Chapter 111: Qin Hu's Return, Confrontation, and Execution of the Traitor
With the frontline battles temporarily paused, Lin Feng returned to the upgrading vehicle. After briefing Chen Yanyan, he took the lv20 Armor-Piercing Cannon and swiftly slipped away from the temporary camp, avoiding patrolling guards.
Once he left, the replicas held by the others would become ineffective.
During this time, only the Flying Wing Vehicle, operated by Chen Yanyan, would retain the heavy firepower of its three machine guns.
Thus, the camp's safety would rely entirely on her.
To expedite his journey, Lin Feng activated the full armor mode of the Flying Tiger Armor. The membrane wings on his back spread out instantly, propelling him forward.
He flew ten kilometers northward towards the third line of defense.
This was also the last defensive line in the Wu City battle.
The headquarters of the Thirteenth Division.
Last night's devastating defeat not only led to the loss of the first line of defense, surrendering half of Wu City five kilometers deep, but also resulted in the loss of over ten thousand elite troops.
Even if they had been withdrawn in advance to rely on the city's buildings for urban warfare, they wouldn't have been wiped out by the Black Spinal Bug swarm at the city walls.
Although this mistake was made to coordinate the "decapitation operation," the Federation wouldn't acknowledge it, nor would the higher-ups take responsibility.
Ultimately, the blame would likely fall on several frontline commanders of the Thirteenth Division, and Cheng Zhan, who was behind the scenes, would be subjected to scrutiny and questioning.
If his identity were exposed, or if he chose to flee before being apprehended...
It would be much harder for Lin Feng to seek revenge.
As Lin Feng flew rapidly towards the headquarters...
A tense standoff was quietly unfolding in the somber military camp.
The reason was that four days ago, Qin Hu, who had signed up for the modification plan at the field hospital, had successfully returned.
The bio-modification experiment had gone exceptionally well, especially given Qin Hu's foundation as a Tier 2 awakener, which greatly enhanced his affinity with insect genes while suppressing the risk of rejection.
When he awoke from the operating table, his lost left leg had been restored, though it was now covered in a tough shell akin to insect armor, displaying the black and yellow hues of a Tiger Bug.
Internally, it was no longer structured like a human leg, with bones and muscles. Instead, it featured numerous slender, rope-like muscles bundled together.
Similar to a hydraulic-powered mechanical arm.
After extensive physical testing, staff reported:
After initial fusion, Qin Hu's left leg had the strength of a Tier 2 Tiger Bug limb, possessing twelve tons of force and an extreme whip kick impact exceeding fifteen tons.
It could easily kick through a half-meter thick wooden stake or a ten-centimeter solid steel pillar.
Qin Hu himself had integrated 10% of the Tiger Bug gene, with his current stats nearly matching those of a Tier 2 Tiger Bug, compensating for the attribute growth deficit due to his missing leg when he became a Tier 2 awakener.
Additionally, a bright yellow hexagonal implant was embedded in his lower back, connected to his spine, and linked to his nervous and circulatory systems.
This hexagonal implant, termed a "Colony," stored the complete genetic liquid of a specific insect species, which could be absorbed into the body via infusion tubes.
Currently, Qin Hu could withstand a fusion degree of up to 30%, which alone could elevate his strength to the peak of early Tier 2.
Equivalent to an lv23 Tiger Bug, his base physical attributes would exceed 300, and with his physique enhancement ability, he could gain another 50%, reaching mid-Tier 2 strength!
With such powerful physical attributes, Qin Hu's strength surpassed 20 tons, and upon activating his ability, reached around 30 tons, enabling him to lift a large truck or punch through a main battle tank.
His speed also achieved unprecedented levels.
His running speed exceeded 100 meters per second, equivalent to over 360 kilometers per hour, allowing him to cover a kilometer in ten seconds, surpassing most land vehicles.
Additionally, the resilience and defense of the human body, typically its weakest points, became comparable to steel under the influence of Tiger Bug genes. The hardened, blackened skin alone could withstand rifle bullets.
Faced with such formidable data, human-made infantry weapons struggled to match.
For instance, the Tiger Bugs Qin Hu faced were impervious to small grenades and man-portable rocket attacks.
These powerful gene-modified soldiers required new weapons to match.
However, before that, Qin Hu, having completed primary adaptation training, was recalled to the frontline.
Due to the defeat at Wu City and the failure of the "decapitation operation," along with declining morale and the vulnerable second line of defense, a strong hero was urgently needed to bring hope.
