Mister Zero, Her Story: Chapter 25 – Sudden Omens!
Regardless of the circumstances, the misunderstanding was finally resolved.
After explaining everything, Hua Qiling and Luo Yan learned of Qin Wen’s other objective in Yan City.
“You said… a Devil’s minion?”
Hua Qiling frowned. As Director of the Disaster Response Department, she was no stranger to Devil’s minions.
In fact, they were responsible for at least seventy percent of the disaster events faced by mega-cities.
Hua Qiling had dealt with the aftermath of many incidents caused by Devil’s minions, but she had never directly confronted these fanatics.
Hearing that this one might be “Ruin” level and capable of creating and controlling flesh puppets, she immediately realized something.
“…Wait, creating flesh puppets?” Hua Qiling stood up abruptly, her brow furrowed. “No, that’s not right. If that’s the case, our previous assumptions… were wrong!”
As if struck by a sudden thought, her eyes widened, and she rushed out of the conference room.
Luo Yan and Qin Wen, startled, quickly followed.
Meanwhile, in the research facility’s laboratory, an Oversight Department member was carefully placing the collected flesh samples into a transparent container, then into a testing device.
He didn’t notice the flesh samples wriggling slightly, tiny, hair-like tentacles emerging.
Just then, Hua Qiling burst in, slamming the door open.
The Oversight Department members, focused on adjusting the device, jumped at the sudden noise and turned around, annoyed.
“Director Hua Qiling, although you’re the Director, right now… Huh? What’s wrong?”
Hua Qiling’s serious expression quickly alerted the researchers, their annoyance replaced by anxiety.
But Hua Qiling didn’t answer. She activated “Eagle Eye Vision” and cautiously approached the device.
In her enhanced vision, the wriggling tentacles were clearly visible.
“Just as I thought…”
This was an ancient method of creating flesh puppets, known as “Gu Seeds.”
These tiny tentacles were actually small worms that, upon entering a human body, would devour its flesh and organs, multiplying rapidly.
The newly hatched worms would replace the original flesh and organs, until finally, only the skin remained, vaguely resembling a human.
The worms could be controlled through special methods, creating flesh puppets.
The Sword Saint sect had records of this, but Qin Wen, being a simple-minded warrior, had simply cut everything down without investigating further.
It was because of this oversight that Hua Qiling had brought these flesh samples back for analysis.
Fortunately, the scene of the incident had been thoroughly cleaned; otherwise, District Nine would be in serious trouble…
And their conversation with the Sword Saint Sect Master hadn’t been long; these “Gu Seeds” hadn’t yet reached the point where they could act independently.
“Get away from that flesh immediately! Those are ‘Gu Seeds’!”
Hua Qiling whispered.
The researchers were shocked. Without even grabbing their lab coats, they scrambled out of the laboratory.
They knew the dangers of “Gu Seeds” and that they, as “Difficulty” level ability users, would be nothing more than food.
But before leaving, one researcher hesitated and whispered to Hua Qiling,
“Director Hua Qiling, if you absolutely, unavoidably, undeniably have to… engage in combat, please try your best to protect the equipment. It’s very expensive…”
Hua Qiling’s lips twitched, but her expression quickly turned serious.
In her “Eagle Eye Vision,” the flesh samples began to wriggle and merge, slowly coalescing.
I have to destroy this immediately…
Hua Qiling thought to herself, taking out her portable spiritual energy pistol and loading a “Philosopher’s Stone” without hesitation.
A “Philosopher’s Stone” used by her would carry the properties of “Eagle Eye,” capable of completely eradicating the target at a microscopic level.
Hua Qiling took a deep breath, focusing her “Eagle Eye Vision” to its maximum. The disgusting, wriggling flesh was laid bare before her.
She pulled the trigger.
No, she tried to pull the trigger…
Hua Qiling was horrified to find that her finger was stiff, unresponsive.
She couldn’t even press the trigger.
“What’s going on…?”
As this thought crossed her mind, she saw the flesh in her “Eagle Eye Vision” wriggling again.
And this time, an eye appeared within the mass of flesh.
An eye Hua Qiling recognized.
—The “Eye of Fear, Envy, and Defilement”!
The crimson eye, with its black pupil, stared directly at Hua Qiling, a strange mental influence washing over her.
“Only… one… flesh sacrifice…”
“But… ‘Ruin’ level… is enough…”
This was a trap, a complete trap!
This wasn’t an ordinary “Gu Seed,” nor was it an accidentally left-behind remnant. It was a deliberate trap, meant to ambush anyone who discovered it!
Even someone as strong as Hua Qiling, a “Ruin” level ability user, could barely move under its gaze.
It was terrifying to imagine what would have happened to the researchers if she had arrived even a moment later.
Barely thirty seconds had passed since Hua Qiling entered the laboratory. Luo Yan and Qin Wen, slightly behind, hadn’t arrived yet.
The laboratory’s environment blocked most of the aura leakage, so they couldn’t sense what was happening inside.
The flesh rose into the air and moved towards Hua Qiling, the grotesque eye radiating malice.
If she could just hold on for another thirty seconds…
No, even twenty seconds would be enough.
Qin Wen’s arrival would be enough to destroy this flesh, and Luo Yan’s presence would render its ability useless.
But unfortunately, Hua Qiling was alone.
“Twenty seconds!”
