Be careful of the violence in the content.
Just as the soldier from the City Defense Bureau finished answering the question, Chen Jiahua felt a sudden drop in the air pressure around their team leader, making him shiver with fear.
“An hour and a half ago?” Zong Lin spoke in a deep voice.
The time displayed on his communication app’s photo was exactly an hour and a half ago.
And there was no response from Shen Jie.
…Until now, there was still no response.
He suddenly stood up.
“Let’s go,” he said.
Chen Jiahua asked, “Where to?”
“To the inner and outer city subway station.”
—-
Meanwhile, at the University City station.
The subway station had completely ceased operations, and the drawn yellow caution tape had sealed off this area completely. On the surface, City Defense Bureau patrol cars, military armored vehicles, and ambulances rushed to the scene.
On platform one of the subway station, a mass of orange mist surged out from the tunnel entrance, spreading like tangled roots along the walls.
Incessantly, wounded individuals are being carried out from the mist and transported to temporary medical tents set up inside the subway station.
“Hurry, hurry, this infection level is at 85, quickly debride and administer suppressants! There’s still a chance!”
“This is a secondary parasite contamination; we need to amputate immediately! Get the chainsaws and hemostats!”
“…This infection level has surpassed 95; put on the nitrogen masks. Prepare the isolation chamber.”
Frontline doctors were working tirelessly, covered in sweat.
In contrast to the wounded who were constantly being transported out, advance team members in groups of three wearing full-body protective clothing also entered the tunnel one after another, their figures swallowed up by the mist.
The glass doors of the subway platform had been removed, and a man dressed in black military attire with a sword at his waist stood at the edge of the tracks, expressionless as he observed the area engulfed by the mist.
Even though the voice of Tong Lan in the communication earpiece was almost frantic.
“Gu Nian’an, can you explain why the captain of the City Defense Bureau’s advance team has been corrupted during the exploration process?”
Gu Nian’an: “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know? I previously instructed someone to notify you to lead the team to deal with the low-level mist occurring in the city. With your strength, what difficulty is there in directly entering the mist to deal with the host? Why did you let the exploration team enter the tunnel first?”
Gu Nian’an: “I’m just following the regulations.”
“Ha, regulations. Don’t you know rules are dead, but people are alive? Have you been using the abilities of the ‘Rule’ category so much that you’ve also exhausted your brain?” Tong Lan was almost amused by him, “Now look, your people have caused a Grade C mist in the city! Do you know how serious this negligence is?”
Gu Nian’an responded coldly, “According to city regulations, to prevent major losses, regardless of the level of the mist, it must be explored by advance team members first. Luo Yu, as the captain of the city defense advance team for nine years, passed this year’s physical examination and psychological evaluation. If you really want to know why he suddenly degenerated, you should ask the Research Institute and the Psychological Treatment Center for accountability.”
“All right, Gu Nian’an, you’re getting more proficient at shifting blame, should I applaud you?” Tong Lan’s angry voice suddenly turned icy, “Nine years ago, during the S-level mist event ‘Nest Egg,’ you lost twenty-one main city defense team members and were suspended for six months. Wasn’t that lesson enough to make you lose the decisiveness and judgment you should have had, and forget that protecting all surviving human beings in the city is the most fundamental duty of a superpower user?”
Gu Nian’an remained silent for a moment before saying, “I have never forgotten.”
“Captain Gu!”
Not far away, an advance team member in protective gear ran over, interrupting Tong Lan’s voice.
He was covered in blood, showing signs of serious injuries, but he still ran fast, speaking urgently.
“Reporting to Captain Gu, the external mist has been confirmed as Grade C. The mist’s host is a Rank Five ‘Lost Wall’ of the ‘Space’ category, evolving towards a unique giant form. Its location is thirteen hundred meters ahead in the tunnel.”
“The other mist is located behind the Lost Wall, and advance team members cannot approach it. The mist’s host is unknown. However, we found Luo’s investigation recorder before his degeneration… confirming it as Grade E mist internally, with no special circumstances, so we can act immediately.”
“Please give instructions!”
The advance team member held a small investigation device in his bloodied hands and handed it to Gu Nian’an.
