Chapter 38: The Strange Incubation Chamber

"These monsters... they're just too relentless!"

Xia Tong’s icy gaze swept across the battlefield, and she quickly noticed something suspicious. Although the mutant dogs had surrounded the two humans and were growling incessantly, their primary target did not seem to be the humans themselves, but rather a tightly sealed alloy incubation pod not far behind them, which was emitting a faint, eerie blue light.

The pod was about half a person's height, crafted entirely from an unknown alloy, with complex patterns etched into its surface, radiating a weak yet exceptionally pure energy fluctuation.

"Their target is that incubation pod?" A thought flickered through Xia Tong's mind, and she held back her impulse to strike.

There must be something important inside!

"Roar!"

Just then, a particularly massive mutant dog lunged forward, slamming fiercely into the energy shield protecting the fat man.

With a sharp *crack*, the already fractured energy shield shattered, its glow fading into nothingness.

Backlashed by his own power, the fat man spat out a mouthful of blood. His body staggered uncontrollably backward, his face turning as pale as paper. He heaved, gasping for breath; it was clear his energy was exhausted.

"Old Wang!" the woman in the lab coat screamed, firing her energy gun wildly, but the shots only left shallow scorch marks on the mutant dogs' thick hides.

The mutant dogs, seemingly irritated by these ineffective attacks, emitted low growls. Foul-smelling saliva dripped from their maws as they prepared to rush forward and tear the two to shreds.

The air in the laboratory seemed to freeze, thick with the scent of despair.

At this critical juncture, a black shadow descended from above like a bolt of lightning, moving too quickly for the eye to track.

*Squelch! Squelch! Squelch!*

A series of dull thuds echoed as sharp blades sliced into flesh.

The ferocious mutant dogs suddenly froze. A deep, bone-reaching bloodline appeared at the juncture of their necks and bodies. Immediately after, their massive heads rolled to the ground, and dark red blood sprayed out, staining the cold floor.

The entire process took no more than a single breath.

The fat man and the woman in the lab coat were stunned. They hadn't even seen what had attacked.

It wasn't until the black shadow landed lightly on a nearby workbench that they realized, in horror, that it was a small cat—entirely jet black, with eyes like eerie, glazed glass!

"A... a cat?"

The fat man stammered, unable to believe his eyes. He rubbed them, thinking he was hallucinating from blood loss.

The woman in the lab coat also widened her eyes, her body trembling from the sheer shock. A cat? It had killed several mutant dogs with strength comparable to Tier 1 awakened beings in seconds?

How was that possible?

Could it be... that it was also a mutant creature?

Xia Tong ignored the shock of the two humans.

She elegantly licked her paw, her glazed cat eyes glancing coldly at the headless dog corpses on the floor before turning back to the glowing alloy pod. That pure energy fluctuation made the phantom wood-element crystal core germinating within her feel a sense of longing.

What on earth was inside that thing?

At the same time, the "Source Core" notification chimed in her mind:

[Killed Tier 1, 3-Star Raging Mutant Dog, Experience +5]
[Killed Tier 1, 2-Star Raging Mutant Dog, Experience +4]
[Killed Tier 1, 2-Star Raging Mutant Dog, Experience +4]
[Current Experience: 50/100]

...

After the initial shock, the woman in the lab coat stifled her racing heart and spoke up.

"This... this... Master Cat?"

Her throat bobbed as she tried to speak, her voice dry and hoarse. She wasn't sure if this bizarre cat could understand her, but given the situation, she had no other choice but to attempt communication.

The fat man was also filled with vigilance and fear, subconsciously shielding the woman behind him, though he could barely stand and his arms were trembling slightly.

This black cat that had suddenly appeared to kill their enemies was no ordinary creature.

Xia Tong paced toward the incubation pod, ignoring their reactions.

"What do you want to do?"

Seeing the black cat approaching their final achievement, the fat man finally couldn't help but roar, summoning his courage. Though his voice lacked conviction and his trembling body betrayed his inner terror, he absolutely could not let the creature touch their hard-won work!

Xia Tong stopped and slowly turned her head, her glazed eyes staring at the fat man without a trace of emotion.

The fat man felt a chill run down his spine as if he were being hunted by some primordial beast. A cold shiver shot from his heels to his skull. He wanted to say something, but he found his throat constricted, unable to utter a single word.

"We... we mean no harm," the woman in the lab coat said quickly, her body tensed with nerves. "This pod... it's dangerous, it—"

Before she could finish, Xia Tong moved again, walking straight toward the pod. Her movements were light, yet carried an unquestionable sense of oppression.

"Stop!"

The fat man lunged forward to block the pod. Even though his legs were shaking, he held his ground. "You can't touch it! The thing inside... once it goes out of control, the entire abandoned sector will..."

Xia Tong narrowed her eyes; her remaining patience had evaporated.

She flickered, moving so fast that she left only a blur behind.

"Urgh!"

The fat man felt a massive force hit him. He flew backward like a broken kite, slamming hard into the distant wall with a dull thud before sliding to the floor. Scarlet blood spilled from his lips, and he lost all ability to resist.

The entire process was fluid and swift; he hadn't even seen how she struck.

"Old Wang!" the woman cried out, wanting to rush over, but she was stopped by Xia Tong’s icy glare.

The room fell into dead silence.

Xia Tong stood before the incubation pod, the complex patterns and the eerie blue light reflecting in her glazed eyes. She reached out a paw and gently touched the surface of the pod.

A weak but refined energy leaked out, traveling through her paw tip and making the phantom crystal core within her tremble slightly.

The thing inside this container... it was something special.

"I'll take this."

A cold, indifferent female voice rang out abruptly in the ruined laboratory.

Upon hearing this, the woman in the white lab coat widened her eyes, staring at the black cat in disbelief.

The voice... it came from the cat?

A cat... actually spoke?

She felt her perception of reality being completely overturned.

Perhaps there were rumors, but she had never seen a mutant creature that could speak with her own eyes. Given that this was happening right in front of her, her terror was beyond measure.

"What... what are you exactly?"

Her voice trembled, unable to be masked. She would rather believe this was a disguised robotic cat than accept the fact that a mutant cat could speak.

Xia Tong did not answer her question, stating calmly, "Tell me how to open the incubation pod." She didn't want to waste any more effort dealing with these two; there was no telling how much more trouble might follow.

Hearing this, the woman's expression shifted repeatedly. She glanced at the fat man lying on the ground, his fate unknown, then looked at the black cat radiating a terrifying aura. Her heart was filled with despair and helplessness.

She knew clearly that resistance was futile; the final outcome would likely be death.

And right now, it seemed there might be room for negotiation with this cat.

Thoughts raced through her mind, and she quickly made her decision.