Arc 2The Seal Breaks
Zhou Ze joined Site-17 under special observation as Wang Lei and Dai Yong'an investigated his anomalous nature. After Zhou Ze transformed during a deadly experiment and killed Dai Yong'an, time reversed, and he later raced through a collapsing Site-17 to reach Alice before Clive could execute her.
- Wang Lei revealed herself as Site-17’s director, while Dai Yong'an challenged her over her handling of the Illusion Butterflies and D-87465.
- Dai Yong'an assigned Zhou Ze to guide Alice, and Zhou Ze grew close to her as he told her stories and learned about her hopes and fears.
- Dai Yong'an forced Zhou Ze to swallow nanobots linked to his heart, then sent him with Liu Xin to collect secretions from Number-075.
- Number-075 killed another Class-D subject, and Liu Xin sacrificed himself to save Zhou Ze, whose sealed divinity erupted and transformed him into a tentacled monster.
- The monster killed Dai Yong'an before collapsing, but time reversed at Site 108 and restored the dead and destroyed facility, and Alice also wrote that she had revived her canary, Colin.
- Clive announced his plan to execute Alice, and Kane gave Zhou Ze weapons and asked him to find her while he confronted Clive.
- Zhou Ze and Kane fought a giant winged hound and a reanimated guard as Site-17’s control system failed, while Clive approached the facility to carry out his plan.
- After Kane told him to protect Alice or pursue Clive, Zhou Ze chose Alice and reached the B9 Containment Zone, where he encountered Shi Yaming.