Ever since Zhao Yingkong was revived, the young girl often drifted into her own thoughts. For others, the Resident Evil 2 scenario might have long passed, but for her, it felt like only yesterday. That familiar stranger—the one she had secretly adored and looked up to, yet from whom she had only garnered despair and hatred—the fight with him felt as vivid as if it were happening now. Because of this, after her resurrection, she had never truly engaged in a full-power confrontation with Zheng Zha; she hadn't bothered to gauge the Captain's current strength.

In the past, Zheng Zha’s combat power surpassed hers only because he had unlocked the second stage of the Gene Lock. Afterwards, once she enhanced her Cursed Movement's super speed, if they fought to the death, Zheng Zha might not even be her match.

But everything before her now had completely overturned the concepts in her mind.

When had Zheng Zha become so powerful, leaving her so far behind?

Just like the enemy who defined her entire existence, leaving her utterly in the dust…

“Yingkong?” Zheng Zha violently hurled the head of a Licker he held into the distance. Imbued with immense force, the severed head shot out like a small cannonball, slamming into the steel wall, instantly pulping into gore. Zheng Zha’s eyes were blood-red, his teeth gritted tightly, and bestial roars occasionally escaped between his grinding jaws.

At this moment, he seemed trapped in a state of pure frenzy. Only when he spotted Zhao Yingkong’s small figure did a flicker of astonishment cross his crimson eyes. Then, he let out a loud roar.

Zhao Yingkong, struck by that inexplicable sense of loss welling within her, seemed to completely forget the massive Licker lunging at her from behind.

The Licker was only five or six meters away, its razor-sharp claws aimed directly at the back of her head.

If struck squarely, Zhao Yingkong would certainly be dead.

As Zheng Zha roared, his feet moved, and he flashed behind Zhao Yingkong in an instant.

The speed of 'Shave' in its 'Instant Annihilation' state was terrifyingly fast; Zhao Yingkong’s naked eye could not track his movements at all. By the time she turned her head around,

Zheng Zha was already howling as he swept the Hupo Blade upwards from below, cleaving the Licker cleanly in two.

However, due to the extremely close range, the power of the Hupo Blade’s edge couldn't be fully unleashed. Zheng Zha’s wrist was grazed by the Licker’s teeth, instantly tearing a large gash, and the Hupo Blade clattered to the ground as a result.

Simultaneously, another Licker dropped down from above. Zheng Zha bent down to retrieve the Hupo Blade, but it was too late. Standing directly behind him was the frozen Zhao Yingkong. Facing this situation, Zheng Zha’s reaction was even more maniacal. Instead of retreating, he leaped forward and violently kicked the Licker’s head. He had already entered the 'Explosion' state; the strength and speed were ridiculously exaggerated. With that fierce kick, the Licker’s skull actually caved in. But that wasn't all. Still airborne, Zheng Zha grabbed the Licker’s shoulders and, as he landed, tore downwards with brutal force. He had forcibly ripped open a large swath of the creature starting from its skull. The seven-meter-tall Licker body felt like a piece of shredded meat in his hands. After tearing it open, he slammed what was left violently into the ground. The monstrous Licker no longer resembled its former self.

Only then did Zheng Zha slowly cease his roaring. He turned to look at Zhao Yingkong. “Zhao Yingkong, are you alright?” Seeing the blood-drenched figure before her, Zhao Yingkong snapped back to attention with a shudder. After all, they were on a battlefield. That moment of baffling distraction and loss could have cost her her life several times over. Although Zheng Zha’s frenzied display had saved her, as an assassin, she couldn't remain so timid. A few seconds were enough for her to revert to her true nature.

Zhao Yingkong quietly shook her head, then spoke, “Chu Xuan said the explosion is seven minutes away. It took me over five minutes to run here, so we probably have about a minute and a half left to get out of here… I will use the ‘Cursed Movement’ state. If my speed is sufficient, I can get out in forty-five seconds. What about you?” Zheng Zha blinked in surprise, then let out a loud cry. Without another word, he charged directly to Zhao Yingkong’s side. Under the little girl’s astonished gaze, he swiftly scooped her up, holding her tightly. He said urgently, “Damn it, what ‘Cursed Movement’ state? That state only boosts your speed; your reaction time and everything else don’t change. It’d be a miracle if you didn't crash into a wall. Stop talking, just hold on tight to me!” Just as Zhao Yingkong was about to struggle, a violent gust swept over her, and she was astonished to see the surrounding scenery rushing wildly backward. After retrieving the Hupo Blade, Zheng Zha was sprinting forward at an incredible velocity. While this speed wasn't as exaggerated as when he flashed behind her, it was still a speed Zhao Yingkong could hardly hope to match. Even if the speed of ‘Cursed Movement’ surpassed this, her inadequate reaction time remained a fatal flaw…

