Chapter 245

Wu Chang looked at Mo Ke and said, "Mr. Mo Ke, we need to open the Nest. We hope you'll cooperate with us."

Wu Chang toyed with the Mind Resonance device; if Mo Ke refused to cooperate, he had no objection to forcing him.

Mo Ke said seriously, "What are you planning to do?"

Lei Mengde took over, saying, "We intend to destroy the Nest in advance, and use this press conference to expose your conspiracy to the world. I've recorded everything you just said—tomorrow, it and the existence of the Nest will be front-page news globally!"

Mo Ke fell silent, saying nothing for a long time. Just as Lei Mengde and Wu Chang thought he wouldn't cooperate, Mo Ke suddenly spoke out of nowhere:

"Fine. But once you've seen the Nest, you'll give up."

After speaking, Mo Ke suddenly grew authoritative, standing up from his chair and walking straight into the depths of the Second Laboratory.

Wu Chang and the others didn't know what trick Mo Ke was playing; they exchanged glances, then followed behind him.

Wu Chang's mental assault constantly targeted Mo Ke; Colton had stuck a Joker card to Mo Ke's back. Now they were five against one, and Mo Ke's original-material armor had already been taken by Wu Chang—if Mo Ke tried anything, he'd be subdued instantly.

Under Mo Ke's lead, they reached the deepest part of the Second Laboratory—the very place that had once blocked Lei Mengde.

Mo Ke extended his hand to Lei Mengde and said, "Give me my access card. This door requires a biometric match to open."

Lei Mengde paused briefly, then handed Mo Ke the access card.

As Mo Ke had said, as soon as he approached the card reader, multiple beams of light shot out, scanning his entire body from every angle, top to bottom, verifying his identity.

"Ding."

"Identity verified. Welcome, Mr. Mo Ke."

Wu Chang had expected Mo Ke to make a move at this moment, but he hadn't anticipated that after unlocking the door, Mo Ke would calmly toss the access card back to Lei Mengde.

This was too cooperative.

Something strange must be afoot—just like in the Orens Estate, where the billionaires' bizarre behavior stemmed from seeing the outcome they desired. Was Mo Ke's current conduct all part of his plan?

Beyond the door was an elevator, descending deeper underground. There were no floor selections—only Up and Down.

Mo Ke pressed the Down button. They descended steadily, nearly a hundred meters, before finally stopping.

The elevator doors opened to reveal a sturdy underground corridor. Beyond the corridor lay a massive laboratory.

At the center of the lab stood a giant semi-circular glass dome, over a hundred meters in diameter. As they approached, they saw a dark region beneath the glass—visible through the transparent surface, like observing tigers and black bears from above in a zoo.

Mo Ke activated the lighting. Soft illumination filled the space, revealing the full sight of what lay below.

It was a dark, filthy, viscous mass of filth—boneless, fluid-like, drifting aimlessly within the dome.

But upon closer inspection, countless incomplete bodies and limbs could be seen embedded within its sludge-like form.

Some were human, some monstrous, others twisted beyond recognition.

Mo Ke, like a zoo guide, explained to them:

"The Nest is actually a byproduct of the Failed Monster Project. Originally, this pit was a disposal site for defective Failed Monster specimens. These rejects possessed extraordinary vitality—even after being rendered harmless before disposal, they never fully died."

"As the rejects piled up, they fused together into a single aberrant Failed Monster—a monster among monsters."

"Through subsequent research, we discovered that adding its components to the Failed Monster transformation serum increased both success rates and stability. Hence, we began calling it the Nest."

In the lab, only Mo Ke's voice echoed. The others stared at the Nest below, silent.

Beyond the glass, Buk and the others could feel the pressure radiating from the Nest. Merely gazing at it for a few seconds induced dizziness.

Buk's forehead glistened with sweat; his lips trembled, as if to speak but he held back. Colton unbuttoned one button of his shirt and breathed heavily. Veronica clasped her hands tightly, nervously rubbing them.

All three simultaneously thought the same thing: the difficulty of this dungeon was way too overpowered.

Could that thing below truly belong in the Wasteland Realm?

The others couldn't perceive divinity clearly; their insight was shallow. But Wu Chang sensed it far more deeply.

The Nest's divinity already surpassed that of the Fly King.

Yet, because its birth absorbed too much chaotic, even mutually antagonistic energy, its divinity had not developed any distinct traits.

Its quantity of divinity was greater, but in raw combat power, it might not even match the Fly King, which possessed Plague Divinity—it could even be slightly weaker.

If it possessed a powerful divinity as its core, the Nest might unleash power comparable to the Fly King.

But even then, the Nest didn't seem substantial enough to serve as the final boss.

Compared to this incomprehensible, chaotic filth, Plague would clearly draw far more global attention—especially from the Western world.

After all, the Black Death once killed a third of Europe.

Wu Chang frowned. He felt the Nest below was merely an unfinished product. Was it because they'd discovered it too early, before its time?

But judging by its current state, even another thirty days wouldn't allow it to develop a core divinity.

