Chapter 52: The Final Battle — The Source
The crumbling slope of soil finally stopped collapsing.
Before everyone’s eyes, the full form of that colossal living thing was at last revealed—
A mass of flesh, over twenty meters in diameter, squirmed and pulsed. Several thin slits split open across its surface like “mouths,” and a faint metallic sheen glimmered over its skin, resembling a hardened shell. Countless vine-like tendrils extended outward—half burrowing into the earth, half whipping through the air.
Qi He narrowed his eyes as he studied its form: it looked more like a fusion of the mutant types from points A and B.
No wonder this entire area had become a wasteland—it had devoured every “living thing” within a radius of several kilometers.
“…This is the Source?”
Le Yunyu froze, drawing in a sharp breath.
“Or rather, the Mother Body,” Yan Chuanbai said quietly, eyes lowered.
The virus had formed an infection core underground—through endlessly consuming piles of corpses and vines, it produced new mutations.
Those later infected—both zombies and plants—underwent genetic fusion and even gained a form of “consciousness.”
And this “Mother Body” was the highest stage of that evolution.
Below them, the massive source creature stirred, drawn by Yan Chuanbai’s ultra–4S-level spiritual energy laced with deadly toxin. Its enormous body shuddered, countless mouths gaping open. The flesh writhed, revealing the soil beneath…
Shu Ling’s sharp eyes caught something. “Is that… groundwater?”
Beneath its root system, clear underground streams trickled by.
Qi He glanced at the flow, then turned his gaze toward the distant upper riverbed. “There’s also a river.”
The torrent rushed from north to south in a continuous surge.
He recalled the shared feature among the “outbreak points” he and Yan Chuanbai had analyzed earlier: watersheds.
The waste treatment plant located upstream had shown the highest transmissibility, but since “waste treatment” was the final step of the water chain, it couldn’t be confirmed as the first point of origin.
But now, it was clear—
“To be precise,” Qi He said, turning to look at the group intently, “it’s the entire water cycle.”
It began with the underground streams—then spread to water vapor, surface runoff—until the entire water cycle system became contaminated.
A memory suddenly flashed through Qi He’s mind: before that torrential downpour when they first arrived, Meng Yan had said—
“In the apocalypse, rain is a kind of signal.”
Everything had been pointing to this all along.
Xi Moqing understood now. One hand resting on the gun at his waist, he said coldly, “So the initial transmission route wasn’t through humans—it was through water.”
Qi He nodded, about to respond—
When suddenly, the helicopter lurched violently to the side!
The Source, enraged by the “nutrients” it could not reach, lashed out with thick, whip-like vines that struck toward the aircraft. Gong Lianyu reacted instantly, dodging at a sharp, almost impossible angle.
“Holy—!”
Qi He grabbed the support bar in an instant and pulled the helicopter sharply upward, the force of gravity slamming down in the same moment!
The vines were forced back; a guttural, screeching roar echoed from below—
“Ssshh…chhhhk…”
The helicopter climbed again to a safe altitude.
Qi He lowered his hand, still feeling the force of that impact. He had suspected as much before—but now, he could state it with certainty:
“Get ready. It’s at least 5S-level.”
Everyone inside the helicopter drew in a sharp breath.
Then Le Yunyu steadied his gaze and looked at their commander. “So what do we do now?”
“So what if it’s 5S?”
Qi He’s calm voice carried a quiet, grounding power. He looked down, without a trace of hesitation.
“We’re not letting it live.”
—
The Source went completely berserk, letting out a deafening roar.
Above, inside the helicopter—
Everyone had already geared up, waiting for orders. Qi He first turned to the support unit:
“Shu Ling, full amplification as before. Guan Shang, you’re in charge of security inside the helicopter—if you sense anything, report immediately. But don’t overextend yourself.”
Guan Shangchun nodded seriously. “Yes, sir.”
As for the rest of the combat unit—
Qi He swept his gaze over them one by one when the system suddenly popped up:
[Why not just use the same team strategy from last time? Wouldn’t that work?]
“The situation’s different. We can’t use something that standard.”
[?]
Standard? Since when was last time standard?
Zhuge Dun seemed to have the same thought.
He raised his arms eagerly. “Then what do you want to give me this time? Ice spikes? Spiral blades?”
“This time, close combat isn’t in our favor. You have another task.”
“…What?”
Qi He didn’t explain. He turned, facing downward into the howling wind.
The gale swept across his face as the plan in his mind clicked perfectly into place. His commands came crisp and fast:
“Yan Chuanbai, ice-type ability—cover the ground.”
“Gong Lianyu, copy my ability and stay fully linked with the shield.”
“Zhuge Dun, full-body physical mutation—activate.”
Gong Lianyu, Zhuge Dun: “?”
“From here on, trust your teammates completely.”
With that, Qi He led the way, leaping out first—
“Engage!”
