Chapter Eighteen: Another Corpse Inspector

Suddenly, the ground began to tremble. With each passing moment, the tremors grew more violent.

"They arrived so quickly!"

Ye Hai knew that such a tremendous disturbance could only be caused by some high-level mutant. On Zombie Star, there were no tectonic movements—meaning, without an external force, earthquakes simply did not happen here.

This place was one hundred and fifty kilometers in a straight line from the Radiated Zone. From the moment reinforcements arrived and began clearing the mutants besieging the position, to Ye Hai and Javier reaching their “agreement,” only twenty minutes had passed.

And now, a high-level mutant had crossed that one hundred and fifty kilometer distance in just twenty minutes, launching a fierce assault. This speed surpassed the limits of any normal creature.

Once targeted by such a monster, escape was impossible.

At that moment, even more intense artillery fire erupted from the direction of the reinforcements. Though the mutants besieging the position had been cleared, more poured out, attacking the First Combat Team.

Wasting no time, Ye Hai gripped the holographic projection device and, with the Tyrant and the Licker, quickly departed.

He plunged once more into the dense forest, crushing the holographic projector in his hand and throwing it away, then resumed his normal form.

Ye Hai, naked, was soon enveloped by a wave of black material that covered his body. In moments, it formed a black military uniform almost identical to the one worn by the T-103 Tyrant.

This was a protective layer formed from T-virus secretions in his body—a power Ye Hai used to fashion clothing, ensuring he never had to run naked after transforming.

…

"As expected, it’s lost track of him."

"I still underestimated the intelligence of that seventh-stage mutant," Javier muttered, picking up his tablet. The tracker installed on the holographic projection could no longer locate a signal.

Putting the tablet away, Javier dismissed thoughts of Ye Hai and looked ahead, his face pale, at a “worm” emerging from the earth nearby.

Only half its body protruded above the ground, yet its exposed length exceeded fifty meters. Heaven knew how much more lay beneath.

Such an exaggerated form could not even be suppressed by the heavy artillery of the First Combat Team. After all, this worm’s monstrous mouth—over ten meters in diameter—could swallow half a squad in an instant.

…

"Eighth-stage mutant beast..."

"Is it really possible that a worm mutated by the virus could reach such a size?"

"It’s simply... outrageous."

…

When Ye Hai returned piloting the Star Tail 7, he caught sight of Liana. To his surprise, his Licker was behaving like an eager puppy, striving to please her.

Ye Hai couldn’t help but slap his forehead and roll his eyes. He realized it was because the Licker lacked eyes and had a habit of sniffing faces, its keen sense of smell leading it to inhale Liana’s breath, which carried the Queen Ant virus.

Though not entirely under her control, the Licker’s body would naturally feel close to the original carrier of the Queen Ant virus, at least until the T-virus within him fully devoured the Queen Ant virus.

Ye Hai strode over, grabbed the Licker by the neck, and flung it deep into the forest. As long as contact was avoided, the Queen Ant virus inside the Licker would soon be consumed, restoring it to normal.

He sized up Liana. The timid girl did not avert her gaze this time; instead, she boldly met Ye Hai’s eyes. There was no trace of earlier panic—just a calmness.

Ye Hai smiled faintly and said, "Interesting. Clearly, something happened while I was gone that gave you quite a shock, or you wouldn’t have changed so much in such a short time."

"But overall, this change is good. It will help you survive."

"Come on, get in. We need to rendezvous with Zella."

Liana obediently climbed into the back seat and asked, "Su Ling and Oria escaped. Aren’t you going to hunt them down?"

Ye Hai turned, surprised, and scoffed, "If they’ve run, that’s less food I have to supply."

"Why would I chase them? Do you think I’m some sort of monster?"

"I’m not a slave trader like Zella, nor a bloodthirsty killer."

With that, he pulled the lever, and the hovercar surged forward.

Liana quietly breathed a sigh of relief. She glanced in the direction her sisters had fled and silently wished, "May you be safe... If we meet again, we’ll be strangers."

Before long, Ye Hai caught up to Zella. They were now quite close to the Radiated Zone, but the sky had grown completely dark.

Both hovercars stopped. Driving at night was unsafe, and two glowing “giant beetles” entering the Radiated Zone would easily attract attacks.

…

Already, their presence had drawn some zombies and mutants from the outskirts of the Radiated Zone to attack them.

Ye Hai rolled down the window and called to Zella, "Tonight isn’t a good time to travel further, and the entrance to the Radiated Zone is very close now."

"Not far to the east is a hidden cave—I used it as a resting place when hunting zombies here."

"Follow me, we’ll spend the night there."

He started the hovercar again, driving slowly.

Suddenly, a zombie crow landed on the vehicle. Ye Hai frowned, opened the window, and allowed the crow to fly inside.

The zombie crow perched on Ye Hai’s shoulder, squawking incessantly, piquing Liana’s curiosity.

"My cave has been taken over by a group of people?"

"Over two hundred?"

"They’re armed?"

Hearing Ye Hai mutter these facts, Liana asked in amazement, "You can communicate with this zombie crow?"

There was nothing to hide, and Ye Hai nodded openly, "I keep some clever crows—they act as my eyes."

"This one just told me our cave is occupied."

"And the intruders have weapons."

"Tomorrow morning we’ll enter the Radiated Zone. It’s best to avoid contact with this suspicious group."

"I’ll discuss with Zella—we’ll spend the night in the car."

Just as Ye Hai was about to stop and consult with Zella, the crow gave two more cries.

Ye Hai’s eyes flashed coldly, a chill radiating from his body.

"You mean, Joe has been captured by them?"

"Are you sure you didn’t mistake the person? The corpse hunter... Joe?"

"Joe Hal?"

After receiving the zombie crow’s confirmation, Ye Hai stopped the car, his face icy.

Zella’s hovercar pulled up alongside and she asked, "Why did we stop?"

Ye Hai glanced at her and replied coldly, "The cave has been occupied, and my friend, a corpse hunter, has been captured."

"This night may not be as peaceful as we hoped..."