MCL CH5

Chapter 5: A Little Twisted

In the midst of fleeing at full speed, Lin Xi briefly reflected on the life that should have already ended.

If obtaining this new body counted as a new life, then even across both lives combined, he had only been chased like this a handful of times—let alone in such a humiliatingly disheveled manner.

Taking aside the cause and effect, the current scene made Lin Xi feel that he was more like the contaminant. Everywhere he passed, those who were still barely maintaining human form suddenly had their mutation intensified. The seeds remaining in their bodies sprouted instantly, producing swaths of contaminants that joined in the frenzied chase.

[I didn’t expect them to work so hard just to catch you.]

The voice in his mind fell into serious contemplation: [But why? What’s worth abandoning the incubation process and forcefully mutating? Could it be—that you really do smell delicious?]

Lin Xi didn’t dignify that brainless question with an answer. He simply threw out his own: “What levels are these contaminants?”

[These newborn forms are much weaker than the main body. By human standards, at most D-class.]

Lin Xi: “Good enough.”

[Huh? What are you looking for?]

“To hold on until rescue arrives, of course I need some weapons.”

As he spoke, Lin Xi happened to reach a corner. He suddenly kicked open the black glass of the built-in wall compartment.

Crash—!

The sound of shattering glass rang in his ears, mingling with the lethal swoosh of pursuing wind behind him.

Without looking back, Lin Xi reacted like lightning, pulling out the firearm from the safety case and opening fire the moment he turned.

A rain of splattering sap erupted as the onrushing vines were forced back several meters by the concentrated barrage. Taking advantage of this short reprieve, Lin Xi leapt up the stairwell in one bound, sprinting upstairs.

[You knew there were weapons here?]

“Though not a front-line facility, a quarantine zone still deals with mutation cases. Engineers always design with contingency in mind.” With chaotic noises surrounding him, the din of a zone in collapse echoing from all directions, Lin Xi’s demeanor barely shifted beyond heavier breaths. “Unlike some brainless contaminant who blindly imagines ‘good news’ out of thin air, humans do know how to prepare ahead.”

Blindly optimistic.

Feeling the jab, the so-called King of Contaminants muttered indignantly: […I suspect you’re insulting me, but I can’t prove it.]

Lin Xi chuckled softly without confirming or denying it, then glanced down at the weapon in his hands.

The emergency equipment was specialized anti-contaminant weaponry, capable of explosive damage, meant to give even ordinary civilians a chance at survival. The multi-form firearm he now held was visibly far more advanced than those from his former lifetime.

As he continued running, Lin Xi eliminated several pursuing contaminants. But with each skirmish, his not-yet-fully-recovered body grew heavier with exhaustion.

Bursting through another corridor, just as he was about to ascend, he stopped abruptly and leapt back a step reflexively.

A heartbeat later, the stair beneath him broke apart—an enormous vine exploded out of the concrete.

The scene was nauseating.

The surging mass of vines pulsed as though alive, a grotesque continuum of cellular overgrowth like swollen, soaking meat. From it bloomed lurid blossoms, which upon opening revealed not petals but countless unblinking eyeballs.

They rolled restlessly, then all fixed on Lin Xi.

The terrifying vision chilled the very air.

Yet Lin Xi only smiled faintly. “So this is the source? Doesn’t look too clever.”

[Low-level contaminants aren’t very intelligent. The fact it caught up this fast is impressive enough. Looks like this quarantine zone’s fertilizers raised it well. As a C-class contaminant, it shouldn’t even be this large. Seems it’s nearing evolution.]

[But wait—once it evolves, it could turn this zone into a full contamination field. Not just C-class, maybe even reaching B-class or A-class in time! But why roam around at such a critical moment? Could it be… just to find you?]

After pondering briefly, the voice confirmed delightedly: [Looks like it really likes you!]

“Oh? Listening to you, should I be honored?” Lin Xi’s expression remained calm as the countless eyes filled with frenzy. Before the seething mass could reach him, he switched the output mode on his firearm and pulled the trigger steadily.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Shots cracked through the suffocating scene. Exploding eyeballs sprayed foul-smelling fluid. A vine lashed for his throat but was caught in his other hand, where Lin Xi tore free the hidden knife from the gun hilt and hacked down hard.

