If the T-Virus Prototype were likened to a hormone suppressant, it would mean that even when reaching the unlocked state of the Gene Lock, the human body would not suffer the accompanying damage. Simultaneously, the T-Virus Prototype could very likely stimulate the body's muscle and nerve reaction speeds. Any individual injected with this viral prototype could naturally activate the first stage of the Gene Lock without enduring pain akin to death, much like Alice and Angie before them.

The utility of such a substance for the Reincarnation Squad is self-evident. Setting aside everything else, the activation of the Gene Lock—even just the first stage—could increase a newcomer's combat power exponentially. Merely by unlocking the first stage of the Gene Lock and utilizing standard firearms, their strength would surpass that of ordinary humans by more than tenfold; this statement is absolutely not an exaggeration.

"We must obtain it! This thing must be acquired! The T-Virus Prototype, this is precisely what the Reincarnation Squad desires most! If we can enable every newcomer—no, at least every newcomer possessing talent—to unlock the first stage of the Gene Lock, the Central Continent Team could face any horror movie with composure, no longer needing to worry about the novices!" Xiao Honglu's voice resonated through the connection of the Mind Link chain.

Zheng Zha harbored the exact same thoughts, and it wasn't just him and Xiao Honglu; everyone else also understood the significance of this item to them. It was virtually a cheat code, allowing novices from the start to possess power that many veteran squad members lacked. Consequently, as long as the Central Continent Team survived this current horror movie, they would hold an absolute, decisive advantage over any other squad moving forward! Zheng Zha calmed his breathing and asked softly, "What about the T-Virus Prototype? Has Umbrella Corporation obtained it already?" The little girl, Angie, blinked, then spoke, "Yes, my father said the Prototype has been taken by the corporation, along with all the genetic data. Because cultivating this prototype is extremely difficult, requiring trace elements almost nonexistent on Earth, found only in things like meteorites, it is nearly impossible for individuals to cultivate." Zheng Zha's heart skipped a beat. While this might impose significant limitations in the real world, for the 'Main God' Space, raw materials could be exchanged from the 'Main God' at extremely low prices. In other words, if they obtained the specific cultivation documentation, mass-producing newcomers who had unlocked the first stage of the Gene Lock would no longer be a dream.

"I understand!" Xiao Honglu suddenly cried out, quickly communicating with Zheng Zha via the Mind Link chain: "I now understand what you meant by that sentence you spoke long ago."

Zheng Zha was startled in return. "What sentence did I say? Clarify what you mean."

Xiao Honglu took a deep breath. "You once said that a long time ago, someone in the Central Continent Team proposed using the first slot to create bodyguards. In reality, the utility of these bodyguards was quite limited. Perhaps at the time, he wasn't certain how much combat power these bodyguards would possess, which is why only one was created using the free slot. But that column of light can actually accommodate the physique of three normal men. Consider this: if each of us created two bodyguards with the first stage of the Gene Lock unlocked and equipped them with firearms, their combat strength as mere bodyguards wouldn't be overwhelming. But what if they also possessed the unlocked Gene Lock state? Heavens! This is the ultimate manifestation of newcomer combat power!" Zheng Zha pondered for a moment and said, "Whether the created Ghouls can unlock the Gene Lock remains to be seen, but if we possess this T-Virus Prototype, our team's novices will have the maximum chance of survival. We must obtain it! Xiao Honglu, is there any way to acquire this T-Virus Prototype?" Xiao Honglu was already crouching, frantically pulling out hairs from his forehead. Several minutes later, with seven or eight strands in his hand, he finally murmured his reply, "It's impossible to get the T-Virus Prototype in this horror movie. We have to evade the attacks of the Demon Reincarnation Squad while escorting Angie to the checkpoint. There's no way we can travel that far to Umbrella Corporation headquarters. And even if we went, it wouldn't be easy to steal the Prototype from inside. We must complete this horror movie first, then use Reward Points to return later; only then might we have a chance to steal the T-Virus Prototype." Zheng Zha sighed, continuing to drive the vehicle silently. Suddenly, Xiao Honglu spoke again, "There is one other method, but the risk you would have to take is far too great. I do not approve of you doing this."

Zheng Zha shuddered violently and declared grimly, "We are in a horror movie trying to survive anyway; when have we ever been safe? Rather than constantly being in danger, we might as well take a desperate gamble to see if we can retrieve the T-Virus Prototype!"