The modification experiment, part of the decapitation plan, was once again entrusted with high expectations as conventional weapons failed...
Everyone awaited the performance of the gene warriors!
Before leaving the research institute, the responsible researchers specifically instructed Qin Hu not to exceed a fusion degree of 30% until he reached mid-Tier 2 himself; otherwise, even if he gained strength comparable to late Tier 2, over-absorbing could lead to irreversible changes.
Simply put, exceeding his limits could make Qin Hu increasingly resemble an insect rather than a human.
This transformation wasn't limited to appearance but also included psychological aspects, leading to a continuous deterioration of mental state and even permanent weakening of mental attributes.
Until he fell into madness and lost his reasoning.
Like the hundreds of previous test subjects who failed the initial fusion, either transforming into grotesque human-insect hybrids or enduring mental collapse, becoming worthless madmen.
Sitting in the jeep, watching the research institute recede, Qin Hu, now in military uniform, frowned.
He clearly understood the researchers were right; during data testing, he had an uncontrollable urge to wreak havoc, but with strong willpower, he suppressed it.
Thus, unless in a life-or-death crisis, over-fusing Tiger Bug genes was out of the question.
With this in mind, Qin Hu returned to Wu City.
There, he learned of last night's defeat.
And the mistaken bombardment and fall of the outpost.
The 201st Company, led by Li Ran and arranged for Lin Feng, was completely annihilated, with no survivors.
Enraged, Qin Hu directly confronted the headquarters' liaison, questioning why Li Ran at the outpost wasn't notified in time to evacuate from the missile's blast radius.
The explanation given was that the commander of the awakeners' camp, Li Ran's superior, Colonel Cheng Zhan, intercepted the evacuation order meant for transmission, preventing the message from being delivered.
Learning of this, Qin Hu then found Cheng Zhan, who was in the operations center discussing the second line of defense layout with senior commanders.
Qin Hu pushed aside the guards and kicked open the operations center door, loudly demanding:
"Cheng, you old dog, get out here!"
In the midst of listening to plans, Cheng Zhan's expression changed, his muscles tensing.
As the dust settled, everyone saw the figure at the door—it was Qin Hu, who had returned from the research institute!
His aura was overwhelmingly oppressive.
The sheer presence made everyone present feel uneasy.
Qin Hu and Cheng Zhan locked eyes.
Their gazes seemed to spark; the only two Tier 2 awakeners in the Thirteenth Division were about to clash.
Before that, Cheng Zhan caught a glimpse of displeasure and frowns on the senior officers' faces beside him. Smiling a forced, calm smile, he replied:
"Congratulations, Major Qin, on successfully completing the modification plan."
"Your aura is as fierce as ever."
"Looking..."
"Hmph! Cut the crap. Tell me! Why did you frame Li Ran and the others, and Lin Feng in the outpost!" Qin Hu interrupted, slowly approaching.
Li Ran and Lin Feng were individuals he held in high regard, especially the latter, whom he believed would become a key figure in humanity's resistance against the alien insect invasion...
Trapped by the scheming man before him!
Thinking this, Qin Hu's clenched fist, covered in a black shell, was about to land on Cheng Zhan's face.
Cheng Zhan dropped his smile, calmly responding:
"This was discussed between Li Ran and me. He wanted to stay on the front line, alongside the awakened bullet user Lin Feng, to kill a Tier 2 Tiger Bug and achieve Tier 2 awakening."
"Moreover, the target location at the time was three to four hundred meters away from the outpost, not affecting them."
"Who knew that within twenty minutes of the missile launch, those damned insects would dig beneath the outpost bunker..."
"At most, it's an accident. Do you want to put the blame on me?"
"For the death of a captain? Or Lin Feng, an outsider not even part of the Thirteenth Division?"
Finishing, Cheng Zhan looked at the senior officers nearby.
Especially the division commander, nearing sixty.
This was Qin Hu's former superior, who had nurtured him. It was this relationship that allowed Qin Hu, then a mid-Tier 1 awakener, to become the camp commander.
However, now, the one acting out of line was Qin Hu himself.
Watching the agitated and grim-faced Qin Hu,
the division commander spoke solemnly:
"Qin Hu, you're overstepping!"
"The responsible parties for this failure are already determined. The main task now is to resist the insect invasion, not internal conflict. Focus on the bigger picture..."
Qin Hu gritted his teeth, suppressing his urge to attack under his former superior's gaze, then noticed the documents on the table...
They listed the responsible parties for the defeat, with names and photos...
Including dozens of captain-level officers and two majors from his side.