Gu Nian’an extended his gloved hand and took the device, lowering his head to inspect it.
The advance team member had a deep wound on his side, and after completing the information exchange, he seemed unable to support himself and staggered.
An adjacent nurse, seeing this, moved to assist, “Let’s go to the tent over there to bandage the wound.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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Ktf cegrf gfjilhfv rbwfatlcu, tfg ojmf aegclcu qjif.
Ktf lcpegfv jvnjcmf afjw wfwyfg, tbkfnfg, wjvf j delmx vfmlrlbc jcv rajuufgfv j ofk rafqr jkjs ogbw atf cegrf.
Llr qgbafmalnf tfiwfa mbcmfjifv tlr fzqgfrrlbc, jcv joafg j wbwfca, bcis tlr sbecu, rbwfktja ylaafg nblmf mbeiv yf tfjgv.
“Captain Gu, all my salary points are stored in the information card. In the third compartment of the personal storage locker at the bureau, there’s a healing gemstone ring I just bought the day before yesterday. Originally, it was meant to be a gift for my wife when I went on vacation… Please, could you find someone later to deliver the card and the ring to her?”
Gu Nian’an replied, “I understand.”
“I heard that those pierced by the ‘Blade of Judgment,’ if they willingly accept the judgment, won’t feel any pain. They’ll even see the scenes they’ve longed for most in their lives, as a gift from the ‘Judgment’,” the advance team member said.
Gu Nian’an responded, “…Yes.”
The advance team member smiled, “Then I consider myself lucky. I can finally see my parents again and reunite with my family.”
Their conversation ended there.
The blade was sheathed once more.
Nearby soldiers from the city defense force quickly set up isolation chambers to clean up the scene.
Gu Nian’an turned around, facing the main force members of the city defense force, and said coldly.
“The mist information has been confirmed. First squad, come with me to clear the host body at the ‘Lost Wall.’ Second squad, provide support for the advance team’s retreat. Third squad, disperse and search for survivors within the mist.”
“Move out immediately!”
Inside the mist,
Boss Pig lay in a corner, his breath weak, his threat greatly reduced, and the atmosphere in the carriage became much more relaxed.
The glasses man’s suggestion gave everyone hope of quickly escaping the mist.
Someone exclaimed joyfully, “So, once we deal with this boss, we can leave the mist? That’s great! I can have dinner with my daughter tonight.”
“My wife is still waiting for me at home. I need to call her as soon as we get out.”
“Young man, you’ve got this!”
“Take down the boss! Let’s leave the mist together!”
“Charge!”
Chen Shushu nervously rubbed his hands and said, “What should I do? I still don’t understand how to use my ability.”
Glasses man replied, “The activation of abilities in the ‘Rule’ sequence requires specific objective conditions. Did you mention anything related to the word ‘不’ (no) just now?”
Chen Shushu recalled for a moment, his ears turning slightly red, as he looked at Shen Jie. “When brother encountered danger just now, I shouted in a panic, ‘Don’t… don’t hurt him.'”
Shen Jie corrected him lightly, “It’s ‘不，桥豆麻袋，猪头你冲我来’ (No, you pig head, come at me).”
He calmly recounted this rather chuunibyou phrase, his tone devoid of any fluctuation, showing no sign of embarrassment. Chen Shushu, however, turned red from ear to ear, gripping the ground with his toes, almost creating a three-bedroom apartment out of embarrassment.
“What does ‘桥豆麻袋’ mean?” asked the little girl, being led by the woman.
“It should be a language from an island nation in the Core Flattening Zone. Now, the only remaining information about that place is pre-apocalyptic movies and anime,” the glasses man analyzed, rubbing his chin. “Perhaps foreign languages are also part of triggering abilities? You can try combining the word ‘no’ with a foreign language to say something to the boss. Then, go register your ability and undergo a full-body examination to slowly develop how to use it.”
“Okay,” Chen Shushu nodded earnestly. Facing the boss, he thought for a moment and bravely said, “果咩纳塞 (I’m sorry), boss, just lie down like this and don’t get up.”
Nothing happened.
Chen Shushu awkwardly said, “Um, it seems like my ability is a bit disobedient.”
