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墨書 Inktalez
The two sides faced off against each other.
On the human side, there were many people, and the intimidation emanating from the Vassal made everyone immediately alert.
Even so, almost no one was overwhelmed by the terrifying presence of the Vassal.
The ability to maintain balance in this moment was the result of everyone's desperate efforts.
"Well, humans, you are truly fascinating. I must say you are the most united race I have ever seen," the Vassal said, coldly scanning the united humans before him. "Among the two groups I killed before, there were also those like you, so I find their unity quite interesting."
"Although I know full well they are not my opponents, I believe they have value to exploit."
"So I converted them. Now, whether in body, mind, or even at the level of the soul, they have become my proudest elite guards. You also have this qualification; do not demean yourselves. Follow your hearts, and afterward, you can do whatever you want—indulge in your own depravity."
"Indulge in our own depravity?" Russell scoffed, nearly laughing out loud. "In our human worldview, that is a thought only beasts would have. They live as they please, only killing; it never brings peace. They are born with thoughts of eating, sex, and territory—living without a care in the world. Such beings are nothing but beasts. Only beasts would act in such a way. Do you really think we would want to become such beings? Are you insulting us?"
"Insulting?" the Vassal replied with confusion. "Hmm, is that not possible? It could be helping you—in terms you humans can understand, it should be helping you evolve. Yes, evolving into a higher form of life—immortal. Isn't that the ultimate goal you humans dream of?"
"The ultimate goal?" Russell was taken aback. "You actually understand such profound terms? How long have you been able to speak?"
"Not long. When you killed my family, I felt your lingering presence on their bodies. I absorbed them and gained this divine gift of ability. I learned to think and to live through pain while searching for light. Eventually, I discovered beings like you—intelligent Primates—searching everywhere for traces of my kind," the Vassal said with a smile.
"Absorbed?" someone questioned in confusion.
"Yes, I devoured them," the Vassal continued. "This is one of the abilities granted to my kind by the divine. I can freely merge their strengths and what you call abilities—I obtained those abilities through consumption. It’s no trouble telling you; I don’t blame you at all. After all, those guys were merely obstacles for me to solidify my position. Even if you hadn’t cleared them out for me, I would have killed them eventually. I dislike dealing with family matters; thank you for taking care of them for me."
"Pah!" Someone showed an expression of extreme disgust.
"Enough," said the Vassal. "We can stand here and look each other in the eye." "We just want to kill you; either you kill us or we kill you—there's no other solution," Black Instructor said as he clenched his hardened fist and grinned wickedly.
"At this moment, if you don't kill me, I'm afraid you might end up fighting among yourselves first," Vassal said with a calm smile.
"What?!" Freyr frowned upon hearing this.
Just then, a piercing scream echoed from the abandoned factory.
A splash of blood suddenly stained the wall, and in the corner of his eye, he caught sight of three figures covered in sores and spots.
The head of the Target had sprouted sharp, protruding horns, and its teeth were growing wildly like roots.
Another researcher, who had been quietly hiding in the ruins of the Farm, was suddenly grabbed by the throat; his neck snapped, and he died instantly.
The three monsters had eyes glowing with a ghostly yellow light and were wearing shirts that had long been soaked in blood and turned red.
Their bodies seemed to have developed a condition resembling fish scale disease, with patches of brownish-green scales rising to the surface of their skin.
It was as if a layer of armor covered them, tightly adhering to their bodies. With each deep breath, one could clearly see the blood flowing through the capillaries beneath the scales.
"What is happening?" someone asked in shock.
"My lord," the three strange beings quickly approached Vassal and knelt slightly.
Their heads touched the ground, displaying an extremely sincere demeanor.
In unison, they worshipped the person before them as if he were a deity.
"What on earth happened to you? Was it because of that rain?" someone suddenly recalled.
"You can use poison to persecute me, but I can also use this method to select those who are useful to me. They are my infected Deadpool, my most loyal subordinates. Seeing them like this, don't you feel afraid?" Vassal laughed.
"I see now, so the rain back then was your doing. No wonder," someone regretted.
The four researchers who had come here had sworn to bring everyone back without exception.
But now, no one had escaped. Perhaps at that time, Russell should have realized that he shouldn't have involved unrelated people in this war.
This war was meaningless for those who were not involved; no one wanted to be part of such a futile battlefield, yet now there were casualties.
Given their current state, they could never return to human society. Even if the association could provide them with convenience, the pressure of public opinion and overt morality would still treat them as provocateurs against authority.
And those who were seen as outcasts had no place to stand. Even if they once had the most glamorous appearances, the best careers, and outstanding intelligence as humans, what did it matter now?
They could not go against the principles of humanity.
"We don't want to become like this; we would rather die."
Perhaps that was everyone's thought.
The person who had just died was Valen, who probably never expected to die at the hands of his former colleagues.
But he should be the happiest one, as he wouldn't be infected.
"Well, since that's the case, let your companions come and meet you. I will watch your success or failure," Vassal glanced at the people below and then said, "Get up and eliminate your former comrades. Make them feel even more fear."
"Only by knowing fear and experiencing it can you qualify to become a king's guard. Otherwise, you hold no value for me. Without value, you will be eliminated. If you don't want to be eliminated, show me why you believe you can still be useful."
"Yes~~"
Three monsters stood up from the ground in unison, their pupils a dull yellow, resembling those suffering from severe liver disease.
They had lost all semblance of human appearance, with only a few patches of hair, a nose, and rudimentary features that hinted at their former humanity.
