Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Downstairs, a woman’s scream echoed from somewhere, perhaps she had also seen the insect.

The beetle crawled slowly on the glass. It was palm-sized with eight thin, elongated legs covered in minute, smooth protrusions that adhered tightly to the glass surface. At the center of these bumps was a tiny white dot, its suction cup. Behind its droplet-shaped tail dragged a long, soft brown antenna. As it moved, it left dark brown streaks on the glass - as if it wanted to come in.

The poet stretched out his hand, sliding his fingers through the gap between the two windows. "It's fine, it's sealed shut. It can't get in."

"Each generation is worse than the last," Boss Xiao said. "They just keep getting uglier."

"The fusion of genes," the poet gazed at the glass. "The more they fuse, the more bizarre their appearance becomes, and the stronger their infectious ability. I know a scientist who says that even after a century of research, humans still can't explain the principle of infection."

Boss Xiao: "Hmph."

—He let out an indifferent sound with his mouth, but his body instinctively retreated to a corner of the room, as far away from the window as possible. "Can't you just draw the curtains?"

"I want to see the city a little longer," the poet said, lowering half of the curtain. The room was shrouded in gloom, and in the darkness, his outline exuded a peculiar melancholy. "This… city that doesn't know how much longer it can exist."

An Zhe looked outside. In the early morning, half of the gray city was hidden in a faint white mist. The sun had risen, and the mist was being evaporated. At the edge of his vision, colossal mechanical structures emerged, towering high and piercing the sky. Humans always had many peculiar installations. These devices ensured the safety of the base, but sometimes, like now, they failed to do so.

The poet turned to look at him then. "You don't seem scared at all."

An Zhe pressed his lips together, unsure of how to respond.

The poet lowered the last half of the curtain and smiled at him. "You're really strange."

An Zhe asked, "Really?"

"You're so quiet, as if nothing that happens next matters," the poet said. "There aren't many people like you in our time."

An Zhe chuckled. "Maybe so."

A mushroom and a human couldn't be entirely alike. He tried to act more human and asked the poet, "So, what do we do now?"

The poet pondered for three minutes before answering, "Pray."

"Pray that the ultrasonic dispersal device isn't completely ruined. Or pray that the bugs are just mindless creatures driven by instinct."

"And then, pray that our glass is strong enough not to shatter easily."

The instant his words fell, a barrage of pinging and ponging sounds echoed from outside the window – it was the noise of countless insects slamming against the glass.

Boss Xiao glared darkly at the poet. "I hope you're mute."

The poet panicked too. He pulled aside a corner of the curtain and quickly drew it back. "Don't look."

"I saw," Boss Xiao said. "The insect horde is here."

In the next moment, his expression abruptly changed. "Quick! Block the air vent!"

The poet suddenly looked towards a corner of the room. "The air vent is there!"

The vent was located right above An Zhe's head. The poet ripped off half of his sleeve with a tear and handed it to An Zhe. "Block it first!"

An Zhe took it. The vent was quite large, so he balled up the fabric with his right hand and stuffed it in. "Not enough."

The poet tore off another piece. An Zhe held down the original wad with one hand while catching the new piece with the other.

Suddenly, his right index finger's tip stung slightly.

An Zhe paused in his action, maintaining his composure as he stuffed the cloth into the vent, sealing it tightly. He sat back down on the bed frame. While Boss Xiao and the poet searched the room for any other vulnerabilities, he raised his index finger to his eye.

A pinpoint-sized red dot appeared.

The texture of his skin subtly shifted, transforming into snowy white mycelium. Seizing the opportunity while the other two had their backs turned, he yanked hard, severing the fungal strands.

New mycelium sprouted from the broken ends, reassembling into a human finger, an unblemished new digit.

An Zhe wasn't sure if this would be effective; the severed strands didn't seem to exhibit any abnormalities. But he had no other options.

"There aren't any more gaps," the poet said, turning back.

An Zhe replied, "…Mm."

However, the insects' collisions with the glass grew more frequent and louder, causing the glass to rattle as if it would shatter at any moment. The building's intercom crackled with announcements, but they were mere platitudes like "please close your windows and doors, remain calm."

The poet sat down, his face slightly pale. "It's up to fate now."

"Shut up right now," Boss Xiao said sternly, after scolding the poet. He then looked at An Zhe.

Confused, An Zhe asked, "What's wrong?"

"Quick," Boss Xiao urged, "Call your man."

An Zhe responded with a puzzled tone, "Huh?"

*

In Sector 1, the Dispersal Center.