[The mood isn’t right,] said the system.
[The ‘Soul’ category ability relies mostly on the instantaneous explosive power of emotions for novice controllers.]
[Perhaps you can try stimulating him,] the system suggested.
Shen Jie turned to Chen Shushu and asked, “Do you usually play games?”
Chen Shushu was taken aback. Although he didn’t understand why Shen Jie suddenly brought this up, he still answered, “Yes, I do.”
Shen Jie asked, “What games?”
Chen Shushu replied without hesitation, “Many, classic MOBAs, FPS games, single-player games on Steam, and also gal… cough, cough, cough.”
“Well, then you should know how to do trash talk,” Shen Jie said.
Chen Shushu exclaimed, “Ahaha?”
Facing the scrutinizing gaze of the beauty, Chen Shushu whispered, “I’m a civilized player… Well, actually, I know a little.”
Of course, he knew more than just a little.
In this day and age of gaming, who doesn’t learn a few lines of trash talk? Whether it’s to deflect blame or to defend oneself, it’s essential to have some skills in that area.
“Let the emotions brew for a moment. Imagine the boss as your feeder teammate,” Shen Jie said. “And since the boss’s appearance fits the bill, it should be easy to immerse yourself. Once you’re ready, start trash talking.”
Chen Shushu looked puzzled. “T-trash talk?”
On the other hand, the glasses man picked up on the word “emotion” in Shen Jie’s words and thought for a moment. “Boss, do you mean that this young man’s evolution direction for his ability isn’t ‘Rule’ but ‘Soul’? So, the way to control the ability isn’t by triggering specific objective conditions, but by triggering strong emotions?”
Shen Jie nodded, saving time by getting straight to the point. “I’m a researcher at the Institute of Ability Suppressors. I’ve interacted with many different types of ability users and have a good understanding of most ability manifestations. I believe he should be a ‘Soul’ ability user.”
He adopted the demeanor he usually had when interacting with ability users, speaking calmly and with a steady gaze, naturally evoking trust.
— Although in reality, the information he gathered when interacting with ability users was limited to whether the suppressor’s appearance was suitable and if it was convenient to wear. Usually, he slacked off.
But the glasses man was clearly convinced by him. “So, you’re a researcher at the Institute! My apologies, my apologies. You’re a professional in this field, and I may have been biased in my judgment earlier.” He turned to Chen Shushu. “Listen to the boss’s advice, young man with abilities. You can’t go wrong.”
Chen Shushu nodded and began to brew his emotions.
At this moment, the boss pig, who was stuck in the corner, trembled.
“… Eyes!” The young girl who noticed the movement pointed in the direction of the boss pig and shouted, “The eyes on the boss’s butt are open!”
The glasses man exclaimed, “What?”
Turning his head, he saw that the two eyes on the boss pig’s buttocks had reopened at some point, glaring fiercely at them.
A gust of cold wind suddenly blew past the crowd, carrying a faint pink mist that seeped into the boss pig’s body.
“Pain…” “It hurts so much…” “Hungry…” “Food…”
The chaotic voices echoed from within the boss pig’s belly, and its dangling hands began to move.
[Attention, target’s mutation level is increasing.]
The glasses man frowned. “Everyone, step back, over there. Something’s not right.”
The mist inside the boss pig’s body grew denser and denser, causing its chubby body to shake violently as if supported by some force, rising up like a zombie.
It turned around, one of its eyes already smashed to a pulp by the umbrella, blood dripping down half of its pig face. The remaining five eyes were filled with bloodshot veins, staring at the crowd with a resentful gaze.
“I’ll… tear you apart… one by one!”
[The more people swallowed by the mist on the subway, the stronger the mist’s host becomes. It’s been some time since the mist occurred, so the host’s level has probably surpassed F and reached E.]
[The boss’s power, influenced by it, has become an E-level alien. Even a novice like Chen Shushu may not be able to handle it.]
[Host, be careful!]
After being strengthened by the mist, the boss’s size increased by another circle, its belly becoming so huge it almost obscured its head and limbs.
Normally, the boss pig’s movements would be restricted in such a state. However, this time, instead of directly charging at the survivors, the boss pig opened its mouth wide and began to inhale.