"What do you want?" Russell questioned.
"Ugh~~" The tallest young man beside him blinked vacantly, suddenly speaking in a human voice, "Ugh~~ I heard your conversation with that mongrel. My hearing has become quite sharp since I was infected at that stage; he has no hope for you anymore."
"But it was at that moment that he injected us with Morphine, making us all addicted to it. Do you think he is still human? If he intended to abandon us, why give us hope? Because of this, we harbor hatred for humanity. We never truly pledged ourselves to Vassal, but now we are willing to devote our bodies and minds to it. It has helped us regain our lives and provided us with endless energy."
"This feeling is incredible; I feel like a god," the monster exclaimed excitedly.
His appearance was not grotesque; he merely resembled a wolf-headed creature, sporting a wolf-like face and glowing green eyes.
A chilling aura suddenly emerged from behind, as a purple whip was wielded in Vassal's palm. A deep gash appeared on the back of the Wolfhead Mutant.
The wound was so deep that bone was visible, a horrifying sight.
The wolf-headed mutant collapsed to the ground, kneeling in agony.
"You are merely the king's guards; in the future, you will be the emperor's guards. You have no right to voice such opinions. If there is a next time, should you harbor any disloyal thoughts, I can take your head at any moment."
With that, Vassal struck the mutant's forehead with another lash, leaving a cross-shaped mark that looked utterly bizarre.
"Should there be another time, I will not show mercy."
The wolf-headed mutant appeared somewhat embarrassed by his predicament.
Slowly rising from the ground, its face immediately twisted into a mask of hatred and ferocity.
"I will kill you all!" it snarled.
The other two creatures were equally grotesque. One had a head full of sores, resembling the features of a Stink Bug, with a mouth that was slightly ajar, giving it a faintly human outline. The edges of its head were also cracked, making it appear even more bizarre, as if it had been mutated by radiation.
A tuft of antennae sprouted from its forehead, with a white eyeball hanging loosely at the tip.
"Enough, humans. You still have one last chance," the voice of the Queen Mother Vassal continued. "Look at their current state; you can preserve your appearance. I assure you all, I only require your loyalty to grant you the power of immortality."
"Immortality doesn't exist. No creature can attain such an extended lifespan."
"Even if your human life lasts only a mere few decades, filled with painful memories, it matters not," Russell said, seemingly rallying those around him.
Clearly, his words had some effect, as many nearby began to crack their knuckles in anticipation.
"Very well, negotiations have broken down."
The Queen Mother Vassal slowly floated upward, looking down upon the crowd with an air of superiority, like a reaper wielding control over life and death, orchestrating each person's fate and lifespan.
However, the three Mutants below appeared calm and relaxed, while the opposing side was filled with anxiety.
Though they were all human, the disparity in confidence was evident. Moreover, on the Mutant side—no, on Deadpool's side—if they failed, they still had Vassal as a backup.
They were merely confronting stronger opponents; losing wasn't terrifying. With their skills, being cannon fodder on the battlefield was far too extravagant.
They could still hunt prey and guide the Emperor's growth, which might prove beneficial.
However, Vassal did not think so. It glanced at the current situation and then spoke, "My servants, this competition will determine whether you still hold any value. I do not favor those who lack utility. Your strength depends on whether you can still be of value to serve me. To gain this eternal life, you must be prepared to sacrifice everything for us."
These words ignited a fire within the hearts of the three Mutants.
When people find themselves in dire straits, they often muster every ounce of courage to seek that glimmer of hope for survival.
It is not only humans who behave this way; many animals lived like this long before humans appeared.
They either get consumed or consume others, harming more lives just to stay alive.
"I do not need lives that lack utility; otherwise, I will have to abandon you. The meaning is clear: anything without value must be eliminated."
At such times, it was crucial for them to demonstrate their worth.
Either they would die fighting or perish at Vassal's hands.
Clearly, both options led to death. They had to choose a path and walk it to the end, seeking that sliver of hope for survival in the depths of despair.
Though that hope was minuscule and pitifully low, it still existed; evasion would lead to a grave without a burial.
"Let’s bring this to an end."
The Wolfhead Mutant stepped forward, tearing off its upper garments to reveal a powerful physique.
It was far stronger than before; one could only wonder what had transpired during that storm to transform a person into this formidable figure.
"Is it really necessary? In this state, we could still turn back," Russell said sadly.
"Shut up!" the Mutant roared. "Who turned me into this? It was you! You abandoned me, so I want you all to die. I will make sure you can't even become like me; I want you all dead."
"Death isn't enough; I'd rather have you suffer than die, to become playthings for my insects." Another Mutant with a radiation-altered head stepped forward.
He forcefully tugged at the folds of his head and pulled out a white worm.
"Exactly, that's not enough. I want to enjoy torturing you," another Mutant laughed.
The three Mutants stepped forward together.
"There's no turning back now; we are certain of that," the Wolfhead Mutant said with a sense of resignation. "Consider it a rebellious determination—sacrifice your blood, and then we can start anew."
"Is that really necessary?" Russell shook his head sadly. "If you still want to reclaim your human dignity, we can help you. Really, you still have your minds, even in this state; it's better than being dead. We can fight side by side."
"This situation is worse than death; it's all thanks to you!" The Wolfhead Mutant shouted angrily, clearly provoked by Russell's words.
At that moment, the acrid smell of gunpowder quickly filled the air.
The Cosmic Bug War seemed impossible to quell.
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