Starting from Prototype to Immortality

Chapter 9: Drawing Attention

"Very good. With this, I can now spread the Blacklight Virus to the outside world."

Chang Wei looked at the infected creature under his control with satisfaction. Every action and thought of the infected was under his command. However, he had no idea how the Blacklight Virus established this connection or if it could be disrupted.

Although the system's explanation was detailed, it couldn't cover every aspect, leaving Chang Wei to figure things out on his own.

Next, Chang Wei decided to test the combat strength of this infected creature. Naturally, the targets were other creatures infected by the Blacklight Virus.

The comparison results were clear: ordinary infected were no match at all. It usually only took a single strike for the controlled infected to kill a regular infected. Even the previously troublesome bloated infected were effortlessly disemboweled, killed within two slashes.

Finally, Chang Wei's curiosity led him to pit the controlled infected against a Hunter.

"Roar!!!"

The Hunter clashed violently with the infected, sending the latter flying hundreds of meters with a single slap. The impact embedded the infected into a wall, shattering its hardened shell. Yet it survived, struggling free from the wall's constraints before charging at the Hunter again.

Initially, the Hunter ignored it; infected creatures attacking Hunters were a rarity and typically insignificant. But seeing this creature return for another round infuriated the Hunter.

This time, the infected had learned its lesson. It slashed at the Hunter, leaving a deep gash that exposed bone and caused blood to spurt out. Enraged by the pain, the Hunter used its full strength to slap the infected to death in a single blow.

"The difference in mass is too significant," Chang Wei analyzed, "but being able to withstand a Hunter's slap... this outer shell's defense must rival tank armor."

As the Hunter began to retreat, Chang Wei raised his hand, releasing an electric arc that struck the creature.

The Hunter collapsed, convulsing on the ground. Even Alex Mercer himself could be subdued with a C electric baton, let alone a Hunter.

With the electric current increasing, the Hunter's spasms became more violent. Meanwhile, Chang Wei "commanded" the sub-body of the dead infected to emerge.

The corpse of the infected, whose upper half had been turned to pulp, began to writhe. Blood and flesh split open, and a sub-body emerged. After Chang Wei ceased the electric current, the sub-body swiftly burrowed into the Hunter.

Chang Wei's sub-bodies were incredibly difficult to kill, possessing the same regenerative abilities as him. Moreover, being inside a corpse offered additional protection.

Once the sub-body entered the Hunter, the latter's convulsions grew even more intense. It seemed as though it were struggling on the brink of death. In reality, the Blacklight Virus within the Hunter was so potent that the sub-body required more time to complete its infection and transformation.

Soon, Chang Wei observed black spikes protruding from the Hunter's body. These spikes were formed by the Blacklight Virus. Additionally, the Hunter's originally defenseless pink skin became covered with a hardened layer of the virus.

"Roar!!!"

The Hunter was reborn, becoming even stronger. Hunters were already formidable creatures; they could block the 120mm smoothbore cannon of a tank with just a claw and remain unscathed. After this enhancement, this Hunter might even be able to take on a Leader Hunter or Supreme Hunter.

"Go create more infected," Chang Wei ordered. The armored Hunter quickly sprinted off in a specific direction.

Thanks to the sub-body's tenacious vitality, Chang Wei didn't have to worry much. Even if the host were killed, the sub-body could play dead, waiting for the right moment to parasitize a new host. It would only fail if its core was discovered and destroyed—otherwise, it was like the Terror Drone from Red Alert.

Next on the agenda was finding Elizabeth Greene.

Chang Wei refused to believe he couldn't locate this woman after searching the entire infected zone.

Little did he know, Alex Mercer was also looking for him.

The reason was tied to Elizabeth Greene. Following Chang Wei's instructions, Mercer had managed to find her, but she didn't provide the answers he sought. Instead, she escaped, causing the infection zone to expand dramatically.

Feeling deceived, Alex Mercer was determined to track down Chang Wei for an explanation.

However, finding Chang Wei wasn't easy. For a long time, he had been focused on strengthening himself. It wasn't until he gained his Electric Form, Flight Form, and Four-Armed Overlord Form that he felt confident enough to act more openly and pursue further enhancements.

Even Blackwatch couldn't locate Chang Wei, let alone Alex Mercer and his sister.

But today, Chang Wei made an appearance, immediately drawing the attention and focus of both sides.

"Chang Wei has appeared," Mercer's sister informed him.

"He's appeared?" Mercer's excitement was palpable.

"Today, Blackwatch was attacked in the infected zone. The attacker was reported to be an infected capable of disguise—they suspect it's you."