Chapter 71: Tell My Brother, I

Beneath the Administration Building, Monger stared anxiously at the biomass pool before him, its surface bubbling and releasing organic gases.

More and more people, bewitched, stepped into the biomass pool with serene expressions.

Their flesh and bones slowly dissolved, broken down into basic amino acids, polysaccharides, and phospholipids—these substances, mixed into biomass, nourished the Tyran organisms within the pool.

These terrifying creatures, as if perfectly engineered by the most meticulous designer, every muscle perfectly optimized, emitted low, guttural cries.

The sound sent icy fear through Monger.

Every one of his cells screamed at him to run.

The plan had failed; these monsters could not be stopped.

They yearned to be born, driven by instinct to be born faster into this world.

Monger gazed at the Tyran organisms in the biomass pool and thought:

The smaller ones were encased in embryonic sacs; the largest stood at the pool’s center.

Its four razor-sharp claws, its monstrous, horrifying form—

Monger trembled in dread.

Biomass slowly gathered around them, forming more complex tissues and organs, merging into their flesh.

Suddenly, Monger heard the tiny insect beside his ear fluttering its wings.

Chaotic voices emerged from it.

“All things decay, all beings endure!!!”

It was his brother’s voice, faint and blurred.

“Blood sacrifice to the Divine Emperor! Skulls offered to the Golden Throne!”

It was Lan. Rus’s voice, clear and powerful.

But how could Malkiet be in Zone One? Wasn’t he still guarding the settlement?

Had Lan. Rus done something? Had they both begun their move?

Monger wanted to ask what was happening above,

but his position was far too close to the terrifying Gene Thief leader.

The monster’s senses must be extraordinarily acute.

Monger feared his voice might be heard.

He suddenly realized he had always been this cowardly.

When his brother was abused by their mother, he only trembled in fear.

When the Angels first approached them, Malkiet quickly accepted the blessing, while Monger remained paralyzed by dread.

He was afraid again now, his legs shaking uncontrollably.

In Monger’s mind, the Angels chirped soothingly, telling him he had done enough.

At that moment,

the Gene Thief leader crouched atop the pipe suddenly lifted its massive triangular head.

Its twisted eyes fixed on the ground, as if seeing some vision within.

“YAAAAAAHHHHH!!!”

A roar of fury echoed through the entire underground chamber.

Fear seeped from neurochemicals.

Monger’s legs buckled, and he knelt with everyone else around him.

“Desecration!!!”

The Gene Thief bishop’s rebuke followed:

“Wretched heretics dare infiltrate our holy sanctum, desecrating the great sacrifice!”

“Believers! The hour of sacrifice has come! Come, merge into this great sacrifice!”

As the powerful hypnotic voice rang out, many faces flushed with fanatic fervor.

They rushed blindly toward the biomass pool, faster dissolving into biomass to nourish the Tyran organisms’ birth.

THUD—

Monger’s heart lurched,

for he seemed to hear the giant beast in the pool’s heart begin to beat.

The monster was being born!

Not only the people around, but the other Tyran organisms in the pool began to dissolve, feeding the largest one.

Monger’s face twitched.

This damned Gene Thief leader was so cautious.

Zhou Yun and Malkiet had barely begun their move, yet it was already accelerating Tyran production.

Even sacrificing the nearly completed Tyran organisms to hasten the birth of the largest, most terrifying one.

The Angels wept softly, sorrowfully telling Monger they had failed.

Failed.

Monger stared blankly,

the Gene Thief leader alone was terrifying enough,

with Lan. Rus, Monger, and Malkiet plus the plague zombies, perhaps they could manage—

but now add the monstrous beast in the biomass pool.

They had already failed.

Monger’s body trembled slightly; he forced himself to stand, suppressing the fear within.

The surface of the Administration Building was coated in silver metal.

From afar, it gleamed as if new.

But up close, Zhou Yun saw that ten thousand years had left their mark—

perhaps sandstorms’ hard grains had scraped the metal walls, leaving complex, twisted patterns that made one dizzy to behold.

The Administration Building’s entrance stood atop eight stone steps; before them, the Gene Thieves had piled rubble into layered walls.

On the steps, Gene Thieves rained automatic fire down upon the surging plague zombies.

Before the rubble walls, six massive mutated beings swung heavy hammers, crushing approaching plague zombies into pulp.

More hybrid mutated beasts hid behind the rubble, tearing flesh with grotesque, twisted claws.

For a time, the vast hordes of plague zombies and the Gene Thieves stood locked at the building’s entrance.

Zhou Yun, one hand clad in superhuman gloves, the other gripping the famed blade Dian Guang Wan, wearing his psychic cap, took a single step forward.

His figure flashed—suddenly he stood behind the Gene Thieves atop the eight steps.

Before they could react, the mechanical hand on Zhou Yun’s head swung violently.

The Gene Thieves flew like they’d been kicked hard in the ass by Uncle Tom’s boot, tumbling into the plague zombie horde below.

“YAAAA!!”

A hybrid mutated beast beneath the steps roared, lashing its tail like a giant scorpion as it lunged at Zhou Yun.

The monster was faster than Zhou Yun—but not faster than Dian Guang Wan.

Before its blade-like claws could strike, Dian Guang Wan moved on its own, guiding Zhou Yun’s arm to block the hybrid’s attack.

Zhou Yun focused his qi, his psychic cap aimed at the hybrid, and twisted sharply.

A crack of shattering bone rang out—the hybrid was twisted into a spiral.

Some hybrid mutated beasts and deformities turned toward Zhou Yun atop the steps.

But now Zhou Yun held the high ground.

His fourth-dimensional pocket opened, revealing twenty Cattrell M36 laser rifles hovering beside him.

Twenty searing beams fired—hybrid mutated beasts had no time to dodge, burning to ash.

The larger, more mutated deformities with thicker armored skin absorbed the laser fire, only suffering horrific gashes.

Three deformities charged toward Zhou Yun—but their movements were too slow.

Zhou Yun’s superhuman-gloved fist swung—within a blink, he crushed one into pulp.

The other two: one was obliterated by concentrated laser fire, the other hurled by telekinesis into the plague zombie horde.

Rotting flies swarmed from the zombie tide, devouring the remaining Gene Thieves at the rubble walls.

Malkiet controlled the flies, following behind him as he slowly climbed the steps, nodding slightly to Zhou Yun.

Before Zhou Yun could look at him, the tiny insect stuck behind his ear began fluttering its wings.

“Lan. Rus.”

Monger’s voice echoed in Zhou Yun’s ear:

“Tell my brother—I’m not a coward.”

(End of Chapter)