Chapter Seven: Calamity Redirected, Again and Again

"Boss, that lunatic just hit a top speed of over 400 kilometers per hour!"

"At that velocity, the hovercar’s high-energy radiation engine will inevitably kick in… The emitted radiation is bound to attract terrifying mutant beasts..."

Watching Ye Hai’s outrageous speed through the tracking system, his subordinates couldn't help but exclaim in alarm.

Zera felt helpless. Though he had intended to test Ye Hai, he never planned to push him to his death.

Originally, he believed that in the forest, even a powerful Corpse Hunter would max out at 150. At that speed, the hovercar’s energy output wouldn’t trigger the high-energy radiation core.

This might attract some second or third-stage mutant zombies or beasts to trouble Ye Hai, enough to test his strength.

But it shouldn’t draw the attention of stronger mutant creatures and zombies.

Yet, Zera hadn’t anticipated encountering a freak like Ye Hai, who managed to push the hovercar, equipped with a high-energy radiation crystal, to a scalp-numbing 400.

The energy burst at such speeds was enough to attract even some fifth-stage mutant beasts with keen senses.

For humans, fifth-stage mutants are lethally dangerous.

Ye Hai, who carried the T-virus, had once encountered such a creature in the Radiation Zone—and barely survived.

The environment of Zombie Star forced all creatures into rapid evolution.

But humanity’s evolutionary pace lagged far behind that of zombies and mutant beasts.

Currently, the highest known human mutants on Zombie Star had only just reached stage five, and even then, humans were often at a disadvantage in direct confrontations with mutants of the same tier.

Ye Hai’s reckless antics had thrown Zera’s test into utter disarray.

One misstep, and they could be torn to shreds by mutant beasts before the Giant Tree Star’s First Defense Army even caught up.

Since the advent of the first hovercars, these speed demons were never meant for low-altitude city cruising.

Their true runway was the open sky.

Never had Zera imagined anyone would dare race through dense forest at such speeds in a hovercar.

Even among the professional racers before Zombie Star’s fall, none had ever achieved such a feat.

Now, the skies of Zombie Star had become a no-fly zone—thanks to the zombie virus.

Unlike Earth’s viruses, which mutated and evolved by consuming other organisms for energy, the zombie virus evolved primarily by absorbing energy.

Especially radiation...

Everyone knew radiation caused bizarre mutations in living things.

For most creatures, high doses were fatal.

But for mutant beasts, it was essential nourishment for evolution.

That was why the Radiation Zone was so perilous.

There were rumors it had once been a massive, secret military nuclear plant.

After the zombie virus outbreak, the underground facility went unmaintained and suffered a catastrophic leak.

The intense radiation turned the surrounding area into a deadly exclusion zone for humans...

As more mutant beasts and high-stage zombie mutants flooded the Radiation Zone and established their dominance, the region became an absolute deathtrap.

Because of the zombie virus’s energy-seeking, radiation-drawing nature, the skies over Zombie Star became a dreaded no-fly zone.

After all, in modern technology, anything that could fly required an energy burst.

Such bursts would severely stimulate the feeding instincts of mutant birds.

After a long silence, Zera spoke coldly:

"Reduce speed. Cut the hovercar’s energy output..."

"Avoid Ye Hai’s route. At his current speed, many mutant beasts and zombies unable to keep up will tail him..."

"It’s too dangerous for us to follow behind!"

Zera’s decision was wise.

On Zombie Star, survival depended on one unbreakable rule: never engage large groups of mutant beasts.

But Ye Hai was never generous—his vengeful nature often led him to act unpredictably.

It didn’t take long for Zera to experience the brunt of Ye Hai’s vindictive, petty-mindedness.

Just as Zera’s hovercar veered off Ye Hai’s path—

A subordinate cried out again, "The lead hovercar’s turning around..."

"Now it’s barreling straight at us at over 500!..."

"He’s no longer weaving through the trees… He—damn it—he’s gone straight into the sky… Without the forest’s cover, he’ll attract even more mutant birds… My god, he’s insane..."

Hearing this, Zera’s hair stood on end.

He knew full well the horrors that awaited any who dared fly in Zombie Star’s skies.

Without the shelter of the woods, those mutant birds—whose eyesight had been enhanced by the virus—would descend in droves.

Those creatures could spot a single falling leaf from dozens of kilometers away.

"Quick… Climb!"

"Take to the sky—retreat as fast as possible!"

"Go, go, go! Delay and we’re dead!"

"With Ye Hai’s hovercar using a high-energy crystal, the radiation will make him a bigger target for mutant beasts!"

"As long as he stays ahead, we’re safe… Move!"

Zera’s frenzied orders rang in his team’s ears.

Pale-faced, the pilot obeyed and pulled the craft sharply upward.

...

Meanwhile, Ye Hai lounged in his hovercar, humming a tune.

"Like a bird in the woods, I struggle to break free and soar into the embrace of the blue sky…"

His nerves, tense at first, were now utterly at ease...

All because he realized the sixth-stage mutant Ironwing Roc behind him couldn’t catch up to his hovercar.

Watching the little blip representing Zera on the control panel, Ye Hai grinned wickedly and muttered:

"I just made a deal with you, and you turned around and got my villa destroyed. I didn’t even blame you!"

"Now you try to screw me over..."

"Is there no basic trust between people anymore?"

"This time, we’ll see if you survive..."

"Black Hand? Taboo figure? You dare cross me?"

"This time, I’ll turn you into a black corpse… Idiot!"

As he spoke, Ye Hai accelerated again—the speedometer needle nearing 600...

His hovercar rocketed straight toward Zera’s vehicle.

...

The thick forest below masked the terrain, so in his panic, Zera didn’t realize he was racing back along his original route at 500.

Half an hour earlier, the Giant Tree Star’s First Defense Army, who’d just blown up Ye Hai’s villa, was now cruising leisurely among the trees below in several military vehicles, showing no urgency in pursuing Zera.

"Commander, we’ve been chasing for half an hour and still haven’t found any trace of our targets... They must have been prepared and escaped our search radius," one soldier reported.

Second Legion Commander Harville, feet propped up on the dashboard, lounged back in the front seat and yawned, "Doesn’t matter—their destination is the Radiation Zone. I’ve already made arrangements there..."

"The faster they go, the sooner they die!"

The soldier nodded, admiring Harville’s cunning. Inwardly, he thought: No wonder you’re the commander—mastermind of distant victories!

Suddenly, a terrifying gust swept over the forest, sending the dense trees swaying violently.

First, a silver Startrail 7 streaked across the sky...

Harville, still marveling at the boldness of whoever dared fly so freely over Zombie Star, saw a black Startrail 7 flash past at even greater speed...

Behind this black Startrail 7, a massive mutant Ironwing Roc, unable to catch its prey, was seething with rage.

The gust parted the forest below, exposing the First Defense Army’s vehicles.

The Ironwing Roc dipped its head and dove.

Harville was dumbstruck.

"What the…! Idiot!"