"Where are you?" Cheng Zi'ang countered.

"I'm still in a factory here. Without good news, I wouldn't dare step out. You calling must mean we've won?" Cheng Suyan was aware of the enmity he stirred. If the opponent had won, he'd have to plan an escape.

"No. The creature has entered the city and is currently in the City Lord's mansion. Stay put." Cheng Zi'ang, unsure of his fate today, bitterly smiled at his deputy, "I thought I'd meet my end at the Commander's hands, not expecting it might be at the hands of this monster."

Anticipating the battle outside nearing its conclusion, he grabbed his weapon to join the fray. If he faced the creature head-on from the start, he'd be easily overpowered. Now might be his chance to catch it off-guard.

As the door opened, Cheng Zi'ang saw a devastated hallway. Following the destruction, he found Commander Ren trapped between two monsters, badly wounded, with a chunk of flesh missing from his thigh.

"This is bad," he thought. One was challenging enough; two seemed insurmountable.

Just as Ren Zhiyuan was about to collapse, Cheng Zi'ang charged with his sword, setting aside past grievances.

Ren Zhiyuan managed to catch a breath, cutting away a rotting chunk from his arm. The pain distorted his face, but when weighed against his life, it was but a minor agony.

Both Cheng Zi'ang and Ren faced a monster each. Though they managed to inflict some injuries, the creatures' healing capabilities were astonishing. If harnessed, they could be formidable weapons.

At the entrance of the base, a car approached, trailed by a series of followers. The guards were awestruck, but recognizing the people in the car, they saluted, "Mr. Sha, welcome back!"

The city's defense team also received news of the attack on the City Lord's mansion. They conveyed the dire news to the arriving heroes, believing that only they could avert this crisis.

Both Zhou You and Sha Qi frowned, "The lab's foundation collapsed; how did they escape?"

Though the question remained unanswered, Zhuo Hao and the others had faced these creatures before. Quickly cutting the ropes tying the criminals, they handed them to the city's defense and drove into the chaos.

Cheng Zi'ang was utterly drained, and Ren Zhiyuan fared even worse, struggling to even grip his weapon. If he had a partner of Zhuo Hao's caliber, the fight wouldn't be this exhausting.

Cheng Zi'ang recognized he was the weak link but took solace in the fact that he hadn't abandoned the fight.

By the time the two generals arrived, Cheng and Ren were on their last legs. The creatures seemed indomitable, tirelessly advancing. How could humans compete with such machines?

It was a relief that someone took over. Cheng Zi'ang retreated to a corner to rest, bearing numerous injuries. Fortunately, his opponent was not poisonous, unlike Ren Zhiyuan, who was severely injured from head to toe.

"Commander, are you sure about this? If this issue isn't resolved, our base will be destroyed," one said earnestly. If not for Zhou You and Shao Qi, no one would've stood a chance.

Ren Zhiyuan chuckled sadly, "Don't bother with what-ifs. If I had succeeded, who would dare say I was incompetent? Since I failed, there's little left to say. Death is inevitable, no matter how it comes."

Chapter 106: Black Hair Suits You Best

When Zhou You and Shao Qi arrived, all they saw were bodies strewn everywhere and the grievously injured.

"Help... me..." a blood-soaked figure reached out to grasp Zhou You's ankle. He bent down, gently moving the injured person to a safer spot and listened as Shao Qi instructed the newcomers, "Call an ambulance, get the wounded to a hospital."

"Yes."

Lin Zihua and Long Gan, along with two major generals, were engaging two monstrous foes. Both sides were battered. In a corner lay Ren Zhiyuan and Cheng Zi'ang, the former's face gruesomely disfigured.

Seeing Zhou You and Shao Qi, everyone sighed in relief. Suddenly, Long Gan was caught off-guard, struck in the chest by one of the creatures. He spat blood, crashing into a wall. The confined space was almost completely destroyed, the building seemed on the verge of collapse.

"This is bad, really bad. If they don't kill us, the building will crush us," Miao Miao voiced, stepping forward. "Boss, we need to lure them outside. There's not enough room here."

Shao Qi nodded, directing the two major generals, "Take your men and evacuate. We'll handle this."

Miao Miao and his companions immediately began assisting the wounded, knowing that Shao Qi's "we" did not include them.

Major General Yan was apprehensive. After a brief glance at the two young men, he coughed violently, spitting blood. Realizing the gravity of his condition, he began to retreat, but not before warning, "One uses poison, the other possesses immense strength. Be careful."

Zhou You nodded in acknowledgment. Shao Qi didn't even offer a glance. He thought about why the Jiangnan military zone was in such chaos—Ren Zhiyuan's unchecked ambition and the laxity of higher-ups were prime reasons.

Once the area was clear, Zhou You, looking at the two creatures licking their wounds, asked, "One for each of us?"

"Naturally."

"Which one do you want?"

Without much thought, Shao Qi responded, "The poisonous one. It looks more disgusting; wouldn't want you to tarnish your sight."

Zhou You sighed, "They were once humans too. Those who experimented on them are the real monsters."

Before they could act, the two creatures, seemingly unfazed by the previous skirmish, charged. A quick takedown was essential; else, it might be impossible to subdue them.

With a short distance between them, Zhou You's crossbow was rendered useless. Instead, twelve flying knives materialized, targeting vital points on one of the creatures.