"Die!" Number One grinned viciously and drove toward Han Xiao.
No one noticed a rope tied between two trees, with a string of grenades attached to its middle.
The armored vehicle slammed into it, pulling the rope taut and nearly uprooting both trees. The vehicle lurched to a stop, sending everyone inside tumbling.
Before they could react, the grenades exploded with a roar, sending flames into the sky. Great snowflake-shaped cracks spread across the armored vehicle's bulletproof glass.
Since he was setting an ambush, how could Han Xiao not have prepared in advance? He had used a thick rope and his last few Type G Fragmentation Grenades to set up a simple vehicle trap.
The instant the grenades exploded, Han Xiao took off his night vision goggles. The flames lit up the darkness brightly enough for him to see with the naked eye. Without a word, he aimed at the armored vehicle's front windshield and fired. The recoil traveled from the stock to his shoulder, making even him tremble slightly—a clear sign of the Saber Rifle's tremendous power.
"Bang!"
Bullet after bullet struck the windshield, and the cracks spread rapidly. His target was the driver's seat.
Number One gritted his teeth and dragged the squad member in the passenger seat in front of him. The next moment, the glass shattered with a crash. A bullet punched through and blew off the scapegoat's skull, splattering Number One's face with unbearably foul-smelling brain matter.
"Abandon the vehicle!"
The squad scrambled into action. With his life on the line, Number One could no longer worry about range. His submachine gun rattled as he poured fire toward Han Xiao's distant position, and the remaining squad members followed suit.
Han Xiao stopped firing, dropped to the ground to take cover, and changed magazines while he was at it.
Bullets whistled over his head. He knew his enemies had lost their composure. After a volley like that, they would all have to reload, leaving them at his mercy.
The test subject squad soon tasted the consequences of their impulsiveness. When they emptied their magazines at the same time, the sniper rifle rang out again, like the King of Hell tolling a death knell!
One shot after another.
Precise and deadly.
"Bang-bang-"
The rhythm of the shots rose and fell with a peculiar beauty, inexplicably bringing a precision machine to mind.
Han Xiao picked off his enemies one by one with headshots. He deliberately spared Number One, saving him for last.
His teammates fell one after another. Trembling all over with rage, Number One raised his gun and sprayed wildly, roaring out of control, "Who the hell are you?! Get out here!"
He had been full of confidence in the test subject squad, but such a crushing defeat in their very first battle had shattered it all.
"Click, click, click..." Number One's magazine ran empty again. He bellowed, "Get out here!"
Han Xiao appeared, his face cold.
Number One's eyes flew wide. "How could it be you?" he said in disbelief.
As he saw it, Han Xiao should have fled like a beaten dog after escaping the base. Never in his dreams had he imagined that Han Xiao would dare turn around and attack his pursuers.
No matter how much Number One had doubted Han Xiao's exploits in escaping the laboratory, he now knew he had been wrong-outrageously wrong.
Zero was far, far stronger than him.
That realization instantly ignited the flames of jealousy in Number One's heart.
"I'm the best! You're nothing but a failure! Trash!"
Old and new grudges welled up in Number One's heart, and he lost his reason. He drew his pistol to attack, but Han Xiao raised his muzzle slightly. With a bang, a large-caliber sniper round severed Number One's right arm, leaving it attached by only a strip of bloody skin.
Blood and flesh flew.
Number One stared blankly at his severed arm, at a loss.
Han Xiao fired again, shattering one of Number One's legs and sending him crashing to the ground. Han Xiao then took his time changing magazines before shooting through Number One's remaining arm and leg.
Number One lay sprawled on the ground, unable to move, glaring at Han Xiao with boundless, venomous hatred.
"Zero!!!" His hoarse, sinister howl was like that of a wounded beast.
"Too noisy." Han Xiao strode forward and kicked him, breaking his jaw.
"Do you know why I saved you for last? Because I didn't want you to die so easily."
Unable to speak, Number One could only whimper in his throat. He writhed and struggled on the ground like a snail, blood spraying from his severed limbs.
Just then, the handheld terminal that had fallen nearby lit up automatically, and a virtual image of the leader appeared. "Zero, that's enough," he said coolly.
