Chapter 99: Chapter 94: Qin Hu’s Decision, Upgrading Items

Lin Feng was stunned.

The earlier news had been within his expectations, but what Qin Hu said last was completely out of them.

’Cheng Zhan is back?’

’How did that guy get back!?’

’Even he had to give the Tiger Spine Zergs a wide berth. How could an ordinary Awakener, one with only a Physical Enhancement, come and go from the treacherous Zerg Nest as he pleased?’

"That’s... impossible..."

Lin Feng replied, slightly surprised.

But Qin Hu confirmed it:

"He’s definitely back. What’s more, he’s completed his Awakening and is now the Thirteenth Division’s only Tier Two Awakener."

"Cheng Zhan not only returned safely, but he also scouted out the layout of the Zerg Nest and even saw the elusive Mother Empress."

"This valuable intelligence, along with the fact he killed several Tiger Spine Zergs himself, means..."

"He’s about to take my place..."

"...to command the Awakened Camp."

Lin Feng frowned, still skeptical:

"But you’re a Tier Two Awakener too. You saved so many new recruits on the front lines. You’re a hero of the Federation. How can they just replace you like that...?"

Qin Hu let out a self-deprecating laugh.

"I can’t even beat a Tier One Awakener now. How can I have the nerve to call myself a Tier Two Awakener?"

"As for being a hero... have you ever seen a one-legged hero? One who needs to be helped by others just to escape on the battlefield?"

"Besides, so-called heroes are just tools for those in power. They can be replaced whenever necessary."

Hearing the dejection in his voice, Lin Feng changed the subject.

"So you’ve decided to go through with the Research Institute’s bio-genetic modification program?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end.

"That’s right."

"If I want to stay on the front lines and keep fighting, this is my only chance."

Lin Feng took a deep breath.

"But you have a wife and a daughter. They’re waiting for you to come home. You were wounded in action; you didn’t desert. Surely the Federation wouldn’t be so vile, would it?"

Qin Hu’s voice grew heavier.

"No... I’m the one who wants to stay."

"My parents were on the northern coast. They were all killed beneath the giant mandibles of the Alien Zerg Race. I’m going to hunt them down and exterminate them..."

"As for my wife and daughter, they’ve been safely settled in the safety zone. If one day even the Northwest Safety Zone is breached, it means humanity will have been utterly defeated, with extinction imminent."

"There will be nowhere left to run."

"My mind is made up. Don’t try to talk me out of it."

Lin Feng let out a low sigh and changed his tone.

"I know people at the Research Institute and understand the details of the gene modification. They’ll inject you with Zerg Race genes. Limb regeneration is incredibly easy for the Zerg Race, but you’ll be gradually affected by their genes. The physical changes aside, even your inner consciousness will suffer from erosion."

"You might even instinctively feel the urge to retreat when facing the Mother Empress, leaving you powerless to fight."

"Only someone with exceptionally strong Willpower can endure this dual torment of mind and body."

"I hope you’re prepared."

The line was quiet for a moment, then Qin Hu’s low voice came through.

"Understood. Thank you."

"There’s something else I should tell you..."

"Remember, the Wu City campaign won’t last long. Even if we can halt the Swarm’s advance, Jin City will face an invasion from Zerg Race Mother Empresses on other fronts, from both the north and south, within half a month."

"The Thirteenth Division’s mission is to delay them for one week. After that, we’ll fall back to Huizhou with the main army."

"The fall of Jiangnan Province is inevitable."

"Don’t get your hopes up. Run when you have to."

"Lin Feng, what I’m about to say next is for your ears only."

"With the loss of over a dozen coastal provinces, the Federation’s logistics are already in dire straits. Even with new production lines being rushed into service, they can only supply the needs of the northern provinces."

"From what I’m hearing from the top, they’re most likely going to abandon the South."

"Once the supply lines are cut, large-scale resistance organizations like the Thirteenth Division will become unsustainable. And because of their flat terrain and extensive river systems, Huizhou and Yujiang Province won’t be able to hold out for more than a few months..."

"That is when the true age of chaos will begin!"

"Small groups of a few hundred or a thousand will become active on the front lines, fighting the Zerg Race, who will have scattered to consolidate their vast new territory."

"In a time of chaos, everyone must rely on their own strength. This will be your time to rise quickly. Seize the opportunity..."

