A Night of Desperation

“Aurora City previously issued an announcement categorizing enhanced individuals by danger level. Those with localized limb enhancements, after training, can easily surpass ordinary people, reaching the same Level 1 danger classification as a common Blood Tide black insect,” Lang Feng explained with a sigh.

“Among those with localized enhancements, the difference between the strongest and weakest is vast. Some can even reach Level 2 danger levels, capable of directly confronting Blood Tide monsters like the Big Skins. However…”

He paused briefly.

“But reaching Level 3—only fully enhanced individuals can attain that. Their strength, speed, explosiveness, and endurance far exceed ours. They are also resistant to low concentrations of Red Value radiation, have strong immunity against the hallucinations of Ghostly Shadows, and possess superior survivability. Even if they consume some toxic, spoiled food, it doesn’t affect them.”

Glancing at Yu Hong, who was listening intently, he added,

“Of course, many are fully enhanced, but the truly formidable ones are those who have mastered various skills. If they were just ordinary people before, they’re merely a little stronger than wild Blood Tide creatures.”

“I heard that powerful fully enhanced individuals can fight Level 3 monsters?” Yu Hong asked.

“There is such a claim, but those monsters can infinitely regenerate. ‘Fighting’ them only means temporary resistance, not ongoing combat,” Lang Feng replied.

“That’s already incredible.” Yu Hong understood the concept and difficulty of facing a Level 3 monster.

“Blood Tide creatures can still be countered using weapons and explosives. However, the dangers posed by the Ghostly Shadows faction are far trickier. Our only reliance is on various Luminous Stone series tools and sunlight-based materials,” Lang Feng sighed. “This time, the higher-ups sent the Blood Lure Squad partly to deal with the Whisperer.”

“The Whisperer is Level Four, right?” Yu Hong frowned. “Indeed, compared to the multi-eyed bird at the same level, they’re even harder to deal with.”

“That’s why the higher-ups had no choice but to deploy Blood Lure,” Lang Feng said.

“Blood Lure… is this squad more elite than the others?” This was Yu Hong’s first time hearing this name, and he was curious.

“Blood Lure… actually,” Lang Feng shook his head. “The name itself already reveals its purpose. From the beginning, they weren’t created to defeat or resist creatures and dark entities. They are sacrificial warriors who use their own blood to lure monsters and Ghostly Shadows to uninhabited desolate lands…”

Yu Hong fell silent.

He found it hard to imagine what kind of people would willingly make such a self-sacrificing decision to protect others.

As he watched the supplies being loaded into the vehicle, he checked the time. It was about time to leave. The journey back would take around four hours, and if he calculated correctly, he would return to the safehouse before nightfall.

“If you ever find it impossible to stay here, you can come to my place. I won’t say much, but I can create Luminous Stones, and there’s a Luminous Stone mine nearby, making it more convenient than here,” Yu Hong offered.

“Alright! If it comes to that, we’ll consider it,” Lang Feng nodded seriously.

Yu Hong closed the car door and started the vehicle. The solar charge had recovered to 60%, so he rolled down the window and looked at Lang Feng and his group.

“By the way, is there any other way to identify fully enhanced individuals?”

Lang Feng thought for a moment before replying, “Our enhanced body parts can be detected with a Red Value scanner, showing negative values. According to published data, the higher the negative value, the greater the enhancement and amplification.

Fully enhanced individuals have values far exceeding ours. We typically range from -5 to -9, while they are usually above -12, with some even reaching -19. The test must be conducted when they are at rest, using direct skin contact with the scanner.”

“Thanks!” Yu Hong waved and rolled up the window.

This trip had been a great success. Not only did he acquire the nuclear Generator but he also made some generous and kind-hearted friends who even gifted him a supply of dried meat, mushrooms, biscuits, and canned food.

This put him in a great mood.

As he drove away, watching Lang Feng and his group gradually disappear into the mist through the rearview mirror, Yu Hong exhaled, feeling a slight sense of loss.

If not for the Black Mark, he would have preferred to stay with more people. That way, he wouldn’t be lonely, wouldn’t lack conversation partners, and wouldn’t have to do everything alone.

But unfortunately…

As he drove through the parted gray mist, along the empty streets, he thought about how the nuclear generator would provide power to the safehouse for decades, solving his energy and water problems. Life was going to get better.

His loneliness was quickly overshadowed by anticipation.

‘Wait, if enhanced individuals can be detected with a Red Value scanner, and the higher the value, the greater the enhancement… What about me? Do I have a value?’

The thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

‘Let’s test it.’

He had plenty of scanners anyway. Controlling the steering wheel with one hand, he grabbed a scanner with the other, removed his right-hand glove, and pressed the scanner against his skin.

Then, he relaxed.

‘0.121.’

The scanner beeped, displaying the result.

“Looks like I have nothing in common with enhanced individuals after all…” Yu Hong shook his head slightly, removing the scanner. The moment it detected the air’s Red Value, the number quickly rose above twenty.

Soon, accompanied by the hum of the engine, the vehicle drove out of the county town, heading back in the direction it came from.

The journey was uneventful, and within a few dozen minutes, he had reached the mountain road near Ringpeak City.

