TIC Chapter 63

 Chapter 63

With a simple phrase—"I know"—Hein’s words instantly flooded the depths of Xiao Yan’s mind. It felt like a beacon, a compass pointing the way; for the first time, Xiao Yan grasped with absolute clarity the true significance of his own existence.

His life had once again fallen under the strict supervision of the Special Task Force. Yet, Xiao Yan no longer yearned for the vibrant, colorful life of the outside world—a change that left Maya feeling a pang of sadness.

Take today, for instance: the two sat across from each other at the dining table, and Maya was vividly describing the opulence of a newly opened bar in Char City. "Hey, you simply wouldn't believe it—it’s a *literal* Crystal Bar! Even the bar counter rotates! Customers get a full 360-degree view of the entire cocktail-mixing process! They even have a synchronized performance featuring twelve bartenders!"

"Oh... yeah." Xiao Yan nodded, though it was painfully obvious he hadn't absorbed a single word Maya had said.

Highly displeased, Maya raised her voice. "And there’s an aerial performance by the band! The acrobatic feats are so difficult, even *we*—elite special forces soldiers—might struggle to pull them off! Once your period of supervision is over, I’m taking you out for a night on the town! It’s way more luxurious than that 'Blue Tulip' place!"

"Mm-hmm." Xiao Yan kept his head down, still chewing on a mouthful of food he’d been working on for at least five or six minutes.

Unable to help herself, Maya slid his dinner plate out of reach. Xiao Yan, completely oblivious to this, simply continued poking aimlessly at the tabletop with his fork.

After a dozen or so seconds, he finally snapped back to reality. "Huh... where did my plate go?"

Only then did he notice Maya sitting across from him, arms crossed, wearing an expression of utter exasperation.

"Um... Maya... what were you saying just now?"

"I said: your classmate Lily—she passed her evaluation and has been appointed as a reserve liaison officer for Lieutenant General Averell!"

"Oh? Well, congratulations to her, then!" Xiao Yan offered a look of mild delight.

"Just 'congratulations'? That’s it?" Maya leaned forward, peering at him closely.

Xiao Yan wore a bewildered expression; aside from offering his congratulations... what else was he supposed to do?

Maya stared at him for a moment, then lowered her head and let out a long, heavy sigh. "Is there *anything* else rattling around in that head of yours right now besides your research?"

Xiao Yan simply offered an apologetic smile; his mind was, quite literally, consumed by his research every single moment of every single day. Never before had he pursued an answer with such urgency.

While Xiao Yan was furiously processing data within the research lab, Major General Gordon and a certain middle-aged man watched the entire scene unfold from the observation room situated high above.

"In truth, you’ve been keeping an eye on him all along. You were the very first person to endorse his research report." Gordon tucked his hands comfortably into the pockets of his military trousers, turning his head to look at the Lieutenant General standing beside him.

"As it turns out, your decision was actually wiser than mine—and I’m the head of the Central Academy of Sciences. He truly is the ideal candidate to be deployed to Antarctica." Lieutenant General Averell’s fingers tapped lightly against the glass pane.

"It’s not that you lack wisdom; you simply lack the courage to take risks. That is why I dispatched Hein Burton to protect him—and to this day, Hein has never failed a mission." Mentioning his subordinate, Major General Gordon wore a smile of distinct pride.

"Getting Xiao Yan to understand the Comet Virus is no difficult feat. But how to guarantee his safety in the days ahead—how to protect his mind... that is something none of us can be absolutely certain of."

Major General Gordon walked unhurriedly over to Averell, propping one hand against the glass right beside the Lieutenant General’s ear. He leaned in, closing the distance between them. "Sir, worrying too much will only cloud your vision. Do not underestimate my Special Operations Force—and do not underestimate Xiao Yan."

Averell gave a soft chuckle. "I shall be watching with interest."

A few days later, Xiao Yan successfully synthesized a new type of virus. Drawing upon his research into the stability of the Comet Virus, he applied that same mechanism to this new strain. He subjected the newly synthesized virus to rigorous testing and extensive system simulations; if successful, this would become the longest-lasting variant of X-2 within the human body—a potent tool that could be deployed by regular combat troops to counter small-scale zombie incursions.

Pressing his lips together, Xiao Yan felt—for the very first time—that he had drawn one step closer to the answer that countless elite researchers had spent their lives pursuing. He loaded the vial into an injector gun and headed toward the laboratory door.

At that very moment, the alarm began to blare.