Han Xiao frowned but said nothing.
"I am the leader of the Germinal Organization." His tone carried the imperiousness of someone long accustomed to power.
"Defection leads only to death. You can't beat the organization. No matter where in the world you run, the organization can capture you and bring you back for judgment. Every minute, every second you remain alive, you will be immersed in endless fear. But I can offer you a way to live."
Han Xiao's face remained expressionless. "What way?"
"Come back to the organization obediently, sincerely admit your mistake, and accept our judgment. I can give you a chance to keep your memories and attain a higher position. You'll no longer be a test subject," the leader said. He greatly admired the abilities Zero had displayed and wanted to find out what had caused his mutation. If it could be replicated, the organization would gain a group of formidable fighters.
At those words, extreme anger flashed in Number One's eyes. Why should Zero receive better treatment than him? He had killed so many people in the organization, so why were they trying to win him over instead?
Han Xiao read Number One's expression and asked with amusement, "I killed so many people, and you still want to win me over?"
"Some trash. Their deaths are no loss," the leader replied decisively, as though the corpses covering the ground did not exist.
Number One shuddered, his heart sinking into despair.
"What makes you think I'll work for you?"
The leader took it for granted. "The organization is chosen by destiny and is undertaking a great cause. Serving us is only right. What do you have to hesitate about? Oh, I see. Is it because you think you were treated unfairly before? Don't be so petty. Those who accomplish great things don't fuss over trifles. A little humiliation is insignificant compared to our ultimate goal."
Han Xiao said calmly, "I'm not the least bit interested in your ideals. You killed my friend, so we're enemies. There's nothing more to say when we don't see eye to eye."
The leader's tone turned cold. "If you refuse me, no matter how vast the world is, there will be no place left for you in it!"
"I'll destroy you."
Han Xiao spoke earnestly.
Germinal would not be persuaded by anyone, nor would it feel the slightest guilt. The only way left to deal with violence was with greater violence.
The leader sounded as though he had heard the greatest joke in the world. "Destroy the organization? You? Who do you think you are?! Compared to the organization, you're a pathetic ant that can be crushed at any moment. Killing a few pieces of trash has made you full of yourself. You think you can stand against the organization alone? You're a frog at the bottom of a well, ignorant of your own limits!"
"Then wait and see. By the way, you have no idea how big the world is."
Han Xiao shook his head and fired three shots into Number One's chest at his feet, sending the bullets into his heart.
The light quickly faded from Number One's eyes.
The test subject squad had been wiped out!
The leader wore a mask, concealing his expression, but even through the virtual communication, his fury was palpable.
"You'll regret this," the leader declared coldly, then ended the call.
〔You have killed Number One · Valkyrie Test Subject. Obtained 900 experience.〕 〔[Revenge] completed. Obtained 15,000 experience.〕
"Clack, clack..."
The Saber Rifle fell apart on its own. The old gun's internal components had long since aged, and this battle had been the final act of its service.
The SWP sniper rifle seized from Night Owl Squad required the [Sniping] skill, so Han Xiao had dismantled it for parts and modified the Saber Rifle.
Wiping out the test subject squad had brought him several thousand experience. Together with the mission reward, he had obtained more than 20,000 experience in all.
Now that he had become enemies with the Germinal Organization, Han Xiao not only had to flee but also had to find a way to hurt Germinal.
His personal strength was indeed insignificant compared to the Germinal Organization, but he had the ability to deal its forces a heavy blow. The countless pieces of information about the future in his head were his true trump card!
To put that information to use, he needed to borrow another power, and it had to be strong enough to stand against the Germinal Organization.
That left only the Six Nations!
Stardragon, Red Maple, Terilous, Raylen, Hesla, and Ordifenna.
Stardragon was closest to him. Compared with Raylen's cold-blooded ruthlessness, Red Maple's rigid bureaucracy, Hesla's pursuit of profit above all else, Terilous's eagerness for quick results, and Ordifenna's shrewd calculation, Stardragon had the mildest internal culture. It also had a deep-rooted enmity with the Germinal Organization.
From every angle, Stardragon was the best choice for now.