The colossal black ultrasonic disperser loomed hazily against the gray sky, its disc-shaped body resembling an enormous flower blooming within the city.

The car sped along the road, buildings receding behind them as the shadow of the disperser ahead grew larger and closer.

"Should the Dispersal Center be compromised," Lu Feng interrupted, "would the other dispersers still function normally?"

"It's possible they would cease operation," the researcher replied after a moment's silence. "Operating the dispersers is highly complex. To ensure the entire outer city is covered by ultrasound, all dispersers' intensities and frequencies are remotely controlled by the Dispersal Center. If the central system is damaged and the emergency protocol doesn't kick in promptly, there could be severe consequences."

"However," he continued, "this is the worst-case scenario with a low probability. The No.1 Disperser at the Dispersal Center is the largest ultrasonic disperser in the entire outer city. Its power is so strong that it can negatively affect human health, which is why Sector 1 has no permanent residents. There aren't many personnel or troops stationed at the center either. Given the shortage of manpower, the temporary loss of contact might have other explanations; it might not necessarily mean—"

His voice cut off abruptly as his gaze pierced through the car window, fixating straight ahead on the ultrasonic disperser.

A century earlier, in the peaceful springtime, when flowers and leaves were budding, gardeners would spray insecticides to protect the plants from pests.

But now, the ultrasonic disperser – this black flower – was covered in gray, white, black, and yellow stripes that bulged like massive worms across its surface.

No, not just worms.

His breathing suddenly became erratic.

"No..." he said. "Colonel, did you see that?"

Lu Fen sharply turned the steering wheel!

The car executed an incredibly risky U-turn on the narrow road, heading back the way they had come!

The armored vehicles behind them initially flashed their lights in anger, but then, in the next moment, they all made hurried turns as well...

At the end of the road, a swarm of black insects burst forth like fireworks, filling the sky and plummeting down like a sudden rainstorm. The exoskeletons of the arthropods thumped against the car windows, as if the vehicle was pushing through a hail of bullets.

Inside the car, the communicator's volume was cranked up, broadcasting the operator's trembling voice.

"Colonel, urgent communication from Sector 2. The insect swarm has fully erupted. Requesting assistance."

"Urgent communication from Sector 3. Large numbers of insect-like creatures discovered during evacuation. Requesting support."

"Urgent communication from the City Defense Office."

"Urgent communication from the City Affairs Office."

"Urgent communication from Sector 8—"

"Connecting to Sector 8," Lu Fen spoke swiftly, "Can the underground shelters safely accommodate the entire city's emergency evacuation?"

"Colonel Lu!" The voice on the other end was even more hurried, "Swarms of small flying insects have infiltrated through the ventilation system. We have over ten infected individuals. Requesting support from the Tribunal!"

Three seconds of silence ensued.

Lu Fen responded, "Infected individuals to be neutralized. Others to seek refuge and await assistance."

The communication line was disconnected.

"Colonel." A young voice followed, "The court is assembled, and there are currently no casualties."

"Disperse to provide support in each sector. Priority to Zone 8."

"Acknowledged."

The communication ended.

"Colonel," the researcher's composed voice echoed from within the vehicle, "We should return to the main city."

Lu Fen spoke with a calm tone, "The main city?"

"The main city has its own independent defense and dispersal system, ensuring absolute safety."

The car gradually slowed down as they approached a fork in the road.

"What about the outer city?" Lu Fen inquired.

"The outer city is completely exposed. Insect-type monsters have a size advantage and can infiltrate everywhere. The danger of a swarm is higher than the rodent outbreak during the southeastern base's fall," the researcher's voice regained composure as he continued, "You are a judge, but in this situation, you won't be able to save anyone."

Ample evidence restored the researcher's composure, and he even chuckled. "There's no point in going anywhere now; it won't reduce any casualties. You know I'm right. You can't protect others, but you can save us."

The communicator beeped again. Due to the urgency of the previous situation, Lu Fen had set it to emergency mode, so after three seconds, it automatically answered.

But it wasn't the operator's voice that came through.

"Ambassador," a clear voice rang out, slower than what Lu Fen was used to, with a soft and gentle enunciation. "Your belongings are still with me."

Lu Fen asked, "Where are you?"

"Next to the city's defense station," An Zhe replied. "…So many insects are crashing into the glass."

His voice trembled at the end, as if he was scared.

Lu Fen turned the steering wheel halfway and drove onto one of the diverging roads. The researcher stared at the abandoned path, his eyes widening, almost bouncing off his seat but held in place by the seatbelt. He blurted out, "You—"

Lu Fen seemed not to have heard him, addressing only the communicator, "Stay put."