Xiao Yan was forced to immediately halt his research and lock down his data. He accessed the surveillance system, and the scene that greeted him left him stunned: an endless horde of zombies was surging down the corridor. The two special forces soldiers stationed at the door were fighting desperately, but for every zombie they cut down, even more poured in to take its place! What on earth is going on?!

Xiao Yan accessed the building's internal surveillance feeds and realized, to his shock, that every single containment unit—housing the zombies used for research and training throughout the entire facility—had been unlocked. The headquarters of the Special Task Force instantly descended into chaos; every operative currently on standby was scrambling to initiate a cleanup operation.

His instincts screamed at Xiao Yan that someone must have breached the building's internal control system to orchestrate such pandemonium. Aside from the Central Academy of Sciences, the Special Task Force headquarters boasted the most impenetrable security protocols of any facility. The fact that an outsider could seize control of this system suggested only one possibility: the culprit was already inside the headquarters—and held a rank high enough to bypass multiple layers of security protocols to engineer the current crisis. But... what was their objective?

To use the chaos as a cover to steal a specific researcher's brain?

Xiao Yan’s fingers trembled. He suddenly realized that two training rooms on his very floor had been completely breached, their zombie occupants now running loose. The security gates along the corridor had been sealed off, effectively creating a closed loop; with nowhere else to go, the entire horde of zombies was now barreling straight toward the research lab at the end of the corridor—the very room where Xiao Yan stood!

It was as if the scenario had been deliberately engineered to leave the zombies with absolutely no other choice!

In that very instant, the door to the research lab slid open, and a torrent of zombies surged inside. Two Special Task Force operatives attempted to force their way in to protect Xiao Yan, but the sheer volume of zombies made it impossible. Just as the two operatives finally managed to break free from the crush, the heavy steel door to the research lab slammed shut behind them.

Xiao Yan slammed his hand against the release button, but the door remained stubbornly sealed.

Even a fool would have realized by now: none of this was a coincidence. *He* was their target!

With no time left for hesitation or thought, Xiao Yan raised his auto-injector and plunged the viral serum into his own body.

The zombies were now right upon him, their rotting jaws snapping—ready to tear his body apart and devour his flesh and blood!

The serum coursed through his veins, invading every single cell in his body. His visual acuity and ability to track motion skyrocketed; in his eyes, the movements of the approaching zombies appeared to unfold in slow motion, and the grinding of their bones as they moved rang out with crystal-clear precision.

Xiao Yan raised his hand and, with a single crushing grip, shattered the windpipe of a zombie lunging at him. Immediately following up, he delivered a ferocious kick; the zombie went flying like a cannonball, slamming violently against the cold metal wall and splattering against it like a sack of wet mud. The image of Hein Burton involuntarily flashed through his mind; his body moved in perfect sync with that mental image. Xiao Yan’s elbow smashed through a zombie’s sternum; without needing to turn around, he twisted his body and, with a backhanded motion, snapped its head clean off.

Three zombies remained. Although every one of their brethren that had dared approach Xiao Yan had already been reduced to a pile of rotting corpses, these creatures knew nothing of fear; they charged at him from three different directions.

Dropping low in a sudden crouch, Xiao Yan drove a fist into a zombie’s jaw—the sound of bone cracking rang out loud and clear. Using the knee of a second zombie as a springboard, he launched himself into the air, then smashed his fist down to shatter the back of a third zombie’s neck.

The two remaining zombies swayed unsteadily, preparing to lunge forward once more.

Xiao Yan let out a sharp click of his tongue; he slammed the two creatures together, instantly twisting and shattering their neck bones.

The entire laboratory fell silent.

Through the glass window of the lab door, two special forces soldiers banged on the glass, signaling for Xiao Yan to come out.

Xiao Yan pressed the release button, but the door remained firmly locked.

Major General Gordon listened to the blaring alarm with a deep frown.

“Attention all personnel: The control system on Level I has failed. The containment system on Level J has failed. All training-class zombies have broken containment. All personnel, assume combat stations and commence immediate cleanup operations!”

The alarm continued to repeat its urgent message. Standing beside Major General Gordon, Hein suddenly spun around and bolted for the exit; however, due to the emergency lockdown triggered by the alarm, the door to Gordon’s office had automatically sealed shut. Hein whipped his head back to face the Major General. “Open the door!”

“You intend to go out and clear out the zombies yourself?”

“Xiao Yan’s laboratory is on Level I!”

Major General Gordon’s shoulders tensed instantly. “Jessica! Deploy a squad to Xiao Yan’s laboratory—immediately!”

