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The beach was filled with deafening roars and howls, one after another.
The temporary medical zone that was located just three kilometers from the battlefield, gradually became busier as the war began.
Medical staff carried stretchers in and out, and occasionally, stretchers covered with white cloth were carried out by expressionless nurses.
The number of sacrificed Evolved Beings was increasing, but the number of dead Mutated Beasts was even more staggering!
In the entire S City Base, from the central to the eastern regions, aside from the blood-soaked battlefield and the bustling medical zone, almost no one else could be seen.
Unrelated personnel had long been evacuated to safe areas for isolation and protection. Except for researchers like Professor Qi, who had resolved to live and die with the base, only Qi Yang and his team remained unwilling to evacuate.
However, they did not head to the front lines. Instead, they stayed in the third-floor underground laboratory and conducted their research without a moment's pause.
"The pr-h value is too high!" Zhang Bendan shouted while looking at a complex instrument.
A young female assistant immediately nodded and began preparing a solution using three or four different concentrations of Vital Essence.
In no time, she poured it all into the object isolated behind protective glass.
Inside the three layers of bulletproof glass was a metal-like sphere and about the size of a fist.
Its surface resembled a semi-melted Vital Essence, seemingly in constant motion. The cold, metallic sheen it reflected, combined with the occasional sharp protrusions like a porcupine's quills, made the sphere appear highly unstable, as if it were constantly pulsating.
Qi Yang, wearing a sterile mask, observed the sphere intently for a long time before suddenly looking up and locking eyes with Zhang Bendan. Their gaze lasted only a brief moment, but it was as if a silent negotiation was rapidly taking place. In the end, it was Zhang Bendan who looked away first.
Zhang Bendan said, "The Stab-3 projectile is in its final stages. Team A, how is the barrel enhancement and modification progressing?"
There were two experimental tables in the lab.
The lead elite researcher on the other side immediately looked up and reported, "The modification of the 3-series using the Stab-2 launcher has theoretically succeeded. Zhang Sijing is conducting the final scan. The computer scan results are stable, and it’s ready for deployment."
Zhang Bendan nodded slightly, then silently looked up at the man in the white lab coat across from him.
Qi Yang had slowly removed his latex gloves.
He now stood with his hands in his coat pockets with his long, narrow eyes lowered as he expressionlessly observed the porcupine-like sphere.
The Stab-3 projectile had surpassed the realm of ordinary biochemical weapons.
Given its active life-like behavior, it had already developed basic cellular reflexes capable of evading risks.
After a moment of hesitation, Zhang Bendan finally asked, "Major Qi, should we proceed with the final step?"
After waiting for a long time without receiving a response from Qi Yang, Zhang Bendan was about to ask again when he suddenly heard a low chuckle from Qi Yang's throat. Then Qi Yang said, "I will inject the final Growth Solution myself. You all go out first. Its theoretical range is within a diameter of ten meters. Even if the experiment fails, as long as you leave the underground, you have an 80% chance of survival."
"Major Qi!"
"Professor Qi!"
"Major Qi!"
...
The other assistants and researchers all took off their masks and called out anxiously. But Qi Yang silently raised his head before scanning their faces with a deep and complex gaze, which silenced them all.
This solemn and serious expression of Qi Yang was something that even his daily assistants rarely saw. It was as if he was deeply engraving each of their faces into his heart, as if he might never see them again.
Zhang Bendan's voice choked up as he softly called, "Major Qi..."
Qi Yang gently shook his head, "You all go out. Those who don't believe in my research can stay now."
For someone as proud and self-assured as Qi Yang, these words were nothing short of a solemn eviction notice.
All the assistants hesitated for a moment, and then, someone turned and left first, followed by a group of people walking out through the electronic door, and even take the drowsy Mutated Hamster with them.
When only Qi Yang and Zhang Bendan were left in the laboratory, Qi Yang coldly raised his eyes and asked, "Why aren't you leaving?"
Seeing this situation, Zhang Bendan couldn't help but laugh, "Major Qi, I've waited for you so many times before, begging you to evacuate quickly, and you never wanted to leave. Why, are you trying to drive me away this time?"
Hearing this, Qi Yang laughed in return, "Zhang Bendan, when did your mouth become so sharp?"
After getting to know this bizarre and eccentric man, Zhang Bendan had already lost any temper over the "affectionate nickname" given to him, or rather, he had simply gotten used to it. He spread his hands and smiled, "Major, your right hand isn't convenient. Let me help you with the injection."
Qi Yang raised an eyebrow, "What if it fails?"
Zhang Bendan retorted, "Are you so lacking in confidence in yourself?"
"..."
For the first time, Qi Yang was completely defeated by someone other than Ji Chuancheng!
