Chapter 10

In the Overseer's opulent penthouse, a scene of chilling manipulation unfolds. Viper and Whisper, though bearing superficial wounds, are far from defeated. The battles fought were against mere echoes, projections of their true selves. Their real bodies, hidden away, suffered only minor injuries.

Go Lao Wei, his expression a mask of cold amusement, surveys his lieutenants.

"You allowed yourselves to be… defeated?," he says, his voice a low, menacing purr.

"A momentary lapse in focus. "You two need a lesson, perhaps?"

Viper, a thin line of a scar marring her otherwise flawless cheek, remains silent, her eyes burning with a cold fury. Whisper, his form still shimmering with the remnants of his illusions, simply bows his head.

"Fortunately," Go Lao Wei continues, his voice laced with a dark humor, "Nikaito's… talents provide a convenient solution."

He gestures towards a young man standing nervously in the shadows. Nikaito, his eyes wide with a mixture of fear and concentration, possesses a unique ability: he can imbue clones with enhanced resilience, even after their original forms have been destroyed.

The clones that Su Yan fought were not mere copies, they were empowered by Nikaito.

"Nikaito," Go Lao Wei commands, his voice sharp and precise, "reinforce the… projections. Ensure they are… more durable."

Kaito nods, his hands trembling slightly as he focuses his power. A faint, ethereal glow emanates from his fingertips, enveloping Viper and Whisper. The minor wounds they sustained begin to heal, and a subtle shift occurs in their forms, a strengthening, a hardening.

"You see," Go Lao Wei says, his voice smooth and chilling, "even in defeat, there is opportunity. Kaito's ability makes it so that even when a projection is destroyed, the original form can learn from the experience. Now, you will be… more prepared."

Viper and Whisper, their eyes now gleaming with a renewed sense of purpose, nod in understanding. They understand the message: failure is not an option. They are tools, extensions of Go Lao Wei's will, and their purpose is to serve, to conquer.

Overseer laugh maniacally as a woman is immerse inside a capsule chamber with pulsating green liquid who is strikingly has same image as Tang Su Yan.

"Soon My Dear Su Yan, Soon we will be reunited" his laugh is echoing in the whole of the hotel "You will not be able to escape" he says his voice dripping with chilling anticipation

----

I and my team arrive at the settlement, the air thick with tension and the sound of distant battle cries. The settlement is in chaos with Evolved swarming the streets, their numbers overwhelming the defenders.

I gave a signals to my team, and they move into action, their weapons blazing. The Evolved are taken by surprise, their attention diverted by the sudden attack

I slice through the infected and Evolved, my blade a blur of motion. Each strike is precise and sharp, each movement fluid and calculated. Five Evolved fall, their bodies collapsing amidst the chaos. But the battle is escalating, the Evolved adapting, strategizing. They're no longer mindless hordes; they're organized, coordinated.

My attention is drawn to Freidrick, "Tank," his imposing frame surrounded by a growing number of Evolved. They're closing in, their movements relentless, their eyes burning with a feral hunger. He's fighting valiantly, his powerful strikes sending Evolved flying, but he's being overwhelmed.

"Shi Yan Deng!" I command through the comms, my voice sharp and urgent. "Assist Tank! He's being surrounded!"

Shi Yan Deng, known for his formidable hybrid abilities and combat prowess, acknowledges the order immediately. He breaks away from his current engagement, moving swiftly towards Freidrick's position.

I continue to engage the Evolved, creating a path for Shi Yan Deng. My blade flashes, my movements fluid and deadly. I need to create an opening, to give Shi Yan Deng a chance to reach Freidrick.

The Evolved, driven by their primal instincts, press their attack, their numbers seemingly endless. I move strategically, using the environment to my advantage, creating choke points, funneling them into kill zones. But they're relentless, their determination unwavering.

Shi Yan Deng reaches Freidrick's position, his fists glowing with intense heat, sending Evolved reeling. He creates a protective barrier around Freidrick, giving him a moment to catch his breath. Together, they begin to push back the Evolved, their combined strength a force to be reckoned with.

I continue to fight, my focus shifting between the Evolved and the safety of Freidrick and Shi Yan Deng. I know we need to regroup, to find a defensible position, to plan our next move. This battle is far from over.

A monstrous roar echoes through the chaos of the battlefield, a sound that vibrates through my very bones. A colossal figure emerges from the throng of Evolved, its sheer size dwarfing the others. It's a grotesque parody of an orc, a hulking mass of muscle and infected flesh. Its eyes burn with a feral intensity, and its sharp, jagged teeth gleam in the dim light.

