Chapter 92: Powers Restored

An alarm suddenly blared. From the defensive line, countless mutated people emerged, slowly advancing toward the far side of the river. Armed police officers stood in a straight line with assault rifles in hand, while helicopters lifted off one after another.

Everyone held their breath. The air grew taut with tension. The mutated corpses, like the walking dead, advanced upon the fortifications as if they were spectral hordes. Time ticked by second by second. The infected drew nearer, closer and closer, until they came within range.

"Ready... fire!"

With the launch of signal flares, everyone opened fire. A storm of bullets flew toward the other side, helicopters launched missiles, and lethal weapons were also deployed from underground. At the same time, the special investigation team led by Li Ping was assigned to assist the police in rescuing citizens who had not yet been evacuated from the safe zone.

Li Ping and his sister both heard the sound of shells exploding in the distance. They exchanged a glance and knew the enemy on the other side had already begun its second assault.

"It looks like they've started. They may be here soon. This is critical, we have to pull out fast."

Li Ning stopped him. "No. There are still many citizens who haven't been rescued."

"Sister, those infected are swarming this way in huge numbers. The army can delay them, but we don't have enough time."

Li Ning paid him no mind, gripped her gun, and ran toward another street. Li Ping had no choice but to lead his team after her.

"Report. The infected are almost through. The defensive line is about to collapse." An armed police officer rushed into the tent, saluted, and delivered the report.

"What?" Ji Jianfeng was stunned. Even the most solid defense line could be torn open. What kind of virus could make people infect one another until they became so vicious and brutal?

They were lives, after all, but now there was no room to think of that. Ji Jianfeng immediately ordered, "Missile strike."

The missile launchers were already in position. After locking on to their targets, they fired in rapid succession, and the first wave of assault was finally enough to ease the danger of the line being breached.

Just then, a series of heavy footsteps rang out. Everyone looked around in confusion. To defend the homeland in war was a man's duty, and also the mission of the police. Unlike the arrogant city inspectors, who had long since vanished without a trace.

Several enormous figures appeared out of the darkness. They were far taller than the infected, and when the powerful beams fell upon them, their true forms were revealed. They had wings, hideous faces, and let out shrill, piercing cries that left all the armed police officers stunned.

One of them flew forward and, ignoring the helicopters entirely, hammered a fist into the ground. The whole surface trembled violently. Its roar was deafening. They moved step by step closer, bullets striking their bodies without any sign of fear.

"Quick, missiles!"

A wide blast of explosions instantly lit up the dark. Just when everyone thought the giants could be blown apart, they emerged unscathed, their bodies hard as iron.

"Move, they're coming through!"

Several winged vampires swung their fists at the armed police, crushing the buildings into warped, uneven shapes. Beneath the night sky, people fled in panic for their lives.

The attending doctor shot up into the sky, frantically unleashing fireballs one after another, all in an effort to bring down Ye Tang, who was flying nearby. Relying on her experience, she dodged nearly every attack. Then, circling behind him, she landed a punch squarely on his back and sent him crashing like a broken kite into a restaurant.

While they fought, several infected people emerged from the underground drains. They hurled themselves wildly into the crowd of fleeing civilians. Seeing the situation turn grim, Du Bin stepped forward to block them.

"Thunder Fist."

He converted his lightning into a form suited for close combat. His fists were filled with crackling power, and every blow carried a surge of electricity.

Because they were human, Du Bin did not dare strike too hard, and so the enemy pressed closer and closer. Ye Tang hovered in the air, watching. Suddenly she shouted, "Du Bin, be careful! They have the virus in them. They’ve been infected. Don’t let your wounds touch them!"

With Ye Tang's warning, Du Bin no longer fought them at close range. He condensed the lightning in his hands into a sphere of crackling energy, then smashed a fist into the ground. Electricity surged across the surface, and every infected body within range was thrown down by the force.

He thought that would render them helpless, but to his horror they rose again. Frightened, Du Bin ran toward Ye Tang. "Damn it, they're fine? What, am I supposed to kill people now?"

From the sky, Ye Tang saw a small child sitting on the ground, her knees hugged to her chest, crying. The people passing by paid her no mind. Everyone knew their own life was more precious than anyone else's. Seeing an infected person closing in on the child, Ye Tang immediately flew down and kicked it away.

"Little girl, did you get separated from your parents?"

The child stopped crying, looked up at Ye Tang, and nodded helplessly. "Sister, can you help me? I'm so scared."

"Be good, little Fang. Sister will help you find your parents."

Du Bin came over and gently patted her head, smiling. "Little Fang, I’ll protect you too."

Little Fang looked at them with innocent trust, a bright smile spreading across her face. Just then the attending doctor emerged from the restaurant and charged at them with a furious roar.

"This way." Ye Tang took Little Fang by the hand and ran into a side alley. Du Bin followed behind, using the power of lightning to hold him back. The attending doctor seemed to realize which direction they were fleeing and stayed close on their heels.

Ye Tang glanced around. "You protect her."

As they exchanged positions, the attending doctor appeared from above and struck at their location with a punch. The ground instantly split open into a great pit, scattering the three of them apart.

"Aah, don't come near me! Sister, save me!"

Little Fang fell to the ground. When she lifted her eyes, she saw a monster standing right in front of her, and terror drove tears down her face.

"Little Fang!" Du Bin rushed over, but the attending doctor blocked his path.

Seeing this, Ye Tang also charged forward. "Don't be afraid. Sister's here to save you."

The attending doctor was already striking at her. The moment his fist hit the ground, the earth shattered. The two of them shielded Little Fang behind them. She was hurt. Her arm had been cut. She knew that before long she would become one of them.

"Little Fang." Ye Tang took her hand. She regretted it deeply. If only her power could be used, the virus would never have infected her.

"Sister... will I become like them?"

"No. I said I would protect you."

Little Fang smiled and shook her head. "Sister, don't lie to me. My mother became like them too, so my father took me away from home."

Ye Tang and Du Bin fell silent. They did not know what to say. Could they really bring themselves to kill a little girl?

"Sister, I don't want to become like them." Little Fang's face had already changed, clearly unlike before. The virus was invading her brain.

Ye Tang hesitated, and then a sword shot through Little Fang's head at blinding speed. The sight stunned them both. Blood splashed wildly in all directions.

A figure appeared before them. Tears spilled from Ye Tang's eyes as she recognized who it was. "Why... did you make that choice for me?"

"Because she was infected. Wasn't that what she wanted?"

Ye Tang had no patience for reason. She said in anger, "If you can spread the virus, why won't you bring out the antidote and save her?"

The person standing before her was YOYO. She gave no answer. Ye Tang's fury seemed to shatter whatever seal had held her back, and flames burst forth around her body.

"It looks like you can use your power now."

Ye Tang did not attack her. Instead, she turned and went after the attending doctor. With her power restored, she was overwhelmingly imposing. She moved so quickly that even the attending doctor did not realize she had already appeared before him. With only a single punch, she split him in two, and without giving him the slightest chance to regenerate, she burned away the remaining halves in flames.

Such strength, enough to obliterate a vampire with one blow, left YOYO somewhat stunned. Was this the distance he had spoken of?

"You're next."

"You're overthinking it. Your opponent is over there." YOYO pointed toward the faintly visible Star Tower in the distance.