EDEH Chapter 3

[007 Diary Entry 2]

 

[Human life is indeed tenacious. After such a destructive disaster, so many survivors still remain.

 

It seems I need to start working. As long as humans exist, work continues.

 

The Nüwa Plan is temporarily shelved. The observation period officially begins.]

 

·

 

A few hours earlier.

 

Slender military boots stepped on the edge of the ruins, and the adjutant behind him called out worriedly: “Sir!”

 

Huo Yanji raised his hand, signaling back that it was fine, then slowly approached the huge sphere in front of him.

 

This was an extraterrestrial object detected by the observation station at noon. Initially, they thought the Meteor Season had returned, and the main city immediately sounded the highest alert. But as the altitude decreased, they discovered it was just an unidentified flying object—a false alarm.

 

When it fell to two thousand meters, this unidentified flying object was suddenly struck by lightning and crashed toward the city ruins at a terrifying speed. The already precarious high-rises made thunderous sounds one after another and all collapsed.

 

A moment later, a cold voice rang out: “No contamination.”

 

The soldiers breathed a sigh of relief. A supervisor asked hesitantly: “Is this an alien spacecraft? Could there be aliens inside?”

 

The aircraft was round overall, with no visible hatch direction. Its surface gleamed silver, made of special material, but not so special as to be unprecedented.

 

Huo Yanji: “Maintain vigilance first, wait for the research institute people to arrive.”

 

“Yes!” Seeing Huo Yanji suddenly leave in the opposite direction, the adjutant was stunned: “Where are you going?”

 

“I’m going to clear out the white moth nests near Crack #2. You stay and command.”

 

“Going alone, won’t you…”

 

“Deputy Zhang.” Huo Yanji mounted the off-road motorcycle, “Keys.”

 

“Oh… yes!”

 

Zhang Min handed over the keys, watching his superior’s departing figure with a sigh.

 

As Huo Yanji’s adjutant, he knew many secrets—

 

Every year at this time, Huo Yanji, as the highest executive officer of supervisors and also a military general, would make a trip to Crack #2, always with the reason of clearing white moth nests.

 

Having escaped from the disordered Si Fu, Sang Jue moved quickly through the ruins.

 

He touched the chip inside his ear: “007, are you there?”

 

A cold female voice responded at his ear: “I’m here.”

 

Sang Jue breathed a sigh of relief. This planet was too vast for him, everything was unfamiliar. With 007 by his side, he felt more secure.

 

Just as the doctor had said, this planet had suffered a great catastrophe. The cracks had contaminated all living beings, and humanity had reached its final moment of life and death.

 

But they seemed to have found their own way out, such as the miraculous gene fusion.

 

Sang Jue muttered to himself: “With so many human survivors, if I give them the resources from the spacecraft, my mission will be complete.”

 

007: “Of course. However, you still need to wait for the right opportunity and find a suitable ‘Prince.'”

 

Throughout human history, wars have been caused by unequal resource distribution—fighting over territory in ancient times, competing for various rare materials in the technological age.

 

Therefore, those resources in the spacecraft might not be salvation for humanity, but could also bring new disasters.

 

Sang Jue climbed over a broken wall, worried: “Could the spacecraft have been damaged by lightning?”

 

007: “The thunderstorm intensity at that time basically wouldn’t damage the spacecraft’s interior, but the external power systems might be damaged due to high-speed impact.”

 

“Can I still return to my home planet?”

 

“As long as you can get back near the spacecraft, I can establish remote connection permissions with the main system and perform self-repair on the damaged parts.”

 

007 stated matter-of-factly: “But I’m sorry, during your unconsciousness from spore contamination, the spacecraft moved westward and is now nearly 800 kilometers away from you.”

 

Sang Jue: “…”

 

Crazy.

 

This was absolutely killing him.

 

There was no one else in the spacecraft besides him. How could such a large spacecraft move without anyone operating it? Had it become sentient?

 

Sang Jue couldn’t figure it out. His stamina was gradually being depleted, and his forehead felt somewhat hot.

 

This feeling was strange. He had excellent constitution and never got sick. Colds and fevers were traits only humans had.

 

“Did I fall unconscious because of spore infection?”

 

“It appears so,” 007 said. “According to what Si Fu told you earlier, being infected by these creatures should cause mutation and loss of reason, but aside from fever, your body data hasn’t changed much.”

