Dragon King Mountain!

Dragon King Mountain!

Before coming here, Wang Ye had done his homework and checked the map.

Every town, township, and street in Wu Yi County had detailed annotations, but these wild mountains in the countryside basically had no names.

Dragon King Mountain!

To any rescue worker, it was an utterly ordinary name.

But to Wang Ye, it carried an entirely different meaning.

Devil-Humans!

According to Anabella, the two Devil-Humans had mentioned the words "Dragon King" many times.

He had previously thought it might be the Main Master's name, the name of the Devil-Human Organization, or perhaps the codename for some mission.

But now, it seemed overwhelmingly likely that they had been referring to Dragon King Mountain!

"It all connects now." Wang Ye straightened out his thoughts.

All the strange happenings in Xinhe District could now be explained.

He clearly remembered what Team Leader Xia had told them about Devil-Humans during the orientation.

As order in China gradually stabilized, mutations decreased, and the growth of Devil-Humans slowed, they had begun deliberately capturing refugees to strengthen themselves.

Because of the city's defense system and the protection of the Guardian Division in the Base City, East Pavilion City had only begun its orderly evacuation half a year ago.

The Devil-Human Organization had most likely taken advantage of that period to infiltrate Wu Yi County, establish themselves on Dragon King Mountain, and secretly abduct refugees.

Huang Zirui and Song Shuyi must have discovered something during their search and rescue, or perhaps had the bad luck to run straight into the Devil-Humans, so...

"They might still be alive!" Wang Ye quickly called Team Leader Tong.

"Really? Where?" Hope rose in Yu Shuiqin's eyes.

"Dragon King Mountain!"

The two of them arrived quickly.

Located downstream of Qin Yin Stream, Dragon King Mountain was rich in resources and had an inexhaustible supply of Red Creek Water.

Surrounded by mountains and teeming with monsters, it was an excellent place for Devil-Humans who craved blood to establish a base.

"The Devil-Human Organization." Yu Shuiqin's small face tightened.

"They're everywhere. They just hide in dark corners." Wang Ye checked the time. "Team Leader Tong will probably arrive in half an hour. We'll go up first and scout the area."

When it came to reconnaissance, even Team Leader Tong was far inferior to the two Espers.

Moreover, Wang Ye was more concerned that Team Leader Tong might make too much noise during the search and alert the Devil-Human Organization.

No matter how he looked at it, that guy did not seem especially sharp.

"Will Brother Rui and Shuyi die?" Yu Shuiqin asked worriedly.

"Most likely not." Wang Ye could not be certain either, but this was all he could say for now. "We didn't find their bodies in Bai Mu Township, which means they were likely taken up the mountain."

"The Devil-Humans aren't stupid. If they killed Evolvers here to drink their blood, the four team leaders are experienced enough to figure it out. They would definitely turn the place upside down looking for them, which wouldn't benefit the Devil-Humans at all."

"The best method would be to imprison them first, create the illusion that they were killed and eaten by Nightmare-level Monsters, then drink their blood after the entire Rescue Team leaves."

To Devil-Humans, an Evolver's blood was naturally a tremendous tonic.

Go!

Wang Ye took the lead.

Every second counted now.

Devil-Humans were not stupid, but they were utterly inhuman.

Wang Ye could still vividly remember the miserable state of Anabella's assistant, barely clothed.

Dragon King Mountain was gloomy and dangerous at dusk.

There were even Nightmare-level Monsters here.

The elite Rescue Team's sweeps were mainly focused on urban areas and did not extend to uninhabited mountains like these.

"Rustle."

As Wang Ye moved forward, his body tilted slightly toward the front right.

He had already sensed a high-grade vicious monster.

"Fifteen degrees east of north." Yu Shuiqin's gentle voice came from behind him.

With her at his back, Wang Ye felt at ease.

The main technique of the Emission Type was the Manifestation Technique.

For ranged combat, it could form crossbow bolts with astonishing killing power. In close combat, it could serve as protection, offering comprehensive defense.

Whoosh!

A vicious poisonous snake monster with rippling colors shot out from the grass.

Its black fangs were like the Grim Reaper's scythe beneath the setting sun as it lunged at him.

Wang Ye could sense the fluctuations of psychic power around him. Yu Shuiqin was ready at any moment to protect him from fatal danger.

But he had no need for that now.

Twisting aside, Wang Ye drew a graceful arc through the air with the Crimson Sun Battle Blade in his hand.

In an instant, Radiant Hues of Myriad Paths flashed forth, slicing the vicious poisonous snake monster into countless pieces.

Killed a Third Order snake monster.

Potential Points: 5→5.

Perfect control.

His physical capabilities had now fully entered the level of a Third Order Gene Warrior.

Combined with the Crimson Sun Blade Art at the perfect level, his combat experience, and a full set of top-grade equipment, he could easily deal with high-grade vicious monsters.

There were many monsters.

After entering Dragon King Mountain, battles became frequent, and many of the enemies were high-grade vicious monsters.

They reached the mountainside.

Wang Ye sensed an inexplicable danger, and his nerves tightened.

There was an extremely powerful life force in the distance, on the same level as Team Leader Tong!