Of course, Zhang Bendan had no intention of showing off verbally. Looking at Qi Yang's strange expression, a bitter smile appeared on his lips, "Major Qi, when I was under Professor Qi, I had heard of your name. No, it should be said that no one in the entire Huaxia Military Research Institute doesn't know you."
Qi Yang raised his eyes to silently look at Zhang Bendan.
"Your reputation is very loud, and your contributions are many. It can be said that I grew up listening to your research achievements. When I was first assigned by Professor Qi to be your assistant, I was really very happy. You have always been the person I respect and admire the most."
Qi Yang still had that casual demeanor, but his eyes were very serious as he looked at Zhang Bendan.
Zhang Bendan continued, "When Professor Qi first sent me to your side, he hoped that I could familiarize you with the affairs of our S City Research Institute. I didn't do this task very well, but I can guarantee that even at the last moment, I will not leave you alone."
Upon hearing this, Qi Yang furrowed his brows tightly and just as he was about to speak, Zhang Bendan interrupted him, "Major, let me administer the injection."
Zhang Bendan's voice was sincere, and even with a trembling tone that carried a hint of pleading.
This assistant, whom Qi Yang had always considered somewhat naive and simple-minded, now resembled the countless soldiers he had seen in the restricted zones.
Despite knowing that the outcome of the experiment was uncertain, those wounded soldiers still straightened their backs and lay down on the cold metal table and entrusting their lives to him for the experiment.
A pang of bitterness rose in Qi Yang's throat.
What would the result be?
Under his hands, one cold corpse after another had appeared.
Even though he had repeatedly submitted materials to terminate the Special Ability experiments, they were always rejected by the higher-ups. He had no choice but to grit his teeth and continue the experiments, only to fail time and time again, with each time pushing him closer to collapse.
If it weren't for the resilience instilled in him since childhood, his mental world would have long shattered into irreparable pieces.
Qi Yang remained silent for a long time. And just as Zhang Bendan anxiously prepared to plead his case again, Qi Yang suddenly sighed and said, "Zhang Bendan, since you insist, then... I believe you have the capability to handle everything properly."
Zhang Bendan was momentarily stunned as he took a moment to fully grasp what had just happened.
Then his eyes grew warm, and he nodded vigorously.
Carefully, he prepared the bubbling Vital Essence in the test tube and injected it into a thick syringe. Then, under Qi Yang's silent gaze, he stepped closer to the incessantly pulsating metal sphere.
The Vital Essence in the syringe was a deep, serene dark red, with small, fish-eye-sized bubbles slowly churning within.
This essence contained the Spinal Cord Matrix Fluid from six S-Class Mutants, the Gene Extract from an SS-Class Mutated Orca, the Cell Activation Fluid from an S-Class Mutated Hamster, and the largest component—
Qi Yang's blood.
Zhang Bendan felt as though the small syringe in his hand weighed a thousand pounds.
Struggling to steady his grip, he stared at the metal sphere that seemed to breathe like a living being and hesitating to proceed.
"Begin." Qi Yang's sigh echoed distantly in the quiet laboratory.
The sound gave Zhang Bendan immense encouragement.
He nodded firmly then held his breath, and forcefully injected the Vital Essence into a small tube in the glass chamber. He watched as the dark liquid flowed through the transparent tube and into the interior of Stab-3 before gradually... merging into one.
A sudden, bright white light flashed!
Meanwhile, the battle between Jing Xia and Ji Chuancheng had reached a fever pitch.
The air on the beach was thick with the stench of beasts and the metallic tang of blood, occasionally mingled with the salty dampness of the sea breeze. Yet, as one Mutated Beast and Evolved Being after another fell, the endless flow of blood filled the air.
The Killer Whale bore numerous wounds and its stamina severely depleted.
By the later stages, it could barely use its Special Ability.
Constrained by the abilities of Ji Chuancheng and Jing Xia, the Mutated Orca was not in good shape and was even beginning to lose the upper hand.
However, Ji Chuancheng and Jing Xia remained vigilant.
The enemy clearly knew that the Mutated Orca's strength could be restrained by the two Evolved Beings here, so why would they specifically send it as a general to attack? Even someone as thoughtless as Wu Jiqing wouldn't do such a thing.
In fact, just as Jing Xia raised the Ice Sword and was about to pierce the Killer Whale's long tail, a terrified voice suddenly rang out on the beach: "What... what is that!!!"
This voice momentarily distracted Jing Xia and caused him to pause his movement and allow the Mutated Orca to escape.
Soon after, exclamations of shock and fear erupted from all corners of the beach.
"Are... are those all Mutated Beasts?!"
"How... how can we possibly deal with so many Mutated Beasts?!"
"That's the Conger Eel! I recognize it!"
...
Jing Xia immediately turned his head and saw, and to her horror, that the grotesque and ferocious Mutated Conger Eel charging through the waves toward the beach and laughing maniacally: "Hahahaha, you little insects! Prepare to die!"