Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Perfect Life Form

"Organization?" Wood was puzzled. The kindly man explained, "The world is in chaos now. Only those with abilities can protect ordinary people. That’s why some survivors with abilities have formed an organization, welcoming others like them to join. Even strong, capable men are allowed to enter."

"Oh! So you’re a member of this organization. What’s your name? Are you one of the gifted?" Wood asked.

"Call me Maple," the man replied. "Do you think those with real abilities would be guarding the door? Are you two gifted as well? But when you meet Boss Qiang, it’s best to keep a low profile. He’s an enhanced ability user, and his temper is explosive."

Wood nodded silently and followed Maple to the basement door, where heavy breathing and moans echoed from inside. Maple grinned awkwardly, "Before you arrived, a woman came to trade food. Unfortunately for her, Boss Qiang is an enhanced ability user—and his prowess extends to other areas."

Wood pulled Maple back just as he was about to enter, and said to Mu Siyu, "Listen! That voice sounds familiar!"

Mu Siyu listened for a while, uncertainty in her tone. "It can’t be her, can it? She’s so powerful—how could this happen?"

Maple was curious. "What’s wrong?"

Wood smiled faintly. "It’s nothing. Perhaps we’re overthinking." He followed Maple as the basement door swung open.

"Boss Qiang, you’re incredible! It’s been an hour now—truly a role model for all of us!" The basement was thick with smoke and noise; several burly men sat around, smoking and drinking.

"Hahaha..." With the man’s triumphant laughter, the woman beneath him moaned, stirring up the men’s excitement.

"Shh... Gorgeous, come over here. Tell me what you want—your big brother will get it for you!"

"He’s bragging. Sweetheart, spend a night with me and I’ll give you two meals—just this once!"

As Maple entered with the two newcomers, one of them a stunning beauty, the men shouted, their blood surging with excitement. Even Boss Qiang, mid-act, was startled and barked, "What’s all the fuss? When I’m done, you’ll all get your turn. Wait your damn turn!"

Maple hurried to explain, "Brothers, don’t misunderstand! These two are gifted like us—they’re here to talk business with the boss!"

At once, everyone fell silent. Offending a gifted was no joke; beauty was tempting, but life was more precious. Hearing Maple’s words, Boss Qiang roared and abruptly finished his act.

"Looking to join us?" Boss Qiang left the woman sprawled on the floor and strode over. "Tell me—what can you do?"

But Wood and Mu Siyu stared at the woman on the platform and cried out together, "It’s you!"

"Oh! My little darlings, you found me at last, hehe!" She wrapped herself in a torn white dress, her tongue teasing her lips. "Ah, enhanced ability users are so delicious. Little darlings, you’re late—the gene from this gifted man will help me evolve!" She laughed wickedly.

The men were baffled by her strange words and sensed something was wrong. Boss Qiang also paused, realizing the woman who’d just pleased him might not be so simple—perhaps even the cause of the disaster.

"You... you absorb the genes of gifted people for evolution like this?" Mu Siyu asked anxiously. "Are you still Xuezhu? Do you remember who you once were?" She understood now—the woman wasn’t here for food, but for evolution.

"Hehe, I am who I am!" The witch stood on the wooden platform. "Is that your man? Not bad. I was going to play with you both and collect his genes, but you saw through me too quickly—so boring!" She looked genuinely disappointed.

"What’s your goal? Did you spread the virus?" Wood stepped forward.

"Hehe, that’s right. As for my purpose—it’s simple. By spreading this virus, I can sift through humanity’s genetic pool for those worth evolving. Then, I mate with them one by one, absorbing their genes to become the perfect being—the most flawless life form in this world. Isn’t it wonderful?" The witch smiled triumphantly. "Little darlings, you’re all my food. Don’t run! You should feel honored to become part of my perfection, hehe!"

"Who exactly are you?" Boss Qiang demanded, his voice fierce. Hearing Wood’s exchange with the witch, he realized this flattering woman was far from ordinary—perhaps the very instigator of the catastrophe.