As it sucked in air, its belly swelled even more, while its body seemed to collapse downward, compressing like a deflating balloon—
What could it possibly be planning?
The glasses man realized something and yelled, “Everyone, scatter!!!”
However, in the instant he spoke, the boss pig had already used the rebound force of its body like a cannonball, charging diagonally upward.
The factory’s dome seemed high, but they were actually in the space inside the carriage. The boss pig instantly collided with the unseen roof of the carriage, then rebounded with even greater force, doubling its speed from before. It then collided with the ground, gathering momentum for another rebound, repeating the process like a bouncing ball…
In Shen Jie’s field of vision, the AR calculation template indicated a terrifying increase in speed.
At this speed, if it were to hit a human body, it would turn them into minced meat!
Glasses man: “Quick! Let’s hide in the front carriage!!!”
However, the boss’s speed was too fast; before anyone could react, the boss had already bounced right in front of them.
——Above everyone’s heads, the boss’s ferocious five pairs of eyes looked down, and numerous hands stretched out from its obese body, as if to give the people below a warm embrace!
[Host! There’s no point to leverage this time, you must hide!]
The system’s voice sounded.
[Roll three meters to the left and then crouch down to protect your head—That’s the nearest safe corner!]
Shen Jie didn’t respond, nor did he move immediately.
Behind him, someone’s legs had already gone weak, collapsing to the ground. Someone else was frantically running towards the front carriage. Another person was gritting their teeth, pulling the fallen person forward to retreat.
He suddenly remembered the conversation people had just had.
“Great, tonight I can go home and have dinner with my daughter.”
“My wife is still waiting for me.”
“Take down the boss, and we can leave the mist together!”
He closed his eyes.
The structure of the umbrella wasn’t sharp enough, and most sword techniques couldn’t be executed.
Moreover, in the past seven years, besides simple exercises, he hadn’t practiced any breathing techniques that could be used in conjunction with swordsmanship.
This was the body of an ordinary person, weak in strength and without any superpowers.
But—
He opened his eyes.
In the green data view composed by AR, a dark red line suddenly appeared.
Like coagulated blood, it was moving along with the boss pig’s body.
The system shared his field of vision, subconsciously assuming it was just a special case in the AR calculation template. Moreover, at this moment, he didn’t have time to pay attention to such a small anomaly—after all, if its host didn’t dodge now, he would really be in danger!
It was already considering whether to activate special protective measures at any cost…
But then it suddenly saw its host move.
Not rolling to evade.
At the same time, Shen Jie lightly tapped his toes and actively approached the direction of the boss pig!
Simultaneously, Shen Jie’s hand holding the umbrella crossed over to the right with a cold expression—this was a reverse-handed stab!
The next second.
The not-so-sharp umbrella accurately collided with the boss’s body along the dark red line in the field of vision!
Creaking—
The boss pig roared wildly.
Terrifying force transmitted into the right hand gripping the umbrella.
Creaking—
Thud thud thud—
The sound of either the umbrella or bones shattering.
Heart pounding fiercely, eardrums ringing from the impact, almost deafening.
Vision shaking, distorted data intertwining with the dark red thread, creating bizarre and surreal figures and colorful reversed shadows.
Shen Jie caught sight of some familiar and nostalgic things inside, so he couldn’t help but smile.
However, his situation was extremely perilous at this moment, facing the terrifying impact of the giant boss pig almost directly. This smile inexplicably carried a hint of madness.
[Warning! Warning! Host infection value is rising at an extremely abnormal speed!]
[77, 77.5, 78…]
[Host!!!]
I’m a little confused about the system here, how exactly does the soul binding work? Does it even know he is a transmigrated soul??? And I’m waiting for the day the system flips out like in the synopsis when it knows mc is actually the world ending boss xD
Thank you for the chapter <3
I wanna know what his previous world was like!!
Is MC from an apocalyptic cultivation world ??? 🤔
Does this mean that the infection rate of the MC increases when he uses hes special powers?
Help, why did he breathing techniques and swordsmanship reminds me of Demon Slayer? Especially the Dark Red Line that showed up