The creature swings a massive axe, its blade a crude, brutal thing of rusted metal and bone. The force of the blow is immense, the air whistling as the axe cleaves through the space where I was a moment before. I manage to evade, my body twisting and contorting to avoid the deadly arc.

The creature's appearance is terrifying. Its skin is a mottled red, stretched taut over bulging muscles and grotesque tumors. Its sharp teeth, like those of a shark, are stained with blood and grime. The stench of decay and infection emanates from it, a nauseating miasma that fills the air.

With a horrifying display of savagery, the creature snatches a fleeing human, its massive hand closing around the terrified victim like a vice. Without hesitation, it shoves the struggling human into its gaping maw, swallowing them whole like a mere snack. The sickening crunch of bones and the gurgling sounds of digestion fill the air, a chilling reminder of the creature's brutal nature.

My blood runs cold. This is no ordinary Evolved. This is something far more dangerous, a monstrous aberration that embodies the very worst of the infection. I know I must eliminate it, but its sheer size and power are daunting. I need to find a way to exploit its weaknesses, to bring it down before it can inflict further carnage.

The monstrous Evolved, its eyes burning with a savage glee, swings its axe again, the crude weapon a blur of deadly motion. This time, I manage to intercept the blow, my short sword clashing against the axe's brutal edge. The impact is jarring, a shockwave that reverberates through my arms and sends me flying backward. The force of the blow is immense, a testament to the creature's terrifying strength.

I'm thrown through the air, my body tumbling amidst the chaos of the battlefield. Instinctively, I activated a spool of high-tensile steel wire and a grappling hook. I launch the hook, securing it to a sturdy piece of debris. The wire line snaps taut, arresting my fall and allowing me to regain my balance, landing smoothly on my feet.

The creature's strength is truly terrifying. Even with my enhanced abilities, I'm struggling to withstand its blows. I need to find a way to deal with it quickly, before it can inflict further damage.

I access my spatial storage, retrieving a rocket launcher. It's a heavy weapon, designed to deal with armored vehicles and fortified structures. I aim at the monstrous Evolved, the targeting reticle locking onto its massive form. I pull the trigger.

The rocket launches, a streak of fire and smoke that slams into the creature's chest. The explosion is deafening, a shockwave that throws debris and Evolved in all directions. Smoke and flames obscure the creature's form.

But as the smoke clears, I see that the rocket has had little to no effect. The creature stands, its massive form barely singed. Its eyes burn with a renewed fury, and it lets out a deafening roar.

The rocket launcher, a weapon has a significant amount of destructive power, has done nothing but enrage it. This creature is far more resilient than I anticipated.

A plan forms in my mind, a desperate gamble. The creature's neck, a relatively exposed area, is my target. But reaching it will be a challenge. I need to create an opening, to exploit its lumbering movements.

I activate my spatial storage, retrieving more spools of high-tensile steel wire. I need to incapacitate it, to bring it down. I begin to weave a web of wire around its massive legs, using my speed and agility to maneuver around its clumsy swings.

The wires, thin but incredibly strong, wrap around its ankles, binding them together.

The creature roars in frustration, its movements becoming increasingly erratic as it struggles against the entangling wires. It stumbles, its massive form swaying precariously, This is my chance.

I launch my grappling hook, securing it to a sturdy rooftop across the street. I activate my Stealth Mode, vanishing into the shadows, and use the wire line to swing across the battlefield, my movements swift and silent.

I maneuver from building to building, using the urban landscape as a strategic advantage, creating distance and preparing for the final strike.

The creature, its legs bound and its balance compromised, is struggling to maintain its footing. It's a lumbering giant, its movements slow and predictable, I need to use its own momentum against it, I need to make it fall.

The creature, its massive legs entangled in the steel wire, stumbles, its balance completely compromised. It lets out a deafening roar, a sound of rage and frustration, as it teeters on the edge of collapse.

Its immense weight shifts, and with a thunderous crash, it falls, its body slamming against the ruined street.

This is my opportunity. I launch myself from my vantage point, using the momentum of my swing to propel me towards the fallen giant. As it struggles to rise, I land on its back, my short sword gripped tightly in my hand.

With a surge of adrenaline, I drive the blade deep into its neck, aiming for the vulnerable point where muscle and bone connect.

The creature roars in agony, its body convulsing as the blade bites deep. I wrench the sword sideways, tearing through the thick neck muscles. A torrent of thick, black blood erupts from the wound, spraying across the ruined street.

