This wound is not fatal. However, a sudden, unprecedented fear arose in Brian Carter's heart.

Any mutant is a walking source of infection. The highly penetrative virus can use any act that damages the body to spread through the bloodstream. In this sense, a tiny prick from a needle is no different from a fatal wound that tears the body apart.

He still remembers: the captain who had been bitten by a mutant turned, right before his eyes, into a complete monster. Now... does such an ending have to happen to me as well?

At this thought, Brian Carter felt a chill run through his whole body. He clutched his left hand tightly, squeezing it so hard it seemed he might break those five fragile fingers... He was terrified, afraid that his hand would unknowingly turn into the same black blade as those creatures...

The convoy had already broken out of the city. In the air far from the concrete and steel, there was much less gloom and blood. Instead, there was a hint of fresh earth and the faint sweetness of plants.

"Here—"

A friendly call snapped Brian Carter out of his thoughts. Looking up, he saw the young lieutenant sitting across from him, smiling as he handed over a piece of military chocolate wrapped in foil.

"Eat this first, just to fill your stomach a bit." After saying this, the lieutenant's tone became solemn: "If it weren't for you, even more of us would have died... Thank you!"

This was definitely not just a perfunctory remark. The eyes of all the soldiers in the vehicle also showed genuine sincerity and respect.

Brian Carter opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing. He just unwrapped the chocolate in his hand, bit off a piece, and chewed it slowly. Instantly, his mouth and nose were filled with a rich, sweet aroma. Yet the small wound on his shoulder and neck also began to itch with a faint, unsettling tingle.

Chapter 3 Military Council

Two conflicting emotions spun and tangled in Brian Carter's mind.

He knew very well: if he admitted he had been scratched, he would end up just like the dead soldiers. Even though he had just saved these people and they were grateful to him, when it came to life and death, there was no room for sentiment among soldiers.

Brian Carter did not want to die. Even more, he did not want to be treated as a monster, tied up alive and used as a test subject.

He decided to hide his wound. Maybe... a small scratch would not be enough for the virus to completely take over his body...

...

The convoy moved quickly. Half an hour later, there was no sign of any city buildings on the horizon behind them. Just as the assault vehicle turned off the highway and sped up a smooth hillside, a twin-rotor heavy vertical takeoff transport aircraft suddenly appeared before them.

This was the exclusive vehicle of the 64th Mobile Unit, and their only way out of here.

Sitting in the soft seat, the roar of the plane's engines seemed to have an irresistible power over Brian Carter, who hadn't slept in days. He tried to stay awake, but a few minutes later, utterly exhausted, he leaned back in his seat and drifted off to sleep under the weight of his heavy eyelids...

When the plane landed at the Chengdu military airport, Brian Carter, his face full of fatigue, was still asleep. The snores from his mouth and nose made it clear how soundly he was sleeping.

"Be gentle. Take him to the field hospital for a good rest. And let the hospital know to give him the best special care—"

Watching Brian Carter being lifted onto a stretcher by the medical staff, the colonel finally breathed a sigh of relief. He liked this young man very much. Although there was still much to be done, the most important thing was to let him recover his strength first.

...

Chengdu Military District of the Republic, 21st Group Army Headquarters.

Most people of a certain age are more or less affected by menopause. But Eric Bennett did not think so. Although he was already over fifty, thanks to the solid foundation he had built in the army in his early years, his physical condition was no worse than any young man. Even his bodyguard sincerely admired the lieutenant general he was assigned to protect.

Sitting in the spacious operations room, looking at the dozen or so senior staff officers gathered around the curved conference table, Eric Bennett, as the highest commander of the group army, felt an indescribable irritation in his heart. For two weeks, the 75th Infantry Division sent to Kunming had not sent back any news. Although the staff had made various speculations, no one could believe that a fully equipped Class B combat division could be completely wiped out.

A few hours ago, when Colonel Henry Clark of the 64th Mobile Unit sent back the latest intelligence, Eric Bennett suddenly realized that the crisis erupting in Kunming was not as simple as he had imagined.

"Can you confirm the accuracy of the source? Is there any possibility of error?" Glancing at the colonel who had just entered the operations room, covered in blood and grime, Eric Bennett, as the group army commander, asked tentatively, holding onto the last sliver of hope in his heart.