Just as Major General Gordon pressed the button to unlock the sliding door, Hein had already burst through it and charged out. Still gripped by anxiety, Major General Gordon continued to press the liaison officer: "Report the situation at Lieutenant Xiao Yan's laboratory on Level I—immediately!"

"A massive horde of zombies surged toward the laboratory, but they have all been neutralized! Currently, every access point leading to Lieutenant Xiao Yan's lab has been sealed off; the containment system has gone haywire, and the laboratory door cannot be opened!"

The holographic display projected a scene showing two special forces operatives attempting to pry open the laboratory door. Inside, the lab was a scene of utter chaos; zombies lay sprawled haphazardly across the floor, yet Xiao Yan was the only living soul within the room. Aside from him, there was no one else who could possibly have taken down such a horde.

Given the sheer number of zombies involved, it would have been impossible for any ordinary person—or even a seasoned combat soldier—to wipe them all out... Major General Gordon surmised that Xiao Yan must have injected himself with X-2! Just how far had this young man’s research progressed, that the enemy would resort to such desperate and ruthless measures to stop him?

Gritting his teeth, Major General Gordon pressed his hand against his temple and issued an immediate command: "No matter the cost—Lieutenant Xiao Yan's safety must be guaranteed!"

Meanwhile, Xiao Yan was rapidly assessing the situation before him. It was abundantly clear that the Special Task Force Headquarters' systems had been breached by the "Surge" organization. Furthermore, the laboratory door had been deliberately locked down—a clear indication that the Surge intended to trap him inside! The laboratory housed a vast array of chemical reagents and compounds; if the intruders were to remotely trigger the release of any toxic agents, he would surely perish within this sealed, airtight space. Even if he were to force the door open only to encounter more zombies, the special forces operatives waiting outside were experts at neutralizing such threats. His only hope for survival lay in finding a way to unlock the door and taking shelter alongside the special forces team.

Xiao Yan donned his neural interface terminal, logged into the system, and prepared to unlock his laboratory door. At that very instant, he felt a force surging against his own consciousness—an invasive presence attempting to breach his mental defenses and siphon information directly from his brain. In that moment, Xiao Yan realized with a jolt of dread that he was under attack by a "Blocker"! Yet, this encounter was distinct from the previous time he had faced a Blocker while piloting a spacecraft. The objective of that earlier attack had been to disrupt his cognitive functions and strip him of his ability to pilot; this time, however, the objective was to plunder the information stored within his mind!

Xiao Yan found himself utterly helpless and at a loss for what to do. He was unable to construct a mental firewall to repel the intrusion; by attempting to trap the adversary within the confines of his own mind, he was effectively doing nothing more than serving up a massive, delectable feast directly to his enemy. That force was penetrating ever deeper; every thought in Xiao Yan’s mind—every piece of data analysis related to his research—was being dragged away, copied, and seized, bit by bit. Acting on pure instinct, Xiao Yan immediately pressed the button to sever the connection; yet, to his horror, he discovered that his limbs were completely paralyzed!

*Damn it! They must have blocked my neural signals!*

Panicked, Xiao Yan scrambled to evade the intrusion, fragmenting every thought regarding X-2 stored in his mind to buy time and delay the adversary from extracting all his information.

*Whoever is out there—anyone at all! Find me, and find me fast!*

Xiao Yan’s heart tightened into a single, taut thread. His brain spun at dizzying speeds—like a centrifuge—desperately attempting to fling off the intruder. Yet, the speed at which his adversary kept pace was absolutely staggering!

He was on the verge of collapse. Xiao Yan continued to hide the last vestiges of his data—the analysis of Hein Burton’s blood samples and his research on the Comet Virus. Come what may, he could not let them fall into the enemy’s hands!

At that very moment, layer after layer of security doors slid open as the Special Task Force regained internal control of Headquarters. Hein sprinted through a succession of checkpoints, finally arriving at the entrance to the research lab.

“Colonel! The door is locked tight!” two special forces operatives reported urgently.

Through the glass panel embedded in the door, Hein spotted Xiao Yan wearing a neural interface terminal; his pupils constricted in shock. Without a second’s hesitation, he drew the sidearm holstered at his waist.

“Colonel! What are you doing? A pistol won’t open that door!”

“Get out of the way!”

Without another word, Hein fired a shot directly at the door. Sure enough, aside from creating a small indentation in the metal where the door met the wall, the massive portal remained utterly motionless. Hein then drew the combat blade sheathed across his back and jammed its tip into the narrow seam between the door and the wall.

