Volume 1: Chapter 93: Attack of the Infected Sarkaz

　　In an underground cave.

　　The light from the flashlight illuminated the area.

　　“…”

　　W waved his hands, dispersing the dust-like things floating in the air.

　　"I really should have brought a gas mask."

　　The Sarkaz girl thought so.

　　Every breath seems to inhale a lot of this dust.

　　But so far -

　　She didn't feel like coughing yet.

　　"First build this, then build that..."

　　The tiny figure was commanding the tiny purple creature.

　　Then the creature that Zerger called [Infected SCV] saluted.

　　The Overlord of the Swarm opened his mouth and took out a piece of biomass crystal.

　　This was the initial resource he carried with him to mutate the worker bees into a hatchery.

　　At this moment, [Infested SCV] can also use it to build Infested Buildings.

　　"Yes, Master!"

　　The little SCV pinched the biomass crystal with one hand.

　　"What does it want to do?"

　　The bored Sarkaz girl came over.

　　This place doesn't seem as dangerous as imagined.

　　The mutated Sarkaz outside were wandering around, but they didn't seem to have any intention of entering this area.

　　It's like there's something inside that makes them subconsciously resist entering.

　　"It's going to build an infected command center!"

　　Zerg said so.

　　"Um?"

　　W was stunned.

　　It sounds like a big project.

　　Can a little guy do it?

　　“Boom!”

　　Then the Sarkaz girl saw a building foundation being knocked into the ground out of thin air.

　　The metal building frame is mixed with bits of biological flesh.

　　“…”

　　W rubbed her eyes to make sure she was not seeing things.

　　There really was a large piece of biological building foundation on the ground.

　　"ah?"

　　The Sarkaz girl was as stunned as the illiterate person.

　　How is this done?

　　How did such a huge mass come out?

　　“Hiss…hiss…”

　　The sound of an electric drill was heard.

　　The small purple creature pulled out a tool box, then took out a screw and used the drill in his hand to drill into the frame of the building.

　　Then——

　　“…”

　　It drifted from one side of the building frame to the other.

　　W even saw it penetrate a metal frame.

　　"???"

　　The Sarkaz girl felt that her worldview was about to be shattered.

　　How is this done?

　　How does it pass through a solid object?

　　“Hiss…hiss…”

　　The sound of the drill continued.

　　“…”

　　Could it be some kind of Originium technique?

　　After all, Originium Techniques can explain anything.

　　The Sarkaz girl ran to the side of the small creature.

　　She reached out and touched the other person's head.

　　“Hiss…hiss…”

　　SCV is still faithfully performing its work.

　　W decided to go a step further. She reached out her hand and tried to pinch the little guy's face.

　　Then, the scene I saw earlier reappeared——

　　The SCV slowly shuttled from one side to the other, passing through two metal frames and a biological flesh object along the way.

　　“…”

　　The Sarkaz girl touched the metal frame and the biological flesh.

　　Judging from the feel, they are all real, not false projections.

　　W wants to imitate the behavior of a wave of SCVs.

　　Then——

　　“Boom!”

　　The head collided with the metal frame, making a crisp sound.

　　The Sarkaz girl covered her forehead.

　　“…”

　　It’s better not to try to understand something you don’t understand.

　　She made up her mind.

　　At this moment, the little master on the other side ran to the side of the poison-eating body after assigning the tasks.

　　"You said a creature ran in earlier and hit you a few times."

　　Zerg looked at the Venom Eater.

　　The venom eater nodded vividly.

　　"And then you released the few remaining active Zerg viruses to infect them?"

　　The Overlord tilted his head slightly.

　　The Venom Eater continued to nod.

　　"Hmm."

　　No wonder there are those infected creatures out there.

　　“Tatttatt.”

　　Soon, irregular footsteps were heard.

　　The Sarkaz girl witnessed the mutated Sarkaz walking in.

　　She subconsciously took out her knife and gun.

　　"Zerg, they're coming in!"

　　W did not forget to remind the other little figure.

　　But the little swarm master ran to the group of infected creatures.

　　The Sarkaz girl didn't even have time to stop it.

　　She witnessed the small figure reaching out and pinching the bodies of the mutated Sarkaz.

　　According to preliminary judgment, the physical strength of these infected creatures is not weak.

　　However, because the activity of the toxin-eating body's virus is not too strong, and because it has not been connected to the Zerg network before -

　　The self-awareness of these creatures has been completely wiped out, leaving only the physical instincts after being infected by the Zerg virus.

　　The weapons they carried were probably unusable.

　　What a pity.

　　The combat effectiveness of these cannon fodders should have been stronger.

　　After all, the swarm virus not only infects the body of a creature, but also assimilates its thoughts, making it fight for the swarm from the bottom of its heart.

　　Now these zombies can only be regarded as cannon fodder.