All these frontline commanders, assigned blame, had perished in action!
If the blame was confirmed, it meant not only their deaths but also the loss of their posthumous compensations...
Behind every photo lay a family, parents, wives, and children who relied on this compensation to survive.
Yet the headquarters was kicking them while they were down!
This reignited the anger Qin Hu had just suppressed, tenfold.
Grabbing the list, he shouted at everyone through gritted teeth:
"Who the hell drafted this document!!"
His intense anger blackened his skin, marked with yellow-brown stripes, making him look terrifying.
Realizing something was wrong, everyone turned to Cheng Zhan.
The consequences of this defeat were severe, even affecting Cheng Zhan. To absolve himself, he submitted this explanation earlier today...
Realizing the traitor was Cheng Zhan, Qin Hu could no longer tolerate it. He tore the list to shreds and lunged at him without a second thought!
A punch as big as a sandbag struck Cheng Zhan's chest!
In an instant, the operations center wall was punched through.
A figure flew dozens of meters, crashing into another building before stopping.
However, the fallen Cheng Zhan merely wiped the blood from his mouth and stood up, looking at Qin Hu with a hint of excitement in his eyes.
He sensed a familiar scent from the tall figure emerging from the wall, confirming the parasite host's suspicion.
These reckless humans were indeed absorbing the insect gene serum, ensuring they'd never defeat the all-controlling Queen.
Not only due to genetic hierarchy suppression but also the mental energy drain, depriving them of their last chance to resist the Queen's mental control!
Though Qin Hu appeared formidable now, before the Queen's thousands of mental points, he was just a slightly stronger puppet, a toy.
Thinking this, Cheng Zhan's inner smile widened. Bringing this news back meant the Queen could confidently deploy Tier 2 insects to the front lines.
Humanity's secret gene warriors posed little threat to the Queen!
But as the parasite host confirmed the person before it carried a Tier 2 Tiger Bug aura, so did Qin Hu in activating the Colony...
He detected a peculiar scent!
At that moment, he was like an insect under human consciousness, instinctively repulsed by the humans around him...
Yet when he looked at Cheng Zhan not far away.
That strangeness turned into a strange familiarity.
This feeling, Qin Hu only encountered facing Black Spinal Bugs in the laboratory.
Which meant...
The person before him was an insect?
Realizing this, a look of horror crossed Qin Hu's face, his pupils shrinking in shock.
This disbelief soon transformed into burning rage, his fists raining on Cheng Zhan.
A few punches in, Cheng Zhan hurriedly blocked, grabbing an opportunity to use a weakened mental control, causing the gene warrior to momentarily lose focus...
Then flashed away, turning into a stream of light, speeding towards the defensive line's edge.
The parasite host realized it was exposed.
The priority now was to leave, preventing humans from finding evidence of insect parasitic spies. Though it hadn't acquired the second line's defensive layout, knowing humanity's next plan against the Queen...
Still constituted mission completion.
Escaping and delivering the gene warrior traits back would enable the Queen to deploy Tier 2 insects with confidence.
In which case, humanity's defenses would be effortlessly breached!
Moreover, the parasite host had no guarantee of victory, being merely a mental variant Tier 2 insect, a simplified progeny of the Queen...
Even possessing Cheng Zhan's body, it was equivalent to an lv20 average human awakener, incomparable to a gene warrior like Qin Hu.
At this moment, Qin Hu's power surged to mid-Tier 2. If not for the host seizing a moment of distraction, it might have died under the barrage of punches.
Seconds later, regaining focus, Qin Hu saw Cheng Zhan fleeing and gave chase.
Running, he shouted:
"He's an insect spy! Cheng Zhan carries the insect's scent!!!"
These words drew countless gazes.
Originally intending to order Qin Hu's stop, the division commander, watching Cheng Zhan fleeing, immediately instructed:
"Re-examine Cheng Zhan's report, and investigate the missing staff from the second line two days ago, within the fort Cheng Zhan garrisoned."
The surrounding senior officers wanted to speak but were cut off with a wave, he continued:
"They're both Tier 2 awakeners, their destructive power rivals a hundred-man awakener company. How do you intend to stop Qin Hu, who's lost it?"
"By sacrificing more people?"
"Now, Qin Hu represents the institute and the Federation. Let him resolve his personal conflict with Cheng Zhan."
With the division commander's decision, no one objected.
As Qin Hu pursued, he soon faced Cheng Zhan's blocking tactics.
Several Tier 1 awakeners fearlessly charged, blocking his path.
Among them were former comrades and unfamiliar newcomers.
