The ten bioroid soldiers sent down early were from Team A, including Xing Bi and Lin Sheng. The ejection devices on the engineering vehicles were already in position.
From leaping onto the vehicles to strapping on their parachutes and stepping onto the ejection platforms, their speed and movements were nearly identical. It was a clear display of the capabilities of Level-one bioroid soldiers—no commands needed, no coordination required. They instinctively chose the optimal route simultaneously.
Qiu Shi rushed to the cliff’s edge and looked down. The covering fire was still suppressing the area above the camp, but the black pine forest below was denser than the one atop the cliff, and the terrain was unclear. The fire suppression could only protect those in the air during the initial drop. Once they landed, they’d be surrounded by infected.
In this situation, the only hope lay with the ten bioroid soldiers ejected ahead.
Qiu Shi turned back and saw the red lights on the ejection frames of the engineering vehicles turn green. The engines roared to life with a low, resonant hum, and in the next moment, the bioroids of Team A were launched into the air with tremendous force, soaring over the black pine forest on the cliff and passing above Qiu Shi’s head.
The ejection had been precisely calculated—their highest point was slightly north of the camp’s center. After a brief moment of suspension, the bioroids began their descent.
As they neared the airspace above the black pine forest, all ten bioroids simultaneously deployed their parachutes. Ten black parachutes bloomed like scattered petals, faintly visible in the night as they continued their descent.
Once the ten parachutes disappeared into the pine forest, Qiu Shi focused on the zip lines hanging over the cliff’s edge.
“Zhao Yi,” he called, “report status.”
“Can’t see clearly,” Zhao Yi replied. “Long Hao and I have found suitable anchor points!”
“Copy that. Take cover once secured,” Qiu Shi said.
“I see Xing Bi,” Zhao Yi added.
Qiu Shi exhaled sharply in relief. Though the situation was still dire, Xing Bi’s presence was always a mental anchor for him—his powerful hidden guard never failed to steady his nerves.
“Zip line three secured,” Zhao Yi announced.
“Zip line seven secured!” Long Hao’s voice followed.
“Three, retract,” Qiu Shi ordered the armored truck handling the zip lines. “Seven, retract.”
“Zip line five secured!”
“Zip line two secured.”
“Five! Two! Retract!” Captain Yang’s voice cut in.
With Team A’s bioroid soldiers on the ground, securing the zip lines became smoother.
“First wave, prepare for descent!” Qiu Shi unhooked the pulley from his belt and crouched at the cliff’s edge. He had to be in the first wave—if anything went wrong, he had better adaptability than an ordinary soldier. “One and four, respond.”
“Zip line six secured.”
“One! Four!” Qiu Shi called again. “Who’s on one and four?”
“Zheng Yu and Lu Yu,” Zhao Yi answered. “I’ll check.”
“I’ll go,” Lin Sheng’s voice came through the earpiece.
“Two, three, five, six, seven—begin descent.” Qiu Shi hooked his pulley onto zip line two and leaped off the cliff. “One and four will follow after two and five.”
Behind him, soldiers attached their pulleys one after another and began sliding down.
Team B’s bioroid soldiers were ejected simultaneously, positioning themselves between the zip lines to cover the descending human soldiers.
The wind was fierce, howling up his pant legs, through his waist, and around his neck. Qiu Shi felt like he was sliding down naked, his entire body numb from the cold.
The disadvantage was obvious: humans couldn’t endure the cold like bioroid soldiers, who could selectively ignore temperature.
“Watch for attacks below,” Qiu Shi warned, gripping the pulley with one hand and his gun with the other. The map showed infected gathering directly beneath him. He fired a burst at their positions. “Follow my shots.”
The soldiers in the air opened fire one after another, and the glowing markers of the infected on the map dwindled rapidly.
“One and four secured,” Lin Sheng’s voice reported again.
“Second wave, proceed in standard order!” Captain Yang shouted.
When he was about three meters from the ground, Qiu Shi let go and dropped into the pine forest. Infected were already visible below him, and he landed squarely on one’s head, crushing it into a crumpled heap.
