While the number of missing people kept climbing and the situation outside grew more explosive…
Inside Liyang Country, on the underground second floor of the Monster Association's Research Institute No. 1.
A Bodyguard held a two-metre-long sniper rifle forged from grey flesh; a blood-red eye served as the scope, and two half-metre grey tentacles sprouted from the stock.
At the moment the rifle's flesh pulsed gently, the crimson eye darting in every direction.
Jiang Yan, Dong Guangjie and Beaton Rijieffu were studying the weapon.
Dong Guangjie, standing before Jiang Yan, pointed at the rifle with excitement. "President, this is a sniper rifle made from a Level Two Monster—the first successful step for our Monster-Weapon project!"
The Monster-Weapon project had never been halted, and its difficulty wasn't extreme; under the trio's efforts it had finally borne fruit.
Jiang Yan ran a hand along the barrel: it was warm and even harder than an ordinary rifle.
A faint smile crossed his face. "How's the power? To craft a Monster into a weapon while keeping it alive and functional—you three have truly surprised me."
He'd known the project was underway, but hadn't expected a working prototype so soon.
Beaton spoke up at once. "With the wielder's strength factored in, the weapon should deliver a one-plus-one effect."
"Then let's test it!" Jiang Yan's eyes glinted.
If the first generation was already this strong, further upgrades might let a Level-Four Monster paired with a Monster Weapon reach Level Five might.
The group made for the base's newly built subterranean weapons range.
It stretched two kilometres in length and eight in height, every wall and floor plated with alloy.
At the far end stood several man-made concrete fortifications two metres tall. Jiang Yan's party arrived.
Dong Guangjie turned to the Bodyguard holding the rifle. "Begin. Target: the concrete bunker two kilometres away."
"Yes, sir!" The Bodyguard nodded eagerly—an opportunity to impress the president, perhaps even earn a promotion.
He peeled off his jacket; his frame began to swell, white scales erupting across his skin, three tongues writhing from his mouth.
Moments later he had become a 2.3-metre white-scaled creature with vertical pupils.
Swish-swish!
His right hand shot toward the tentacles waving behind the rifle. The instant he touched them they coiled up his arm.
The tentacles clamped onto scale-armoured muscle, then sprouted countless tiny needles that pierced the scales and sank into flesh.
As flesh synchronised, the Bodyguard gained an extra field of vision—the rifle's blood-red sight.
'Let me shine in front of the president!' Hefting the rifle, he aimed at the distant bunker.
Bzzzz! A low hum vibrated through the weapon as a powerful suction drew blood from his arm.
Bang! A red energy round burst out, breaking the sound barrier and slamming into the bunker two kilometres away.
Blam! Half a metre of concrete was blown open, cement shards spraying skyward before raining down.
Bang-bang-bang! Five more shots followed; under the rifle's crimson gaze the bunker was steadily demolished.
The roar echoed through the range while Jiang Yan and the others watched silently.
After the sixth shot the Bodyguard lowered the rifle, his unscaled face pale.
Jiang Yan's eyes narrowed. "Destructive force very close to Level Three—high consumption, but hardly a fatal flaw."
The weapon's power exceeded expectations; a Level Two Monster wielding it could now fight back against a Level Three Awakened instead of being crushed.
"By the way, are raw materials sufficient?" Jiang Yan asked with interest.
Each weapon consumed one Monster; mass production would take time.
Dong Guangjie smiled confidently. "We solved that long ago. Generation-Three tyranny potion isn't needed—Generation Two is enough. Their fate is to become weapons; they don't need minds."
"Good. Prioritise Level-Four monster weapons; I'll handle the materials," Jiang Yan said.
To build Level-Four weapons he needed Level-Four Monsters—easy enough for him.
Simply abduct Level Threes and warriors; the lower the starting level, the better the chance of breaking through when injected. Already-Level-Fours merely grow stronger unless they're on the verge of advancing anyway.
With that, Jiang Yan turned and left the range.
Just outside the door he found An Conghao waiting.
An bowed respectfully. "President, Motley has devoured Nehemiah; only seven Flesh-and-Blood Beings remain. The Xuanjian Division and Bureau of Gods, along with smaller groups, are pressing them hard. Without our intervention they won't last two days."
Though the Xuanjian Division hadn't reported captures, they had been busy.
Following the Flesh-and-Blood Beings' patterns, they alerted local Awakened organisations to hunt them; He Xuelin had nearly been caught by Jiang Ao and Deng Mengcheng.
"Then start the finals ahead of schedule," Jiang Yan said flatly. "Gather every Flesh-and-Blood Being in Haizhou HQ City for a free-for-all, and leak the news to the hunters."
These beings had been released to sow chaos, harvest flesh and advance the pearl of the abyss, but now the Awakened were interfering.
With the Beings on the run they brought no profit; the farce would end early.
"Yes, sir!" An Conghao answered at once.
The flesh calamity had already claimed nearly seven million lives—excluding scattered or remote casualties.