Chapter 105: A Life-or-Death Choice

Chapter 105: A Life-or-Death Choice

Upon hearing Xiao Hua's assurance, the man indeed stopped resisting violently.

Occasionally, if he couldn't help himself, he would only restrainedly lift his hands and feet, only to be suppressed again by Xiao Hua's ice shackles. There were no major issues.

Time passed second by second. Sweat began to appear on Su Mo's forehead, and the man's skin gradually changed from a bluish-gray to a light gray.

But just as Su Mo was about to proceed to the next step, an unexpected incident occurred.

It was as if the man had been struck by some deadly stimulus. He became violently agitated, letting out a zombie's roar, and with a sudden movement of his hands and feet, he broke free from the ice shackles.

Seeing the man suddenly sit up, Xiao Hua didn't have time to figure out what was happening. She instantly created an ice prison, trapping the man inside.

Xiao Zui quickly pulled Su Mo to the side.

The man seemed oblivious to pain as he slammed into the ice prison. The ice prison and the ground beneath it shook precariously, as if they would collapse at any moment.

Xiao Hua was about to reinforce the ice prison to keep the man contained. In that brief moment, she even thought about what would happen if the man completely turned into a zombie.

Then…

The man stopped his assault and became quiet again.

Xiao Hua, puzzled, asked, "What's going on?"

The man, holding his head, crouched on the ground. He seemed to be in great pain, his voice hoarse and dry, "There's something in my head that can't be touched."

Something?

Xiao Hua's heart raced. Could it be a crystal nucleus?

If it really was a crystal nucleus, could they still remove the zombie virus?

Xiao Hua had already made a guess in her mind, but she still held onto a sliver of hope that it might be something else.

She told the man, "Calm down. I need to check."

The man stood still and nodded.

Xiao Hua took a step forward, preparing to reach out and test, but Bai Mu grabbed her wrist.

Xiao Hua turned her head, a look of surprise in her eyes.

What's wrong?

Bai Mu held Xiao Hua's wrist for a moment, smiling gently, "Be careful."

Xiao Hua gave a reassuring smile, signaling she'd be okay.

She then shook off Bai Mu's hand and walked a few steps to the man, her right index finger pressed against the center of his forehead.

Xiao Hua closed her eyes and focused intently. The longer she investigated, the more her brows furrowed. Half a minute later, she finally opened her eyes, withdrew her hand, and exhaled heavily.

Xiao Hua's mouth opened slightly and then closed. She hesitated, then finally spoke the hard truth, "There's a crystal nucleus forming at the back of your head."

The man shuddered all over.

The formation of a crystal nucleus meant he had fully transformed into a zombie.

"It's only a third of the way to being fully formed."

Xiao Hua recalled the scene she had just sensed, frowning as she thought for a few seconds, trying to organize her words.

"You've got two options here. The first is to completely remove the zombie virus and return to being a normal person, but your powers will be gone forever."

"The second option is for me to freeze the back of your head, preserving the not-yet-fully-formed crystal nucleus, allowing you to keep your powers and continue advancing in the future."

"However," Xiao Hua raised her eyes, emphasizing: "You will remain in this state unless the zombie virus is removed later."

Remaining in this state meant he was neither fully a zombie nor truly human, unable to integrate into the human world.

He would be an outcast in this world, forced to live a miserable existence.

The man's breathing grew rapid and heavy—this was a life-or-death decision.

Xiao Hua didn't disturb his thoughts. Logically, the first choice was better, allowing one to return to being a normal person.

But.

"I choose the second," the man said, staring directly at Xiao Hua, his voice filled with a bitter, vengeful hatred: "I want to keep my powers, I want revenge."

The death of his loved ones and the long-term torment were things he could never let go of.

He had to find Cao Dong, rip his head off, tear his body apart, and feast on his bones and blood!

Xiao Hua nodded, not at all surprised. If it were her, she would probably make the same choice.

Give up my hate and go back to being normal? No way.

With the choice made, Xiao Hua wasted no time. She raised her right index finger and pressed it against the man's forehead again.

An icy blue light swirled around the man's head, then converged into thin threads, all rushing into the back of his head.

The light faded, sealing the transformation.