Drawing his knife, Qiu Shi swiftly cleared the surrounding infected, creating a safe landing zone for the soldiers behind him.
A bioroid soldier’s marker rapidly approached.
For some reason, even without checking the name beside the marker, Qiu Shi knew it was Xing Bi.
He turned just as Xing Bi emerged from the darkness, raising his gun and firing at Qiu Shi.
The bullet whistled past Qiu Shi’s right ear with a sharp shriek.
A symbiont collapsed a few meters away.
“Thanks,” Qiu Shi said. “Nice shot, bioroid.”
“Stay focused,” Xing Bi replied, eyes locked on him. “Human.”
“All squads, regroup,” Qiu Shi pressed the comms. “Priority is clearing the infected. Lin Sheng, status on the anchor points?”
“Need backup. We won’t hold until everyone’s down,” Lin Sheng said.
“Clear the anchor points first,” Xing Bi said, already moving toward them.
Qiu Shi glanced at the squad that had just landed behind him. “You, with me.”
Over the earpiece, Sang Fan—part of the second wave—could be heard relaying coordinates to Captain Yang.
“Cover from the ground once landed!” Captain Yang remained atop the cliff, directing the operation while ordering bombardments based on Sang Fan’s coordinates.
As soldiers continued to enter the camp via zip lines, the infected began to gather beneath them. After landing, the B-team bioroids immediately began clearing the area.
According to the original plan, the descent would take over ten minutes. During this time, it was crucial to ensure the anchor points of the zip lines remained intact.
As Qiu Shi led a team to follow Xing Bi toward the anchor point, the air was filled with chaotic gunfire, the shouts of soldiers, and the roars of the infected.
The symbiotic hybrids were still hiding in the shadows, especially the primary entities controlling these infected.
Though the combat capabilities and coordination of the symbiotic hybrids were formidable, their current numbers and firepower were at a disadvantage—especially since the surprise attack had bought time. Thus, the hybrids would likely avoid the initial onslaught, using the infected to create chaos and inflict casualties before engaging in direct combat.
Their priority was to ensure all combat forces reached the battlefield while quickly locating the symbiotic hybrids.
“We need to find where they’re hiding,” Qiu Shi said, cutting down two infected that charged at him.
“Xu Jie, Ji Sui,” Xing Bi called.
“Searching,” Ji Sui replied. “They have animals. Not just bears.”
“Found anything?” Qiu Shi asked.
“Fur. Droppings,” Xu Jie answered.
“Infected animals still shit?” Qiu Shi was stunned. Honestly, he’d never considered whether the infected had such physiological needs—after all, encounters usually ended in killing, not observation.
“…Probably from before they were infected,” Xu Jie said.
Discussing animal droppings amid intense combat provided a slight relief from the fear and tension of facing death.
As Qiu Shi ran, his feet occasionally tripped over objects. Glancing down, he saw some were the corpses of infected, others were their own soldiers.
The controlled infected attacked with terrifying efficiency. Qiu Shi knew how deadly these seemingly easy-to-kill creatures could be when gathered in hordes and directed by a primary entity. Unless dealt a fatal blow, their assaults wouldn’t falter, whereas human soldiers, once injured, quickly became vulnerable under such onslaughts.
Many of the fallen soldiers were covered in deep, bone-exposing wounds. Beneath the blood and grime on their faces, their expressions were visible—pain, despair, fear…
But more than anything, rage.
This was humanity’s advantage. They grew furious at the sight of fallen comrades, at the cruel control tactics, at their own injuries, even at their fear. Humans possessed far more intense emotions.
In a way, this was a weapon.
The more humans fell around them, the more enraged the survivors became.
At Anchor Point Two, Qiu Shi spotted Zhao Yi, a second-tier bioroids, and several Bloodcloaks—recognizable by their attire as jungle nomads—standing over a pile of freshly killed infected.
“We’re holding here for now. A second-tier bioroids is worth several of us,” Zhao Yi said, his face smeared with black and red blood, his voice trembling from the recent fight. “Squad Two is down to seven. They have monkeys—infected monkeys. More agile than humans, and stronger.”
“I’ll check the other anchor points,” Xing Bi said before heading off.
