Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Show Begins

“We’re getting closer—the roots are growing thicker here!”

“Stay close to me. The moment we break through, I’ll immediately dispel the zombification!”

“Once I fake my death, the T-103 Tyrant will follow behind you… If you run into a stage seven mutant you can’t handle, just whistle, and the T-103 Tyrant will come to your aid!”

“Just remove the restraints from him and let him enter his second phase to help you!”

Sensing their increasing proximity to the mutated plant, Ye Hai kept issuing instructions.

At this point, Qiao put away his usual joking demeanor. He understood full well that tonight’s battle was a crucial link in Ye Hai’s plan. If they failed to deceive the eyes in orbit, Ye Hai’s secret would be exposed to both the Great Tree Star and the Chaos Star. Neither the Great Tree Star nor the Dark Surge Organization would ever let go of someone with a monster-like transformation ability like Ye Hai’s.

At present, the Corpse Hunter Organization lacked the strength to contend with those entities in space. Should they be exposed, not only would Ye Hai face unimaginable trouble, but the Corpse Hunter Organization itself would be at risk of total annihilation.

Finally, with a thunderous shout, Ye Hai smashed through a tangle of thick roots. The two once again felt the cool touch of moonlight on their skin. Instantly, Ye Hai shed his transformed state and, together with Qiao, burst out of the encirclement.

Before them stood a towering tree, two hundred meters tall, lush and vibrant amidst a forest of withered yellow woods. By Ye Hai’s rough estimate, they had covered over five kilometers to get here. Such a monstrous size surpassed even the eighth-stage mutants.

Beneath the vast canopy formed by the giant tree’s sprawling branches, countless mutant corpses were lashed tightly together—a grim display of those who had strayed into the tree’s domain. Perhaps, as another corpse officer named “Zero” had deduced, these plant mutants could only sustain their activity by remaining soaked in the zombie virus for extended periods.

To Ye Hai and Qiao’s horror, most of the bodies hanging from the branches were, in fact, still alive. The sheer numbers made their skin crawl. A quick glance revealed thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of mutants writhing between the branches.

Qiao shuddered, “If all the plants on Zombie Star mutated like this…”

“It’s unimaginable!” Ye Hai shook his head. “That’s highly unlikely. The conditions for plant mutation are extremely harsh. If not for the concentration of mutants in the irradiated zone, saturating the area with the virus, this tree would never have been awakened.”

Qiao nodded in agreement, but still asked helplessly, “What now? You don’t expect me to take this little knife and hack down a tree dozens of meters across, do you?”

“We’re still several kilometers from Zella… there’s no way to call in an orbital strike!”

Just then, the giant tree a hundred meters away began to move, though no wind stirred. Numerous mutants trapped among the branches were shaken loose. While only three of them were sixth-stage—one zombie and two large feline mutants—the hundreds, even thousands, of lower-stage mutants tumbling down were astonishing.

At the same time, the tendrils ceased their attacks on Ye Hai and Qiao. Instead, they formed a living barricade, encircling Ye Hai, Qiao, and the mutants, transforming the space into a gigantic arena.

Qiao gasped, “Does this thing have intelligence?”

Ye Hai frowned and shook his head. “It’s probably a hunting instinct developed over time.”

“Now it’s up to you!”

Qiao started in surprise at Ye Hai’s words. He watched as Ye Hai, seemingly panicked, bolted toward the root-formed fence in a desperate escape. Yet, after cutting through several roots, a sharp vine lashed out from behind, striking straight for the back of his head.

Ye Hai appeared oblivious as the root pierced his skull. The mutated plant, as if boasting, hoisted Ye Hai’s corpse aloft and, after a rapid relay, hung it from one of the giant tree’s branches within seconds—limp and motionless, like a salted fish.

Qiao was left numb by the sight. He simply couldn’t fathom how, even with repeated viral enhancements, a human could survive such trauma. It defied all his understanding.

Yet, Qiao had no time to ponder whether Ye Hai might resurrect. The three sixth-stage mutants—one zombie and two large mutated felines—were already charging at him at full speed!

…

“Why did my sweetheart find such a foolish partner?” On the Dark Surge Queen, a corpulent woman watched the battlefield below via the warship’s main screen, her face twisted in disgust at Ye Hai’s “cowardly retreat.”

A subordinate spoke up, “Lady Zexi, there’s no doubt this giant tree is the core mutant. Should we notify the Cannon Duke to fire the main gun and destroy this strange plant?”

Zexi grabbed a roast beef leg from a barrel beside her and muttered around a mouthful, “No. We already fired the main gun once before.”

“We still have the Crimson Queen beside us… We must remain vigilant at all times!”

“More importantly, my sweetheart is in this perilous irradiated zone. I must keep some means in reserve to ensure his safety!”

“Tell the Cannon Duke not to offer any support without my express command!”

“Corpse Hunters, is it? My sweetheart speaks so highly of them. I’m curious—what makes them so special?”

Her subordinate could only shrug helplessly and glance at another screen. No matter how he tried, he couldn’t connect the towering, thickset Zella—standing over 185 centimeters tall, with a face full of scars—to the “sweetheart” nickname…

At the same time, the Crimson Queen relayed news of Ye Hai’s death to Javier. Upon receiving the report, Javier said calmly, “Keep a close watch on the survivor.”

“Anyone who can escape the onslaught of such a terrifying plant mutant is worth our attention…”

“And from his behavior, he has far surpassed the gene-enhanced soldiers of Great Tree Star.”

“In terms of individual combat, not even the Leviathan system’s gene warriors can face a sixth-stage mutant alone!”

“But he managed to break free from a stage seven plant mutant’s siege. There must be an incredible secret behind him.”

“The First Legion’s Borogen Starship and General Kobayashi’s Helmsman will arrive at the designated location in half a day at most.”

“The Dark Surge Queen’s main gun has already fired and is now recharging.”

“You may strike the stage seven mutant at an opportune moment… I want to earn a debt—a life debt—owed to me.”

…

Completely unaware that two factions in orbit were now taking starkly different stances toward his predicament, Qiao had narrowly evaded the attacks of the three sixth-stage mutants. With his incredible speed, he had already killed dozens more of the mid- and low-tier mutants.

Unable to help himself, Qiao muttered, “I knew nothing good could come of working with that old man!”

“T-virus? I’ve seen its wonders on the outside already!”

“Is it really as miraculous on the inside? I hope the old man and Zero weren’t just bluffing me…”

“Otherwise, this’ll be my grave!”

With that, Qiao pulled a syringe from his thick mane of hair. The liquid inside was a dull gray—almost dirty.

Glancing at the ever-growing horde of mutants around him, his eyes turned wild. With a roar, he shouted, “Scum! Taste Grandpa Qiao’s ‘Bloodbound’ virus!”

Then, he plunged the syringe deep into his own thigh…