At Abandoned Warehouse No. 9, located some distance away from the enemy base... a dead silence covered the area. There was only the faint sound of breathing from a beautiful woman sitting calmly with her eyes closed on a "human throne."
Although Iris's body was as still as a carved statue, her mind was moving at the speed of light. The consciousness of the Parasite Queen was expanding... flowing through brainwaves connected as a massive network, crossing the 500-meter distance, straight into the heart of the enemy hive.
[Psionic Network]
The moment the connection was complete, the dark world in Iris's mind lit up! It wasn't an image from a single perspective, but a superimposed vision from 25 pairs of eyes...
The 25 parasites she had sent out earlier had already scattered to seize key strategic points throughout the target warehouse. Comprising 20 normal breeds and 5 special breeds, they hid seamlessly in the shadows on high steel beams, under piles of rotting wooden crates, or even in the cracks of concrete walls.
All their senses were transmitted directly back to the Queen's brain... She heard the thugs talking, smelled the cheap cigarettes they smoked, caught the scent of old engine oil, and saw every movement inside the warehouse in 4K resolution, as if she were the owner of the place herself.
'Twenty-nine people...' Iris counted the enemies in her mind coolly.
The image of the situation before her played clearly in her head. Finley was tied up, hanging from a cargo crane... Jagger was laughing entertainingly with dozens of his henchmen scattered around...
But what Iris was interested in was not the drama playing out in front. She was interested in the individuals who were perfectly suited to become her "pawns."
'So many blind spots...' She smirked. 'Humans are truly so lax.'
Her supercomputer-level brain began processing, analyzing the situation before her rapidly.
Normally, if she wanted to take over a human body to become a "Perfect Servant," she needed to use a "Normal Breed Parasite." This required an "incubation" period of at least 1 hour to take control of the central nervous system, and another 4-5 hours to merge with the host's memories and habits to make the impersonation 100% seamless.
That was art requiring refinement... resulting in a perfect spy that no one could catch, and the parasite itself could live until the host body expired naturally.
'But what a pity...' Iris sighed in her thoughts. 'The current situation doesn't allow us to be that delicate...'
There was less than 20 minutes left before Owen would arrive... The situation forced her to break out an incomplete experimental product. It was a prototype she hadn't even officially named yet, so she simply called it the "Special Breed."
It had been genetically modified to "accelerate the incubation process" to the limit, allowing it to seize control of a host's body within 3 minutes! And of course, this was only a preliminary control just enough to mimic normal human behavior, but unable to access the host's memories or habits.
And naturally, everything came with a price... The intrusion into the brain was too violent and rapid, permanently destroying the host's brain cells. This meant the body would only be able to live for another 10 hours... before the nervous system collapsed and died.
'They are disposable puppets with no future.'
But that wasn't a problem for Iris... because to her, these humans were just "Expendable Materials" worth no more than cheap batteries. Once used up, they were simply thrown away.
"Alright... let's see who the first 5 lucky winners will be."
Her invisible eyes swept across the battlefield, screening for targets with the highest "tactical value" to roll out the red carpet for her King's arrival.
Target 1: The able-bodied man in a cap who had separated to lie prone on the highest steel beam of the warehouse. The scoped rifle in his hand was the most dangerous long-range threat to Owen. This was the strategic point that had to be seized first.
Targets 2 and 3: Two henchmen who had just been talking happily and were about to turn into the blind spot of the restroom entrance... This was a perfect ambush spot no witnesses, no noise.
Target 4: Jagger's close aide who had just excused himself to talk on the phone outside the warehouse. From what she heard them discussing, it seemed his main duty was guarding the victim, Finley... Taking his body would make it easier for her to secretly protect Finley.
Target 5: And the last one... a chubby man who was slacking off, sitting dozing behind a pile of old wooden crates. He was the easiest prey, and would be the sharpest "knife" to stab his own allies in the back.
Once the pawns were placed on the board... the corners of Iris's lips lifted into a smile.
"Begin the takeover..." The psychic command was sent out like an arrow loosed from a bow. The 5 Special Breed parasites launched their operation in the shadows!
…..