 

Sang Jue speculated: “Maybe because I’m from another planet, the contamination here has no effect on me.”

 

007: “Possibly.”

 

After walking for more than ten minutes, Sang Jue finally saw the road.

 

He climbed over the collapsed fence wall and came to a road filled with abandoned vehicles.

 

The car bodies were covered in rust, windshield glass shattered all over the ground, carrying heavy grime.

 

Damp moss grew at the connection between tires and ground, ancient vines wrapped around car bodies, seats, even engines and motors.

 

These vehicles must have been here for a long time—perhaps decades, perhaps centuries.

 

Naturally growing vegetation bordered the city ruins that represented humanity’s former civilization. It was hard to say whether the forest had devoured the city, or whether the former city’s devouring of the forest had met with retribution.

 

Utterly absurd.

 

Fortunately, the middle of the highway had been artificially cleared, leaving a passable road for vehicles.

 

Sang Jue spotted Si Fu’s car parked dozens of meters away—it was really easy to identify.

 

It was an armored off-road vehicle with heavy mud on the tires that hadn’t completely dried yet.

 

He threw his backpack into the passenger seat and climbed onto the high-chassis driver’s seat, letting out a long breath.

 

Through the car window, Sang Jue looked toward the direction where Si Fu had immolated himself earlier. Dark gray smoke swirled in the air.

 

“Is being burned to death very painful?”

 

007: “According to recorded data, being burned alive while conscious is one of the most painful ways to die. However, before that happened, he ended his own life with a bullet, which could be considered fortunate.”

 

Sang Jue murmured: “His deity didn’t show him mercy.”

 

The doctor used to say that people without faith and sustenance could hardly survive disasters. Humans needed a central pillar, needed leaders, and even more needed reasons to live—they needed to fight for a goal amid suffering.

 

Just as a nation cannot be without a ruler, a group of dragons cannot be without a leader.

 

But whose follower was Si Fu…

 

“The books say only deities can have followers.”

 

007: “Those with significant influence and outstanding contributions in their fields might also be revered by other humans as ‘deity-like’ existences.”

 

Sang Jue: “If Si Fu’s deity is still alive, could he be my prince?”

 

007: “That requires your own judgment.”

 

Sang Jue pressed his lips together.

 

This planet-saving mission was so difficult, and the spacecraft had separated from him. If there was real damage, repairs would take a very long time.

 

Perhaps he wouldn’t return to his home planet for many years, and by then Dr. Anya would be old.

 

Sang Jue looked at the map in Si Fu’s backpack. The main city was over a thousand kilometers away in the southwest direction. He had a sudden realization—the humans on this planet had stolen his spacecraft!

 

But how did they manage it?

 

The spacecraft wasn’t light. Without internal operation, moving it so quickly was practically a miracle.

 

Sang Jue thought about his next plan—drive to the human main city.

 

He actually didn’t know how to drive, but this wasn’t particularly difficult. He could learn as he went.

 

…

 

Half an hour later.

 

Sang Jue, who was supposed to go to the human main city, was still in the same spot, except the car’s hood was now dented and uneven from crashes.

 

…It must be the car’s problem.

 

Should he transform back into an evil dragon and fly to the human city? He’d probably be discovered.

 

Just as he was about to get out and check the situation, he saw several figures appear in the rearview mirror, moving quickly toward him while waving excitedly: “Hey!!”

 

There were three men and one woman, looking somewhat disheveled. The one waving was an older man, followed by what seemed to be a couple, with a silent, taciturn man at the edge.

 

“Don’t leave yet!!”

 

Sang Jue actually wanted to hit the gas and leave. After his previous experience of being kidnapped to the sewers, he didn’t want too much contact with ordinary humans.

 

If the prince could be tactful and descend from the sky directly in front of him, he wouldn’t have to search.

 

The socially anxious dragon in human skin leaned out the car window: “What’s the matter?”

 

“Are you heading back to the main city—”

 

“No.”

 

“…But your license plate number is the main city’s exclusive code.”

 

Sang Jue made an “oh” sound without blinking.

 

He wasn’t lying—he was going to the main city, not back to the main city.

 

The only woman pleaded: “Could you give us a ride? Our car broke down on the road.”

 

Sang Jue thought for a moment: “Can you drive?”

 

“We all can!”

 

“If you don’t want to drive, I can do it,” said one of the men from the couple.

 

Sang Jue: “No, you drive.”