Staring at the disconnected call, Lin Feng was lost in thought.

’It seemed Qin Hu was well aware of his ambitions. Or rather, most people with real power thought along the same lines.’

’The only reason the Federation could still issue commands was because of its logistical support. Once those supply lines were gone, an army of over ten thousand like the Thirteenth Division would surely have to retreat to the rear, at most carrying out a few sporadic delaying actions along the way.’

’There would be no more large-scale campaigns like the one in Wu City.’

’It seemed that besides the direct cause of Cheng Zhan’s unexpected return, the Federation’s reluctant intention to abandon the southern provinces was also a major factor driving Qin Hu to join the modification program.’

’In the face of the coming chaos, personal strength was the ultimate guarantee of survival.’

’Once the modification surgery succeeded and he had the full power of a Tier Two Awakening, Qin Hu could easily handle even a massive Swarm.’

’Although from Lin Feng’s perspective, the gene modification surgery had too many downsides, an ordinary Awakener like Qin Hu didn’t have many options. Now that he had a chance for a meteoric rise in power, it was only natural to seize it.’

After thinking things through, Lin Feng put his phone away. He informed Chen Yanyan of the subsequent arrangements, then notified Shen Jie and the others about the arrival of the new recruits.

Now that they were all Awakeners, their own strength was sufficient to lead a small squad of new recruits, saving Lin Feng the trouble of hand-picking and promoting leaders.

After taking care of business, Lin Feng handed the ten Black Spine Living Zergs from his trunk over to the truck Hu Fei had arranged.

He planned to use the remaining ten for other purposes.

Taking a bit more time, Lin Feng crafted eight lv9 Red Armor Shields, each one costing forty Shells to make.

Fortunately, thanks to the reserves Qin Hu had sent earlier, plus the hundreds of Shells Shen Jie and the others had collected when they went to the front lines to kill Red-Armored Beetles for their enhancements, he had a massive pile of several hundred Shells stacked up in the hotel room.

Now they were being put to good use, transformed in Lin Feng’s hands into lv9 Red Armor Shields with a Defense rating of 45.

It was enough to withstand an attack from any Red-Armored Beetle.

If they happened to be attacked by a Black Spine Zerg, it could save their life, even if they were heavily wounded.

After he was done, Lin Feng stored a few more Shells to maintain his Shield Armor Form, then gave the new shields to Shen Jie and the others to equip.

Everyone was naturally overjoyed to receive the new defensive equipment.

On the battlefield, the means to stay alive were far more precious than any weapon.

Firearms could kill the enemy, but they couldn’t prevent the unexpected.

They pressed the button on the Back Armor at their waists, and the armor immediately shifted into its full-body Shield Armor Form. The group looked at each other, excitedly and curiously sizing up one another’s new appearance.

Some even drew their upgraded daggers to test the armor, only managing to leave a faint scratch.

Lin Feng began to explain:

"This is just basic Red Armor, made from the shells of Red-Armored Beetles. I went out yesterday and found out the Research Institute has already developed it. The Thirteenth Division will be equipped with it soon."

"However, the ones you’re wearing are the highest-grade Red Armor. They can even withstand fire from a Heavy Machine Gun. Even if you’re attacked by a Black Spine Zerg, the Damage you take will be greatly reduced."

"Of course, this isn’t the best Battle Armor out there."

"The Red Profound Armor, which is made from Black Spine Zergs, or even the Wing Armor that allows for flight, like the one I had on the front—as long as you work hard and kill zergs, you’ll have a chance to get them!"

As he spoke, Lin Feng activated it with a thought. The Arm Guard on his arm instantly transformed into the Flying Tiger Armor, enveloping his entire body. Its ferocious appearance was far more refined and formidable than the Red Armor, which was two quality tiers lower. The outer plates alone seemed to radiate an intense, oppressive aura.

The eight of them were ecstatic at the sight. The joy of receiving the Red Armor was immediately transformed by Lin Feng’s words into boundless anticipation.

Seeing his goal was achieved, Lin Feng dismissed them.

Next, he still had to spend some time planting the high-explosive charges hidden at the auto repair shop along the retreat route behind the service area. He also needed to convert the Fine Steel plates from Han Yuxin into a lv9 Divine-level Pistol.

The arduous night passed.

Early the next morning, several military trucks rolled in. Li Ran was leading less than a hundred new recruits...

...to garrison the service area.