Chapter 42: Mission Accomplished (Please keep reading!)

Command.

As a 5th-level spell, it differs from "Hold Monster." The magical commands it imposes can be resisted, but the price of such defiance is a psychic assault on the target’s mind.

The Xenomorph Evolved’s mental fortitude was never particularly high to begin with. The fact that it could not be controlled by "Hold Monster" didn't necessarily mean its willpower was exceptional; it was just as likely that it had simply succeeded on its saving throw.

But! The psychic backlash of Command is not so easily shrugged off.

Boom—

The Raging Giant Bear did not let this opportunity slip. With a single swipe of its paw, the massive roar of impact shattered the floor for dozens of meters, pulverizing the structures beneath and venting its full force into the body of the Xenomorph Evolved.

Puff!

Blood splattered everywhere. Half of the Xenomorph Evolved’s body collapsed, turning into a limp, pulpy mass as the blood within was squeezed out into a fine mist.

It pressed the advantage relentlessly. Beasts have the cunning of beasts, and raging creatures have the ferocity of the wild. Once an opportunity was seized, it would never let go. The Raging Giant Bear’s attacks were not a continuous flurry—that wasn't its style. A single strike, decisive and absolute—that was its way of ending a battle.

Palm Strike!

A massive, bear-paw-shaped shockwave blasted outward. The ground for over a hundred meters was plowed open; the super-alloy floor was no different from soft mud, torn apart and pulverized instantly.

While the Xenomorph Evolved was still reeling in agony, the bear's strike hammered it deep into the floor, embedding it into the very foundation. It became a mangled, unrecognizable piece of building material, fused into every inch of the crushed earth.

[Xenomorph Evolved killed. Obtained one Grade B Horror Side-Quest reward and 5,000 reward points.]

"Got it."

Qian Gu exhaled slowly. The result was not surprising; it would only be surprising if he had failed. He had invested heavily in his spell resources and had already developed several interchangeable tactical sets designed to counter the vast majority of enemies, with more than one trump card—including the Raging Giant Bear—up his sleeve.

This was only his second horror film, so his rating increase hadn't been updated yet. If he were still struggling—if he had to exhaust his entire team just to take down an Alien Queen or had to fight for his life against a single Xenomorph Evolved—then he would be truly pathetic.

However...

"The Gene Lock is proving difficult to unlock."

His combat strength was high, but that very strength was now an obstacle. After all, Qian Gu could reverse the tide of almost any crisis he encountered using his spells and trump cards, breaking the balance of power and crushing his enemies with overwhelming dominance. In such circumstances, the Gene Lock—which is most easily triggered by life-or-death crises—remained temporarily beyond his reach.

Of course, Qian Gu knew that there were ways to force the Gene Lock open through external means. Moreover, sufficient physical enhancement would reciprocally assist in unlocking the Gene Lock; the two were mutually reinforcing. But compared to the sudden, life-defining moment of an organic unlock, it lacked a certain sense of ritual.

"I feel like you're thinking about something very annoying."

Zhao Yingkong slanted a glance at Qian Gu and spoke suddenly.

"Huh?"

Qian Gu turned his head and waved his hand. "Nothing, just wondering how Zheng Zha and the others are doing."

...

Central Control Room.

The originally sealed doors had been torn open. The massive Raging Giant Bear lay prone in the center of the room, while Zhang Jie and the others sat nearby, catching their breath.

"That was... intense..."

Zheng Zha leaned against the Raging Giant Bear’s coarse fur, taking small sips of some unknown blood. Zhan Lan looked at her hands, lost in thought.

"Psychokinesis..."

The battle had started quickly and ended just as fast. The Raging Giant Bear was undoubtedly an overpowered participant; once it made its move, it could sweep away all manner of monsters and demons. The few war machines they encountered had been swatted into the ground by the bear's paws, turning into easy reward points.

Every time they faced a descending bulkhead door, it was Zhan Lan who took action.

Psychokinesis!

Using the long-range manipulation of her psychokinesis, she detonated the energy reactors from a distance, destroying the isolation doors in one fell swoop. The process was simple—even easier than interfering with ballistics.

Speed was the essence of war. Before Commander Perez could issue new orders, they had stormed the Central Control Room and taken everyone prisoner.

"How long has it been?"

Zhang Jie and Ba Wang were puffing on cigarettes, looking like old buddies.

Ba Wang blew a smoke ring and said, "It’s been ten minutes."

"Is it actually working?" Zhang Jie clicked his tongue. "This kid, showing off the moment he arrives, he really is..."

The kid Zhang Jie was referring to was none other than Chu Xuan.

Chu Xuan was currently alone in the corner, interrogating Commander Perez, the commander of the Auriga joint fleet. He had been at it for ten minutes.

For those ten minutes, aside from Zero, no one had dared to watch how Chu Xuan was conducting his interrogation.

"Zhang Jie, don't worry about it."

Ba Wang didn't think much of it. "He's a Colonel from the Dragon Hidden Base. Although I’ve never seen that mysterious military base, I've heard of it. As for Colonel Chu, I think he’s trustworthy."

"Heh."

Zhang Jie gave a short laugh. But when his gaze fell on Chu Xuan, it was complex and difficult to decipher.

'Gene Lock...'

Just earlier, Chu Xuan had explained the theory of the Gene Lock to everyone.

But!

If he were being honest, Zhang Jie’s understanding of the "Gene Lock" at this stage was even higher than Chu Xuan’s. As a semi-guide, he could even sense who among the team had already unlocked it.

'What a pain!'

It was a massive headache!

Zhang Jie’s irritation toward Chu Xuan began to grow. Unlike Qian Gu’s irritation, his stemmed from others, but even more so from himself—from that unspeakable identity and the destiny that was inevitably approaching.

"I have the results."

Chu Xuan’s voice broke the silence.

Zhan Lan stood up and asked, "You got it out of him?"

"Yes."

Chu Xuan nodded. "The access codes for the Central Control Room are in hand. We can prepare to open the escape pod doors."

Zheng Zha jumped up, energized.

"Well, what are you waiting for!"

Chu Xuan adjusted his glasses without a word. He walked to the main control computer and his hands moved with such speed they became a blur, fingers dancing across the keyboard with a rhythmic clatter.

"Success."

The access was secured; control of the escape pod doors now lay in Chu Xuan’s hands.

"I’ve located Qian Gu. Let’s go rendezvous with him," Chu Xuan said coolly. "I’ve set the escape pod doors to open on a timer. Now, everyone, let’s head toward the escape pods."