Legend of the chosen ones: Beyond Destiny

In the collapsed factory, smoke and dust permeated the area.

Amidst the siege of dozens of ghouls, Wen Wen strode forward as if taking a leisurely walk in a garden, idly waving her hand and impaling the obstructing specters on the sharp crystalline trees that sprouted from the ground.

In response to her questioning, the voice on the phone continued without any irritation or displeasure, as if always in a good mood, patiently facing all the questions and challenges from patients.

After all, the consulting fee of 160,000 federal coins per minute wouldn't be short by even a dime, charged down to the minute if it was less than a minute.

Caller—[Hope Hospital·Laboratory Department]

"The virological sample report for R54447 that you sent in for analysis yesterday, from the patient Zhu Hong, has been completed," said the physician named Mueller in a slow voice. "We regret to inform you that this is not the standard sample of the previous NO.109 Blood Thirst cases but a new bacterial strain that has mutated and evolved from Blood Thirst."

Wen Wen asked, "What does that mean?"

"Well, to put it in layman's terms, it's like an upgraded and specialized version that's even stronger than the original!"

Mueller explained, "As everyone knows, the original version of Blood Thirst came from Central Earth, an epidemic caused by the Mutated loss of control by the sacrificial king of Central Earth. I won't go into the specific symptoms here, but the ultimate result is the host's complete transformation into a β-type ghoul among the Mutated beings.

The strain you've provided is completely different.

Its metamorphosis of the host is merely superficial, resembling more of a tool modification. The blood, life, and even the spiritual essence consumed by the host will ultimately be absorbed by the strain itself.

It's like a parasite, with the emphasis not on the host, but on the strain.

In the end, even the host itself will be completely consumed by the strain, leaving only the strain itself for the controller to manipulate and use. If used properly, it wouldn't be difficult to accumulate a massive amount of life and spiritual essence within just a few days."

At this point, Mueller couldn't help but express his thoughts, "As a tool, this kind of strain is really convenient and cost-effective."

"Wait a minute—"

From the other party's tone, Wen Wen sharply sensed something amiss and instinctively clenched her teeth, "Why are you so well-informed? You wouldn't happen to have connections with this bunch of bastards, would you?"

"Of course, this is our hospital's patent! Forty-one years ago, it was a classic mutant cultivated by the infectious diseases Director Yan," Mueller proudly replied. "Although restricted by the T5 protocol from being widely deployed, there is not a single partner who has purchased the corresponding technology that doesn't praise our hospital's technical level to the skies!"

"You motherf—"

Wen Wen almost crushed her phone, well aware that to the research maniacs at [Hope Hospital], morals and ethics were less applicable than a piece of a diaper, but she still couldn't resist the urge to punch someone.

Why the hell didn't I choose that Matrix back in the day that could beat the crap out of someone through the computer?

Then she wouldn't have to put up with this crap?!

"However, please be assured, our hospital still does not possess the qualifications and permission for external consultations and naturally will not interfere with any territories outside of the hospital district.

According to the cooperation agreement with the Federation Security Bureau, we will definitely offer our full cooperation in the event of terrorist attacks," Mueller quickly said. "By our hospital's regulations, all outcomes and products rated C1 or higher are strictly forbidden from dissemination to non-cooperative parties, and all individuals with access will have their traces recorded in the Visitor Reception Center's archive library.

According to the records, currently, forty-one individuals possess and know how to use this strain.

Among them, the only one with ties to the Dragon Sacrifice Ceremony is 'Andreas Lawrence,' a former emergency medical assistant who was expelled from our hospital sixteen years ago for academic misconduct."

"Or perhaps you're more familiar with his other title..."

Mueller said the name, "[Worm]."

The fugitive on both the Federation and Empire's bounty lists, an escapee from the Northern Mountain Prison, a once key figure in the Empire's Flower Moon tragedy, a Believer.

One of the sixteen Shepherds of the Dragon Sacrifice Ceremony, the Mutated Worm.

"If it's him, you need to be careful," Mueller finally warned. "That guy, when he does something, he always likes to stir up big trouble..."

Wen Wen didn't speak.

She silently turned and looked into the distance from the foot of the mountain... to the Northern Mountain District, where specks of scarlet lights slowly rose.

It was the Mutated spiritual essence that ordinary people couldn't detect with the naked eye, rising into the sky like physical matter, exploding thunderously. Thousands of scarlet tendrils extended and converged, forming a colossal tree woven from blood vessels.

From a sharp laughter, dancing seductively.

.

.

Ten minutes earlier, at Jici Hospital, the inpatient building.

"Time for rounds, time for rounds."

The rushing nurse led the way, knocking on doors one by one, as the attending doctor conducted a visit: "Everyone, please tidy up your odds and ends, don't eat instant noodles on the bed, Auntie, put away your underwear, don't hang it by the door!"

As she spoke, she snatched away a pair of astonishingly large and loose underpants and tossed them back to their owner. Ji Jue was dumbfounded by the side, having come and gone so many times, he'd really thought it was an old man's vest!

Then, the old lady just hung it up again with a backhand!

Seeing this, Ji Jue couldn't help but give a thumbs up,

Truly, tenacious!