The creature's struggles grow weaker, its roars fading into guttural gurgles. Its massive form twitches and spasms, then finally stills. The giant Evolved, the monstrous aberration, is dead.

The monstrous creature's massive form lies still, a testament to its demise. As I wrench my blade free from its neck, a fresh wave of infected Evolved surges towards me, drawn by the scent of blood and the chaos of the battle. Their numbers are overwhelming, their eyes burning with a feral hunger.

Amidst the chaos, a notification window pops up in my vision, a stark white rectangle against the backdrop of the ruined city.

NOTIFICATION:

Objective: Secure the Monster Core.

Description: Some Evolved possess a black diamond-like crystal within their bodies, known as a Monster Core. Absorbing these cores grants the user the stats of the fallen Evolved.

The notification is a welcome surprise, a potential boost in power that could prove invaluable in the battles to come. The creature I just felled was exceptionally powerful, and its core likely holds significant potential.

I need to secure the core, but the swarm of infected Evolved is closing in. I activate my Stealth Mode, vanishing from their sight, and quickly locate the wound in the creature's neck. The core, a black, multifaceted crystal, pulsates with a dark energy, nestled deep within the creature's flesh.

I retrieve the core, its surface cool and smooth to the touch. It pulses with a faint, internal light, a tangible manifestation of the creature's power. I quickly store it within my spatial storage, securing it for later absorption.

The swarm of Evolved, now disoriented by my sudden disappearance, mill about, their senses searching for me. I use this opportunity to reposition myself, moving to a higher vantage point, surveying the battlefield. The fight is far from over. We still need to secure the settlement and rescue Freidrick Richards' people.

"Team," I relay through the comms, my voice clear and concise, "listen up. We've discovered a valuable resource. Inside some of the Evolved, specifically the stronger ones, there's a black diamond-like crystal. We're calling them Monster Cores. Your objective is to retrieve these cores from any Evolved you manage to take down."

A murmur of acknowledgement ripples through the team. They've witnessed the creature I felled, and they understand the potential value of these cores.

"Be thorough," I continue. "Check every Evolved you eliminate. But be aware, not all of them will have a core. It seems the presence of a core depends on the creature's status and abilities. The stronger and more mutated the Evolved, the higher the chance of finding one."

"Understood, boss," Han So Chul responds, his voice firm. "We'll keep an eye out."

"It's likely," I add, "that the larger, more powerful Evolved, like the one I just dealt with, will have a higher chance of carrying a core. Prioritize those targets. But don't neglect the smaller ones. Every core we collect is a potential boost in power."

"Makes sense," Shi Yan Deng chimes in. "Like a loot drop in a game."

"Exactly," I reply, appreciating his analogy. "But this is no game. These cores are vital to our survival. Secure as many as you can."

The team disperses, their movements now focused, their attacks more deliberate.

They're no longer just eliminating threats; they're harvesting resources, turning the tide of the battle in our favor. The discovery of the Monster Cores has added a new dimension to our strategy, a chance to gain an edge in this desperate struggle.

"Boss," Shi Yan Deng's voice crackles through the comms, a note of urgency in his tone. "I think I have some relevant information about these crystals... about what they do."

"Go ahead, Shi Yan Deng," I reply, my attention focused on the Evolved closing in on our perimeter.

"When the infection first started," he begins, "before... before I was like this... I was just a normal guy. I managed to kill an Evolved. It was chaotic, no one knew what was happening.

After I took it down, I found a crystal on its body. It was black, but not like the diamond-shaped ones you described. "That one was jagged, almost obsidian-like."

He pauses, then continues, his voice strained.

"I absorbed it. I don't know why, it was a gut reaction, a moment of desperation. And then... everything changed. I felt a surge of energy, like my body was being rewritten. I gained these abilities, became... this."

There's a tremor in his voice, a hint of the fear and confusion he must have felt. "I became a hybrid because of that crystal," he finishes, the statement hanging heavy in the air.

A wave of understanding washes over me. "You're saying the crystals can create hybrids?" I ask, my voice laced with disbelief.

"That's what happened to me," he confirms. "I don't know if it works on everyone, or if it was just that specific crystal, but... that's how I got my abilities."

This revelation is a game-changer. The crystals aren't just power-ups; they're a potential catalyst for a new stage of human evolution, or perhaps, something far more sinister.

The implications are staggering. We need to understand these crystals, their origins, and their potential effects, before they fall into the wrong hands.