“Hold until all personnel have descended,” Qiu Shi said, avoiding detailed questions about Squad Two’s losses and forcing his tone to remain steady. “It won’t be long.”
“Find the primary entity,” Zhao Yi said. “The jamming devices we brought have limited range. Unless they enter the affected zone, they can’t be disrupted.”
A thought struck Qiu Shi. “Captain Yang, I need the coordinates of several jammers.”
“Are you Qiu Shi?” a Bloodcloak asked.
“Yeah,” Qiu Shi replied.
Captain Yang quickly transmitted the jammer coordinates. The map showed four jammers distributed evenly, leaving few gaps in the main battlefield.
“Pull jammers A and B back twenty meters,” Qiu Shi ordered.
“I’ll move them,” Sang Fan said.
“So you’re Qiu Shi!” the Bloodcloak exclaimed, sounding delighted.
Qiu Shi glanced at him and realized the man was staring intently. Before Qiu Shi could react, the Bloodcloak swiped a vertical line down his forehead with his thumb.
“What the hell?” Qiu Shi frowned.
“This,” Zhao Yi said, pointing to his own forehead.
Qiu Shi noticed a horizontal black mark on Zhao Yi’s brow, seemingly smeared with fungal residue, matching those on the Bloodcloaks.
“Did you take the suppressant?” Qiu Shi couldn’t help but ask.
“Yeah,” Zhao Yi said.
“The vertical mark is for leaders,” the Bloodcloak explained.
Unsure how to respond, Qiu Shi only muttered, “Thanks,” before turning away.
Xing Bi had already grasped Qiu Shi’s plan. As Qiu Shi moved stealthily toward the eastern edge of the camp, Xing Bi caught up from behind.
“Going alone?” Xing Bi asked.
“I knew you’d follow,” Qiu Shi said.
“‘You’ plural?” Xing Bi chuckled.
Yes, plural. On the map, Qiu Shi could see Xing Bi’s original squad members closing in from behind. After relocating the jammers, Sang Fan was also advancing rapidly.
These were all of Yun City’s first-tier symbiotic hybrids.
Though the reverse-engineering experiments Xing Bi had requested remained incomplete, and bioroids still risked being controlled by the super hybrids, the current situation demanded their full strength.
If the super hybrids could be controlled, they’d have to kill them before that happened.
The black pine forest where the camp was located was dense, but the ground—mostly snow-covered pine needle soil with few rocks—offered little concealment.
After narrowing the jamming range, the five hybrids fanned out, crouching in the eastern pine forest where a gap had been left.
Qiu Shi crouched behind an old pine tree, watching the darkness ahead.
Behind him, the sounds of battle raged on. The zip lines remained intact, and all combat personnel would arrive as planned. From that moment onward, their numbers would only dwindle.
“Qiu Shi, southeast perimeter,” Deng Yeye’s voice came through the earpiece. “Found their ‘zoo.’ There are still animals they haven’t released—many infected. Monkeys, apes, wolves…”
“Blow it up,” Qiu Shi ordered without hesitation.
“Right away. We’ll burn it after paying respects,” Deng Yeye said.
“What?” Qiu Shi hissed, keeping his voice low while monitoring the map. “You lunatics cook fungi, fine, but now you’re worshipping monkeys?”
“For blessings. They consider them sacred beasts,” Deng Yeye explained.
“Don’t waste time!” Qiu Shi growled under his breath.
“Thirty seconds,” Deng Yeye said. “No choice. Gotta adapt when working with allies.”
Qiu Shi didn’t respond. For now, adaptation was the only option. The Bloodcloaks were invaluable—seasoned in wilderness survival, especially skilled in jungle warfare, their combat prowess and adaptability were exceptional.
Deng Yeye’s estimate was precise. Thirty seconds later, flames suddenly erupted in the southeast—first in one spot, then spreading into an inferno.
Fanned by the wind, the fire rapidly expanded southward, illuminating half the sky. Snowflakes and black smoke swirled violently in the updraft, along with charred debris flung into the air.
Four bright dots appeared on the map.
“They’re here,” Qiu Shi said.
