Chapter 117: The Blood Clan Strikes

Chapter 117: The Vampire Invasion

Facing General Song Ze’s lock-on of his presence, Xia Zheng felt a flicker of surprise. He hadn't expected an inadvertent display of his ability to arouse such suspicion regarding his identity. Perhaps it wasn't just the Council that doubted how he had survived; the military had been investigating him in secret all along.

Yet, Xia Zheng felt no fear of this man. The age of genetic warriors had passed, superseded by the era of psychics—this was the inevitable tide of history. Ever since he witnessed Carroll and the others slaughtered by mutant zombies, he had understood the truth: while genetic warriors had surpassed the natural limits of humanity, they remained merely human. Psychics, however, were high-order existences that had transcended humanity itself.

BOOM!

Xia Zheng released his mental energy. His consciousness wove vivid, lifelike illusions, casting shadows and shifting the very nature of the space around them.

"This..." Song Ze felt the overwhelming power of Xia Zheng’s mental force. Despite being among the elite tier of genetic warriors, he felt no confidence that he could defeat him.

Outside the door, the guards crashed against the frame with frantic aggression, but under the reinforcement of Xia Zheng’s mental power, they were utterly powerless. Once a psychic reached Xia Zheng’s level—especially a Mind Master who had opened their Sea of Consciousness—they were far more formidable than peers of the same rank; it was like a giant facing ants.

"General Song, I am a Mind Master. You may not understand what that entails, but we are far more powerful than you genetic warriors. This has nothing to do with those noble houses. You don't need to know who I am; it is enough to know that I stand on the side of humanity. I understand the current crisis far more deeply than you do. If I wanted to target you, you would have ceased to exist long ago. I also have a profound understanding of the vampires. They are a terrifying force, and even I feel the strain in facing them. That is why we must cooperate. Only by uniting can we repel the vampires; otherwise, Evernight City will fall, and both you and I will meet our end in regret. Think about it."

With that, Xia Zheng withdrew his mental energy. The room returned to normal, and he sat back down on the sofa just as the guards burst through the door.

The guards leveled their weapons at Xia Zheng, their expressions fierce and hostile.

Xia Zheng sat unmoved, watching Song Ze. He wanted to see what would happen if he stopped forcing himself to follow the established script and instead tried to turn the tide. What would the outcome of this instance be?

General Ying Ying had never stated that participants could not rewrite the ending. Xia Zheng had originally assumed they couldn't, but after changing the fate of the zombie girl, Ellie, he had gained a new perspective. Perhaps this world—this instance world—could follow a different timeline. He wanted to see what Evernight City would look like on a different path; perhaps it would lead him to a new future.

"All of you, out!" Song Ze finally recovered from the shock. Seeing Xia Zheng pressed by his own guards and Major Wang Fen, the officer he had personally promoted, and with dozens of fully armed elite guards swarming in from the hallway, he sensed the imminent danger of an impulsive execution.

Seeing Xia Zheng’s nonchalant demeanor, Song Ze felt a prick of irritation, yet he had to admit that this man was a force to be reckoned with. If a conflict had truly erupted, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

The guards were stunned by Song Ze’s command. Major Wang Fen looked back at his superior in confusion, but seeing the General’s expression was calm, he lowered his weapon and signaled the others to retreat. He himself remained in the room, standing by Song Ze’s side.

"What should I call you, Mr. Wood?" Song Ze asked with a hint of sarcasm.

Xia Zheng shook his head dismissively. "What you call me is unimportant. General Song, given the urgency of the situation, there is no need for formalities. Our goal in cooperating is to repel the vampires and defend Evernight City. If the Federation responds to Evernight City’s distress call, then no matter how strong the vampires are, they will be forced to flee."

"Are you saying that Evernight City’s current combat strength is insufficient to hold off the vampires?" Song Ze asked, unwilling to accept the truth.

"It is not enough. The true vampires have yet to appear. What we are facing now are merely the infected and a few mutants. When the true vampires—especially the high-order ones—arrive, it will be a lopsided slaughter. Human forces currently hold no advantage. General, I do not want to be blunt, but with the current strength of the genetic warriors, you cannot stand against them," Xia Zheng stated directly.

Wang Fen, standing nearby, was shocked. This young man dared to speak to the General in such a way, yet the General did not seem offended. Was it because of the man’s power? Thinking back to how he and the guards had failed to break through the door, he realized that must have been the man’s doing.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door. Song Ze allowed a communications officer to enter, who appeared pale and held a report.

"What is it?" Song Ze asked.

The officer glanced at Xia Zheng, unsure. Song Ze told him to speak without reservation.

"Report, General! The situation at the satellite cities is critical. Over thirty mutant zombies have appeared. Some possess immense strength that ten men cannot hold back; firearms only cause limited damage before they reach our lines. Others possess flight capabilities and can spray wide-range toxins. The soldiers hit by these toxins suffer horrific fates beyond medical help. Furthermore, there are zombies capable of controlling fire and ice. They are extremely troublesome. Our blockade of the satellite cities is on the verge of collapse. Peijier, Ningyuan, and Xinglan are the most critical. The frontline commanders are requesting reinforcements and the use of large-scale weapons of mass destruction."

Song Ze’s brow furrowed. He hadn't expected the military's blockade to be so strained since the appearance of these mutant zombies. Where were these monsters coming from?

"Have the high-order genetic warriors been deployed?" Song Ze asked.

"Yes, General, but the casualties have been heavy," the officer replied, his expression somber.

"Then deploy the Starlight Warriors. Do not use weapons of mass destruction yet; that is a last resort." Song Ze issued the order, and the officer hurriedly transcribed it before departing.

Xia Zheng felt a stir of motivation. He stood up and said, "General, I will go to the front lines as well. I will accompany the Starlight Warriors to deal with these mutant zombies."

"Oh? Very well..." Song Ze nodded, as if a thought had occurred to him.

Starlight Warriors were the equivalent of S-rank psychics among genetic warriors. They were rare, accounting for only one-tenth of all genetic warriors. Each was an ace of the military and not easily deployed.

Song Ze immediately granted Xia Zheng the status of a Starlight Warrior. He, too, wanted to see what this man was truly capable of.

After Xia Zheng left, Wang Fen asked in confusion, "General, is this man trustworthy?"

"I don't know. But at least he is not our enemy, and that is enough. As long as he is not an enemy, we can cooperate. Our primary task now is to repel the vampire invasion. Once this battle is over, I will report immediately to the Grand General and request the Federation’s full support. Damn it—Evernight City is the lifeblood of the Federation. If it falls, I, Song Ze, will become a sinner for all eternity." The weight of that thought made Song Ze’s heart heavy. He would rather die in battle than bear such a stain.