"Straight ahead, be careful!"

Before Yu Shuiqin had even finished speaking, a wild boar monster covered in thick armor came charging between two large trees ahead with heavy thuds.

Its sharp tusks gleamed with a metallic sheen, as though they could pierce the sky.

A Nightmare-level Monster!

Its terrifying body was fully twice the size of an ordinary high-grade vicious monster of the same kind.

Moreover, after evolution, its original physical traits became even more pronounced!

Whoosh!

Yu Shuiqin fired a crossbow bolt.

It was incredibly fast!

The Nightmare-level boar monster merely lowered its head, shielding its vital points.

The psychic arrow struck its hard forehead, burrowing in before exploding and scattering a spray of blood.

Instead, it provoked the monster's furious savagery. Its enraged roar shook the forest.

Incredibly tough defenses!

Wang Ye did not dodge.

Yu Shuiqin was behind him.

Nor did he need to evade. A familiar glow lit up around the hand gripping the Crimson Sun Battle Blade II Series.

Yu Shuiqin's beautiful eyes shone brightly, and she was overjoyed.

She knew it!

In an instant, the Crimson Sun Battle Blade II Series radiated blade light in every direction.

Enhancement Technique!

With the Control Technique and Enhancement Technique both at the advanced level, Wang Ye not only cast them extremely quickly, but with remarkable stability as well.

Limit Breaking Skill, Square Circle!

One block, one deflection. Wang Ye's blade swiftly fell toward the back of the Nightmare-level boar monster's neck.

Although its defensive toughness had increased greatly, its agility was far worse.

Slash!

Blood spilled with one strike.

A second strike directly knocked it to the ground. From behind him, a psychic arrow shot out with a whoosh, ruthlessly pinning the Nightmare-level boar monster to the ground just as it tried to rise.

Wang Ye brought down a heavy, powerful strike, his blade light surging toward it like raging flames.

Splat!

Blood sprayed everywhere as the Nightmare-level boar monster died on the spot.

Killed a Fourth Order Pig-monster.

Potential Points: 7→7.

His first Nightmare-level Monster, a flawless victory!

Wang Ye turned back and gave Yu Shuiqin a thumbs-up.

She shot him a reproachful look with her beautiful eyes. Her slightly pouting pink lips were especially adorable, as if saying, I already knew you were an Esper.

"You're Enhancement Type." Yu Shuiqin glanced at the Crimson Sun Battle Blade II Series in Wang Ye's hand.

"Mm... I suppose so," Wang Ye said.

"Actually, all six Esper types are the same. There's no difference in superiority." Yu Shuiqin had high emotional intelligence.

"I like the Emission Type." Wang Ye smiled.

Yu Shuiqin averted her gaze, her delicate pretty face reddening slightly.

Uh... that came out wrong.

But it was also the truth.

The atmosphere suddenly turned a little ambiguous. Wang Ye naturally would not miss the chance, grabbing Yu Shuiqin's silky, tender little hand. "Come on, let's find them quickly."

"Ah?" Yu Shuiqin instinctively tried to pull away, but his grip was firm. She secretly glanced at Wang Ye's face, and her heartbeat sped up slightly.

As the sun set, their budding feelings slowly warmed amid the dangerous surroundings.

When a girl had a favorable impression of you and did not reject physical contact with you, you had basically won half the battle.

Naturally, Wang Ye was not thinking about such things now.

He wanted to save Huang Zirui and Song Shuyi.

They were friends, but more importantly, teammates.

Not to mention that Devil-Humans were the natural mortal enemies of rescue workers.

"Team Leader Tong has already reached the foot of the mountain," Wang Ye said to Yu Shuiqin, who was half a step behind him.

"Mhm," Yu Shuiqin answered softly, barely louder than a mosquito's buzz.

Her voice was sweet and soothing, distinctly different from before.

Just as Wang Ye was about to tease her, his gaze suddenly sharpened.

Though it was nearly dark, he could still see a corpse in the grass not far ahead.

He made a quiet gesture to Yu Shuiqin and quickly approached.

"It's a mutant human." Wang Ye was now completely certain.

This was the Devil-Human Organization's base!

Otherwise, mutant humans could not possibly appear in the deep mountains.

Only abducted refugees would be forced to absorb Red Creek Water and undergo mutation.

"Where could they be?" Yu Shuiqin whispered beside Wang Ye's ear, nervously watching their surroundings.

"Nearby. This is a refugee who died after failing to endure the mutation. The Devil-Humans wouldn't go to the trouble of dumping him far away. Let's search carefully." Wang Ye opened his Personal Panel, his consciousness settling on the "+".

Basic Control Technique, advanced → perfect.

Basic Enhancement Technique, advanced → perfect.

80 Potential Points consumed.

Faced with a crisis that could erupt at any moment, Wang Ye raised his combat strength to its peak.

He could already smell blood.

They patiently searched around the mountainside.

Following the scent of blood, Wang Ye's movements grew slower and slower.

His consciousness had already detected signs of life, and there was more than one.

They were in the forest clearing not far away!

Swish!

Wang Ye crouched behind a tree amid the grass, a sharp gleam flashing through his eyes!

He saw them!

(End of Chapter)