"Who am I... hehe, I don’t even know!" With that, the woman’s form blurred. Wood shouted, "Watch out!"

She floated like a specter to Boss Qiang, her hands reaching for his head. Poor Boss Qiang, exhausted from his recent "battle," couldn’t evade her despite Wood’s warning. With a snap, the witch easily broke his neck, and he collapsed lifeless.

Maple reacted instantly. "Shoot!"

Immediately, several men grabbed their submachine guns and fired at the witch. Bullets poured forth, and everyone expected her to be riddled with holes—even Wood and Mu Siyu thought she couldn’t escape unharmed. But the woman hovered in midair, arms outstretched, and stopped every bullet in midflight, stunning everyone.

Maple cried, "Telekinesis! Run!"

But his warning came too late. The witch flicked her hands, sending the bullets back along their original paths, turning the shooters into Swiss cheese. Seeing the danger, Wood unleashed a "Particle Wave," but the witch blocked it with one hand, merely pushed back a few steps. Wood was shocked—last time, his attack had forced her to cower, but now, his strengthened attack couldn’t harm her at all.

The witch laughed, "Don’t be afraid, little darling. I haven’t claimed your genes yet—I won’t hurt you." She began to move, but suddenly, a bolt of lightning appeared out of nowhere. She dodged, and the thunder crashed to the ground, its force impressive.

Next, the wooden platform at the center of the basement flew up and smashed toward Xuezhu.

"Electrokinesis and telekinesis! Boss Lei and Brother Tiger are here," Maple exclaimed. Wood glanced back and saw two burly, middle-aged men at the door. One sent bolts of lightning chasing Xuezhu, while the other, eyes half closed and hands gesturing, hurled heavy objects at the witch.

With these powerful allies, Wood drew a high-energy oscillating blade from his spatial bracelet and activated "Quick Flash," slashing furiously at Xuezhu. These three were formidable—individually, none could defeat the witch, but together, they forced her into a desperate, frantic retreat.

Driven to rage by their assault, the witch let out a screech. Her hair transformed into thick, whip-like vines, lashing wildly at the group. Wood threw his last "Meteor Shower" scroll. It worked—this advanced magic skill countered the witch’s black tendrils; as meteor rain fell, the vines curled up and even Xuezhu herself screamed in pain. Seizing the moment, Wood shouted, "Hold her still!"

The telekinetic ability user understood, aiming at Xuezhu, and the witch’s body froze. Wood flashed to her side and sliced her in half with the oscillating blade.

Everyone finally breathed out in relief, only for Mu Siyu to shout, "Destroy her body!" Wood recalled that this witch could resurrect, and quickly fired a "Particle Wave," obliterating the upper half before it hit the floor.

But suddenly, the witch’s lower half began to mutate. Dozens of thick tentacles sprouted from her severed waist. At that moment, Wood’s planar system, Little Dingdang, sounded the alarm: "Beep... Viral mutant detected... Viral mutant detected... Danger..."

As Little Dingdang spoke, everyone hesitated. The tentacles suddenly lashed out with a shriek. Wood felt a deep unease settle in his heart—he realized this was the ultimate trial of the planar test.

Facing those tentacles as thick as arms, Wood felt powerless to resist. He called the others together and threw up a magic shield.

Yet the shield was as fragile as an eggshell against the tentacles. With a single strike, the group was sent flying. The remaining men in the room, including Maple, were caught in the monster’s furious attack, slammed into the wall, blood spraying from their mouths—they wouldn’t survive.

Wood panicked. Seeing the ferocity of the monster, he knew they were no match. He threw out the remaining "Lightning Flash" and "Frost Storm" scrolls in desperation, grabbed Mu Siyu, and fled the basement. The other two, quick on their feet, saw the scrolls temporarily block the monster and escaped as well.

But the monster was truly savage. The two advanced magic scrolls barely slowed it; tentacles whipped through the basement, chasing after them...