"The only way is for you to feign capture and be taken inside Umbrella Corporation. From the inside, you would destroy things while searching for the Prototype data and the cultivation method. After finding them, you would then leave Umbrella and return to the checkpoint. If everything goes smoothly, we will precede you to the checkpoint with Angie. You would only need to desperately fight your way back alone. But there are too many variables along that route. What if the Demon Reincarnation Squad doesn't return but pursues you instead? Forget it. We should discuss this after we return." Xiao Honglu sighed.

Zheng Zha gritted his teeth fiercely. "No matter what, we have to take this chance. I'll send you all back to the 'Main God' Space first. Then, whether I fight or flee alone will be much easier. I refuse to believe the Demon Reincarnation Squad is truly that powerful, and they might not even focus all their efforts on chasing me. Let's just get everyone back to the 'Main God' Space first."

Xiao Honglu fell silent for a moment before continuing, "If combat becomes unavoidable, then we should split into teams and advance toward the checkpoint. Zheng Zha, I hope you can shoulder the responsibility of a team leader. If we are inevitably hunted, I hope you can stay behind to hold off their main force, at least buying us a safe distance. Though I hate to say it, the death aura around all of us is incredibly thick, as if black smoke is billowing from our bodies. I have a bad feeling." (I also have a bad feeling!) Zheng Zha kept this last part unspoken because, as the team leader, he had to project confidence to boost the team’s morale, even though he himself was nearly out of hope.

The bus continued its journey forward. Zheng Zha had already 'seen' the dense horde of zombies ahead through Zhan Lan's mental scan. These zombies reminded him of the battle when they escaped Cairo City in The Mummy. However, the zombies before them were clearly much stronger; tentacles were constantly emerging from their bodies, and it was evident their physical forms had become noticeably sturdier, filled with latent power.

The people on the bus seemed oblivious, except for Alice, who slowly stood up. She seemed capable of sensing the large presence of zombies ahead.

Zheng Zha inhaled deeply and then hissed in a low voice, "Everyone, take out your weapons now! Don't worry about ammunition count for now. Smash the heads of every zombie that approaches the vehicle! Above all, do not let the vehicle suffer any damage! Being forced to stop here would truly mean a place with no burial ground! Zhan Lan, you drive!" As his words fell, the bus rounded a bend, revealing a dense, surging mass of zombies ahead, their heads packed together. Along both sides of the street crawled many Lickers; unlike the zombies, they didn't have protruding tentacles, but numerous barbs had grown from their bodies—blood-red bony spikes that chilled the heart.

Once Zhan Lan started driving the bus, Zheng Zha whispered urgently in her ear, "Full speed ahead, no matter what happens, do not stop! Don't worry, we will protect this bus! Go!" Hearing this, Zhan Lan nodded, closed her eyes, and slammed down on the accelerator. Her psychic scan displayed debris and oncoming vehicles on the road, and under her control, the bus surged forward at maximum velocity.

The zombies seemed to sense the bus's presence too, swaying as they swarmed toward it. Several zombies head-on were violently flung away, followed by a continuous volley of gunfire that mowed down the obstacles, after which the bus's massive tires rolled over them.

"No!" Zhan Lan suddenly yelled out loud. "No, the tentacles within the zombies' muscles and such—they can't be crushed! Many tentacles are clinging to the tires; the bus cannot run over any more zombies!" Zheng Zha quickly retrieved a High-Explosive round from his storage ring. He loudly commanded, "Zhang Heng, Alice, attack the Lickers jumping toward the vehicle! Absolutely do not let the Lickers climb onto the roof! Cheng Xiao, you are responsible for attacking the zombies climbing the edges of the vehicle with your axe! Zhao Yingkong, you are responsible for protecting everyone! Everyone else, use your guns to sweep the zombies!" As soon as the words landed, Zheng Zha fiercely pulled the pin on a High-Explosive round, then his arm muscles rapidly swelled. With a roar, he hurled the bomb far into the distance. This High-Explosive round flew straight in a sweeping arc, crossing over a hundred meters horizontally, and then detonated violently while still in the air. Immediately, a wave of heat rushed toward the bus. After the thermal wave passed, the large area of ground ahead was reduced to bloody pulp, and the zombies had been completely cleared by the High-Explosive round.