Hua Qiling, resisting the pressure of the “Eye of Fear, Envy, and Defilement,” forced her eyes shut, blood trickling from her strained eyelids.
She knew that if she could just hold on for twenty seconds, she could turn the tables.
She had to buy herself twenty seconds, no matter the cost!
However, even with her eyes closed, the mark of the “Witch of Envy’s” power was already taking root in her mind.
The “Eye of Fear, Envy, and Defilement” opened in her mind, although far weaker than Luo Yan’s, it was still enough to restrain Hua Qiling.
“This is… the Lord’s power…”
The ethereal voice was filled with ecstasy. At the same time, the flesh lunged at Hua Qiling, leaving a crimson afterimage.
And all of this happened in just two seconds.
Without the “Witch of Envy’s” power, this Devil’s minion, even its main body, would be no match for Hua Qiling.
Even though Hua Qiling wasn’t a combat specialist, she could still easily handle a minion who relied on puppets.
But unfortunately… even a sliver of the “Witch of Envy’s” power was enough to change everything.
“Three seconds have passed—”
Hua Qiling could sense Luo Yan and Qin Wen approaching the laboratory, but she couldn’t afford to be distracted.
In this battle, a moment of distraction meant death.
The disgusting stench of the flesh filled her nostrils, but Hua Qiling was calmer than ever, even as her body stiffened under the “Witch of Envy’s” power.
However, closing her eyes had been effective.
At least, she could still pull the trigger.
But even though “Eagle Eye” could track the flesh’s trajectory, her current condition prevented her from aiming properly.
She only had one shot.
“One shot… is enough.” Hua Qiling twisted her wrist with great effort and pressed the trigger. “Four seconds…”
The pre-loaded “Philosopher’s Stone” drained her spiritual energy, transforming it into a beam of light. But she didn’t aim at the incoming flesh. Instead, she fired at—
The device in the center!
In the end, Hua Qiling destroyed the Oversight Department’s precious device, but her true target was the transparent container inside.
Because… the container was filled with a large amount of nutrient solution.
As the shot rang out, the container shattered, the nutrient solution splashing everywhere, coating every corner of the laboratory.
“Five seconds…”
The splashing liquid couldn’t stop the flesh, because this was only Hua Qiling’s first step.
Her bullet hadn’t just shattered the container; it had continued through, hitting the laboratory’s main power switch.
The switch… shorted out.
This was Hua Qiling’s true objective.
“Zzzt—”
High-voltage current surged through the nutrient solution, instantly electrocuting the flesh. Over ninety percent of the already small mass was incinerated, its advance halted.
However, Hua Qiling wasn’t unscathed. She was also exposed to the high-voltage current. In less than a second, her body was charred black, her high ponytail coming undone.
The internal injuries were even more severe. Hua Qiling felt her organs trembling and numb, her body convulsing, unable to even stand.
If the current lasted for another second or two, she would die.
But Hua Qiling had anticipated this. The laboratory’s power supply had safety mechanisms. Even a short circuit wouldn’t last more than half a second before being automatically cut off.
“You…”
The voice within the flesh was filled with shock and fear. Although its main body wasn’t here, and the destruction of this flesh wouldn’t harm it, if this ambush failed, Yan City wouldn’t give it another chance.
It had meticulously laid this trap to devour a large number of ability users and enhance its own power.
If it failed and was exposed… even its main body would be in mortal danger!
It wasn’t arrogant enough to challenge an entire mega-city with just a sliver of the “Witch of Envy’s” power.
“Ten seconds, ten seconds left…”
Hua Qiling thought to herself, but her consciousness was fading.
In her failing “Eagle Eye Vision,” a tiny piece of flesh, the size of a mosquito, was slowly wriggling towards her.
Even though it was small, even though it was charred black, its aura faint… at its current speed, it wouldn’t need ten seconds to reach her.
Once it touched her flesh, it could devour her and instantly regain its strength.
And Hua Qiling would die.
This wasn’t poison… there was no antidote.
“I can’t even last ten seconds… just ten seconds…?”
Hua Qiling felt death approaching, her mind filled with fear and chaotic thoughts.
If she hadn’t rushed down here alone, if she had waited for Miss Luo Yan and Miss Qin Wen, would she have survived?
Perhaps if she had retreated with the Oversight Department members…
No…
If she had done that, those members would be dead.
Once their flesh was tainted by the “Gu Seeds”…
“I’m prepared to die, Devil’s minion,” Hua Qiling lay on the ground, opening her eyes slightly, her gaze firm as she looked at the approaching flesh. “We humans… are never lacking in resolve.”
Five seconds left, yet it felt like an eternity.
At this moment, Miss Luo Yan and Miss Qin Wen were probably chatting happily…
Or perhaps they had encountered the fleeing Oversight Department members and learned of the situation…
They might be on their way, might be opening the door, might be about to save her…
But still…
Her mind was fading, her consciousness slipping away.
“I failed…”
In the final three seconds, the flesh finally touched her wound. Tiny tentacles emerged excitedly, piercing her flesh, ready to feast.
But the moment it touched Hua Qiling, its main body, far away on Flower Street, was horrified to see a pair of eyes, a pair of “Eyes of Fear, Envy, and Defilement,” almost identical to its own.
The eyes stared at it coldly, saying nothing, doing nothing.
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