Chapter 24: Pseudohuman Mission Top Top

Chapter 24: Pseudohuman Mission Part 1

Ma Mianren's hooves pounded heavily on the projection table, and a holographic map unfolded, revealing an abandoned industrial district in blue light.

"Northwest Sector C-7 factory, detected heavy pseudohuman activity." He pulled up a few blurry surveillance screenshots, "Initial assessment: they're gathering, possibly guarding some high-value item."

Zero's gaze swept over the images: "Numbers?"

"At least thirty." Ma Mianren closed the projection, "Your mission: find out why they're gathering and retrieve anything valuable."

Xiaoyao whistled, "Sounds like a pseudohuman party."

"48-hour deadline." Ma Mianren ignored his teasing, "Move out now."

---

The off-road vehicle came to a stop in front of a rusted iron gate. Cold wind swept fallen leaves across the ground. Zero adjusted his scanner; the red dots were so dense they made your skin crawl.

Zero handed him a cup of coffee.

"What's up, Senior?"

"You stayed up late last night, might be off your game today."

Xiaoyao smiled, "I'll follow your lead."

The off-road vehicle jolted over the uneven road, occasionally shuddering. Coffee splashed onto Xiaoyao's collar.

Xiaoyao glanced at Zero, making sure he hadn't noticed, then calmly drank the coffee.

—

"Energy readings are abnormal." He said quietly, "There's something under the factory."

Xiaoyao drew his tactical dagger: "Front door or side entrance?"

"Split up." Zero pointed at the east-side ventilation duct, "You go in through there; I'll take the front door and draw their attention."

Xiaoyao frowned: "Too dangerous."

"It's more efficient." Zero had already checked his magazine, "Keep the comms open."

They exchanged a look, and Xiaoyao finally nodded. "Be careful, Senior."

---

Xiaoyao crawled through the ventilation duct, occasionally hearing brief reports from Zero through his earpiece: "Front door cleared. Advancing west."

Suddenly, a harsh burst of static from the communicator, then it went dead silent.

"Senior?" Xiaoyao tapped his earpiece, "Zero?"

No response.

He picked up the pace, dropped out of the duct, and landed in a dimly lit workshop. The air reeked of oil and rot, with suspicious-looking slime trails on the floor.

"Zero!" he called under his breath, scanning his surroundings warily.

Footsteps sounded from behind him.

---

"Xiaoyao."

The familiar voice made him spin around—Zero stood in the shadows, his red cape swaying slightly, silver armor glinting coldly in the dim light.

"Senior!" Xiaoyao sighed in relief, "Communication dropped, I thought—"

Zero stepped closer, frowning slightly: "You're injured?"

Xiaoyao looked down at the scrape on his arm: "Just a scratch, no big deal. Did you find—"

Before he could finish, "Zero" suddenly opened his mouth and shot a stream of black liquid at his face!

Xiaoyao jerked back, but a few drops splattered on his face. His skin immediately burned with a stinging pain, and his vision began to blur.

"Se…nior…?"

His pupils turned black, his legs gave way, and he collapsed heavily to the ground.

The pseudohuman leaned down, tilted its head to watch for a few seconds, then turned and disappeared into the shadows.

---

Zero kicked open the rusted iron door, his bayonet pierced the throat of a pseudohuman that charged at him. The communicator stayed silent. He tried calling Xiaoyao but got only static.

"Xiaoyao!" he called out, echoes bouncing through the empty factory.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps came from the right corridor—

"Senior!"

Xiaoyao rushed around the corner, a familiar smile on his face. But Zero's muscles instantly tensed—Xiaoyao's neck was bare; the silver dog tag he had picked out for him was missing.

"You dropped something," Zero said coldly, backing away slowly.

"What?" the fake Xiaoyao tilted its head, still coming closer, "Senior, we need to hurry—"

Zero's bayonet struck without warning, piercing straight through the heart of the fake Xiaoyao.

The pseudohuman twisted and fell, its skin beginning to peel away, revealing putrid muscle tissue underneath. But then, more footsteps came from all directions—

Five, ten… more and more "Xiaoyaos" emerged from the shadows, each perfectly replicating the original's look except for the missing dog tag.

Zero's Celestial Breath instantly erupted, a golden aura enveloping his body. He sliced off the nearest pseudohuman's head with one slash, then used the momentum to leap up onto a ventilation duct.

Can't afford to get bogged down. Must find the real Xiaoyao.

Zero sprinted through the maze of ducts, his scanner completely useless, relying solely on memory to navigate. At every workshop he passed, he paused briefly to search for any sign.

---

Nothing. Still nothing.

Time passed, and suddenly Ma Mianren's voice crackled over the earpiece: "Zero, evacuate immediately! The pseudohuman tide is moving to the surface!"

"Xiaoyao is still inside," Zero said, his voice icy.

"Satellite thermal imaging shows you're the only heat signature in your area."

Zero stopped in his tracks.

Impossible. Xiaoyao couldn't just…

"Repeat: immediately evacuate!"

His fist smashed against the iron wall, sending a shower of rust dust falling. Zero gave one last look at the dim workshop, then turned and dashed toward the exit.

As the off-road vehicle started, the factory in the rearview mirror was being swarmed by a black tide of pseudohumans. The passenger seat was empty, except for the silver dog tag glinting coldly in the storage compartment.