　　Its combat capability is not as good as that of ordinary springtails.

　　"Why didn't they attack?"

　　W muttered to himself.

　　The Sarkaz corpse where she found the knife and gun had bruises and bite marks on it.

　　There is no doubt that it was done by these mutated Sarkaz.

　　The Sarkaz girl shone her flashlight into their eyes.

　　The eyes were just two white circles and there was no sign of consciousness.

　　Zerg stood right in front of them, unattacked.

　　even--

　　These mutated Sarkaz stood motionless, as if they were facing an inspection from their superiors.

　　"Because they listen to Zerg!"

　　The Swarm Overlord turned his head and looked at the Sarkaz girl.

　　Organisms infected by the Zerg virus will themselves be connected to the Zerg's network.

　　But these zombies are of little use even getting in.

　　Because they can only execute simple commands.

　　For example, moving in a certain direction and attacking all creatures you see.

　　More advanced commands are more difficult to execute.

　　After all, they no longer have brains.

　　If you want to form combat effectiveness, you have to gather a huge number of these brainless cannon fodders.

　　However, they can also be broken down back into biomass to power the hive's growth.

　　This is probably the most effective way to use it now.

　　“…”

　　Will these mutated Sarkaz listen to Zerg?

　　W opened her eyes wide.

　　“Is this true or false?”

　　The Sarkaz girl plucked up her courage and came in front of one of the mutated Sarkaz.

　　She waved.

　　The mutated Sarkaz didn't react at all.

　　"Really? If you don't believe me, Zerg will order you to watch!"

　　The Swarm Master replied.

　　"Um...Surround W!"

　　Then he said this.

　　"?"

　　W was stunned.

　　Then, her body was pushed to the ground.

　　The mutated Sarkaz surrounded her.

　　The scene was like a group of Sarkaz men surrounding a delicate Sarkaz girl. It was self-evident what would happen next.

　　"Gulp."

　　The Sarkaz girl's expression became subtle.

　　The combat effectiveness of these mutated Sarkaz must be quite strong, otherwise I wouldn’t have gotten away with it.

　　Sarkaz who have a gun are not weak beings—

　　Because this requires killing a Sakota.

　　And the unfortunate Sarkaz mercenary still died at the hands of these mutated guys.

　　She didn't think she could survive a real confrontation.

　　But the problem is——

　　There is something subtle about their style.

　　Those soft purple tentacles, those two eyes that were completely white circles, and those limbs that looked like stick figures...

　　It looks weird no matter how you look at it.

　　It was completely different from the hideous and terrifying appearance I first saw.

　　W thought she was probably crazy.

　　But it doesn't matter.

　　She shook her head.

　　These creatures do follow Zerg's orders.

　　Then there's nothing to worry about.

　　Squeezed out from the mutated Sarkaz.

　　They remain motionless during this process.

　　"Zerg wasn't wrong!"

　　The little swarm master puffed out his chest proudly.

　　Well, after stepping into the area where the venomous organisms exist, W was infected by the Zerg virus spores that were scattered in the air.

　　However, her mutation rate was controlled at an extremely slow level, ensuring that the infection would not turn her into a brainless zombie.

　　The Swarm is always kind and friendly to its friends within the Swarm.

　　But as for the enemy——

　　That would be merciless of course.

　　…………

　　Outside the cave.

　　“…”

　　Hedley never thought that his companion would lie.

　　Even though the little creature looked very cute and adorable, it looked petite and harmless.

　　Yet Inès says it is dangerous.

　　"What did you see, Inès?"

　　Hedley asked while signaling the other Sarkaz mercenaries to retreat.

　　It's rare to find someone who can make Inès feel dangerous.

　　"Bloodthirst, killing, destruction..."

　　Inès' eyes gradually widened.

　　She seemed to see something deeper——

　　“…”

　　The female mercenary closed her eyes.

　　Just tears of blood flowed from the corners of her eyes.

　　"Inès!"

　　Hedley opened his eyes wide.

　　"Hedley, let's retreat quickly! There is something even scarier and more terrifying behind it!"

　　Inès warned urgently.

　　She saw the outline of an indescribable existence.

　　Just a glance——

　　I felt like I had suffered a severe head blow.

　　If she hadn't seen the situation was not good and quickly looked away, she would have become a headless knight now.

　　The horror of this man-made facility is not limited to the mutations they encountered!

　　There are even more terrifying monsters hidden inside!

　　"retreat!"

　　Hedley agreed with his companion's opinion without hesitation.

　　Inès's strangeness and warning were obviously enough to prove that the creature they encountered this time was capable of destroying them all.

　　We’ll talk about the compensation for this business later. The most important thing now is to evacuate this area.

　　"Gah?"

　　The tiny creature tilted its head slightly and looked at them.

　　Some of these instances have shown hostility.

　　The tiny springtail opened its mouth slightly.

