Chapter 41: The True Breakthrough

Inside the cluttered laboratory, a thick, nauseating stench surged forth, accompanied by violent fluctuations of energy. Immediately after, three hideous figures of varying forms blocked the path ahead.

One was a mutated lizard, its entire body covered in dull, dark scales as if magnified several times over. Its scarlet, slit-like pupils flickered with a cold, cruel light, and every breath it took released a wave of scorching hot air.

To its left stood a monster that barely maintained a humanoid silhouette. Its arms had undergone complete osseous mutation, transforming into bone blades that shimmered with a pale, chilling light. Sharp bone spurs protruded from its joints, giving it an exceptionally grotesque appearance.

On the far right was a bloated, gelatinous slime mold, its skin constantly oozing a sickening, viscous fluid. It writhed incessantly, radiating a potent, corrosive aura that caused a faint hissing sound wherever it passed.

[Mutated Frenzied Lizard, Tier 1, 4-Star, Parasitic State.]
[Osseous Aberrant Zombie, Tier 1, 4-Star, Parasitic State.]
[Tylas Erosive Slime, Tier 1, 5-Star. A translucent colloidal organism, mutated from a runaway genetic engineering experiment in this laboratory. It transmits information via bio-electric pulses and can briefly manipulate mechanical bodies after devouring electronic equipment. Highly infectious, with a nascent "Hive" consciousness.]

Simultaneously, the "Source Core" quickly provided information on the three mutated creatures.

Xia Tong’s glazed, cat-like eyes flashed with a cold light, and a plan instantly took shape in her mind.

These three monsters were clearly the elite among the runaway test subjects of this laboratory. Especially that slime; at Tier 1, 5-Star, and possessing a nascent "Hive" consciousness, it had directly parasitized the other two. It was likely the source of the disaster in this small area.

"Troublesome..." Xia Tong sighed softly.

...

"Ah! Monsters! They’re all monsters!"

When Herman saw these three creatures, which were even more terrifying and deformed than the fanged hound from before, his last shred of sanity collapsed completely. He let out another shrill scream, his legs went weak, and a yellow liquid began to seep out...

It seemed he had lost all physiological control.

An eyesore. Xia Tong only spared a single glance before turning away, standing guard with a solemn expression.

Suddenly, all three mutants launched their attack at once!

Xia Tong struck first. Not waiting for them to fully unleash their offensive, her petite figure shot forward like an arrow released from a bow—or rather, like a ghost merging into the shadows—darting toward the narrowest gap between the three creatures.

She knew well that fighting three against one, especially with such a clear disparity in strength, was not the best strategy.

The only breakthrough in this battle was the slime mold; the other two were merely its hosts.

In an instant, she recalled the experience points mentioned by the "Source Core." She was at 70 points, just 30 away from breaking through the tier limit to become a Tier 1, 3-Star—a level where her strength would surely improve once more.

Perhaps, this was the true breakthrough!

...

*Swish.*

Xia Tong transformed into a clear, transparent droplet, weaving through the incoming attacks and blending into the laboratory environment.

At this moment, the narrow door frames and the scattered, discarded experimental equipment became her perfect cover and leverage points.

The moment Xia Tong vanished, the Osseous Aberrant Zombie’s bone blade swung down with a shrill whistle, narrowly missing her previous position and leaving a deep gouge in the metal floor.

The Mutated Frenzied Lizard spat out a cloud of foul, toxic mist, attempting to force Xia Tong to reveal herself.

Suddenly, an invisible bio-electric wave rippled slowly through the laboratory, sweeping over Xia Tong's position, but it was immediately blocked by the "Source Core" in her mind.

Xia Tong: "...Impressive."

The "Source Core's" "territorial awareness" seemed incredibly strong; any psychic energy directed at her appeared to be blocked by it instantly.

Seizing this opportunity, Xia Tong used her water form to weave flexibly between the various obstacles, like an invisible stream.

The slime was the greatest threat; not only was it the strongest, but it could also control the other two. Xia Tong hoped to take it out first.

But it kept shrinking back, clearly aware of its own strategic importance.

With her current strength, she would have to pick them off one by one.

...

Inside the lab, the Osseous Aberrant Zombie seemed to grow agitated, unable to pinpoint Xia Tong's physical form. It swung its bone blades more frantically, hacking the surrounding experimental equipment into pieces.

The Mutated Frenzied Lizard opened its maw, filled with jagged teeth, and swept its scorching breath, like a flamethrower, across every location where it thought Xia Tong might be hiding.

"Such crude control. Truly violent." In the next instant, Xia Tong liquified and departed from the lab bench that was about to be destroyed.

"Roar!"

Catching sight of Xia Tong attempting to escape, the Mutated Frenzied Lizard spat again, this time targeting the remains of a culture tank where she had just lingered. The scorching heat melted the glass shards, releasing a pungent, acrid smell.

In the gap between its attacks, the Osseous Aberrant Zombie took a sudden, massive stride. Its huge bone blade, accompanied by a shriek that tore through the air, swung toward the next spot where Xia Tong was predicted to land, from an incredibly tricky angle.

The two parasitized monsters were working with a surprising amount of coordination—clearly, the slime was pulling the strings from behind.

"Hmph..." Xia Tong let out a cold scoff.

The next moment, the water stream she had become did not dodge to the side as they had expected. Instead, it surged upward, transforming into a condensed water whip in mid-air, lashing out fiercely toward the empty eye socket of the Osseous Aberrant Zombie!

This move caught the mutated slime off guard.

The Osseous Aberrant Zombie’s movements slowed significantly. Even without vision, the impact to its head caused a momentary stutter in its actions.

Now!

Xia Tong seized this fleeting opportunity. The water whip dissipated, and her true form briefly manifested in mid-air, her glazed cat-like eyes locked onto the ugly slime.

However, before she could launch a real attack, the slime suddenly writhed violently, and a translucent, gelatinous tentacle shot toward Xia Tong like an arrow!

The tip of the tentacle was sharp and carried a potent, corrosive aura, moving with astonishing speed.

"So cunning! It actually had a trick up its sleeve!"

Xia Tong felt a chill. This creature’s intelligence exceeded her expectations; it was worthy of a mutant that had awakened a nascent "Hive consciousness."

She must not let it escape... Xia Tong solidified her resolve to slay it here and now.

This threat was simply too great. If it were allowed to develop further, it would become a city-destroying terror—a true overlord of the apocalypse—and a direct threat to her as well.

Faster than a thought, Xia Tong forced her body to twist in mid-air, partially liquifying to dodge the lethal tentacle by a hair's breadth.

The sharp tentacle grazed her fur; a few black cat hairs drifted down silently, only to be corroded into wisps of green smoke the moment they touched the ground.

On the floor, where the tentacle had grazed, a dark brown scorch mark remained, hissing with white smoke.

Such powerful corrosion!