[At the high steel beam under the warehouse roof]
"So damn boring..." The sniper muttered while chewing gum, his eyes still looking through the scope at the warehouse entrance.
Click... Click...
The faint sound of tiny legs hitting steel came from behind him. He felt a chill on the back of his neck like a bug had landed. "A mosquito?"
He took one hand off the gun, raising it to slap his neck in annoyance.
But... it was too late!
Squelch!
A sharp pain shot straight into his brain before his palm could even touch his skin! Parasite No. 1 pierced through the cervical vertebrae and burrowed into the brain stem with speed and violence. The sniper's body convulsed violently. His pupils dilated before going dark... The hand he had raised dropped uncontrollably to his side.
[In front of the dilapidated restroom]
The two henchmen were standing, relieving themselves into grime-crusted urinals while whistling in a good mood, completely unaware that in the dark shadows above the doorframe, two creatures were staring down at them.
Thwip!
Without any warning sound, Parasites No. 2 and 3 dropped from the darkness with pinpoint accuracy! They latched onto the napes of both men simultaneously.
"Hey- Urgh!"
The exclamation of shock was cut short in their throats. Their bodies jerked violently before collapsing face-first onto the dirty restroom floor with a loud Thud!, their zippers still undone.
[Outside the warehouse]
"Come on, darling... After this job is done, Pappa will take you shopping, okay? Hahaha."
Jagger's close aide was laughing heartily, chatting enthusiastically with his mistress on the phone, unaware that the shadow of death had swooped down from the roof above his head.
Parasite No. 4 glided down to land on his rear collar as lightly as a feather. It waited patiently for the moment... until the conversation ended.
"That's all for now... Kisses."
The moment his fingertip pressed the end call button, sharp fangs pierced through his skin instantly! The flirtatious smile on his face froze. The mobile phone slipped from his hand. His body seized up and fell to the ground uncontrollably, his eyes turning vacant.
[Behind the pile of wooden crates]
Soft snoring sounds came from the chubby man sleeping happily on the job. Parasite No. 5 slowly crawled out from the crevice of the crate. It didn't pierce the nape like the others, but chose a much more horrifying entry point...
It climbed up his shoulder... past his neck... and stopped at his ear canal.
It slowly burrowed into the dark ear hole. Its feelers and legs wriggled as it squeezed deeper and deeper inside... The sleeping man's body twitched slightly as if annoyed, but he didn't wake up. His breathing hitched for a moment before becoming steady again... Of course, it was no longer the breathing rhythm of a human having a sweet dream.
…..
Back at Warehouse No. 9.
Iris opened her eyes slowly. Her purple irises glowed brightly amidst the darkness. The smile at the corner of her mouth widened until it looked distorted and terrifying.
She could sense it... sensed 5 brains being devoured... sensed nerves being reconnected... and sensed the "authority" of control forming.
"3 more minutes..."
She whispered to the emptiness, her voice as cold as ice.
"This board game is about to change owners..."
The Queen of Nightmares was ready to turn the enemy's people into her own weapons of slaughter.
…..
[Return to Present Time]
"Have you laughed enough?..." Owen stepped toward the scum in front of him, stopping just 5 meters away.
"Laugh quickly... because that will be the last sound you ever make... in this life!"
As Owen's soft yet freezing decree ended, an uncomfortable silence blanketed the open space in front of the warehouse for a moment.
Jagger's right eyebrow twitched rapidly with irritation. Veins on his temple bulged visibly. He hated it... hated those eyes of Owen. Eyes that looked past him as if he were just a roadside pebble. Hated that calm demeanor acting as if he held the upper hand, when in reality, he was just a "chick in his palm" that he could crush to death whenever he wanted!
"Ha... Hahaha!"
Jagger exploded into maniacal laughter to break the oppressive atmosphere Owen had created. He smirked ruthlessly and shouted back loudly.
"Are you crazy or something!? Or has fear gone to your head until you're hallucinating, huh!" Jagger spread his arms wide, showing off the forces surrounding him like a king boasting of his army.
"Open your damn eyes and look around! In this situation, who is actually at a disadvantage? The hostage... that pale-faced doll is still dangling in my hand! And around you right now... you are surrounded by 29 armed men!" He pointed his finger, listing his elite subordinates with pride.
