, get out of here—run as far away as you can."
The demon spider transmitted, having long since withdrawn the coverage of its Advanced Intimidation.
The demon spider also "saw" strand after strand of wicked, formless energy emanate from the Dark Young, shoot straight into the sky, and then speed rapidly westward.
Its gaze hardened—because that direction was unmistakably where Xingchuan University was located.
...
Yongan City Law Enforcement Department.
Inside the spacious, brightly lit intelligent conference room, Director Fu of the Law Enforcement Department was listening to a subordinate's report.
The reporter was a pretty woman in her thirties, her speech meticulous and thorough.
"After the Containment Base incident, the hundred-plus escaped mutated animals have been largely rounded up. Since we have no way of calculating exactly how many animals the flesh-mountain monster absorbed and fused at the time, we lack an accurate count of the mutated animals still at large."
"However, as of the day before yesterday, there have been no further incidents of mutated animals harming people within Yongan City, nor have we received any reports of mutated animal sightings. At the same time, we have not lowered our guard. We continue to intensify the search efforts of law enforcers citywide, remind citizens to exercise caution when going out, and have improved the mechanism for seeking help from Law Enforcer robots..."
"The tens of thousands of ordinary stray animals have also been separately rounded up and placed under management, with scientific research institutes intervening to analyze and determine whether there is any mutation virus latent within them."
Director Fu nodded slightly. He rapped the table and asked: "What's the situation at Xingchuan University?"
The woman frowned slightly. "Not optimistic. Today, another two cases of students mutating and losing control occurred. Though the number has decreased compared to yesterday, and there were no casualties..."
"Nevertheless, the Criminal Investigation Department still hasn't found the source causing these people to mutate and lose control."
Director Fu's expression darkened. "What in the world is the Criminal Investigation Department doing?! It's been several days! Still no leads?!"
The woman was about to explain when a knock came at the door.
A balding man pushed the door open and entered. He was the very Deputy Director who had personally commanded the execution of mutated animals at the Containment Base.
The balding director's expression was extremely grim. He spoke directly: "At the abandoned factory on Longxi Road in the East District, a suspected giant mutated creature has appeared."
"And, just moments ago, inside Xingchuan University, large numbers of teachers and students have suddenly undergone mutations—half of them are already on the verge of losing control! The law enforcers stationed on campus are barely enough anymore."
"What did you say?!"
Director Fu's eyes bulged with fury. He immediately gave the order: "Quick, prioritize sending law enforcers to support the school! The campus and surrounding areas are densely populated—we need to stabilize the situation immediately!"
"As for the abandoned factory—I'll contact the military district!"
"Got it, I'll get right on it." The balding director nodded and promptly strode out the door.
...
Xingchuan University, Campus Cafeteria.
Chen Zhang was utterly bewildered, and somewhat panicked.
He didn't know why, but after that terrifying, grotesque roar echoed through a corner of the city, people inside the cafeteria had begun collapsing, convulsing, rolling around, and wailing.
Some grew rat-like facial features, others sprouted ox horns, and some burst out of their clothes as they transformed into werewolves.
"Could it be something like that flesh-mountain monster again?"
Chen Zhang found it difficult not to attribute the sudden mutations appearing on the men and women around him to that horrifying roar.
"Holy crap! Boss Zhang, we're screwed..." Wang Xiaofan said, his face deathly pale.
"Hey... but, how come none of the werewolves bursting out of their clothes are girls?"
Chen Zhang: "..."
Seriously?! You're worried about that at a time like this?!
You damn otaku—don't tell me you're actually a furry too?!
Suddenly, several figures radiating a strange aura stood up. Translucent fluid dripped from their mouths. Swaying unsteadily, they shuffled toward Chen Zhang and Wang Xiaofan.
"Boss Zhang, we need to run!"
"Run where? It's the same outside too." Chen Zhang shook his head.
Wang Xiaofan glanced toward the cafeteria entrance. Even in the darkness of night, he could see the chaotic, fleeing crowds. Screams rang out without end.
"Th-then what do we... what do we do?" Wang Xiaofan placed his hopes on Chen Zhang.
"We take out all the filth in this cafeteria, then we hole up inside and wait for rescue."
"H-how do we take them out?" Wang Xiaofan hid behind Chen Zhang, his voice trembling.
Looking past Chen Zhang's shoulder, he saw several classmates whose faces were already twisted into utterly savage expressions.
There were also many who hadn't mutated—some huddled in corners, others were being gnawed on.
"There are too many. I can't handle them all alone..." Chen Zhang murmured.
Wang Xiaofan's expression changed. "There's no way I can beat them... if there were cat-eared girls though, I might give it a shot."
Chen Zhang spoke to himself: "Turing, I leave it to you!"
In the next instant, a prompt from his smart chip reached Chen Zhang's brain:
[Authorization obtained. Initiating combat mode.]
Immediately, Chen Zhang seemed to become an entirely different person. His eyes showed not a trace of emotion.
His body shifted into motion. His long arm shot out like an eagle striking the sky. His palm blade swept horizontally like a shark tearing through its prey. He plunged into the crowd alone, his silhouette flickering continuously. He twisted left and right, like a serpent coiling to kill, evading numerous lunging attacks.
He was like a tiger that had entered a flock of sheep—roaming freely, handling it all with ease, even managing to spare the lives of the mutated humans he brought down.
"What the hell!"
Witnessing this scene, Wang Xiaofan rubbed his eyes, suspecting he was dreaming. "This guy... he's not about to mutate too, is he?"
...
Meanwhile, outside the cafeteria,
The crowd was running about like madmen. Mutated humans had appeared in the dormitories, the teaching buildings, the library, and the museum. Even with the campus-stationed law enforcers going all out, they could barely keep up—stretched far too thin.
Some physically strong male students prepared to scale the walls. Most of the others gathered at the main gate, begging for it to open and let them out, to escape this terrifying campus.
"At a time like this, the campus is still locked down?!"
"Open up! Open the gate! Is the school really going to just watch us die in here?!"
"It's too terrifying inside! I'm my parents' only child—please, I'm begging you, let me out!"
Among those pleading, many were already so terrified that tears and snot streamed down their faces.
The two Law Enforcer robots at the gate said expressionlessly: "Students and teachers, please remain calm. We understand how you feel. Everyone, rest assured—reinforcements from the Law Enforcement Department will arrive very soon."
"At that point, the danger will be swiftly suppressed."
Almost as soon as the words were spoken, just as the crowd's outrage was surging and they were about to force their way through the gate—
Clank...
The gate finally opened. And yet, no one dared to step out.
Because outside the gate, standing in orderly rows, were several hundred law enforcers.
The crowd's cries instantly fell silent.
As if they had found their anchor.