…
Bang, bang, bang!
Several figures landed solidly on the ground.
The instant they touched down, a wave of bitter cold spread outward—thick ice sealed the entire area, cutting off the mutated vines that surged up from below.
Yan Chuanbai swung his long arm, a thin frost snapping from his leather glove.
Qi He looked up, seizing control of the incoming giant vine.
Frost spread across it in an instant—then a blaze of fire ignited deftly on its surface. He clenched his fist, and the vine exploded with a deafening boom!
But the next moment, everyone froze for a split second.
Because beneath the ruptured surface, what showed wasn’t a plant’s root at all—
Clusters of fleshy growths writhed like living tissue, quickly knitting back together.
The vine that had just been blown apart regenerated in the blink of an eye.
Bang!—a gunshot rang out, the bullet fired without hesitation.
Beneath the brim of his military cap, Xi Moqing’s expression was cold and sharp as he aimed at the central mass of flesh and fired.
Clang! Sparks burst as the bullet ricocheted off. The hardened shell covering the fleshy tumor didn’t even bear a single scorch mark.
Boom—! The monstrous mass lunged downward, crushing everything in its path!
A powerful force yanked everyone out of the impact zone in an instant.
When they regained their footing, the spot where they had just stood was already engulfed and swallowed whole. Qi He stood at the front, one hand pressing down with immense mental power, holding the gigantic Source back.
The first probing exchange—over.
The 5S-level Source was utterly indestructible.
[Why don’t you use that one?]
The smartwatch on his wrist flashed faintly:
[The one that made me disappear—and come back again.]
“Weak force?”
Qi He’s brow arched slightly, then he shook his head. “Molecules are always in motion. Whether it’s strong or weak force, any microscopic change brings uncontrollable effects in every single instant—especially at the Source of mutation.”
[…Then how are we supposed to fight it?]
Qi He’s gaze fixed on the seamless metallic shell ahead. “Metal-type ability—double-layer protection for the shield. Zhuge Dun, get ready. You’ll be the bait.”
Zhuge Dun blinked, then understood.
Around them, the main assault team was already poised for round two.
Qi He’s eyes were razor-sharp, his energy building. “Gong Lianyu—your only job is to control the shield and make that thing open its ‘mouth’. Everyone else, strike with everything you’ve got once it does!”
Gong Lianyu took a sharp breath, looking over at Zhuge Dun.
Metallic energy had already spread across Zhuge Dun’s entire body with a sweeping shimmer.
He locked eyes on the massive creature ahead and shouted back at Gong Lianyu, “Trust your teammates completely—come on!”
…
A “metal sphere” darted and streaked around the Source’s massive body.
Across the hardened, fleshy surface, several mouths began to split open, one after another—snapping and lunging as if trying to catch prey.
Around them, the assault team’s attacks poured into those open slits.
BOOM!!!
A deafening explosion erupted from deep within the Source’s body.
It was a strategy that sounded both reckless and dangerously bold—yet no one objected.
Because everyone knew: it wasn’t just Gong Lianyu—each one of them would protect their teammates with everything they had.
All the more so because—
“Shifting toward three o’clock; gap at ten o’clock, three meters up; top breach blown open—regeneration in two seconds; vine loss ten percent—regeneration in ten seconds…”
Guan Shangchun’s voice came steadily through their earpieces, broadcasting every update.
The Source’s attention had been completely drawn by their coordinated assault; it no longer noticed Guan Shangchun’s sensory probing. He reactivated his ability, reading every fluctuation on the battlefield.
All firepower rained down on the creature’s weak points!
Forty minutes later, Zhuge Dun was yanked backward—
Gong Lianyu shouted, “I’m clocking out!”
“…” The whole team fell silent for half a beat.
“Shield Gong Lianyu and pull back from the combat zone,” Qi He ordered sharply, eyes sweeping the battlefield as he adjusted their tactics on the fly. Zhuge Dun retreated beyond the front line, shielding Gong Lianyu behind him and yelling,
“Then what if it doesn’t open its mouth—”
The words cut off abruptly.
A white silhouette shot forward at that exact instant.
Facing the massive, writhing mass of flesh, Qi He’s coat flared behind him, his gaze locked unwaveringly ahead. “Yang Cheng—net it!”
A web of crisscrossing vines streaked through the air, wrapping the entire Source in a dense tangle.
Everyone’s hearts clenched. Beneath that violent, surging motion, Qi He stepped directly onto the vines—and in that instant, the Source opened its mouth wide!
The vine net snapped apart as Qi He launched himself upward.
He was racing against the speed of consumption itself—the ground beneath his feet caved and corroded in seconds, yet his expression didn’t waver as he gave a single, clear command:
“All units—attack!”
Without a breath of hesitation, a wave of ice energy shot past his ankle and drove straight into the core of the flesh.
