Volume One: Mutation Chapter Forty-Six: Sword Aura!

Somewhere in an underground base.

“Commander, the latest report—the G15 defense line has fallen…”

“This is the last footage received from there.” The speaker opened the player.

The commander’s brow furrowed tightly. In the final scene, a gigantic seahorse breached the G15 city walls, and the camera was destroyed, the screen dissolving into a storm of static.

“Absurd! How could ordinary firearms defend against such a monster? What about our missiles? Why weren’t they launched?” The commander, long accustomed to authority, spoke with a commanding presence. He was profoundly dissatisfied, knowing the G15 battle plan had been approved in meetings and included crucial safeguards—ground-to-ground missiles deployed and ready for launch.

The man reporting broke into a light sweat, speaking cautiously: “It’s said that Commander Jiang altered the layout on his own, failing to deploy as planned and delaying the optimal launch window.”

“Hmph! Jiang Wen—does he still respect this nation? How dare he defy orders? Is he imitating those foreign troops, seeking to rebel and crown himself king? He truly thinks himself a warlord!”

The subordinate, eyes downcast, feigned deafness, pretending not to hear.

After venting, the commander realized his words were inappropriate and sighed. “Jiang Wen’s mistake has forced the entire G15 military district into peril. Who knows how many will perish this time? The G15 defense, built at great expense, has been breached. We have suffered enormous losses in this battle.”

The subordinate echoed his sigh. “Indeed. The missiles were meant to destroy those mutated creatures, and now…”

“This Jiang Wen must be severely punished! Send men to restrain him immediately. Once G15’s battle concludes and losses are tallied, deal with him at once!”

“Ah—Commander! Is that wise? If cornered, what if Commander Jiang truly rebels…” the subordinate exclaimed.

Circumstances were no longer as before. With safety zones scattered, each region had established its own autonomous administration. Power was concentrated and military might was in the hands of local rulers—each a petty emperor, unchallenged.

The largest military force belonged to Jiang Wen’s general district, where much of the nation’s armaments were gathered. If Jiang Wen chose to rebel, he could sever ties with the government and rule independently in moments. Though he couldn’t access high-yield nuclear weapons without the cooperation of the top management, the stockpiles of planes, artillery, and missiles were more than sufficient.

The commander’s expression grew solemn. He pondered, then spoke: “After G15’s casualties are counted, regardless of whether he rebels, he must be punished. We must not let those who risk their lives for the nation lose heart!”

“Commander, you are right. We cannot let our soldiers lose hope! Even if Jiang Wen wishes to rebel, it depends on whether his troops would follow. After all, history shows that those who win the people’s hearts win the land. Jiang Wen’s actions—I doubt his men would willingly stand with him.”

-----

Liu Cong stood in the sky, sword in hand, gazing across at the gigantic seahorse.

A blue radiance shimmered around him, streams of pale azure energy flowing outward, pushing the remaining mutated creatures far from the field with irresistible force. The surviving warriors seized the opportunity, gathering instinctively and supporting one another as they retreated from the heart of the battlefield.

The colossal monster, mountain-sized, spat bubbles and flailed its limbs as it charged at Liu Cong. The water bubble, towering even higher than its body, grew thicker and more dazzling with rainbow light.

Liu Cong willed his energy, sending more pale blue streams from his body. These currents surged toward the giant seahorse, swiftly wrapping it in a powerful force that pressed against the bubble.

The enormous bubble, enveloped by the blue energy, was compressed tightly against the seahorse’s body, as if cloaking it in a blue mantle. The giant seahorse stomped the ground, straining to expand the bubble, which swelled with the blue energy, growing larger.

Liu Cong pressed on, channeling every ounce of strength to compress the bubble further, testing the limits of his enhanced control over air and energy.

At last, the bubble reached its breaking point, unable to withstand the dual compression of the blue energy and the seahorse’s own force. With a thunderous “bang,” it burst, sending thousands of splashes in all directions, like torrents of rain pouring onto the battlefield.

The bubble had been formed by compressed water!

“Take cover!”

The surrounding warriors scrambled for shelter. Where the water struck the ground, it sizzled, corroding the earth into cratered pits. None dared touch a single drop.

Despite their quick reactions, many couldn’t find cover in time. The unlucky ones were splashed, and after cries of agony, lay motionless on the ground—their wounds reduced to pools of pus.

With the bubble shattered, the giant seahorse was exposed to the air. Liu Cong attempted once more to crush it with a surge of air, but the seahorse’s black scales glowed with dark light, rendering the pale blue energy useless.

The monster stretched its maw wide, launching a jet-black energy sphere from its mouth.

The air barrier was powerless against it! Liu Cong instantly realized this, dodging aside as the sphere grazed past him, striking the ground. There was no explosion, no flames; it simply annihilated everything it touched, even pulverizing the hardest stone to dust.

Let’s try this move, Liu Cong thought with a slight smile.

He channeled energy through his arm into the blade, which flared brilliantly as black and white light twined together. Liu Cong swung his sword toward the giant seahorse, unleashing a crescent-shaped wave of black and white sword energy.

The sword energy sped forth, seemingly piercing space itself, and struck the armored shell heavily. The black glow resisted only a moment before dissipating, revealing a five-meter-long wound where black-red flesh was exposed.

Seeing his attack succeed, Liu Cong felt a surge of excitement. This was his latest discovery in harnessing energy—a sword energy attack that allowed him to strike from afar, no longer needing to risk close combat.

------

At the highest command post of the G15 defense line, Zhang Chu and Liu Qingqing stood side by side, witnessing the battle between man and beast.

“He’s grown stronger!” Zhang Chu remarked.

During their first encounter, the situation had been tense, both focused on the aerial battle, and as strangers, they hadn’t spoken. Zhang Chu’s words marked their first exchange.

“I always knew Brother Liu was strong, but this is the first time I’ve seen him fight. It’s astonishing,” Liu Qingqing said, her eyes blazing as she watched the figure in the sky. “Brother Liu will win, I’m sure of it.”

Zhang Chu smiled slightly. Liu Cong’s presence restored the calm and composure expected of an officer. He said, “He is humanity’s hope, bearing the duty of protecting mankind. He must win—he cannot afford to lose.”

Hearing this, Liu Qingqing frowned. “A single person’s strength is always limited. Each of us should strive; we can’t rely on Brother Liu alone for protection! You put too much pressure on him. No wonder he says he’s an outsider and asks me to accompany him in training.”

Zhang Chu seemed not to notice the displeasure in her tone, surprised: “You train with him? You can cultivate too?”

Liu Qingqing’s face showed her annoyance, and she ignored him.

----

A five-meter wound was terrifying—taller than three people stacked together—but for a giant seahorse roughly one hundred and fifty meters tall, it was just a minor injury.

Painful, but not fatal.

The seahorse’s shell darkened, its form fading into a shadowy mass, almost indistinct. From the spot where its mouth had been, several dark energy spheres fired in rapid succession at Liu Cong.

Though they appeared random, in truth, every possible escape route was blocked. Unable to dodge, Liu Cong had no choice but to meet the attack head-on. Blue light surged around him, forming a layered shield of air compressed until it was nearly tangible.

Only two of the scattered spheres struck the blue shield. Two different energies collided silently—the spheres exploded, unleashing a force that instantly shattered the blue shield. The energies canceled each other out, but the residual shockwave sent Liu Cong hurtling far away.