Chapter Fourteen: Resolution

Behind them, a dense horde of mutated creatures was charging forward. Jiang Yu knew these mutants had undoubtedly been enhanced, likely even stronger than those they had faced before.

With just a glance, Jiang Yu quickened her pace.

“Split up and run. Don’t head towards the city.”

As they neared the city, Xiao He suddenly realized they couldn’t risk leading the mutants into the urban area—otherwise, it would be a catastrophe.

Everyone understood immediately and scattered, running in different directions. The mutants behind them also split up to pursue.

Jiang Yu glanced over her shoulder and saw five mutants trailing her.

The creatures’ eyes locked solely on their prey. They barreled forward, bulldozing through any trees that blocked their path.

“Hey, brother, I’ve encountered mutants here. Requesting backup. I’ve sent you my location. These mutants are enhanced—send as many people as you can.”

Jiang Yi received Jiang Yu’s call and thought, finally she’s willing to call me. But it turned out to be a distress call.

“Okay, I’ll arrange for reinforcements right away. Stay safe.”

After hanging up, Jiang Yi reported the situation. He had few available men and needed to call in support from other teams.

Jiang Yu put away her phone and abruptly stopped. She spun around and launched an attack on the mutants behind her, weaving among them, striking one while keeping herself safe.

Her dagger slashed fiercely at a mutant’s leg, each strike aimed to sever it. But the creatures’ bones were tougher than she expected—no damage was made for a long while.

With no other choice, she seized an opportunity to climb onto the mutant’s body, plunging her dagger into its head.

The other four mutants did not cease their attacks. Jiang Yu dodged their blows, sending energy blasts onto the mutant beneath her.

Seeing this, she felt renewed strength. After dispatching the first, she attacked the next in the same way.

Soon, four mutants lay dead on the ground.

Only one remained. After a brief struggle, she didn’t hesitate to leap onto it and stab her dagger into its head.

By now, Jiang Yu was covered in filth and blood, the stench of decay emanating from her body.

She wiped her dagger clean on herself, sheathed it, and began collecting trophies from her kills.

Once gathered, she headed towards the direction where other teammates were retreating.

“I swear, if I’m going down, I’ll take at least one of them with me,” a man muttered as he stopped running.

Seeing no escape, he targeted a mutant, unleashing all his attacks on it, swiftly maneuvering between the creatures to evade their strikes.

But mistakes were inevitable; soon, wounds appeared on his body.

Jiang Yu, arriving just then, saw the scene and hurried over to help him fight off the mutants. Before long, all the mutants attacking them were dead.

The man lay on the ground catching his breath and said, “Thanks a lot. If not for you, I might have died here today.”

“It’s nothing. Rest here for a bit; I’ll help elsewhere.”

“Aren’t you tired? You’ve done most of the fighting and must be exhausted.”

“No, I’m fine. I’m off. Take care.”

Jiang Yu said, then ran towards her next destination, clearing out mutants at every stop. Thanks to her awakened talent, even injuries healed quickly; she didn’t feel fatigued despite not resting.

“Jiang Yu?”

“Captain, I’m here to help.”

When Jiang Yu caught up with Xiao He, the situation was manageable. Several mutants lay dead, and none of Xiao He’s group appeared wounded.

Xiao He hadn’t expected Jiang Yu to come, and seeing her battle-worn appearance made it clear she had killed many mutants.

“Perfect. Once we finish this one, we’ll check other places.”

After eliminating the mutants nearby, Xiao He asked, “Did you encounter anyone else on your way?”

“Yes, but they’re all safe now.”

“That’s good.”

They then split into squads to support other teammates.

When facing just a few mutants, having more people gave them a chance to prevail. If they’d been surrounded like before, they wouldn’t have stood a chance.

They all understood there would be casualties in such fights, but dying fighting was better than being wiped out silently by the creatures.

—

“Captain, all survivors are accounted for here.”

“Captain, same for us.”

Two teams tallied their numbers—18 alive, 7 dead.

Xiao He sent a few to retrieve bodies while leading the rest to the spot where mutants had been previously spotted.

Arriving at the location, no mutants remained. They immediately noticed a bizarrely shaped stone nearby. Approaching it, they felt their energy fluctuate wildly, as if repelled by the stone.

“The enhanced mutants must have been influenced by this stone.”

“Take the stone back for study.”

If research failed, it would have to be destroyed. The wolf pack and the swarm of sparrows they’d encountered earlier were likely also mutated under this stone’s influence. Moreover, since they sensed a repulsion towards it, the stone might affect humans as well.

After a thorough survey found no other anomalies, they arranged for the stone to be carried back.

[System, what is this stone?]

[Host, this is an enhancement stone.]

The system wouldn’t volunteer information, but if asked, it was obliged to answer.

[Enhancement stone? Something that strengthens mutants?]

Jiang Yu had never seen such a thing in her previous world.

She sensed many aspects of this world’s narrative had changed and realized she could no longer interpret events through the lens of her past life.

[Yes, the enhancement stone affects all life forms.]

So, not just mutants.