More troubling was this: for such a massive aggregation of failed specimens, there was no trace of resentment whatsoever. Was it due to flawed manufacturing?

Seeing the others awed by the Nest's true form, Mo Ke continued:

"I admit you're powerful. But after seeing the Nest, you should understand—it truly possesses the power to destroy the world. You alone cannot stop it."

"Not even you, nor the large original-material armor Schulz relies on, can defeat this creature. If the Hymn Project proceeds and it's released, the world will be truly destroyed."

Wu Chang sensed something off. He looked at Mo Ke and asked, "Your tone suggests you don't support the Hymn Project."

Mo Ke sighed. "I originally supported it. But as the Nest grew stronger, it slipped beyond control. Our lab's energy detectors can no longer measure its upper limit."

"Every time I see it, I have nightmares—dreams of the Federation and the entire world being obliterated by it."

Lei Mengde frowned. Mo Ke's words disgusted him. Now he worried the Nest's release would destroy the world—so why, when he personally engineered the Sid Massacre, did he act so casually? Wasn't it simply because the world's destruction threatened Mo Ke's own privileged interests?

Lei Mengde sneered, "So, Mr. Mo Ke, what exactly do you plan to do?"

Mo Ke paid no mind to Lei Mengde's sarcasm. "You want to expose Saint Hymn Corp? I won't stop you. Afterward, I can even help amplify the public outcry. But exposing Saint Hymn Corp must ensure the world isn't destroyed."

"So you need to help me—first, weaken the Nest. Reduce it to a level Saint Hymn Corp can handle, so it no longer threatens the world."

It had to be said, Mo Ke's proposal was highly appealing. Lei Mengde was a survivor of the Sid Massacre; if possible, he would never let the tragedy replay before his eyes.

For the players, if this monster were released, Main Quest Three would inevitably fail. Stopping the Nest aligned with their interests.

Only Wu Chang showed no reaction, watching coldly from the side. He felt something was amiss—but couldn't tell where the change would come from.

Lei Mengde hesitated. Reason overcame his thirst for revenge. He decided to cooperate with Mo Ke—even if it meant walking into a trap.

He asked, "What are you planning to do?"

Mo Ke said calmly, "I've prepared in advance. I'll inject a special agent into the Nest, causing it to split into two parts. After splitting, the Nest's power will be drastically weakened, but it will also descend into a state of aberration."

"Our task is to lure it out of the lab during its aberration, separate the two, and destroy them one by one."

"The plan cannot fail. If they merge again, their power won't weaken—they'll enter a state of aberration, causing even greater damage."

Although Lei Mengde was a certified Holy Song Hunter, when dealing with matters of this level, he still had to defer to Wu Chang and the others. He cast Wu Chang a questioning glance; Wu Chang nodded.

Receiving Wu Chang's signal, Lei Mengde said, "Alright."

Mo Ke took a deep breath, pulled up a hidden program on the control panel, then spoke to the group:

"Pay attention—it's about to begin. Once the Nest starts splitting, I'll activate the shield. You must immediately pull the two split Nests apart."

"3, 2, 1!" Beep.

Mo Ke pressed the button. Everyone held their breath. The atmosphere was intensely tense.

After a while, those staring downward grew puzzled. Why hadn't they sensed any change in the Nest? Was Mo Ke's plan reliable?

Lei Mengde turned to Mo Ke, about to ask—when he saw Mo Ke's eyes bulging, face flushed red, veins swelling violently on his face and neck, his appearance horrifying.

Mo Ke looked at the group and spoke slowly, word by word: "I feel something's wrong with my body."

Lei Mengde moved closer, but Wu Chang yanked him back.

"Don't go near him—he's turning into a Degenerate Monster!"

Wu Chang could clearly see the Evil gathering inside Mo Ke, and Divinity emerging from it.

Mo Ke's Evil was not weak. Though it didn't reach Farrell's level, it was far worse than that of Gluttony Ants. If he became a Degenerate Monster, he could instantly kill Lei Mengde, who was unprepared.

Lei Mengde exclaimed, "But I didn't see him inject the agent!"

Wu Chang, watching Mo Ke's contorted face, filled with disbelief, deduced that this was not Mo Ke's intention—it was his plan that had gone wrong.

!

A cold wind blew out from Mo Ke's body, carrying Divinity—like knives mixed into the wind, grazing it drew blood.

This was Mo Ke's Degenerate Domain.

Bu Ke and the others dared not intercept it directly. They activated defensive skills and retreated beyond the range of the Degenerate Domain.

Wu Chang didn't move. He pulled Lei Mengde behind him, reactivated the Electromagnetic Controller, and condensed an electromagnetic ring around them, continuously neutralizing the incoming cold wind.

Mo Ke's plan had three steps: first, inject the agent into the Nest; second, retract the protective shield above the Nest.

Now, the second step was underway. The shield above the Nest retracted, revealing a vast opening. Mo Ke, as if drawn by some force, staggered to the railing and tumbled over.

