The sky had inexplicably dimmed, heavy storm clouds gathering from all directions, obscuring the light and casting the earth into gloom. As the vapor drifted, occasional slivers of light pierced the gaps in the clouds to shine down.
A suffocating silence blanketed the city, where collapsed skyscrapers and jagged ruins were everywhere, steeped in an atmosphere of desolation and decay. In this deathly quiet, only the cries of strange, crow-like birds echoed from unknown places, carrying a desolate, mournful pitch.
On the ravaged streets, vehicles lay scattered haphazardly, their frames resting at odd angles. The ground was spattered with jarring splashes of blood that had long since dried to black, mingled with stained clothing and what remained of consumed bodies—just bloodied white bones emanating a rotten stench.
The air was biting cold.
Ye Chen and his companions stood on such a street. Judging by the scene around them, it was easy to imagine the sheer panic that had gripped this area on the night the apocalypse struck: countless cars crashed together, zombies relentlessly chasing terrified people, and countless victims devoured until nothing but bone remained.
Ye Chen surveyed the surroundings. He noticed that the vehicles in the center of the street had been pushed aside, clearing a path barely wide enough for a large truck to pass. His eyes sharpened as he realized these cars had only been moved, not struck. This implied that when Ge Tian and his group arrived, they had not been in a panic; they had ample time to shift the vehicles to prevent damage to their heavy transport.
How could anyone have the time for such meticulous arrangements while being pursued by monsters?
Ye Chen glanced subtly at Ge Tian and Li Feng. With an almost imperceptible motion, he beckoned a nearby Regiment Commander over. The commander paused briefly, then hurried over, casting a nervous look at Ge Tian and the other man before turning back to Ye Chen, bowing subserviently. “General Ye summoned me? What is your command?”
Ye Chen’s expression was frigid. “How did the men from the other regiments die?”
A shadow of pain crossed the commander’s face. “After we left you, we proceeded here, intending to stop and wait. But unexpectedly, several powerful monsters burst out midway. Those regiment commanders fought bravely, ultimately sacrificing themselves, but we managed to obliterate those monsters with our rocket launchers!”
Ye Chen stared intently for a long moment, then suddenly asked, “Are you certain?”
The commander flinched, then covertly glanced at Ge Tian and the other man beside him. Seeing their calm composure and steady gazes, he felt emboldened. He confirmed firmly, “Your subordinate speaks nothing but the absolute truth!”
“Very good!” Ye Chen uttered. Without any discernible preparatory movement, the head of Li Feng, who had been smiling beside him, suddenly exploded. A spray of crimson fluid burst outward, splattering across Ge Tian’s face, some even running into his ear—a sudden warmth. Li Feng’s hand, which had been resting on his back, fell limply away, and his body pitched forward stiffly, like a coffin.
Thud!
It landed on the ground with a soft sound, kicking up a small cloud of dust.
Silence descended upon the area, absolute and profound.
The assembled soldiers stared at Ye Chen, who was slowly withdrawing his fist, as if gazing upon a demon. Blood still dripped from his knuckles, each drop hitting the ground with a distinct sound.
The smile on Ge Tian’s face instantly froze; his body locked up. After a long, agonizing pause, he managed to force out the words, “You… you killed a Battalion Commander?”
Army Regulation Number One: No fratricide!
Yet here Ye Chen was, not only killing but executing a Battalion Commander—a position senior to a thousand men!
“He killed someone!” The nearby commander shrieked, pointing a trembling finger at Ye Chen, his voice a mixture of shock and rage. “You—you dare commit murder in the open! This is treason! You will surely be executed!”
“Die then,” Ye Chen swept his gaze over the man indifferently.
Splat!
The commander’s head also detonated like a firework, his body shuddered once, and he fell backward onto the ground. Ye Chen coldly retracted his fist, his icy eyes sweeping over everyone present. “Who saw me kill anyone?”
A universal shiver ran through the crowd; no one dared utter a sound.
Ge Tian, still smeared with blood across his face, didn't even bother to wipe it away. He stared at Ye Chen in terror. “Killing one Battalion Commander costs you a 5% completion rate! How could you kill one of our own?”
The mission parameters stated that the death of a Battalion Commander resulted in an immediate 5% deduction from the completion rating.
“Completion rate?” Ye Chen’s eyes held a flicker of mockery. “Do you think I care about that? Whether this mission succeeds or fails means nothing to me!” Even achieving a one-hundred-percent completion only qualified him to become a Commander-level titan, a rank he held no desire for. The only reason he joined the army was to obtain the Divine Blood from the ruins of the Atlantean civilization!
Ge Tian’s spirit trembled. “But killing a Battalion Commander like this will lead to your execution.”
Ye Chen sneered, “Who saw me kill him? Did you see it? Do you have proof?”
Ge Tian fell silent.
Proof?
No witness, no evidence!
Ye Chen’s move had been too swift, too audacious for anyone to anticipate, meaning naturally, no one had prepared a camera to record it. Who would believe the verbal testimony of one commander against another without hard evidence?
In the end, he might even be charged with ‘insubordination’ and ‘falsely accusing a superior’ and locked away.
What a ruthless man, Ge Tian thought with a sigh of despair. He finally understood what a truly ruthless person was. Although military law forbade infighting, most would resort to covert murder or elaborate schemes. But Ye Chen was direct—so direct it was terrifying.
Not only did he kill, but he did it right in front of so many witnesses!
He could only stare, helpless. Report him? No proof!
Xu Tianguo and the others standing behind Ye Chen watched in stunned silence, aghast at the speed and brutality of the man’s actions.
“I’ll give you one chance!” Ye Chen fixed his gaze on Ge Tian. “Who ordered you?”
From the physical evidence on the ground to the scent in the air, Ye Chen could determine that Ge Tian’s group had not encountered any truly terrifying monsters. Otherwise, the remaining two dozen large trucks would not be completely intact, and the road they traversed would show signs of struggle. Most telling was the complete absence of any other unique odors in the atmosphere.
After fusing with the ant genes, his sense of smell had become acutely sensitive, allowing him to easily detect any scent lingering in the air.
Cold sweat beaded on Ge Tian’s forehead. He risked a glance at the two headless corpses nearby. Li Feng’s physique was comparable to his own, both around Level 8, yet he hadn't even perceived how Ye Chen attacked. This proved the enemy’s power far surpassed theirs; otherwise, killing a Battalion Commander would never have been so effortless.
“You can take some time to consider. I’m not in a hurry,” Ye Chen stated calmly.
Ge Tian gritted his teeth. Knowing Ye Chen could kill Li Feng, he realized Ye Chen wouldn't hesitate to kill another, completely disregarding military law—an absolute madman.
“Fine!” Ge Tian sighed internally. “It was Young Master Yun who ordered us. His objective was to prevent you from completing the mission smoothly.”
Ye Chen frowned. “Young Master Yun?” He had no recollection of such a figure.
Ge Tian nodded. “He is Miss Murong’s fiancé, Yun Shaojing. He is the most powerful man in the Base City, having evolved and mutated through the virus. His power is absolute; he is designated to take over the Base City in the future.”
Yun Shaojing!
Ye Chen’s expression shifted. “In my previous life, the powerhouse who obtained the Divine Blood was also named Yun Shaojing. It seems highly likely they are the same person… The foremost figure in the Base City? No wonder he could acquire the Divine Blood and become her fiancé.”