But instinctively, Qin Hu sensed the familiar scent emanating from them, like Cheng Zhan, insect-controlled puppet traitors...
He swung his fist, moving at a hundred meters per second, leaving a trail of bodies with gaping chest wounds.
Even in Red Armor, they were as brittle as tofu before a mid-Tier 2's twenty-ton force.
Of one, Qin Hu grasped its neck, crushing its throat and spine, pulling out a wriggling arm-thick worm...
The familiar scent emanated from it.
Qin Hu crushed it,
tossing it onto the headless corpse.
With living evidence before them, others intending to intervene realized the situation had changed, retreating from the corpses.
This revelation spread, causing panic in the camp.
Due to these traitor worms, Qin Hu, though faster than Cheng Zhan, had lost considerable ground.
Both being Tier 2 awakeners, Cheng Zhan's speed, fueled by mental stimulation, reached eighty meters per second, covering a kilometer in ten seconds.
Another four kilometers and he'd break through the second line, escaping to the insect heartland.
Qin Hu realized its intention, recklessly accelerating in pursuit.
At this point, any vehicle was a hindrance.
With speeds exceeding 300 km/h, foot mobility and agility outpaced sports cars.
A kilometer gap narrowed as Qin Hu pushed harder, soon glimpsing Cheng Zhan's disappearing figure.
After thirty seconds, both appeared inside the second line!
Seeing the ten-meter-high walls ahead, with a ten-meter-wide moat, Qin Hu knew the opponent was momentarily cornered, quickening his steps.
Unexpectedly, the main fortress behind Cheng Zhan seemed forewarned, proactively opening the rear gate, allowing entry.
Qin Hu sensed danger!
The opponent had accomplices in the fortress!
Seeing the closing gate, Qin Hu accelerated, leaping ten meters from the fortress with a forceful kick...
Under Tiger Bug muscle enhancement!
He soared over twenty meters, landing atop the fortress, seeing Cheng Zhan crossing the bridge to the riverbank.
Only a kilometer separated him from the insect-held zone, and if he slipped into a burrow, he'd leak humanity's strategic intel...
And expose the gene warrior plan prematurely.
More importantly, Qin Hu's accumulated grudges and hatred surged, seeking vengeance!
Furious, Qin Hu, blinded by rage, charged the riverbank alone, heedless of insect danger or personal safety.
If surrounded by insects and beset by Tier 2 Tiger Bugs, without weapons or armor, even as a gene warrior he'd fall.
This scenario soon materialized as he caught Cheng Zhan.
In the distance, a burrow collapsed, forming a ten-meter-wide pit.
Emerging from it was a Tiger Bug squadron, three Tier 2 Tiger Bugs.
They'd come to aid the parasite host!
Cheng Zhan hid behind them, climbing a Tiger Bug's back, mocking Qin Hu:
"Major Qin, so eager to chase me, care to accompany me to the Queen's nest?"
"I'm sure Her Majesty would find you fascinating!"
"Humanity will lose, the human race will perish."
"Your state won't last, and time will bring side effects, leading to death."
"Join us, Her Majesty will find a way for you to survive."
Seeing the traitor's smug face, Qin Hu's rage boiled, blood streaming from his eyes and nose!
He lunged, but a Tiger Bug limb knocked him down.
On the brink of capture, a buzzing wingbeat sounded from afar.
Cheng Zhan and the Tiger Bugs, hearing the familiar sound, paid it no mind, believing it to be the Queen's reconnaissance Cyan Wing Bugs.
Suddenly, a massive gunshot echoed.
A flash of fire...
The Tiger Bug beneath Cheng Zhan exploded from within.
A ten-meter fireball engulfed Cheng Zhan.
The powerful shockwave shredded the frail human body, organs torn apart...
As Cheng Zhan fell, the parasite's lingering consciousness glimpsed a black-and-yellow figure hovering with a gun.
The barrel turned to the remaining Tiger Bugs.
Two more shots eliminated them...
The Tiger Bug squad was annihilated in seconds!
Lin Feng, expressionless, acknowledged the prompt:
"Successfully killed three
Tier 2 Tiger Bugs!"
"Armor-Piercing Cannon lv20/29, Orange Quality"
"Upgrade Points: 4/2, Damage 250, Effective Range 10 km, Remaining Ammo 5997/6000"
"Exited Death's Eye attribute state"
"Armor-Piercing Cannon upgrade available!"
"Note: Detected heavily injured special mental variant insect, potential to gain mental energy for attribute breakthrough upon elimination."
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