Chapter 28: Tato

Morningstar found a vehicle; it resembled a motorcycle from her past life, though it lacked wheels and hovered instead. Relying on the superficial driving experience from her previous life, Lian Fei managed to get it moving.

"You should stay here," Lian Fei said. "Or, I can take you to the Third Squad."

Xie Yu shook her head. "I'm coming with you. I know a path that will get us there quickly."

Lian Fei thought for a moment before letting her climb on. As Xie Yu leaned in, Lian Fei shivered from the sudden chill. Lian Fei glanced down at the hands wrapped around her midsection but said nothing, starting the vehicle. The craft moved at extreme speed; according to Morningstar’s time estimate, they would reach their destination in five minutes.

"How did you escape from there?" Lian Fei asked.

"I was off today, so I went into town; I wasn't at the laboratory," Xie Yu replied. "Later, my colleague told me that the First Laboratory had been occupied by the Zerg. I didn't believe it, so I wanted to go back and check. Before I could even get inside, I was so terrified by the Zerg that I ran away." She paused, then added, "By the way, Lian Fei, the Queen is on the basement level. You should go to the fourth floor first, to Room 404. That’s where the experimental data is kept... including the files on you. Please, go and retrieve those records!"

Lian Fei acknowledged this with a nod. Seeing her silence, Xie Yu fell quiet as well.

As they neared their destination, Lian Fei spoke again: "Do you usually wear perfume?"

Xie Yu was startled. "Researchers are not allowed to wear perfume. Even our toiletries aren't permitted to have any scent." She paused, then asked suspiciously, "Lian Fei, what do you mean by that question?"

"Just asking," Lian Fei replied, stopping on a small hill five hundred meters from the First Laboratory. "We're here."

Xie Yu took a look and hopped off. After dismounting, Lian Fei handed the keys to her. "Now, go find a safe place to hide. Once I’m out, I’ll take you to the Third Squad."

This time, Xie Yu did not protest. She looked at Lian Fei with deep concern. "Please, be careful."

Lian Fei nodded, gave her one last long look, and turned to walk toward the First Laboratory. However, just as she was about to take her first step, she spotted a small, snow-white kitten squatting on a large boulder nearby. Behind the kitten, seven tails lashed about aggressively.

"Tatuo?" Lian Fei whispered instinctively. *No, how could Tatuo be here? Isn't that just a setting from the simulation?*

Lian Fei thought she had misread the situation; after all, the kitten looked no different from any ordinary cat she had seen in her past life, save for its seven tails. But upon closer inspection, she hesitated when she saw the creature's pair of compound eyes.

"Lian Fei, do you know that thing?" Xie Yu asked.

Lian Fei ignored her and walked cautiously toward Tatuo. The kitten remained crouched there, licking its paw from time to time.

"Lian Fei, be careful!" Xie Yu grabbed her arm.

Lian Fei looked back, brushed her hand away, and said, "Don't worry, it's fine."

Tatuo tilted its head, watching Lian Fei without making any further moves. Lian Fei walked up to it step by step. She locked eyes with it, and without realizing it, she crouched down and extended her left hand.

"Meow—"

Tatuo let out a soft, sweet sound, then, with lightning speed, all seven tails struck out simultaneously at Lian Fei’s palm. She didn't have time to react and was hit squarely. She winced, pulling her hand back, yet she saw no blood. Not only was there no blood, but even her protective suit remained unpierced.

Lian Fei looked up in shock, but Tatuo had vanished. She suddenly snapped out of her daze, realizing what she had just done. Why had she uncharacteristically walked toward something she didn't know to be safe? And without any defense at all?

"Lian Fei! Are you alright?" Xie Yu trotted to her side.

Lian Fei shook her head, clenching her left hand into a fist and pulling it back. "You go now. I'm heading in."

Xie Yu was uneasy, but seeing that Lian Fei seemed physically unharmed, she said nothing more. Lian Fei stood up and continued toward the First Laboratory. "Take care of yourself," Xie Yu called out. Lian Fei waved a hand to show she understood.

Descending the hill, Lian Fei had to cross a small patch of woods. She drew her twin blades, approaching the laboratory with extreme caution.

"Morningstar, where are the others?" she asked. The surroundings were deathly quiet—so quiet that she could hear her own breathing clearly.

"According to biometric data, only five members of the Second Squad remain, currently located inside the lab building," Morningstar replied. "I need you to get closer for me to pinpoint their exact location."

"Are there any Zerg nearby?" Lian Fei asked.

"They are swarming."

Lian Fei froze. A second later, Morningstar projected a simplified map showing the Zerg positions. Centered on the First Laboratory, the area within a one-kilometer radius was covered in dense red dots. The First Laboratory itself was marked in bright red.

Yet, it remained silent outside. Quiet, as if there were no living things left.

Lian Fei stopped. She was only ten meters from the laboratory's main entrance. She gripped her blades, staring at the wide-open doors. Two dismembered corpses lay scattered at the threshold; bright red blood was splattered against the walls like paint, and pools of it had formed in hollows on the ground. Even from a distance, the faint scent of copper filled the air.

Lian Fei had no time to identify which unlucky souls had died, but seeing the clean cuts and the weapons sliced into pieces, she was certain that whatever had killed them possessed not only formidable weaponry but was itself an incredibly tricky adversary.

She didn't rush forward, focusing all her attention. "Morningstar, monitor the life fluctuations around me at all times."

"Lian Fei, there is a creature moving rapidly in a circle around you," Morningstar warned.

Lian Fei’s eyes darkened. *So, it’s this thing.*

"Lian Fei, look out—"

Before the warning could finish, Lian Fei spun around, raising her blades to block. With a sharp *clang*, both her swords snapped in two. In that single encounter, she saw her attacker clearly—like a nightmare, it was a humanoid monster!

The creature had long, slender legs, but instead of feet, its lower limbs ended in sickle-like joints. The blades touched the ground like ice skates, reducing friction and allowing it to glide at high speeds. Its arms were like the scythes of a mantis, narrow and razor-sharp. It had short black hair, and its upper and lower eyelids were fused shut, impossible to open. Its mouth was slit wide, revealing sharp teeth on both sides. On its back, a pair of translucent wings hung limp, draped like a cloak.

"Hiss—"

It emitted a sound like a serpent. In the next second, it launched another attack. The scythes swung toward Lian Fei’s face, fast and vicious. Lian Fei’s reflexes were top-tier; she arched her back to dodge, but she had forgotten that the monster's legs were also sharp blades.

A sharp pain flared in her abdomen. She looked down to see her midsection sliced open by the monster's leg. Lian Fei’s eyes widened. Before she could react, the monster swung its scythes, clean and swift, and severed her head from her body.