　　"What are you going to do?"

　　Hedley saw that several Sarkaz mercenaries did not follow the order to retreat.

　　"Hedley, if you bring this creature back, you will definitely make a lot of money."

　　A Sarkaz mercenary carrying a greatsword said so.

　　"What that person wants is what comes out of it."

　　Another Sarkaz said so.

　　“…”

　　Hedley looked at them.

　　"Garson, what promise did you get that made you plan to leave my team?"

　　The tall Sarkaz man looked at these Sarkaz mercenaries

　　"The emissary from His Highness claimed that if we could retrieve what we saw inside, he would give us a lot of wealth and allow us to join his army."

　　The Sarkaz mercenary named Garson replied.

　　"In Kazdel, a mercenary team like us will eventually have to choose a faction to join, Hedley."

　　"This is the best opportunity right now."

　　"If we present this creature to His Highness, we can stop being mercenaries."

　　"And just because of what Inès said, we are going to leave here without gaining anything?"

　　"Hedley, being a mercenary is not charity, you should understand that."

　　He said in a deep voice.

　　“…”

　　Hedley remained silent.

　　"Who wants to evacuate here with me?"

　　After a moment, he said this.

　　He firmly believed in Ines' judgment that the little purple creature was dangerous.

　　For the long term, it is better to evacuate here first.

　　Even though this means that the investment this time may not be recovered, including the deaths of the Sarkaz mercenaries.

　　But it's better than being wiped out.

　　Gradually, some Sarkaz mercenaries left Hedley's team and joined another team.

　　Hedley helped up his female companion.

　　About half of the Sarkaz mercenaries chose to join Garson's team, intending to take a gamble for the prince's promise.

　　"Hedley, for the sake of our former colleagues, take your people and get out."

　　Garson looked at the team behind him and felt a little proud.

　　As Sarkaz mercenaries, they can do nothing but kill people.

　　Even if they left Kazdel, they could only act as Sarkaz mercenaries.

　　There's no use having so much money.

　　The discrimination against Sarkaz in Terra is deeply rooted.

　　If I leave Kazdel, I will probably be embarrassed and extorted by despicable outsiders for various reasons sooner or later.

　　It would be better to stay in Kazdel, join the regent's army, and try for a better background.

　　not to mention--

　　The regent's aims were more to Garson's taste.

　　The Sarkaz were supposed to fight for their position through violence.

　　"You will regret this, Garson. Inès's warnings have never been wrong."

　　Hedley said calmly.

　　"Why are you talking nonsense to him, Hedley? If he wants to die, we shouldn't stop him."

　　Inès closed her eyes and looked towards Garson's position.

　　The little creature hasn't attacked yet, so we can retreat now.

　　Once these idiots attack that little creature, it will be difficult for them to leave.

　　The female mercenary doesn't want to die with these idiots.

　　"Haha, Ines, you are too timid."

　　Garson didn't care.

　　After all, on weekdays, Ines is usually responsible for scouting and intelligence work, and her combat effectiveness is not the best among them.

　　"Well, get out of here, Hedley. We have taken over this facility."

　　Another team of Sarkaz mercenaries made a gesture of expulsion—

　　Even before, they were teammates.

　　However, in Kazdel, betrayal and being betrayed are not uncommon things.

　　After witnessing Hedley and the mercenaries who were still willing to follow him leave, Garson turned his gaze towards the small purple creature.

　　"Gah."

　　hostility.

　　Very obvious hostility.

　　The wings on the tiny springtail's back flapped slightly.

　　"Go, grab this little thing."

　　He still listened to Inès' words a little bit -

　　Therefore, Garson ordered the other Sarkaz mercenaries to rush forward.

　　“Gah!”

　　Confirmed, it is undoubtedly the enemy of the Zerg.

　　The tiny creature suddenly transformed into a hideous and terrifying insect.

　　The Sarkaz's stunned expressions were reflected in his golden pupils.

　　There is only the desire for killing and bloodthirstiness in his eyes.

　　The insect with a broken tooth increased its speed to a level that could not be captured by the naked eye in the blink of an eye.

　　“Crack!”

　　A Sarkaz's body convulsed.

　　Where the head used to be is gone.

　　"!"

　　The Sarkaz mercenaries sensed extreme danger.

　　The speed is too fast!

　　They couldn't even see its trajectory!

　　Only some afterimages left after high-speed movement can be captured.

　　The battle-hardened Sarkaz mercenaries understood what this meant—

　　They can only choose to fight to the death.

　　Running away will only leave your back to this monster!

　　“Tatttatt.”

　　At this moment, from the cave entrance not far away——

　　The figures of mutated Sarkaz came out one after another.

　　Pale pupils, hideous and twisted tentacles, and a swollen body.

　　Then--

　　They all walked towards the direction of the Sarkaz mercenaries.

　　…………