"In our group, there are 5 C-Rank Awakened! And I... am a B-Rank Awakened who has survived countless bloody battlefields! My experience and strength are in a different league compared to a rookie Awakened like you it's not even comparable!"
Jagger took a step forward, his eyes shining with ultimate disdain as he pulled out his "trump card" of information to strike.
"Think I don't know your ins and outs, Owen? We investigated everything about you!" Jagger scoffed in his throat. "Even though the Association evaluates you as B-Rank on your card... the truth is that the 'Mana Level' inside you is trashier than trash! It's only F-Rank, isn't it!"
He looked at Owen with pity.
"Even if you went through near-death training in the past few weeks... at most, your mana wouldn't have increased beyond D-Rank! Don't act all calm and tough! With a face like yours, just getting mobbed by my men will turn you into mush!"
Jagger's patience ran out. He was sick of seeing that unshakeable attitude. He wanted to see a face twisted with fear. He wanted to hear screams begging for life!
"Hey, you guys!!" Jagger bellowed, shouting the order like an executioner commanding the blade to fall.
"Teach him a lesson about his situation! Tear every tooth out of his mouth!"
"Kill himmmm!!"
"Die, you bastard!"
"Hahaha! You're finished!"
Upon the command, the pack of 20 bloodthirsty wolves shouted in response, their voices shaking the ground! Their war cries echoed through the warehouse like frenzied wild beasts.
They charged at Owen from all directions simultaneously like a wave of humanity! Sunlight reflected off Spartan blades and battle axes until they glinted. Barbed-wire baseball bats were raised high. Dozens of gun muzzles aimed at Owen's limbs and torso, as if they didn't want the prey in front of them to die too quickly. Their faces were twisted with perverse smiles, full of the amusement of "mobbing" a helpless victim.
However... in the split second they began to move...
Vwoom...
Owen's golden eyes flashed brilliantly. The skill [Genius (INT: A)] activated in perfect synchronization with the essence of the [Instant-Mind Palm]!
Suddenly... the rules of time were shattered in Owen's world of perception!
Click...
As if someone had reached out and pressed the slow-motion button on a video player... The entire world in Owen's eyes was yanked down to a speed so slow it was nearly frozen!
[ External World Speed : 0.1x ]
The shouts of "Kill him!" from the enemies that had once been deafening were now stretched out until they became low, droning moans that were unintelligible, like the sounds of demons from the depths of hell.
"Kiiiillllll.... Hiiiiimmm...."
Owen saw every detail that normal human eyes would never catch in time...
He saw droplets of saliva flying from the gaping mouth of the frontmost enemy... floating aimlessly and swirling in mid-air slowly, like stars in space.
He saw the thigh muscles of the knife-wielder tensing and bulging to send force into a charge... saw the tendons in the neck bulging from shouting.
He saw the dust kicking up from the enemies' combat boots that had just lifted a few centimeters off the ground... hanging there, refusing to fall back to the floor due to gravity.
Amidst this storm of killing intent and chaos that was "frozen"... Owen stood alone and silent.
His breathing was slow, deep, and relaxed. His mind was empty, devoid of rage, leaving only "Mercy" for the creatures before him.
In his eyes right now, they were not formidable enemies... but merely still images of lumps of meat struggling in desire. Just moths flying foolishly into a fire.
Owen didn't move to dodge... didn't raise his arms to guard... and showed no sign of throwing a punch to attack at all...
Amidst this moment stretched out almost to eternity... Owen slowly drew both hands up from his sides.
It was a slow movement... soft... and beautiful like a dance, completely contrasting with the savagery surrounding him. His palms traced an arc through the viscous air, coming together to meet lightly at the center of his chest.
Clap...
Ten fingers aligned perfectly, fingertips pointing up to the sky...
Amidst the forest of weapons about to tear his body apart... Owen stood with eyes closed peacefully in a "Prayer" pose, like a holy monk chanting to send off spirits... to liberate these misguided creatures from the suffering of this world... forever...
[Instant-Mind Palm: Mercy of the Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva]...!!!
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