Chapter 15 – The Future Did Indeed Have Variables

The “Queen Ant” clearly followed a different behavioral pattern from the average Xenospecies. Although these Black Threads were absorbing these people, they weren’t transforming them.

However, Su Lifeng didn’t assume it was harmless because of that. In fact, as he observed the Black Threads, he felt a constant sense of palpitations that went beyond mere fear.

This strange reaction immediately made Su Lifeng think of the Xenospecies he had absorbed… Was it because of that that he felt this connection with the “Queen Ant”?

He hadn’t felt this way when facing other Xenospecies before. This gave Su Lifeng a faint inkling that the “Queen Ant” wasn’t just breeding these creatures; it was more likely the true mastermind behind this entire swarm. Without eliminating it, they would never be able to return to Earth.

“Wait here,” Su Lifeng said, turning to Jiang Yushi. As long as no Xenospecies entered for the time being, this spot was safe. Even if one did appear, Jiang Yushi was guarding the passage and would have enough time to hold out until he returned.

In truth, Su Lifeng had no certainty at all about whether he would actually make it back.

This time, Jiang Yushi didn’t argue. She simply gave a firm nod and said, “I’ll wait for you here.”

She didn’t give him any advice or warnings; she just said she would wait. That alone was enough to show her absolute trust in him.

“Yeah!” Su Lifeng didn’t say much either, but he made a silent vow in his heart. He had to stay alive!

As he slowly approached the Black Threads, Su Lifeng couldn’t help but tighten his grip on the chair leg. Even when he had just charged through the Gelatinous Substance with Jiang Yushi, he hadn’t been this nervous. The strange reaction grew stronger and stronger as he drew closer.

Su Lifeng suddenly swung the chair leg, snapping all the Black Threads connected to the tourists. Since he was going to take action anyway, he couldn’t let it continue its absorption.

As soon as the threads snapped, the sense of oppression in Su Lifeng’s heart lightened considerably. However, when he looked down, he saw that these people died the moment they were freed. Their bodies were like husks that had been more than half emptied, shriveling up rapidly.

The girl’s subconscious cries of “save me” vanished instantly. Her eyes glazed over as she stared ahead, the corners of her mouth curling slightly. It was as if, in her final moments, she had seen a hallucination of herself escaping this nightmare.

Su Lifeng’s heart tightened. He was about to reach out to close her eyes when he noticed that the severed Black Threads were actually still “alive.”

They twitched as if in pain, then quickly retracted along the walls.

“It’s up ahead!” Su Lifeng had already suspected that these threads were likely just a part of the “Queen Ant,” and he immediately gave chase without hesitation.

Along the way, he saw more corpses, including Ma Chonghao.

Su Lifeng didn’t have much of an impression of Ma Chonghao, but seeing him now-covered in Black Threads and nearly sucked dry-made his scalp tingle. He reflexively snapped the threads on Ma Chonghao’s body, though it was already useless.

Another familiar face was among them: the tourist who had just been dragged inside.

Su Lifeng understood now. This group of humans was specifically meant to be absorbed by the “Queen Ant.” This place wasn’t so much a Nest as it was the “Queen Ant’s” kitchen. When the Xenospecies went out, they didn’t just absorb humans themselves; they also brought prey back for the “Queen Ant.” After studying humans, they had released some of the tourists back onto the shore likely with this very intention. Su Lifeng didn’t believe for a second that those two Xenospecies Octopuses couldn’t have wiped out all the survivors. Even without the octopuses, as long as the Xenospecies on the ship jumped into the sea, those people wouldn’t have survived anyway.

“But these Xenospecies underestimated humanity. They didn’t expect someone to sneak into their rear base,” Su Lifeng thought fiercely, trying to bolster his own courage.

As the number of humans he saw decreased, Su Lifeng knew he was getting closer to the “Queen Ant.”

The surrounding area was filled with Black Mist; he didn’t know when it might suddenly pounce.

Just then, Su Lifeng heard a faint sound behind him, and a Shadowy Figure suddenly lunged. He turned almost instinctively, swinging the chair leg down with all his might.

The Shadowy Figure didn’t even try to dodge. It suddenly revealed a disgusting, terrifying maw and bit down on the chair leg.

Su Lifeng nearly lost his grip. He felt a powerful suction coming from the creature’s mouth, but just as he was about to lose the chair leg, his strength surged back.

He gave the chair leg a violent twist. With a sharp crack, the remaining half of the chair leg returned to his hand, while the other half remained snapped off inside the creature’s mouth.

Su Lifeng wasn’t one to hesitate. He immediately raised the jagged half of the chair leg, preparing to stab the opponent without pause.

To his surprise, the figure spat out the broken piece of wood and spoke in a human voice: “Stop!”

