Wang Zhen remembered that Ripley had a cat in the movie, but he couldn't remember what breed it was. He also knew that among the Xenomorph species, there was one that specialized in parasitizing mammals. Though these Xenomorphs shared the same traits—gene fusion and optimization—they could fuse with a mammal's genes and improve them. As a result, a Xenomorph born from a mammal would have that mammal's size and characteristics!
So if a Xenomorph really had parasitized that cat and then emerged from its body, the creature would combine the best qualities of both Xenomorphs and cats, while possessing a cat's size and traits!
Why was Wang Zhen so wary of this Cat Xenomorph, one he'd never even met and that could practically be said to exist in a state of quantum superposition?
Because felines were among the most highly evolved predators on land. Every aspect of their bodies was practically designed for hunting. So when a naturally evolved hunter was combined with a predator species created after the fact, the resulting new species would inevitably possess the combined killing prowess of both.
Although Wang Zhen had an instant Alchemy technique he hadn't yet shown anyone, his defenses were as flimsy as a paper cone. If he ran into a super predator that combined the best traits of two species, the outcome was obvious.
Even if he won, he wouldn't come away unscathed. That was the fundamental reason Wang Zhen was so wary of the Cat Xenomorph he'd never met!
Besides, compared to the Xenomorph, a special species created by the Engineers, felines were purely the product of natural selection, shaped by Earth's will. They might not possess the same powerful genetic talents as Xenomorphs, but they had maxed out their looks. You could say that felines were all easy on the eyes.
If he happened to be captivated by its looks and let his guard down for even a second, there was a good chance it would kill him with cuteness!
After all, beauty was justice!
As apex predators, felines could live in such carefree comfort. It had to be said that their equally top-tier looks played a big part!
There was a cat like that aboard this spaceship. Since Ripley had been willing to challenge the rules and bring a cat aboard, it was clear that this cat had to be exceptionally cute!
Wang Zhen tried his best to probe the surroundings with his mental power. After making an unrelenting effort, he vaguely sensed that the murderous intent shrouding the three of them like smoke or mist was emanating from the front left of Zheng Zha.
But there was clearly nothing there, just an ordinary, empty room with its door open!
Wang Zhen could believe that the Cat Xenomorph could conceal its tracks, but that would only work in dim, low-visibility conditions. The empty room to Zheng Zha's front left, though unlit, was completely exposed inside. There was no way a cat could hide in there.
And yet that cold, cruel, savage, utterly murderous intent was unmistakable. Wang Zhen was at a loss to explain it!
Wang Zhen decided that once they got back, he'd first check the price of mental-side skills. If he could afford one, he really wanted to get it! Right now, he was relying on his decent mental strength to probe the area by brute force. He was an amateur pretending to be a professional expert!
Zheng Zha was walking ahead, carrying two oversized claw hammers. Suddenly, a small black shape about a meter long appeared right in front of him!
Before Zheng Zha could get a good look, the shadow suddenly pounced on him. As the lightning-fast shape leaped onto him, he raised the hammer in his hand—and then nothing more happened!
His chest and abdomen went cold, followed by unbearable pain!
"Boom..."
Before the shadow could move again, a blazing fireball appeared out of nowhere behind it, then slammed hard into the figure clinging to Zheng Zha's chest...
"Meow..."
A tiny, babyish meow rang out, tinged with a metallic edge.
Before the sound had even faded, the black shape flickered again and vanished!
"Fuck! The cat... That cat's here!" Zheng Zha let go of the hammer and dropped it, then clamped both hands over his chest. "Help me! Get Zhan Lan's Rapid Hemostasis Spray!"
Wang Zhen immediately rushed over and used the Rapid Hemostasis Spray to stop the bleeding from the huge wound on Zheng Zha's chest. If he hadn't stayed alert and acted the moment he sensed something was wrong, he wouldn't have cared that Zheng Zha was tangled up with a Xenomorph—he'd have attacked anyway!
And Zheng Zha had only survived because Wang Zhen hadn't struck the small shadow, but instead hit Zheng Zha himself. Wang Zhen had immediately redirected the flames with his control, making them leave Zheng Zha's body before the vampire could be bathed in flames at 1,100 degrees!
Three straight, parallel wounds ran from Zheng Zha's chest down to his abdomen, each one torn wide open!
If Wang Zhen hadn't acted so decisively and quickly, the shadow would only have needed to reach out with its delicate little claws once more to rip out Zheng Zha's organs and fish around in his guts for its favorite morsel!
So when Wang Zhen aimed the Rapid Hemostasis Spray at the wound, Zheng Zha was still too close to the 1,100-degree fireball. Wang Zhen had redirected it in time, hurling it into the wall beside them, but Zheng Zha's body had still suffered some burns. Fortunately, Wang Zhen had acted quickly, driven off the Cat Xenomorph, and stopped the bleeding with the Rapid Hemostasis Spray. At least he'd managed to save Zheng Zha, their biggest and most conspicuous piece of bait!
At the same time, Wang Zhen felt a surge of lingering fear!
Zheng Zha had already unlocked the Gene Lock and fused with the combat techniques of the vampire race, giving him combat instincts, yet he hadn't reacted in time when the Xenomorph pounced on him. What if it had been Wang Zhen instead?
In fact, Wang Zhen hadn't seen clearly or reacted in time either. It was only after the Cat Xenomorph had paused for a few seconds to rip Zheng Zha open and tear out his heart and lungs that Wang Zhen, standing behind him, had gotten the chance to throw a fireball!
"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"
"That was way too fucking close! If that Cat Xenomorph had been after me, I'd have had to admit I'd be in the same boat!" Wang Zhen forcibly suppressed his shock and raised his vigilance to the highest level. He didn't care whether Zhang Jie noticed him anymore. With one hand, he tended to Zheng Zha's wounds; with the other tucked into his sleeve, he lightly flicked his thumb and forefinger...
A faint wisp of smoke emerged where Wang Zhen's fingers had flicked. It seemed to spread slowly, yet moved swiftly. In just a few seconds, the thin, insubstantial mist had spread all around, enveloping Wang Zhen, Zheng Zha, and Zhang Jie. At the same time, it quickly expanded farther, reaching the walls and corners!
"Good grief! You really are an adorable little thing that can kill with a touch! Earth cats can climb trees, but you, a little cutie fused with a cat and a Xenomorph, can scale walls and cling to ceilings!" With the help of the mist, Wang Zhen finally found the Cat Xenomorph, which was so fast that all he could see was a black blur. He couldn't help silently grumbling to himself!
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