Below, the Nest unfolded, forming a depression at its center like a gaping mouth—like a zoo predator opening its jaws to receive food from visitors.

Mo Ke entered the Nest's belly. With powerful Divinity guiding it, the Nest's chaotic Divinity instantly became orderly. Its size expanded continuously, its power approaching that of the Fly King.

Witnessing this, Wu Chang suddenly understood. No wonder he'd always felt the Nest was missing something—it was Mo Ke.

Yet from Mo Ke's reaction, it seemed he himself was unaware that he was the Nest's most vital component.

The Nest and Mo Ke—now with the Nest's vast Divinity as support—the cold wind instantly engulfed the underground space. Bu Ke and the others struggled desperately to hold out.

Bu Ke shouted, "We've been tricked! That Beach Child wants to take us all down with him!"

Colton swiftly drew cards, pulling out twenty Knight cards in rapid succession, scattering them around the group. "Veronica, I can't hold this wind alone—help me block it! We must buy time for Bu Ke. If he summons the Phantom Horse, we can escape."

Veronica nodded. "I'll go get Lei Mengde and the others."

As far as she remembered, Wu Chang and Lei Mengde were still near the control panel, not with them.

Just as she moved to act, Lei Mengde's voice suddenly rang out.

"I'm right here."

At the sound, Bu Ke and the other two turned instantly, staring fixedly at Lei Mengde, who now stood behind them. Then they whipped their heads back toward the control panel—Lei Mengde and Wu Chang had vanished.

Bu Ke asked, confused, "How did you get here? And where's Brother Wuming?"

Lei Mengde looked embarrassed. "I don't know how I got here—but I saw Wuming jump down himself."

Bu Ke and the others followed Lei Mengde's pointing finger, gazing at the deep pit exposed after the shield vanished.

"Huh?!"

Down in the pit, Wu Chang stared at the Nest churning like a tidal wave, wrinkling his nose in disgust.

This thing reeked too badly. If stench were a power, the Nest wouldn't need Mo Ke to gain Divine traits.

Perhaps the Nest sensed Wu Chang's revulsion. The Nest, which had been churning on its own, suddenly stilled. Though it had no human organs, Wu Chang's intuition told him—the Nest was watching him.

Wu Chang shook his head and asked, "What are you staring at?"

The Nest reacted. A massive glob of slime surged like a wave, crashing toward Wu Chang.

Wu Chang sighed, his face twisted in annoyance—not because the Nest's power was daunting, but because he was already calculating how many baths he'd need to scrub off the stench.

Just as the slime-wave was about to engulf him, he activated his Sea Giant Transformation.

"Talent Skill: Body of Power"

"Skill Description: You may freely alter your size. Maximum height cannot exceed your current Power attribute × 2 (meters). Your temporary HP and Stamina will scale proportionally to your size, equal to half your current size."

After devouring the giant worm, his Power reached 249. Theoretically, he could grow to 500 meters tall—but the underground enclosure was limited. The ceiling allowed only 100 meters. He reluctantly settled for 90 meters.

The Nest, having just absorbed Mo Ke, was still undeveloped. Its slime-wave stood only 30 meters tall.

Thirty meters—barely reaching Wu Chang's knees. He kicked the wave like a football, his foot enhanced by the Electromagnetic Controller's divine lightning and the Desecrator's damage boost.

One kick sent the Nest flying out of alignment—barely preventing it from being physically split.

The Nest, struck hard by Wu Chang's kick, crackled with violent electricity. Large chunks of slime peeled away, shrinking its size by nearly one-fifth.

Though the Nest's quantity of Divinity was terrifying, it suffered the same flaw as all Holy Song Company Degenerate Monsters and Primordial Armaments: high energy rank, but low numerical stats.

Without Divine protection, whether Degenerate Monster or Gold-Ranked Employee, the flesh remained frail.

Wu Chang, with 249 Power and a foot over 600 yards in size, kicked through the Divinity—and one blow nearly killed the Nest.

Strike while the iron is hot.

Wu Chang gave the nest no chance to catch its breath, chasing after it and delivering another kick.

That kick unleashed the full force of high summer!

Boom!

With the second kick, the nest's body split in two, utterly torn apart.

Wu Chang felt the nest's vitality vanishing at breakneck speed.

He approached the nest, pried through the slime, and pulled out its core — a hollow fleshy sphere, its shape hard to describe, resembling the uterus of a mammal.

He could see Mo Ke's upper body lodged at the neck region.

He yanked Mo Ke free and found him clutching a cord — a severed umbilical cord.

He tore open the organ before him, then slowly narrowed his eyes.

His intuition told him this cord did not belong to Mo Ke, but to some other being.

The moment he saw the organ, he realized Mo Ke's claims were utterly false — the nest's name did not come from its flesh improving the success rate and stability of Failed Monster transformations, but because it was truly gestating something.

Yet now, the organ before him was empty; whatever the nest had been gestating had been taken away in advance.

(End of Chapter)