Chapter Thirty-Nine: Javier's Trump Card

"Damn it... the Phase Eight mutant’s strength is simply overwhelming!"

"And its hide is so tough, my dagger can’t even pierce its skin..."

Joe was facing a mutant in the shape of a giant tortoise.

It was also the largest of the four mutants thrown into ground combat by the worker bees, its body stretching over a hundred and twenty meters long and towering more than twenty meters high, bristling with sharp, backward-curved spikes.

Its breath carried a neurotoxic paralytic; Joe had almost succumbed to it in their first clash.

Confronted with such a colossal beast, Joe was seized by a deep sense of helplessness.

The thirty-centimeter alloy dagger in his hand was barely sufficient to scrape the dirt off the turtle’s massive feet.

The Blood-Carrier Virus within his body had already been fully deployed against the mutant giant tree.

Yet, even if he hadn’t released it, Joe wasn’t sure it would be effective against a Phase Eight creature; all of them possessed immense chitin layers on their outer bodies.

The virus might not even penetrate their skin.

The Muscle-Carrier Virus was utterly useless against entities of the eighth phase.

Of his trio of viruses, Joe had one last trump card: the Brain-Carrier. But he hesitated to use it.

Once unleashed, he couldn’t guarantee it would wipe out all the Phase Eight mutants, but he was certain every human present—including himself—would perish. Not even the T Virus could save them then.

Looking at the Phase Eight mutants encircling Harvey, Zella, and the others from all four directions, Joe felt a surge of despair.

The Tyrant left to Joe by Ye Hai had revealed its second form, blocking the blood-soaked, colossal bear in the north, but now it was battered, searching the ground for its shattered teeth, and its arm was broken.

Harvey’s Second Legion, though wildly powerful, had been utterly scattered by the assault of two Phase Eight mutants from the southwest. Now chaos reigned, and soldiers were falling in droves.

Worse still, sixteen massive worker bees hovered menacingly above, their strength unknown.

Harvey approached Joe, his expression grim, speaking quietly, "Hello, Corpse Hunter. I am Harvey, commander of the Second Defense Legion of Giant Tree Star."

"The situation is dire... My flagship, the Crimson Queen, is ready to launch an orbital strike at any moment, but we’re too close to these mutants. If we trigger it, we’ll be caught in the blast as well..."

"I know you possess super-speed... Take me away from the battlefield, and the orbital strike will commence instantly, helping us escape this peril..."

"At the same time, on behalf of Giant Tree Star, I invite the Corpse Hunter Organization to cooperate..."

"Our terms will surpass those of the Dark Surge Organization!"

After receiving Teach’s orders, Harvey didn’t hesitate.

Witnessing the crisis, he immediately decided to sacrifice everyone if necessary, just to ensure Joe’s survival...

Even if it meant his own death.

The warriors of Giant Tree Star were unwaveringly loyal to their emperor.

The Blood-Carrier Virus was too vital to their campaign against Zombie Star; so important that even the loss of a legion commander was a price worth paying.

But Joe had no intention of accepting Harvey’s olive branch.

Not to mention, their current predicament was entirely Harvey’s doing.

The destruction of Ye Hai’s villa by explosives was a debt still unsettled!

Even though Ye Hai had exploited Harvey’s forces to fend off a mutant onslaught once, Joe considered that nothing but an accident...

As Ye Hai put it, "Unintentionally evil, yet not to be punished!"

Joe found this phrase full of wisdom, especially apt for Harvey.

Thus, he turned his back on Harvey, and called out loudly to Zella, "Still can’t get ahold of your little girlfriend?"

"If they don’t provide fire support soon, we’ll be crushed into a meat pie by this ancient turtle..."

At that moment, the Phase Eight turtle launched another assault.

Each step of the immense creature sent tremors through the earth.

Harvey moved beside Joe, speaking slowly, "It seems you’re unaware..."

"Now, only the Bolognese Star, the Crimson Queen, and General Kobayashi’s Helm Master remain on the outer space orbit..."

"The Taran family’s fleet has withdrawn... Zella has been abandoned!"

"You can’t expect reinforcements!"

Joe was utterly stunned.

That freeloading rascal had failed him at the critical moment?

The only reason he was desperately holding out against the Phase Eight mutants was in hopes of reestablishing contact with Zella and the orbital support.

Had he known there was no backup, he would have fled long before the encirclement tightened...

Who in their right mind would stay here waiting to die!

Joe frowned, glancing back at Zella and Liana, a trace of resolve glinting in his eyes.

He thought to himself that Liana was still useful to Ye Hai, and decided to take her along.

Unless absolutely necessary, he would not abandon her—for now.

If it ever came to a life-or-death moment where it was her or him, he’d toss her aside without a second thought; even the master wouldn’t object.

Resolute, Joe spoke, "I want to take one more person with me."

Harvey nodded without hesitation. "Bring your companion. I’ll hold off this mutant’s attack."

Joe was slightly surprised; he’d already noticed in the previous battle that Harvey, though a genetically modified soldier, was only a Phase Three mutant.

Compared to a Phase Eight mutant, there was a vast gulf between them.

Seeing Joe’s skeptical look, Harvey smiled faintly.

From his breast pocket, he drew out a pack of cigarettes, bit one, and offered another to Joe.

Lighting his own, he stowed the lighter away and exhaled a comfortable ring of smoke.

Joe rolled his eyes, complaining, "You couldn’t light mine for me? That’s awfully rude!"

Harvey smiled and replied, "The lighter was a gift from my wife. I promised her I’d use it only myself..."

"If you don’t have a light... I have another way!"

As he finished speaking, Harvey instantly drew a high-energy pistol from his belt and, from the side, fired at the cigarette dangling from Joe’s lips.

Seeing his cigarette now half its original length, Joe took a deep drag.

"This way of lighting up is certainly cool. I think I’m starting to like you!"

After lighting Joe’s cigarette, Harvey exposed his right arm.

Joe curiously examined the metal patterns wound with various circuits on Harvey’s arm.

Harvey pressed a button on the back of his hand.

Instantly, masses of gleaming, silvery liquid metal surged from his uniform, following the metal circuits and layering over his arm.

Three streams of mercury-like metal spiraled from his shoulder down to his palm...

Within moments, Harvey’s right arm transformed into a dazzling, silver 300mm caliber shoulder-mounted cannon.

The sight was nothing short of spectacular!