Zheng Zha was completely unaware that the little girl in his arms had once again sunk into deep contemplation. He just bellowed and ran madly forward. He was currently operating at the limit of his 'Explosion' state. Although the speed wasn't as extreme as the 'Annihilation' state or the peak velocity of 'Shave,' this state was the one he could maintain for the longest period. As he ran, every footfall left a deep indentation, and the alloy ground seemed incapable of fully resisting this immense force.

Zhao Yingkong, facing the gale, quickly adapted to the speed. She pondered her own fatal weakness. Although she desperately wanted to ask Zheng Zha right then why he had become so powerful, this was hardly the appropriate moment. Moreover, everyone tends to keep the secrets of their advancement hidden. Their relationship was merely that of comrades; asking such a thing seemed overly abrupt.

After some thought, Zhao Yingkong finally asked, “…The creatures in that room, did you… kill them all?”

Zheng Zha replied with surprising candor. He nodded. “That’s right, every creature in that room was killed by me. Haha, do I look like a demon now? Not the me from the Demon Hunting Squad, but just like a pure demon capable of shocking slaughter, hahaha…”

Zhao Yingkong looked at Zheng Zha with a degree of surprise. She frowned, seemingly puzzled. After a long moment, she finally said, “That’s astonishing. You’ve actually grasped the Heart of Slaughter…”

“The Heart of Slaughter? What is that?” Zheng Zha asked curiously while running.

“Everyone has their own kind of heart; some are gentle, some cruel, some steady, some agile. But what an assassin needs is a heart that is calm and indifferent. Only when one is unconcerned with the world yet can clearly observe it with composure is one a true assassin… Similarly, although an assassin kills, they must not be corrupted by killing. A normal person might feel fear after killing one person, and guilt after killing two. If they kill three, four, five, and eventually become numb, they will turn cold-blooded and tyrannical. Such a person is tainted by murder. Only one who can kill with a steady heart and remain fundamentally unchanged afterward possesses the necessary mindset for an assassin—this is what we call the Heart of Slaughter…” Zhao Yingkong was somewhat surprised that she had spoken so much, but currently, being held by Zheng Zha while running, even though it was a necessary measure in haste, and even though she felt no particular emotion, the situation was undeniably a little awkward. She could only use words to divert this slight embarrassment.

“Do you remember Dr. Jackal from the India Team? He is a classic example of someone who lacked the Heart of Slaughter and was gradually corrupted by slaughter. An assassin like that is incomplete… Although I also know someone who possessed the Heart of Slaughter and was not tainted by killing, yet still did things that were inexplicable… But since you possess the Heart of Slaughter, at least you won't be corrupted by the killing.”

Zheng Zha seemed momentarily stunned, then suddenly burst into laughter. “Nothing of the sort. I just… understand what I am doing and what I am about to do… nothing more.”

As his words faded, Zheng Zha stomped his foot and leaped up. Without realizing it, he had already rushed out of the research base, and only about fifty seconds had passed. At the same time, Zhao Yingkong pointed towards a distant spot, and Zheng Zha roared before charging furiously in that direction.

The battle in the sky was still not over. However, most of the armed helicopters had been dealt with. There were already over a dozen wreckage piles on the ground from downed aircraft, not to mention those that exploded mid-air or whose debris scattered elsewhere. The space shuttle piloted by Luo Gandao was zipping anxiously back and forth in the sky.

Zheng Zha didn't know how much time remained; he could only run towards them with all his might. As expected, he spotted two Green Goblin Gliders on the hillside. Chu Xuan was already standing on one of the boards. This man, even knowing the place was about to be destroyed by an explosion, maintained an utterly detached expression. He watched the blood-soaked Zheng Zha running closer, merely pushed up his glasses, and then flew off. Zheng Zha couldn't spare time to talk to the others, nor could he set Zhao Yingkong down. He released the 'Explosion' state, stepped onto a Green Goblin Glider, and flew off after Chu Xuan’s glider. After flying an unknown distance, a massive roar erupted from behind them. When he glanced back slightly, two mushroom clouds were already rising in the distance…