If the voice hadn’t been so familiar, Su Lifeng would have definitely stabbed down. But the sound gave him a sense of recognition. Looking closer, the figure was wearing a mismatched set of clothes and a pair of glasses with one lens broken. Wasn’t this Zhang Hai? But that mouth… that was no human mouth! Moreover, when the chair leg had snapped earlier, it had sliced through some of the flesh around that mouth, but the exposed part wasn’t normal flesh at all.

Su Lifeng was both shocked and suspicious, momentarily at a loss for words.

At the same time, a thought occurred to him… Could the Shadowy Figure he saw killing him in his Precognitive Vision be this man?

It was highly likely. Zhang Hai’s actions when he first appeared were clearly an attempt at a sneak attack.

At this thought, Su Lifeng’s heart leaped. He demanded sharply, “What did you do to Jiang Yushi!”

“Nothing much. She just fainted from the sight of me.” Zhang Hai’s mouth returned to its original shape. He smiled and sized Su Lifeng up, saying with a hint of disappointment, “I thought for sure you’d be like me, having stepped into a higher level of existence. That’s why I wanted to test you. I didn’t expect you to be just an ordinary person.”

Hearing that Jiang Yushi was safe, Su Lifeng breathed a sigh of relief, but his anger didn’t subside. Zhang Hai spoke lightly, but the fact that he would “test” him this way meant he certainly wouldn’t have spared Jiang Yushi. He simply hadn’t followed through yet.

As for a higher level of existence…

“What kind of crazy talk is…” Su Lifeng stopped halfway through his sentence as he suddenly remembered the Xenospecies he had absorbed. If not for them, he definitely wouldn’t have made it this far, and he certainly wouldn’t have been able to keep hold of his weapon during the clash just now, let alone wound Zhang Hai.

Zhang Hai’s mouth turning into that state was undoubtedly related to the Xenospecies as well.

However, recalling that hideous appearance, Su Lifeng felt a sense of relief instead. He had previously wondered if the Xenospecies would cause changes in his own body, but now he didn’t even dare to think about it. Yet, deep down, he knew that even if he hadn’t grown a Sucker like Zhang Hai, the situation inside his body was definitely no longer that of an ordinary person…

“Hahaha, Su Lifeng, oh Su Lifeng. I didn’t expect there to be something even you didn’t know.” Seeing Su Lifeng stunned, Zhang Hai assumed he was speechless and burst into laughter. “I told you long ago, people like you are just temporary show-offs. People like me, who bury our heads in research, are the ones who will become true biology experts in the future. Right now, I am a precious research subject myself. Once I return, I will obtain incredible results from my own body. That’s something you’ll never be able to compete with.”

Su Lifeng listened, dumbfounded. He hadn’t expected Zhang Hai to turn himself into this for such a reason…

Whether it was pathetic or tragic no longer mattered to Su Lifeng, because Zhang Hai’s next words reignited his fury: “You know the way out, don’t you? Then hurry up and lead me out. I might consider not attacking you. But don’t bring the others… You really are a hypocrite, pretending to care about everyone else’s lives when you don’t. The only one you actually want to help is Jiang Yushi, right?”

“Shut up.” Su Lifeng’s expression suddenly shifted as he interrupted him.

Zhang Hai’s face remained smug. After realizing the difference between them, he completely looked down on Su Lifeng. “Hahaha! Do you think we’re still on the Cruise Ship? You think I’ll shut up just because you tell me to?”

However, he soon noticed something was wrong with Su Lifeng’s gaze. Su Lifeng was slowly tightening his grip on the chair leg, looking at him as if he were already a dead man.

Zhang Hai’s heart skipped a beat. He suddenly felt a strange, terrifying sensation crawling up his spine from behind.

Without a second thought, he immediately lunged toward Su Lifeng.

He needed a shield!

To Zhang Hai’s surprise, despite his incredible speed, Su Lifeng reacted instantly and lunged out of the way.

“How is that possible?” Zhang Hai thought in disbelief. He knew Su Lifeng’s capabilities well. Even if he felt the man’s strength had increased slightly earlier, how could his speed be this fast?

He was the one who had gained the power of the Xenospecies…

Puchi!

Countless Black Threads pierced through Zhang Hai. Almost before that thought could fully dissipate, his eyes widened as he was sucked dry.

Su Lifeng panted heavily, not even glancing at Zhang Hai.

In the Black Mist, a massive, drooping Soft Substance was hanging upside down from the ceiling, watching him. Countless Black Threads waved from its body, creating an incredibly eerie atmosphere that triggered a subconscious sense of panic.

Su Lifeng couldn’t see its form clearly, but he already knew-this was the real Shadowy Figure that had killed him.

The future did indeed have variables. Both he and Zhang Hai were variables, so in the end, the one killed by the Shadowy Figure was Zhang Hai.

But if his reactions weren’t fast enough, he would be next!

The speed of those Black Threads was far faster than Zhang Hai’s…