"Uncle, if it hurts you can only take painkillers, this is rheumatism and you also have gout. Surgery can only treat the symptoms, you know, drink less alcohol, less broth, eat lighter, okay?"

"There are signs of inflammation in the wound. Communicate with the family, to avoid suppuration, we still need to change the dressing... more expensive by a few bucks but still better than amputation, communicate the situation well."

"It's nearly healed, you'll be able to be discharged soon."

With a soft voice in the background, a low sound of footsteps reached the door— a doctor leaning on crutches, his leg still in a brace. Despite the sultry heat and a thin layer of sweat on his forehead, his expression remained eternally warm and gentle. After checking the condition of the old gentlemen and ladies, his gaze finally turned to Ji Jue in the far corner.

After flipping through the case file in the bed, he pressed on the bruises and the gradually healing burn marks on Ji Jue's back and nodded in satisfaction. "The recovery is good, and you're lucky, no acute renal failure or nerve damage. Observe for another two days, adjust the endocrine and hormone levels."

"Just take your medication on time."

He waved his hand, and a nurse came over to put a standard paper bag into Ji Jue's hand.

"Ah?"

Ji Jue was momentarily baffled and looked down at the paper bag in his hand, "There wasn't this medicine this morning."

"Methylcobalamin, nourishes nerves, supplements vitamin B."

The doctor pushed up his glasses and smiled, "It promotes nerve healing."

Inside the tilted paper bag, two pills, smaller than half a fingernail of his little finger, rolled into Ji Jue's palm. They were a dark red color and smelled just as unpleasant as ordinary medicine, with a bitter taste.

"I'm kinda afraid of the bitterness."

Ji Jue hesitated, "Do I have to take it now?"

The nurse handed him a cup of warm water and urged, "There's another dose in the evening; you'll recover quicker if you take your medication on time."

Ji Jue fell silent.

Looking down at his palm, the two pills that became slightly sticky after absorbing his sweat, and among them, the faint, burning crimson. Up to the barrage of wristwatch pop-up alerts that had been continuously appearing since a while ago.

[Anomaly detected in external spiritual matter. Warning, a large active Mutated Source detected, increased risk of mutation. Warning, unknown Mutant entity detected, warning, warning, warning, warning…]

Warnings, warnings, all day long with the warnings.

Do me a fucking favor and call the police for me!

Ji Jue sighed, just as he was about to speak, but he involuntarily looked towards the door and froze in place.

"Feng bro? When did you get here?"

Unfortunately, there was no Feng bro.

The doctor and the nurse looked back, and apart from the air and a big pair of pants fluttering in the wind, there was nothing there.

Bad news, no divine intervention this time.

The good news, I've got my own divine intervention!

Ji Jue's other hand had already pulled a handgun from under the pillow, aimed at the doctor's forehead, without a second thought, he flicked off the safety, and with the fastest speed and strength of his life, he pulled the trigger.

The roar burst forth in an instant, overlapping, the erupting muzzle flare danced and spread, fleeting, but lingering in the loud noise.

In less than a second, Ji Jue could almost no longer feel his fingertips.

But he had no time to care about that.

The moment he pulled the trigger, he had already leapt from the hospital bed, jumping backward, his back shattering the window, falling from the fourth floor downward.

The fourth floor, twelve meters, below was a shed for electric bicycles.

With a bit of luck, he wouldn't die on impact.

As long as he didn't die, he could escape by climbing onto an electric bicycle.

At the very least, by escalating the situation, the other party would have to tread...

Tread on what?

With the wind rushing past his face, his mind went blank, suddenly jamming and forgetting the rest.

Because of the fall, it abruptly stopped!

Ji Jue dangled mid-air, clutching a gun with its muzzle glowing red, struggling awkwardly, yet unable to break free... from that strange tentacle wrapped around his ankle.

Then, another tentacle stretched out from the window, wrapping around his right leg.

Next, his hands.

It even bothered not to take the empty gun, which only clicked uselessly in his hand.

Just like that, gently, slowly, with utmost care, they pulled him back into the hospital room.

Placed him on the bed.

In the dead silence as if even the sound of breathing had disappeared, only the people and nurses in the surrounding beds looked towards him with hollow eyes.

Like Chang Ghosts.

And right in front of him were the doctor's face, skull, neck, and chest—riddled with bullet holes, with blood slowly oozing out of them.

Peering through the cracks, one could glimpse the wriggling tentacles, slowly extending from the facial fissures and dancing.

"Was I discovered? How strange."

The shattered but still smiling face slowly rose, with that nightmare-induced, raspy voice filled with admiration, "Truly worthy of being the Chosen One who stayed self-aware even after ten years of curses!

Just this insight and sense of smell alone are eye-opening. No… it's even more astounding that, upon sensing something wrong, you had the determination to draw a gun on a stranger."

"I damn your MUA to a [beep]!"

Ji Jue struggled in vain, but was ultimately restrained by strap after strap, immobilized, like a zombie, as a nurse stepped forward and injected something into his neck.

Then, darkness fell before his eyes.

He blacked out.

In the last instant, the phone screen under the covers lit up, the messaging interface popped up, sending a final message to Wen Wen from the contact list.

——Save save save save save save save!!!!