Chapter 6: Graveyard

Chapter 6: The Graveyard

One night later.

At 6 a.m., Chen Jian, having finished his final watch, stretched his slightly sore limbs and took off his smart goggles.

The display showed the battery still at 60%; calculated for full-day use, it could last at most three days.

The situation was dire—not only were supplies depleted and ammunition low, but now even power was beginning to run out.

Once the battery died, all electronic devices would become unusable, and the combat effectiveness of his small squad would likely plummet off a cliff.

——

Of course, Chen Jian did not rely on electronic devices.

Even setting aside all electronics, purely in terms of tactical proficiency and personal ability, the four members of his squad were absolutely at the pinnacle of humanity on Earth.

But the question is, who would refuse to be stronger?

Losing the drone’s vision, losing the night vision goggles and smart goggles’ assistance, even some not-so-dangerous fights could become fraught with peril.

Chen Jian furrowed his brow, but upon seeing his face clearly, the locals instead wore expressions of pleasant surprise.

"I thought... you were hunters too."

The woman who had first spoken to Chen Jian approached, examined him closely, and then said:

"You are pure-bloods, just like us!"

Her tone carried a hint of excitement, yet Chen Jian keenly noticed a flicker of disappointment in the eyes of the so‑called mutant beside her, Du Hu.

He was a hunter, but he was not a pure‑blood.

So what, exactly, distinguishes the two?

Chen Jian turned to the woman and asked:

"How did he become like that?"

"You don’t know?"

"I don’t."

Chen Jian answered candidly.

He had no need to conceal anything, for after a night of observation he had completely gauged the strength of this refugee squad.

Their firepower remained at the cold‑weapon stage; they possessed no electronic devices whatsoever, and they had absolutely no capacity for external communication.

Such a squad, viewing them as a potential threat would already be giving them too much credit; in the era he once knew, these people would simply have been objects of protection.

Therefore, in the face of severe intelligence scarcity, rather than probing with heavy suspicion, it was better to communicate openly and honestly.

Only thus could sufficient information be gathered in the shortest time, and only then could reasonable plans be made for subsequent operations.

After hearing Chen Jian’s answer, the woman first glanced at Du Hu, then lowered her voice slightly and replied:

"He drank the monster’s blood, but it was not holy blood."

"All hunters must drink blood; only then can they grow stronger."

"But... not everyone survives."

"He was fortunate, yet still not enough."

"Understood."

Chen Jian nodded thoughtfully, gestured to He Shuo beside him, and moments later several new pieces of intel were swiftly updated in the briefing system.

"Mutation is linked to blood; a viral origin is likely."

"After mutation the human body gains enhancement; ‘holy blood’ has a greater effect, or perhaps fewer side effects."

"Humanity uses mutation to fight the monsters."

"The monsters’ origin is probably related to mutation."

Just a few sentences of exchange, and the basic framework of this post‑apocalyptic world was already established.

What remained to be done was merely to fill that framework with detail.

After a brief pause, Chen Jian continued his question:

"In this world, are there any places where monsters do not exist?"

"I don’t know."

The woman sighed and answered:

"If such places exist, they are to the north."

"The north is the territory of the holy‑blooded and the Machine God Cult; perhaps there monsters are fewer."

"But they have long abandoned this place; they will not come to save us."

"We were basically doomed." "Fortunately you cleared out the mantises here; before the next patrol, at least we can go out to gather food."

"As long as we catch game, we can hold out for at least another month."

The words fell, and Chen Jian instantly furrowed his brow.

"Hold out for another month?"

"Do they still intend to stay here?"

"Why don’t you leave the city? When we came in from outside we saw no trace of monsters; perhaps it’s far safer out there, isn’t it?"

Chen Jian’s words fell, and all the refugees’ gazes locked onto him.

The woman’s face showed a wry smile, then she spoke:

"As long as the mother body lives, we cannot leave—and neither can you."

"The mother’s territory extends far beyond what we can see; within her domain she perceives everything."

"She knows all, she can do all."

"Those who tried to leave died; only those who remain here can barely survive."

The woman’s words were hazy, yet they carried a hint of religious fervor.

It seemed, in her eyes, that this so‑called mother body had already donned the guise of a mythic creature.

Chen Jian had no patience for such talk, for after carefully studying the infrared signature captured by the drone he realized that every aspect of the monster was eerily familiar.

Whether it was the heat pattern formed by blood flow, or the muscle groups wrapped around the bones.

Whether it was the distinctly whip‑shaped bone segments on the tail, or the faint hairs visible on the tentacles.

Every detail unmistakably conveyed a fact:

"Though strange, the creature was a perfectly standard carbon‑based lifeform."

"And as long as it is carbon‑based, it absolutely cannot possess abilities that transcend physical laws."

"So you may call it strong—against unarmed humans it indeed is overwhelming—but"

"to claim it is omnipotent and omniscient?"

Didn't it fail to find us last night, the four of us who are the ones responsible for killing several of its little brothers?

Chen Jian eyed the woman suspiciously; she seemed unsure how to answer, and finally said only:

"You should go see for yourselves."

"There is a place; once you go and see it, you'll know why."

"What place?"

Chen Jian pressed on.

"A gravesite."

The woman drew a deep breath and replied:

"A graveyard fashioned by the mother body."

"There you will find the answers you seek; after seeing it, you'll know why we cannot leave."

Still a vague, misty answer; Chen Jian's mind filled with question marks, unable to fathom what the woman meant.

It seemed he had no other choice.

If he didn't go, he would face utter unknown danger, possibly being trapped forever in this city.

But if he goes, the danger of recklessly venturing into unknown territory to explore is not necessarily low either.

Chen Jian hesitated a little, and at that moment the woman spoke up opportunistically:

"We are about to go there to gather food."

"If you want to go, you can come along."

As her words fell, Chen Jian slowly nodded.

Then he spoke to the other team members:

"Gear up, prepare to depart!"

(End of chapter)