Chapter 86

「Tap tap tap! 」

Although a few warheads remained, they passed through its body like bullets through air, yet over a hundred impact detonators successfully struck the black monster.

「Boom~! Boom! 」 The black monster endured dense low-intensity explosions.

「Roar! 」

This time, the black monster was no longer reckless as before, and it even let out a roar resembling pain.

「Whoosh——~! 」 The black monster's endurance seemed to reach a critical point, and its body spontaneously combusted from inside out.

Only a few seconds.

The black monster turned into a pile of ash, also restoring the surrounding temperature to normal.

「Ha-ha-ha! 」 However, the eerie laughter echoed in everyone's ears until it finally faded after a long while.

At this moment.

Thirty-five HellParatrooper-clad MTF formed a fan-shaped line, aiming their guns at the pile of ash.

After confirming the black monster appeared physically dead, Kaluosi ordered: 'Check the condition of that US Military infantryman, collect some ash as a sample for the arriving technical personnel to conduct on-site research, send two people with me, and have the living dead and remaining HellParatroopers stand guard.'

「Yes! 」 The HellParatroopers who received Kaluosi's order began to act.

「. 」 Five silent living dead then actively moved to the outermost perimeter to stand guard.

Not long before, two batches of HellParatroopers and living dead respectively dropped onto the south and north of Sheheba.

After the paratroopers and living dead left the drop pod, they manually activated its self-destruct program.

The outer shell, made by the pseudo-biological organization, instantly melted, leaving only a worthless metal frame, so there's no need to worry about other forces reverse-engineering this technology.

The two groups split up to search for intelligence personnel.

Kaluosi's group practically combed the entire southern district, yet encountered neither intelligence personnel nor US Military, and found not a single corpse.

They only found firearms scattered across the ground, plus unmanned Humvees, tanks, and infantry fighting vehicles.

During this time, Kaluosi also encountered that kind of black monster.

Out of MTF professionalism, upon encountering the black monster, Kaluosi and company immediately opened fire without hesitation.

Especially the five living dead; any ammunition fired from their M41As could inflict severe damage on the black monster.

The black monster that had just tried to attack Leon and company was the fifth one Kaluosi's group had eliminated.

Returning to the present.

「US Military secret unit, Sergeant Kaluosi of the artillery, glad to have found you all in time. 」

Kaluosi, accompanied by two paratroopers, approached and spoke to Leon and company in a more upbeat tone, trying to ease the oppressive atmosphere.

Leon, knowing that Kaluosi's group were actually HellParatroopers, immediately thanked: 「Thanks for the fire support. 」

「Secret unit? No matter what, thank you very much for your rescue. 」 The lieutenant who had just come to also expressed thanks.

The lieutenant and surviving berets seemed not to doubt Kaluosi's group's identity.

「No problem. 」 Kaluosi chuckled, waved his left hand, and told Leon and the lieutenant the current situation, such as the black monsters and that no corpses had been found.

Finally, Kaluosi, his tone sinking, proposed: 「Everyone, due to the communications failure, I suggest we temporarily withdraw from the fog-covered area. 」

「Hmm, agree. 」 Leon nodded.

「I have no objection. 」 The lieutenant didn't want to linger here.

「Alright, then we…」

「Sergeant! 」 At that moment, a paratrooper on northern guard shouted loudly: 「Large enemy contact! 」

Hearing this, everyone looked north.

「Tap! Tap tap tap! 」

Coincidentally seeing the paratroopers and living dead on guard, they were suppressing fire on an entire street while gradually retreating, alternating positions.

Due to limited visibility from the fog, we could only vaguely make out countless black monster silhouettes.

Even so, Leon, Kaluosi, and the lieutenant intuitively realized the black monsters were too numerous to count.

Moreover, they faintly saw a huge 「human spider」, with slender limbs and a torso bearing human features.

The black monster's image constantly challenged the limits of what they could endure.

The best choice now is to withdraw immediately!

「Retreat! Living dead take rearguard, second squad covers, third squad assists the wounded, let's go! 」

「Yes! Sergeant! 」

With Kaluosi's order given, the HellParatroopers and living dead immediately sprang into action.

The rearguard's rearguard, the cover's cover.

Two wounded berets, along with that US Military infantryman whose mind was somewhat deranged, were protected in the center by everyone as they evacuated.

Although the firepower of Leon, the lieutenant, and seven berets was slight, they still tried to coordinate with the paratroopers, fighting while moving.

Finally, a sliver of sunlight at the end of the southern street gave everyone nearly infinite motivation.

Especially the surviving berets who had never dealt with anomalies, and that US Military infantryman.

Breaking through the mist, greeted by the dry desert breeze and the blinding afternoon sun—such an utterly natural setting—yet it gave people a feeling of being reborn.

And those relentless black monsters vanished as soon as they rushed out of the fog zone.

"It seems those strange fellows cannot leave the thick fog, or perhaps they fear the sunlight."

Leon, standing not far from the edge of the fog, murmured to himself, voicing his personal speculation.

Moreover, as soon as everyone left the area shrouded in fog, their electronic devices restarted and communications returned to normal.

Leon took out the agent's dedicated phone and reported what he had seen to his superiors.

———————

…

Half an hour later.

Inside the third‑floor corridor of the Mother Nest.

"Sir, the US Military's 172nd Infantry Brigade's 1st, 4th, and 7th Infantry Battalions have reestablished a quarantine zone centered on Sheheba, within a 10‑kilometer radius, and have helped us evacuate civilians stranded nearby."

"Captain Pulaise's team has already set up a temporary camp on the western side of the quarantine zone."

"The three of our agents rescued by HellParatrooper, along with 26 US Military survivors, are currently undergoing inspection inside the camp."

"Red Queen's report comes through the earpiece."

"Sui Bian, still dressed in a black suit, his expression solemn, briskly walks toward the original prison area."

"Han Ke, also in a suit, and four members of A Er Fa follow closely behind him."

"'Mm, I understand.' Listening to Red Queen's report over the earpiece, Sui Bian gives a brief response and then, in a calm tone, orders her:"

"'Prepare all relevant materials; I need that doctor to have a complete understanding of this incident.'"

"'Yes, sir.' Red Queen replies with her usual indifference."

"After ending the conversation with Red Queen, Sui Bian continues his brisk, silent walk."

"He passes a cross‑shaped intersection, turns right, and arrives at the target room of his visit—"

"the special cell unit imprisoning the Plague Doctor."

"The six armed security guards who have been waiting in the corridor for a long time see Sui Bian and his party arrive, and proceed to open the metal gate, flooding the cell."

"'Ah, why must there always be such a fanfare?' the Plague Doctor grumbles in his unique voice from within the cell."

(End of chapter)