The two special forces operatives finally grasped Hein’s intent. These sliding doors fit so perfectly into the wall that the seam was virtually invisible—a truly seamless seal. However, that single gunshot had created a small indentation, providing the precise fulcrum Hein needed to pry the door open with his blade.

Hein bore down on the hilt of the blade, bracing one foot against the wall and channeling every ounce of his physical strength into the steel. Gritting his teeth against the strain, he watched as the blade slowly began to flex under the immense pressure; inch by inch, the research lab door was forced open, revealing a gap roughly the width of a thumb. “Help!”

The two special forces soldiers hurriedly thrust their blades into the gap. As soon as the door was pried open wide enough to admit an arm, Hein unhesitatingly reached in to brace it.

With a low grunt of exertion, he shoved the door open just enough for a single person to squeeze through. “Let go!”

“Colonel!” The two soldiers didn't dare release their grip; if they let go, the sliding door would snap shut instantly. If Hein failed to pass through in that split second, he would be crushed.

“There’s no time!” Hein glared fiercely at them.

The instant they yanked their blades free, Hein squeezed through—moving with a speed that defied belief. The door slammed shut once more with a heavy thud. Through the glass panel, the soldiers outside watched Hein’s retreating figure—safe and sound—sprinting toward Xiao Yan; they couldn't help but let out a collective sigh of relief.

Hein dropped to one knee before Xiao Yan. Touching the tips of Xiao Yan’s fingers, he unceremoniously snatched up the other terminal connector.

In that instant, Xiao Yan—who had been struggling desperately to shield himself—felt a surge of immense power flood his mind. It ruthlessly severed the invading mental tide, then enveloped Xiao Yan completely—forming an impenetrable shield. The power even extended outward, tracing back the source of the intrusion; overwhelmed by such a forceful counterattack, the invader was compelled to retreat instantly from Xiao Yan’s mind.

Xiao Yan remained paralyzed with terror, yet in that very moment, the power shielding him vanished. The terminal was lifted from his head; he took a deep, gasping breath, his vision swimming with dizziness.

When Hein’s stern, familiar face finally came into focus, Xiao Yan’s heart—which had been pounding wildly in his throat—finally settled back into his chest.

“Hein...”

“Shh... Look at me. Regulate your breathing.”

Hein’s voice was steady and calm, anchoring Xiao Yan’s chaotic thoughts back to reality. His fingers brushed aside the sweat-dampened hair clinging to Xiao Yan’s forehead; in that moment, his gaze was both gentle and resolute.

“I... I can’t move my body...”

“You *can* move. Imagine your thoughts extending outward from your brain—feel them flowing down into your arms, traveling toward your wrists, and finally reaching your fingertips.”

Xiao Yan closed his eyes, visualizing the flow of his thoughts. “Move your fingertips.”

Hein’s voice was cold and rational, yet his tone was unexpectedly patient.

Xiao Yan’s fingers slowly curled inward. In that instant, every physical sensation flooded rapidly into his brain; he had regained control over his body. The very first thing he did was grasp Hein’s wrist.

“Now, follow my lead and stand up.”

Xiao Yan rose unsteadily, his sense of balance gradually returning.

He panted heavily, fixing an intense gaze upon Hein. The other man’s fingers continued to press gently against his temple, helping him to relax.

Outside the door, zombies clawed impatiently, attempting to surge inside. A cold, razor-sharp blade sliced ​​through them; a lithe figure sprang off the corridor walls, moving with agile grace until every last zombie had been cleared away.

“Lieutenant Colonel Wallis…” The special forces soldiers assigned to protect Xiao Yan were left stunned by his combat prowess.

Jan’s gaze swept coldly over them as he spoke with detached indifference: “Is *this* how you protect him?”

Having delivered his rebuke, Jan stepped into Xiao Yan’s laboratory—only to be met with the sight of Xiao Yan, sweat beading at his temples, practically cradled in Hein’s arms.

“You came perilously close to needing neurological rehabilitation. Knowing full well that the ‘Surge’ had already breached the main control system, how could you be reckless enough to attempt a direct terminal link?”

“Jan…” Xiao Yan uttered his name. The mental intrusion he had just endured had been so intense that even his speech functions seemed to have been impaired.

“Colonel Burton, I believe the time has passed when you could protect him single-handedly.”

Jan’s gaze was utterly devoid of warmth.

As Hein walked past Jan, the latter grabbed him by the arm and lowered his voice: “Lieutenant General Averell is currently grilling Major General Gordon over everything that transpired today.”

“Even if…”

"In that case, it would be impossible for Xiao Yan to return to the Central Academy of Sciences."