However, this time, he didn’t encounter the black humanoid creature from before and was able to leave the area without incident.

After driving along the highway for another half an hour, suddenly, by the roadside ahead, a bald man, about 1.8 meters tall, appeared.

He was dressed in a dull gray, high-collared work uniform, holding a bundle of dry firewood in one hand and carrying an unconscious middle-aged man in the other.

This bald man had a stocky build. Despite his height, from a distance, he gave off a short and stout impression.

Hearing the approaching vehicle, the bald man turned around. When he saw Yu Hong’s jeep, a hint of happiness appeared on his slightly crooked face.

“Car, car, car! Meat! Here!” He put down the firewood and the unconscious man, patted his chest, then walked directly to the middle of the road, spreading his arms wide as if to block the vehicle.

Now that he was facing him directly, Yu Hong finally had a chance to observe him closely.

The bald man’s face was covered in thick flesh, his mouth was crooked, one eye was larger than the other, and his gaze was vacant. But aside from these flaws, the exposed skin and muscles where his work uniform was torn had an eerie gray-black color, resembling a sculpture of steel, as if coated with a layer of black gel.

‘Hmm!? Gel??’ Yu Hong narrowed his eyes, realizing something was off.

Suddenly, he recalled the two-meter-tall black gel-like humanoid he had encountered before.

The car gradually slowed down. Yu Hong turned off the engine and parked the vehicle near the mountain wall to avoid the risk of falling off the cliff on the other side.

Then, he opened the door and stepped out.

“Do you need something? What’s the meaning of blocking the road?” He walked forward, glancing around to confirm that the bald man was alone.

“Meat… Hehe… Lots of meat.” The bald man grinned foolishly, drool dripping from the corner of his mouth onto the ground.

His gaze toward Yu Hong was like that of a man staring at a large, juicy piece of roasted meat.

“Run!”

Just as Yu Hong was about to ask more questions, the unconscious middle-aged man suddenly woke up and struggled to shout.

“Get in the car!! Run!! This guy… He’s Du Chengtao! A Fully Augmented Human!!”

“Du Chengtao?” Yu Hong hadn’t expected to hear this name, let alone encounter him on his way back.

A Fully Augmented Human, classified as a maximum Level 3 threat—an exceptionally dangerous mutant.

That was the evaluation given by Aurora City and Silver Tower.

“Run!!” The middle-aged man saw Yu Hong standing still and immediately gritted his teeth, grabbing a wooden stick to support himself as he stood up.

“I’m a Joint Army officer who escaped from the front lines! That guy has completely lost his mind! He’s capturing people to take them back and cure them into jerky!!” He mustered his remaining strength and shouted.

“So… You’re saying he eats—” Yu Hong’s expression darkened as he looked at the officer.

Bang!!

Just then, a fist-sized rock whistled through the air and struck him directly on the helmet.

The rock shattered into several pieces upon impact, sending a small cloud of white dust flying.

A blow like that—if it had hit an ordinary person, even with a bulletproof helmet, they’d be left dazed at best, or suffer a broken neck and die on the spot.

The dull thud of the impact made the middle-aged officer shudder. Then, in pain, he realized what had just happened.

“I told you to run… Why…” He knew—yet another innocent person had fallen victim.

On the way here, he had already witnessed at least three people being knocked unconscious by Du Chengtao and dragged away to be turned into jerky.

If not for the fact that he still had some use to Du Chengtao, he would have been skinned and strung up long ago.

And now… Another victim had been added.

However, things didn’t seem to be unfolding as he had expected…

On the road, Yu Hong’s words had been interrupted. A large crack had appeared on the visor of his helmet, obstructing his vision.

“I hate it the most… When people interrupt me.”

He slowly turned his head to look at his opponent.

Du Chengtao was rubbing his bald head in confusion, seemingly puzzled as to why his rock had no effect.

Before long, he looked down, picked up a grinding disc-sized boulder from the roadside, grinned foolishly, and hurled it at Yu Hong with all his might.

Whoosh!!

The rock howled through the air, tearing through the wind as it hurtled toward Yu Hong’s head.

Boom!!!

In an instant, the boulder shattered into countless fragments, exploding mid-air.

Yu Hong burst through the cloud of dust and debris, gripping his spiked club tightly as he stomped forward. Each step left behind a crisp, deeply imprinted footprint on the ground.

One second.

A ten-meter gap vanished in a flash.

Yu Hong gripped the club with both hands and swung it horizontally with immense force toward Du Chengtao.

Clang!!

Instead of the sound of flesh and bone breaking, the impact produced a metallic clashing noise.

Without even making a sound, Du Chengtao was sent flying like a cannonball, crashing into the mountain wall on the left.

“Trash that survives by eating humans…”

“You’re living a life worse than death anyway, so let me put you out of your misery!!”

Yu Hong hoisted his spiked club and, not giving Du Chengtao a chance to recover, charged forward and struck again.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!!!

He lifted his weapon and slammed it repeatedly against the mountain wall.

The rock face crumbled, debris rolled down, and stone dust filled the air. For a moment, the entire road was filled with nothing but the deafening sounds of shattering stone.

Meanwhile, the military officer standing at the roadside was completely dumbfounded.

“Am I… dreaming??”

(End of Chapter)