Chapter 18
With a slight lift of his narrow eyes, Shi Xu glanced over, stating flatly, “He was already parasitized.”
For those infested by Variants, there were only two outcomes: kill or be killed. Death was Wang Xuan’s best option.
Tan Xiao took a deep breath, his voice shaky. “I know.”
Shi Xu advised, “Don’t rely too much on your ability. Don’t neglect your other skills.”
Tan Xiao froze.
Shi Xu’s expression was impassive, his eyes cold, seemingly unsympathetic.
Yet, Tan Xiao sensed something else. Was Shi Xu comforting him?
Being a vice-captain meant Tan Xiao was more capable than most. Even with his limbs restrained, he should have been able to escape. But he hadn’t, due to his hesitation, his lack of resolve. He couldn’t bring himself to kill his teammate, even though his teammate was no longer human.
That’s why he was the weakest of the three vice-captains, considered by many to be unworthy of the position.
Shi Xu had done what he couldn’t.
Like many others, Tan Xiao had heard of Shi Xu before meeting him.
When the term “esper” first appeared, Shi Xu’s name often overshadowed theirs.
He was more powerful than espers. An esper with a rare ability might tie with him, but without their ability, the outcome was predictable.
Tan Xiao was two years older than Shi Xu, having joined the Anomaly Management Bureau earlier. Being surpassed by a younger colleague didn’t bother him. Unlike Lin Quan, he didn’t antagonize Shi Xu, but he paid just as much attention to him.
Facing Shi Xu, he instinctively disregarded their age difference, treating him as a superior.
Shi Xu’s presence was like an impenetrable shield. The phrase “Shi Xu is on our side” boosted morale more than anything.
People admired him, but also feared him. Many incidents proved his ruthlessness.
He showed no mercy to pollutants and Variants, even killing parasitized teammates without hesitation.
Before this, Tan Xiao’s admiration was mixed with fear.
Now, he suddenly felt Shi Xu wasn’t as distant and cold as he appeared, not someone to be feared.
His thoughts clarified, Tan Xiao quickly recovered. “Captain Shi, have you seen Ning Fei?”
Qin Yi and Wang Xuan were dead. Only Ning Fei remained.
Dead or alive, he had to find him.
Shi Xu pointed. “I just came from that direction. I didn’t see…”
Before he finished, a bloodcurdling scream echoed from downstairs.
Before Tan Xiao could react, Shi Xu bolted down the stairs, jumping from the third floor, using the railing to steady himself, the stairs choked with insect corpses.
Tan Xiao followed, landing just as Shi Xu caught him.
He was grateful, but before he could thank Shi Xu, he was pushed back two meters. An insect corpse lay where he had just landed.
Tan Xiao swallowed, realizing Shi Xu hadn’t intended to catch him. He had been presumptuous.
The situation was too dire for negativity.
The insects on the third floor were only ping-pong ball sized. The one Shi Xu just killed was as thick as a man’s arm. They resembled silkworms, completely black, with glowing red eyes.
The first floor was a mess, but with fewer insects than the third floor.
Tan Xiao realized there weren’t just fewer insects, but aside from the one at Shi Xu’s feet, there were no other corpses.
Ning Fei screamed again, reminding Tan Xiao of their purpose.
Before he could move, Shi Xu followed the sound, running outside, down to the basement.
The furniture was destroyed. The basement light still worked, dimly illuminating the scene.
A giant black worm filled the small basement, its body wedged into cracks in the walls, still growing, the walls straining under its pressure. Given enough time, it would burst through the house.
When Tan Xiao arrived, Shi Xu had already rescued Ning Fei from the worm’s mouth.
Covered in foul-smelling slime, Ning Fei was in shock, unable to recognize them, murmuring, “Dead, they’re all dead… It swallowed its companions and the corpses…”
“What happened?” Tan Xiao took Ning Fei from Shi Xu, slapping his face gently. Ning Fei was in no state to answer.
To rescue Ning Fei, Shi Xu had climbed into the worm’s mouth. Despite using his sword, he was still covered in slime.
He discarded his jacket in disgust. His pants were also soiled, but he couldn’t deal with them now.
The contamination made him extremely uneasy.
The worm, sensing the enticing scent, regenerated its severed mouthparts with incredible speed, its massive body surprisingly agile, lunging towards Shi Xu.
“Want… You’re mine…”
The voice was familiar. Tan Xiao stared at the disgusting worm in disbelief.
That was… Lin Zhi’s voice.
Shi Xu sliced the worm into pieces, but it instantly reformed, attacking again, even more aggressively, its gaping mouthparts dripping foul-smelling slime.
It wanted to devour Shi Xu.
Shi Xu severed the worm again, ordering Tan Xiao, “Take Ning Fei and get out of here. Find a signal and call for backup.”
Shi Xu was officially dismissed, no longer Tan Xiao’s superior, but Tan Xiao obeyed, carrying Ning Fei out of the basement.
He knew this was the best course of action. Staying would only hinder Shi Xu. But he couldn’t help but worry, a question arising in his mind—
Was Shi Xu truly invincible?
This question led to others—
Why did they believe Shi Xu could solve any problem?
Shouldn’t Shi Xu, an ordinary human, be protected more than those with abilities?