Mark and Liv had already arrived at the door. "Boss, Lieutenant General Averil is here; he wants to see Xiao Yan."

"Lieutenant General Averil..." Xiao Yan looked toward Hein. He never imagined that he—a newly graduated Second Lieutenant—would actually be meeting the highest-ranking official of the Central Academy of Sciences!

Hein did not turn around. "Let's go."

Xiao Yan quickened his pace to follow behind him, though his heart was filled with trepidation.

Yet, no matter who he was about to face, Xiao Yan had nothing on his conscience to feel guilty about. He closed his eyes, steeled his resolve, and strode forward.

At that moment, cleanup operations for the zombie remains were underway throughout the various corridors.

One particular zombie—reduced to nothing more than half a ribcage and a single arm—still refused to give up, dragging itself relentlessly toward Xiao Yan.

Hein lowered his gaze; the movement of his foot was incredibly swift, and the zombie was instantly kicked into a disposal unit.

They arrived at Major General Gordon's office, where a liaison officer stood guard at the door.

Hein turned around, his expression serene. As his elegant, slender fingers reached out toward him, Xiao Yan’s heart skipped a beat.

His fingers adjusted Xiao Yan’s collar, smoothing out the creases on his shoulders.

At such close proximity, Xiao Yan needed only to lift his gaze to meet the other man's downcast eyes.

"Go on."

"Yes, Colonel." In that instant, all hesitation and anxiety suddenly drained away; no matter who stood before him, Xiao Yan would face them with composure.

The liaison officer opened the door, and Xiao Yan stepped inside.

Before him stood a minimalist desk, behind which sat Major General Gordon. His expression was stern, devoid of even the slightest hint of a smile.

"Major General!"

Xiao Yan puffed out his chest and executed a crisp, forceful military salute.

Major General Gordon tilted his head slightly. Following his line of sight, Xiao Yan spotted a gray-haired man clad in a military uniform.

"Hello, Second Lieutenant Xiao Yan." ”

A slow, mellow voice rang out. A smile touched the man’s lips; the laugh lines at the corners of his eyes appeared mature and charming, while his brown eyes radiated an air of profound wisdom.

“Sir!” Xiao Yan turned toward the man and bowed once more.

This was Lieutenant General Averil. He was charged with the administration of the entire Central Academy of Sciences—leading the very core of Char’s, and indeed humanity’s, most advanced technological endeavors.

He appeared far younger than Xiao Yan had imagined. His gaze conveyed an intense, almost oppressive demand for rigor, yet it was not a gaze one felt compelled to flee from.

“So, you are Xiao Yan.”

This was Major General Gordon’s office. Although Lieutenant General Averil held a rank superior to Gordon’s, he was merely a visitor here. From the moment Xiao Yan had entered the room, Averil had sat quietly on the reception sofa, completely effacing his presence; yet, the instant Xiao Yan’s eyes met his, the man’s presence exerted a palpable pressure that could not be ignored.

“Yes, Sir!”

Lieutenant General Averil smiled, leaning back against the sofa with an air of relaxed ease. “I began keeping an eye on you back when you developed the antidote for the biochemical weapons deployed by the ‘Surge’ organization. I’ve heard that you’ve successfully resolved the issue of the X-2 virus being rapidly metabolized by the human body.”

“Reporting, Sir: I haven’t yet fully resolved the issue. I have merely managed to extend the X-2 virus’s retention time within the human body to twenty-one minutes and twenty-four seconds.”

Lieutenant General Averil smiled again—a smile of such extraordinary grace that one found it impossible to look away.

“Twenty-one minutes and twenty-four seconds—that is already a revolutionary leap forward. However, the duration of a virus’s persistence within the human body depends on more than just the virus’s own rate of decay; it also hinges on whether the body’s own immune system accepts it.” Lieutenant General Averil propped his chin in his hand and fixed his gaze upon Xiao Yan—a gaze so deep and intellectually probing that it gave Xiao Yan the sensation of falling into an abyss. “The goal isn’t to suppress the body’s immune system, but rather to trick our bodies into believing that the virus is an integral part of themselves. That way... you would be free to use the virus to genetically modify the human body without any adverse reactions, thereby rendering the effects of the X-2 virus permanent.” ”

Xiao Yan gazed at Lieutenant General Aver, unable to snap out of his daze for a long while.

It was not until Major General Gordon rose from his seat and stepped between them that he spoke: “Alright, Aver—I know you’re the smartest man on Earth. But you didn’t come here just to dictate the direction of Xiao Yan’s research, did you?”