Fire followed right after.
A blinding blaze erupted—roaring along Qi He’s path, igniting everything in his wake.
…
The sun was slowly sinking.
A disk of crimson gold was swallowed by the silent horizon.
In an instant, darkness fell over the land. Qi He leapt back ten meters, narrowly dodging a lashing vine. A bead of sweat slid down his temple as he came to a hard stop on the open ground and looked ahead.
Under the shroud of night, the massive Source looked even more like a mountainous beast.
The battle had been raging for five hours.
They had grown accustomed to the Source’s attack patterns—but at the same time, the Source was beginning to learn their tactics as well.
After all, its weakness lay only “within.”
Qi He paused for a heartbeat—then surged forward again.
“Eighth wave, go!”
Whsshh! The wood-type ability snared the Source; vines froze solid under ice, then were seared by fire. A metallic spear shot in at the moment of distraction, piercing into the core. Gravity! Heat! Magnetism—
An array of dazzling abilities rained down in perfect sequence.
A shriek unlike anything they’d ever heard ripped through the dead land.
Then, Qi He’s movements faltered for just an instant.
A delay of 0.2 seconds—and the mutated flesh suddenly surged upward, about to swallow him whole!
A thin vine shot out and wrapped tightly around his waist, yanking him backward with brutal force—
Bang! His shoulder slammed into Yan Chuanbai’s chest.
For a fleeting moment, he could feel the other’s pounding heartbeat—then they quickly separated again.
Qi He glanced sideways at Yan Chuanbai.
Under the night, his profile was calm and composed; the hand that had steadied Qi He’s waist released naturally. After only a second, Yan Chuanbai looked away.
“Shu Ling’s amplification is weakening,” he said evenly.
She was supporting seven combat units simultaneously—she was reaching her limit.
A faint voice crackled through the earpiece:
“…Sorry.”
“You’ve held out for a long time already,” Qi He replied.
[Five seconds left.] the system suddenly counted.
Qi He turned toward Gong Lianyu, who was catching his breath behind Zhuge Dun.
“Gong Lianyu—copy Shu Ling’s ability.”
Five seconds passed.
Gong Lianyu straightened, revived. “Got it.”
He snapped his fingers—pa!—“Want me to top you guys up?”
“No.” Qi He looked toward the source that was reforming, his tone calm as he gave the order. “Give Shu Ling a full amplification.”
Gong Lianyu froze for two seconds. When he realized what Qi He meant, he suddenly laughed. “Ha…”
As the son of a general, the look in his eyes was one of open, unreserved submission. “Qi He.”
His ability activated—he went all out, channeling power into Shu Ling.
—
Another three hours passed.
Compared to the beginning, everyone’s mental energy had been heavily drained; their movements were subtly, almost imperceptibly slowing down.
Yet the 5S-level source showed no sign of weakening.
While darting through the field, Qi He asked, “Guan Shang, how much has the source lost?”
For a few moments, there was only silence in his earpiece. Then came a strained answer: “…Less than ten percent.”
Everyone’s hearts sank at once.
They’d been fighting for over eight hours, and the source had lost less than ten percent of its strength. Even if they ignored their own exhaustion, that meant they’d need to fight for eighty hours—more than three full days.
Their spiritual energy would never last that long.
But if they withdrew halfway, the source’s regeneration rate would restore it within a day.
Qi He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
They couldn’t keep burning themselves out like this.
He suddenly stopped and faced the source head-on.
The others noticed his movement and faltered; even the source itself hesitated for a beat.
In the next instant, Qi He raised both hands, his spiritual energy surging violently—drawn up to its absolute peak—
Boom… boom… BOOOOM…
Before the disbelieving eyes of both the source and his teammates, Qi He ripped the source out from the ground by its roots.
He hurled it high into the sky—then slammed it back down. Boom!!!
He did this over and over, a dozen times in a row. Zhuge Dun was completely stunned; he couldn’t hold back anymore.
“Stop—stop it! That’s not going to kill it!”
“I know.”
Fire burned in Qi He’s eyes, yet his voice remained steady. On the final throw, he smashed the source deep into the crater. Amid the swirling dust and debris, he looked toward the slowly “rising” source and said:
“But it’ll make things go faster.”
“……”
It was as if this was the first time the source had ever been so furious—when it “stood” up, every single one of its mouths gaped open!
With an ear-splitting roar, it charged straight toward Qi He—
A gleaming metal blade appeared in Qi He’s palm, its surface coated in white frost.
His bright, fierce gaze locked on the enemy ahead.
The difference between tiers was enormous. He had to speed things up.
Or—he had to ascend to 5S-rank.
————————————————————
Author’s note:
Source (taking off in a rage): I’m so mad—so mad—I’m gonna kill you kill you kill you!!!
System: Getting mad because of him is… perfectly understandable.