Wet rending sounds reverberated. Lin Xi ignored the black-green gore splashing his clothes. He kicked aside the severed branch and drove the blade deep into another vine, pinning it to the wall.

Juices spattered everywhere, souring the air. But Lin Xi only felt relief that the pollen scent had dispersed somewhat.

He narrowed his eyes, lips curling slightly. “So—what should I do?”

[Ha, finally asking what to do? Realizing you’re worried at last—]

Lin Xi continued unhurriedly, “What I should do is dislike being pursued in disgrace like this. Yet, strangely, I find myself… liking it.”

[???]

More vines surged forward. Behind, the sound of newborn abominations gathering swelled.

Though the crisis deepened, the smile in Lin Xi’s eyes only sharpened.

In barely any time, he was drenched in sweat, like he’d crawled from a pool. His body bore lacerations everywhere, raw wounds mingling with the contaminants’ viscous fluids—a horrific sight.

Yet he was still smiling.

Those mismatched irises made his expression all the more unnervingly radiant.

A mutated subject in a patient gown lunged. Lin Xi kicked him sprawling, turned his weapon, and perforated another half-mutated researcher into a sieve. Perspiration dripped from red hair onto sculpted collarbones.

“Human physical limits are certainly a problem.” Amidst the chaos, his pale face was creased not in despair but with rising joy. “But perhaps precisely because of our frailty, everything feels… meaningful again. The desperate struggle of ants, pain’s fear, despair dogging every step—don’t you think it’s nostalgic? It feels like I’ve finally remembered what it means—to be alive.”

After a long silence, the voice in his head stated flatly: [You’re a little twisted.]

“Am I?” Lin Xi’s form was steadily breaking down, yet his grin only widened. Blood quickened in his veins; even the acrid, cloying reek around him put him in high spirits. “I’m just like any ordinary man—cherishing life.”

Facing another rushing mutant, he raised his eyes lazily and did not dodge. The thorn drove straight into his shoulder, crimson blooming. His pain-twisted grin spread brighter. “See? It still hurts—that’s wonderful.”

[…]

Seriously? You’d rather take a stab just to savor pain than avoid it?

Watching him court ruin so recklessly, the King of Contaminants who crafted his body didn’t know whether to ache or laugh, only sneering: [Yeah, keep reveling. Pain long enough becomes death, don’t forget.]

“No matter. If I really die, you can always come out then.”

The tang of blood spread, exciting the surrounding contaminants further.

Lin Xi grew more excited too.

Slashing through creeping vines, he spared no glance at the rotting tissue still twitching, but turned toward a faint sound near the window.

In the dim light, his tall, blood-drenched form staggered like it might at any moment collapse. A web of corruption closed over him like a cage. Yet beneath his red fringe, those heterochromatic eyes showed not the joy of rescue—even as sirens finally pierced the air.

A thin beam of light fell across his pale, smiling lips. His voice was low, tinged with regret: “Looks like… rescue is finally here.”

Countless alarms tore the silence above the suburban outskirts.

Qi Xian stared heavily at the isolation block now completely overrun with vines.

If Wanyuan Corporation hadn’t warned him, he might never have noticed—he had overlooked the quarantine zone right under his nose.

A few days ago, their communications from the quarantine zone had still seemed orderly, leading him—distracted by the citywide hunt—not to worry. Not until the group’s reminder led him to check again did he find the zone had already been completely overrun.

Now, the moment the crisis was confirmed, the zone was ringed with barricades. Armed squads moved urgently about. The scene was taut with peril.

Who could have guessed—a place meant to serve as the rear guard during rift cleansings would itself become the new epicenter?

Tracking the contaminant’s presence meant at least it would no longer spread toward the city. But staring at the state of the quarantine building, no one could smile.

As the division responsible, they knew exactly how many were inside. But from the looks of it, all personnel inside had been wiped out.

Qi Xian’s expression darkened further. Without a doubt, this catastrophe was his failure.

The crowd stirred suddenly. Someone shouted, “Captain, that car—it looks like—”

Qi Xian followed the voice. When his gaze fell on the black Cadillac, he froze.

The Corporation had already done enough in helping them pinpoint the contaminant’s location—more than sufficient favor.

But now—Yan Xingzhou himself had personally come?