Chapter 7: Unexpected Perils

There was no time to examine what the gray-white figure was; Yang Huawi immediately dashed after her like a shooting star. However, once the monsters behind them regained their senses, they shrieked and started chasing after them.

They ran for several hours, and Yang Huawi was exhausted, but the monsters were relentless. Gritting his teeth, he finally threw his last grenade.

"Boom——" After the explosion, the monsters, now leaderless, either perished or fled. Yang Huawi collapsed on the ground, only then remembering to check the gray-white figure beside him.

He was taken aback when he saw the figure. It was perhaps the only relatively intact humanoid being he had encountered since entering. The face was gray-black, devoid of any human warmth, with two large eyes being the only signs of life. The clothes, which should have been white, were so dirty and splattered with unknown substances—pus or blood—that they had turned gray-white.

"Do you still have any memories? Do you know an Aunt Zhang?" Yang Huawi hesitated, trying to communicate with the small, skeletal figure.

"I am Zhang Qingfang from the Biochemical Research Center. I entered this cave due to genetic mutations. However, the surveillance measures were destroyed by that unscrupulous madman monster, so I couldn't contact the institute. Who are you, and what are you doing here?" The skeletal figure's raspy voice shocked Yang Huawi.

"Aunt Zhang? You're Aunt Zhang!" His eyes welled up with tears.

"You are?!" Zhang Qingfang, the skeletal figure, looked at Yang Huawi with some hesitation.

"Aunt Zhang, I'm Yang Huawi, Fang Zilan's son. I'm the child who was injected with JYXZ17. Is your mind clearer now?" Yang Huawi extended his hand twice, but it missed as Zhang Qingfang recoiled.

"So you're Weiwei," Zhang Qingfang's face lit up with excitement.

After recalling that they had been running for about three to four hours, Zhang Qingfang had not gone mad as the old director described, which clearly meant her mind had cleared up. Yang Huawi felt relieved: "Aunt Zhang, are you alright now? Your mind is clear? How have you survived here?" he asked naturally.

"Yes, even though I became a monster, there was still the issue of sexual attraction. The biochemical monster became very attentive when it saw me. It destroyed the surveillance measures, but it treated me well. The monsters in this cave seem to follow its commands. When I went mad, it led me out and somehow I managed to regain my sanity, but I've been trapped here ever since. Fortunately, you arrived just in time. I managed to kill that thing in the melee. But how did you get in? There's no way for ordinary people to enter here," Zhang Qingfang explained clearly with her raspy voice, then looked at Yang Huawi with some curiosity.

"I was sent to find out what happened to you. Everyone outside is concerned about you. Since the surveillance equipment was malfunctioning and the situation was unclear, I came to find you," Yang Huawi said, unable to hide his slight deception as he looked at Zhang Qingfang's withered face. Although part of his mission was to find Zhang Qingfang, it wasn't solely for her.

Hearing Yang Huawi's words, Zhang Qingfang's skeletal face showed joy. "Although the biochemical monster is dead, it's still not easy for us to get out. There's a mutated creature, possibly an armadillo, near the exit. It has a very strong attack power and is highly corrosive. I tried several times to get through but couldn't. If it wasn't for the biochemical monster bringing some mutated creatures to help, I might have died there," Zhang Qingfang said with some frustration.

After resting for about half an hour, the two of them continued forward. After another two hours, they finally reached the supply warehouse. Seeing the disarray inside, as if it had been burned, Zhang Qingfang said with some embarrassment: "My body has turned into something highly corrosive. Everything it touches gets corroded. That's why I've been avoiding you. Although my mind has cleared up, my body hasn't recovered and seems even worse," she said, picking up a metal component and demonstrating how it was corroded into pieces instantly.

So that's what happened, Yang Huawi sighed, unsure how to comfort her. He then changed the subject: "It's good that you're clear-headed. Let me check for ammunition!"

After rummaging through the supplies, Yang Huawi found only a couple of sealed ammunition boxes. He decided to open just one and leave the other in case of future problems. Fortunately, his DSR No.1 sniper rifle could use three types of ammunition, so the bullets would still be usable.

The two of them rested for about half an hour, contacted the base, and confirmed that Zhang Qingfang was safe. Everyone was relieved and looking forward to her return. They replenished their energy and continued forward. With fewer monsters ahead, two days passed quickly. Seeing that there was only one day's journey left, Yang Huawi felt a sense of relief.

"The monster hasn't appeared yet. Maybe we can get out safely," Zhang Qingfang also sighed in relief.

"What kind of monster is it?" Yang Huawi asked curiously.

"It's originally an armadillo. It might have been dug in with the soil when the cave was being excavated. After it entered, it was infected and mutated by monsters. Although it can't penetrate the rock walls of the cave, it has become the king here. Even the madman monster had to avoid it," Zhang Qingfang explained naturally.

As Zhang Qingfang finished speaking, as if in response, a long roar came from the distance. A group of mutated creatures fled as if they hadn't seen the two people in front of them. Fortunately, the two managed to dodge, or they might have been trampled into a pulp. Moments later, another roar came, and Yang Huawi felt his ears ringing from the sound. The weaker mutated creatures fleeing behind were knocked to the ground by the sound.

Heavens, what a powerful creature! Yang Huawi couldn't help but gasp.

Boom—— A massive, tan-colored triangular head appeared in their view. Several black beams chased down the slower mutated creatures. As the screams rose, the black beams turned into dark red flames, instantly incinerating the creatures into piles of ash, while the flames continued to burn.

Is this still an armadillo? The creature, resembling a small mountain, had blood-red eyes, saw-like teeth, and was covered in hard scales and barbs. Its huge mouth spewed blazing black fire. Yang Huawi was stunned.

"Hiss——" The so-called armadillo stopped spewing fire and tilted its head, staring at the two who hadn't fled. It then tested a burst of black flames from its claws.

"Get out of the way——" Zhang Qingfang pulled Yang Huawi's sleeve. As her sleeve corroded away, Yang Huawi was pulled through a streak of black flames. Seeing that the two had evaded the attack, the armadillo didn't seem to consider them a threat and lashed out with its sharp, knife-like tail, followed by a swipe of its claws.

What kind of tactic is this? Yang Huawi swallowed hard. Zhang Qingfang had corroded a hole into the cave wall, providing some shelter. Yang Huawi immediately began to shoot with his sniper rifle, but the bullets either ricocheted off the armadillo's tough shell or sparked off harmlessly.

The ineffective attacks quickly enraged the armadillo. It launched a barrage of black light, and Yang Huawi was struck by a fierce gust of wind, knocking him against the wall. The scattered black flames ignited on him, causing intense pain.

"Weiwei—" Zhang Qingfang cried out in alarm and leaped from hiding. When they were close together, the armadillo's blood-red eyes glinted coldly, and its massive mouth opened to bite down on them.