In front of them were seven fully armed evolvers, all wearing identical uniforms, with different nameplates on their chests, each bearing a serial number composed of letters and numbers.
“These people are just like me,” the man whispered. “But some of them volunteered. They still retain their own consciousness. As for people like us, who were brought here through shady means, if we resist or try to escape, we’ll be turned into puppets.”
Indeed, puppets—they didn’t have independent thoughts, and their actions entirely controlled by others. Even though they were alive, what was the difference from being dead?
The man’s words confirmed some of Li Shu’s suspicions. For the specifics, he would have to ask more once they escaped. The immediate priority was to get these people out.
As soon as they were spotted, Professor Fang, who was always monitoring everything, noticed their presence. Under the protection of his special guards, he made his way toward them.
He was quite curious about this black-cloaked figure who had suddenly appeared. He was confident that the alarm system he had developed was flawless, yet this person had not been detected from the moment he entered to when he began releasing the captives. It was impossible that every alarm device had malfunctioned. So there was only one explanation—this person was not an evolver.
How interesting. Someone who wasn’t an evolver but had such powerful strength. He couldn’t wait to open up that body and see what kind of structure it had.
His nerves were tingling with excitement. Professor Fang no longer cared about the others; he had to capture this intruder. The research value of this person far outweighed that of those being taken away.
He no longer lacked experimental subjects, whether evolvers or ordinary people. After achieving certain breakthroughs, as long as he wished, they were an endless supply. But this person—such a miraculous individual—might be the only one. If he missed this chance, he might never encounter another.
He was determined to keep this person, no matter the cost!
The order was given, and everyone began moving in Li Shu’s direction.
1314 reported the situation in real-time. Li Shu glanced at the group following him, quickly dealt with the enemies in front of him, and pulled the man aside. “Remember the route I told you. You lead the others out first.”
“No!” The man refused without thinking. How could he leave his savior to face everything alone? He could see clearly that without them, his benefactor could leave easily. If it weren’t for rescuing the people behind them, he wouldn’t have been exposed, nor would he be in such trouble now.
The number of enemies was growing. These were all at least third-level evolvers, and they had been modified. They had only a killing instinct and felt no pain from injury. Unless they were killed in one blow, their attacks would be relentless.
[Host, they’re coming for you.]
Li Shu knew this without 1314’s reminder. After a brief moment of thought, he realized that Professor Fang had probably noticed something different about him and wanted to capture him.
Among the people they had rescued were both evolvers and ordinary people. Faced with such a fierce attack, casualties were inevitable. Fortunately, the first person Li Shu had rescued was now directing the group, and since the main target of the attacks was Li Shu, the casualties were minimized.
But this couldn’t go on. The people he had rescued were losing strength, and if he didn’t get them out soon, it would be difficult for them to survive.
Since he had already brought them out, he wasn’t about to let them die here. The enemies were after him, so if they split up, most of the attacks would follow him.
The ordinary people were protected in the middle, while those who could still fight surrounded them. This reduced the number of casualties. Li Shu bore the brunt of the attacks, with the man he had saved from the laboratory taking on the second-most.
Some of those standing nearby overheard their conversation and, while fending off the fierce attacks, spoke up: “Without you, we wouldn’t have made it out alive. We won’t leave on our own. Any little bit we can help, we will.”
Others nodded in agreement.
Li Shu had no choice but to accept the fact that these people were not cooperating. If these people left now only to come back halfway, it would lead to unnecessary losses, and the plan would have been for nothing.
Li Shu said nothing, silently consenting to their choice.
The man who had spoken first wiped the blood from his face. “If I had to live like them, I’d rather die. You don’t need to feel burdened. We’re all ready to die at their hands. Now that we have a chance to get out, we…”
Many of them had been betrayed by people close to them and captured here. Over the past days, they had come to understand their situation, realizing the kind of place they were in and what fate awaited them. They had long since given up hope and never expected that someone would actually come to take them away. Regardless of whether they could make it out, they were grateful to this person. They would give everything, even their lives, to prevent their benefactor from being captured.
Several men on the outermost edge exchanged glances, their eyes filled with determination.
Before they were brought here, they had been part of the same team. When the power shifted, they were sent here as sacrificial lambs. They had thought they would spend the rest of their lives here, never expecting a chance to leave.
Even if the chance was slim, even if they might die here, at least they had seen a glimmer of hope. Dying in battle was better than dying on the operating table.
“I’m not leaving, and neither are they,” the man said at the right moment.
“If you follow me, you might die,” Li Shu calmly stated.
“We were already doomed to die. You needn’t feel burdened.”
In between attacks, Li Shu glanced at the people he was protecting. Some were afraid, some were angry, some were excited. But without exception, there was a fire in all their eyes. It burned so intensely that it seemed as if it would consume all the filth around them.