Xing Bi and his team didn’t wait for the approaching symbiotic hybrids to close in before attacking—they chose to charge straight at them.
As he leaped forward, Qiu Shi caught sight of the black markings on Xing Bi’s neck suddenly spreading rapidly, climbing from his collarbone up to his cheek, just like back in Xima Town. His left face was once again engulfed in that web of vine-like black patterns.
The enemy consisted of four symbiotic hybrids and several unidentifiable animals.
Qiu Shi slung the small launcher off his back and hoisted it onto his shoulder.
Through the scope, he spotted the animals—wolves, most likely.
He’d seen pictures of them before.
Wolves.
Four gray wolves, each nearly half a man’s height.
Where the hell had these symbiotic hybrids even found these things?
That said, four wolves were far less threatening than the bears earlier—probably just meant to disrupt Xing Bi’s assault.
As the wolves pounced, Xing Bi landed, ducked beneath one, and slid past. Simultaneously, the blades of his four squad members flashed through the air, aimed at the wolves’ heads.
Almost instantly, three wolf heads hit the ground. The fourth was split clean in half—Sang Fan was still using her axe.
Now, the five of them adjusted their formation slightly. Xing Bi was at the front, already engaging the fastest-arriving hybrid.
Three more were closing in.
Qiu Shi steadied the launcher and fired at the ground just ahead of the three hybrids.
The shell streaked past Xing Bi’s side. Just as he drove his fist through the throat of the hybrid in front of him, the shell exploded ahead.
He used the corpse as a shield against the shrapnel.
“Zip line descent complete,” Captain Yang’s voice came through the earpiece. “All combat units have entered the enemy camp. Flanking reinforcements are en route.”
“Clear everything, north to south. Burn it all,” Qiu Shi ordered. “Advance from the north, bioroids at the front, human soldiers providing ranged cover.”
“Finish this fast, brothers,” Captain Yang shouted. “Don’t give them a single moment to regroup!”
The wind was fierce now. The incendiary rounds dropped onto the northern cliffs ignited the pine forest instantly, and the flames began sweeping southward with the gale.
“Old Deng,” Xing Bi called out. “Take your people and flank around the side.”
“Got it,” Deng Yeye replied.
The black pines crackled violently in the inferno, the night sky turning a blinding orange-red from the flames. Between the gunfire and the roars of the human soldiers, Qiu Shi had the fleeting illusion that the sun had risen.
He followed closely behind Xing Bi and the others, weaving swiftly through the burning forest, cutting down infected that lunged at them intermittently. Behind them, Yun City’s forces advanced steadily, pushing forward with the fire.
The second-tier bioroids coordinated with the human soldiers, while the first-tier guards Xing Bi had handpicked earlier—along with the second batch sent from Yun City—cleared the way and caught up to Qiu Shi’s vanguard team.
And then, suddenly, a cluster of bright dots appeared ahead.
For a moment, Qiu Shi couldn’t even count how many there were.
“Two hundred meters,” he reported tersely. “A lot.”
“There’s a super hybrid,” Xing Bi said.
This was an ambush set up by the super hybrid in advance. Judging by the numbers, most of the camp’s symbiotic hybrids were gathered here.
And now, these hidden hybrids had chosen to engage them head-on.
This was a scenario Qiu Shi had never anticipated.
A frontal assault.
An ancient, brutal, almost duel-like form of combat.
“Bring up the launchers,” Qiu Shi ordered, stopping to lean against a pine tree.
“Launchers, on me!” Zhao Yi shouted.
Hearing Zhao Yi’s voice sent a sudden warmth through Qiu Shi’s chest.
As he steadied his launcher, a group of first-tier guards rushed past him. Ahead, Xing Bi’s team had already clashed with the charging symbiotic hybrids.
When Xing Bi leaped and collided midair with one of them, the impact was so heavy that Qiu Shi could almost hear the dull thud from nearly a hundred meters away.
The hybrid was sent flying, its chest caved in from what must have been an elbow strike.
Zhao Yi and seven or eight soldiers carrying launchers arrived, kneeling beside Qiu Shi. He hoisted his weapon and took aim. “This is… unreal. There’s so many.”
There really were. Qiu Shi had never seen so many bioroids in one place before.
And he’d certainly never witnessed bioroid combat on this scale.
“I’ll mark the targets,” Qiu Shi said, firing a shell slightly past the enemy’s ambush point.
Zhao Yi followed up immediately, then a second, a third—a chain of explosions erupted. Many of the still-hidden hybrids were obliterated, their bright dots on the map flickering into existence before vanishing just as quickly.
“There’s something big!” Deng Yeye’s hushed voice came through the comms. She and her team had circled around behind the hybrids.
“A super hybrid.” Qiu Shi’s heart clenched. “Give me coordinates.”
Deng Yeye, equipped with Yun City’s mapping system, transmitted the location.
“Xing Bi”, Qiu Shi relayed, “fifty meters ahead of you.”
“It’s moving toward you!” Deng Yeye warned.
“Stop it!” Qiu Shi stood, tossing his launcher to a nearby soldier. “It’s trying to take control—don’t let it get near Xing Bi’s team.”
He doubted Deng Yeye and her people could actually stop a super hybrid, but with Xing Bi’s squad locked in combat, they couldn’t disengage. If the super hybrid got close enough to exert control, it was over.
Drawing his gun, Qiu Shi cut westward in a fast arc before doubling back south, sprinting toward the super hybrid’s position.
One of the hybrids spotted him, kicked off a tree trunk, and lunged at him from above.
Qiu Shi didn’t stop. He dropped to his knees, sliding forward on momentum while tilting his upper body back. Two precise shots struck the hybrid’s throat.
Not all first-tier bioroids were as formidable as Xing Bi. The symbiotic hybrids relied on their bonds to amplify their strength, but when isolated and cut off from support, their weaknesses became glaring.
Right now, Xing Bi’s strategy was to carve out one or two hybrids from the group for focused attacks while the rest of the bioroids held the perimeter.
There were casualties, but they were advancing fast.
On the map, Qiu Shi watched as they converged, extinguished small dots, then moved again, converged again…
“We’ve got it pinned!” Deng Yeye shouted.
“Pinned what?” Qiu Shi was momentarily confused.
“Obviously the big black monster!” Deng Yeye sounded strained.
Qiu Shi’s mind conjured an image of Deng Yeye and the Bloodcloaks collectively yanking on the superhybrid’s arms. He couldn’t even fathom how they were managing it.
But the map confirmed it—Deng Yeye’s marker showed only minimal movement.
“Xing Bi,” Qiu Shi called.
However they were holding it, this was their only chance.
“Almost there,” Xing Bi replied.
When Qiu Shi reached the super hybrid’s location, he froze in shock.
Deng Yeye and her team had actually fired steel-chain-tipped bolts into the super hybrid’s body and were now desperately trying to restrain it.
The super hybrid moved sluggishly, but its strength was immense, thrashing relentlessly as it inched forward.
A few bioroids broke away from the fight to attack it, but the symbiotic hybrids clearly prioritized protecting the super hybrid. Some immediately peeled off to target Deng Yeye’s team.
The bioroids intercepted.
Qiu Shi took aim at the super hybrid and hurled a grenade.
Just like before, the damn thing was bomb-resistant. The explosion barely scratched it.
Worse, the blast seemed to startle it. With a violent jerk, it sent Deng Yeye and the others flying, slamming them into the ground nearby.
Then the super hybrid abruptly raised its head.
Qiu Shi’s stomach dropped. He sprinted toward it without hesitation.
A thin, almost imperceptible high-pitched hum filled the air.
“Xing Bi!” Qiu Shi roared. “Xing Bi!”
“I’m here,” Xing Bi’s voice was cold but steady.
The five of them leaped forward, landing in front of the super hybrid.
Xing Bi hadn’t been subdued by the sound. Instead, he’d taken control of Lin Sheng and the others—likely by leveraging their shared willpower.
Slowly, he raised his hand. Clenched in his grip was a blade, blood dripping steadily from his palm.
“Zheng Ting,” he rasped. Then, with a single motion, he drove his fist—still clutching the blade—straight into the super hybrid’s chest.
“Look at me.”