No one hesitated, not even the weakest of the ordinary people. They were all attacking the enemies in front of them. Li Shu pursed his lips, and something stirred in his heart.
The alarm blared, colorful lights flashed overhead, and the cold corridor filled with an unknown number of enemies…
Li Shu gathered spiritual power in his hands. His attacks were swift and lethal. Every move left an enemy incapacitated.
It was unclear how much time had passed when the attacks suddenly stopped. In the empty hallway, the sound of footsteps echoed clearly.
Tap..
Tap..
Those who had exhausted their strength leaned on one another, refusing to collapse. They really couldn’t afford to fall. The enemy’s attacks ceased, but before they could react, they heard the only sound in the corridor and turned subconsciously to look.
A handsome man in a white lab coat walked slowly toward them, surrounded by black-clad guards. He wore narrow, silver-rimmed glasses. His long, narrow eyes were hidden behind the lenses, making it impossible to discern his expression.
“Guest from afar, I am sorry for not giving you a proper welcome,” Professor Fang said, his voice carrying an indescribable undertone.
The man’s appearance was highly deceptive. Anyone who saw him would think he was a gentle and refined scholar, not a heartless maniac who treated human lives with contempt.
“I wonder if I have the honor of having you stay for a chat?”
Beside Professor Fang stood a middle-aged man in a suit. The middle aged man wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, “Professor, this…”
Professor Fang turned his head and gave him a brief, indifferent glance. The man immediately fell silent and broke out in a cold sweat.
He had followed this man long enough to know how terrifying he was. He couldn’t even be considered a normal person—he was a lunatic, a madman capable of anything. Not only could he perform experiments on living people without batting an eye, but he could also operate on himself.
To this man, all living things were just subjects for experimentation. Judging by the interested expression on his face, it was clear that Professor Fang had his sights set on the intruder.
[Host, be careful.]
As he was being scrutinized, Li Shu also studied his opponent. This man was the biggest villain. Though he had not appeared many times, traces of his deeds were everywhere.
Li Shu sensed danger from this person.
Professor Fang made no attempt to hide his gaze. From top to bottom, his eyes seemed to pierce through Li Shu’s cloak, and for a moment, the corridor was deathly silent.
Some of the more timid people began to tremble involuntarily the moment they saw Professor Fang. Even the man standing beside Li Shu stiffened uncontrollably.
“Oh?” Professor Fang murmured softly, as if he had spotted something interesting. “Isn’t this A13? Has it regained consciousness?”
There was no trace of displeasure in his voice, as though he was simply asking out of curiosity. But when the man felt his gaze, his hair stood on end.
The fear of this man was etched deep in his bones. No matter how much he wanted to deny it, his body’s reaction could not be faked.
“This unknown gentleman, visiting someone’s home and wrapping yourself up so tightly—don’t you think that’s a bit impolite?” Professor Fang’s eyes once again fell on the figure wrapped tightly in the cloak. Every cell in his body trembled. It had been so long since he had felt this excited.
He couldn’t wait to tear off this man’s cloak, tie him to the operating table, and use the sharpest scalpel to cut open his skin and see what was hidden beneath this miraculous body.
His gaze was cold and sticky, like a venomous snake slithering over the skin, flicking its tongue.
“And treating your guest like this—don’t you think that’s a bit impolite?”
Li Shu’s words were suggestive, but Professor Fang remained unbothered. “If the guest weren’t planning to leave without saying goodbye, these people wouldn’t be here.”
“Oh? And what if I don’t want to stay as your guest?” As soon as he finished speaking, Li Shu launched an attack. His movements were so fast that by the time anyone reacted, a large number of people had already fallen.
His figure moved like a ghost, appearing silently behind Professor Fang. Professor Fang turned around quickly and the two began to fight. In the chaos, A13 followed Li Shu’s instructions and led the others to breakthrough.
“Simply perfect,” Professor Fang muttered, gripping Li Shu’s arm and drawing closer, his eyes filled with obsession.
As they fought, Li Shu grew more and more astonished. Professor Fang’s strength exceeded his expectations. In the original plot, this person had only appeared because of his research. There had been no mention of his formidable combat abilities.
Upon reflection, it made sense. For someone who could create such powerful humanoid weapons, it wouldn’t be surprising that a research maniac like him would also experiment on himself.
The hand that grabbed his arm seemed light, but the strength was terrifying. Li Shu had no doubt that this man was so interested in him because he had sensed the uniqueness of his power.
Suddenly, the pressure on his arm increased, and Li Shu was pulled closer to Professor Fang. The man was now just inches away, and his voice like a lover’s whisper:
“Stay, and I’ll take very good care of you~”