 

The older man had the most pleasant scent, so he felt more comfortable letting him handle the car. He was scruffy, very thin, wearing a loose jacket, and looked fragile.

 

“No problem. I’m Karl, you can call me Old Karl like they do.”

 

“I’m Sang Jue.”

 

The taciturn man said: “Wu Ke.”

 

His voice was hoarse, like a rusty broken bellows, unpleasant to hear.

 

“I’m Jason, and this is my lover A-Ruan.”

 

Sang Jue’s gaze lingered on A-Ruan for a moment. Jason subtly stepped forward, blocking A-Ruan from view.

 

Sang Jue withdrew his gaze, vacated the driver’s seat, and threatened with what he thought was fierceness: “Old Karl drives, you sit in the back with me. Don’t do anything bad, or else… or else I’ll kill you.”

 

“Don’t worry, we’re not the type to bite the hand that feeds us.”

 

The rear compartment was spacious. Sang Jue chose a corner near the back door to sit down.

 

Jason also jumped in, clutching his backpack tightly between his legs, asking in surprise: “Just you alone?”

 

Sang Jue blinked: “They’re all dead.”

 

A-Ruan said apologetically: “Please accept our condolences.”

 

Sang Jue fidgeted with his fingers: “You look terrible.”

 

Jason pulled A-Ruan into his arms, smiling bitterly: “We’ve run out of food. If we don’t get back to the city soon, we’ll starve to death.”

 

A-Ruan: “Right now I just want to go back and drink a bowl of warm porridge.”

 

Sang Jue still had some dry rations in his backpack, but he didn’t take them out.

 

Jason hesitated before saying: “If you have any food, I’d be willing to trade a roll of white spider silk for it.”

 

“White spider silk?”

 

“Don’t you know? The military has been buying white spider silk in large quantities. Armor made from it can block attacks from most arthropod creatures. Most of the glass in the main city is also made from white spider silk—extensible double-layer glass that doesn’t break easily.”

 

Therefore, white spider silk was also mercenaries’ favorite bounty mission, with extremely high cost-effectiveness.

 

Sang Jue concealed the truth: “I don’t have any food either.”

 

The taciturn Wu Ke also got in the car, choosing a position farthest from Sang Jue—somewhat strange.

 

Even if he didn’t want to sit too close to himself, he should have chosen to sit beside his companions.

 

Jason explained: “He’s a soldier, that’s just his personality. Don’t mind it.”

 

Sang Jue stated: “You weren’t together before.”

 

“Hah, we met by chance last night. We ran out of ammunition and food last night, but fortunately he gave us some food.”

 

Jason asked: “Are you an Deviant?”

 

Sang Jue hesitated: “No.”

 

Not all Deviants could be distinguished by appearance. Gene fusion also had levels—

 

Low-level fusion would cause irreversible mutations in the body, such as wings that couldn’t be retracted or tails growing from the buttocks.

 

High-level fusion was the opposite—they could control their own form, only changing when necessary.

 

“Then you’re really impressive. The only ordinary person I’ve seen who dares to leave the city is Old Karl.”

 

“Don’t badmouth me!” Old Karl shouted from the driver’s seat. “If nothing goes wrong, we’ll be back to the main city within ten hours. You should get some sleep first.”

 

Everyone was tired. After brief conversation, they closed their eyes to rest.

 

If Sang Jue still had teammates, they wouldn’t dare to be so relaxed.

 

But Sang Jue was not only alone, but also an ordinary person without Deviant abilities, looking like a beautiful vase without any combat power.

 

Probably some little guy brought out by mercenaries for entertainment, Jason thought as he kissed his lover who was slowly falling asleep beside him.

 

…

 

Sang Jue’s forehead was still burning hot, and he also dozed lightly. If there was danger, 007 would wake him.

 

However, the car was really too bumpy. Sang Jue, who hadn’t suffered much hardship, found it difficult to sleep deeply in such an environment and woke up before long.

 

The sky had already darkened, and there was a pattering sound on the roof—it was raining.

 

The other three were still resting. With nothing to do, Sang Jue remembered there was a record book in Si Fu’s bag and opened it to take a look.

 

With the language conversion system, he read smoothly.

 

[9.26

 

Got a good scolding from the captain, saying I was setting flags before the mission even started. Hehe, but this time I’m definitely going to take the forget-worry vine to confess to Hill… If she doesn’t agree, I’ll try harder!

 

9.30

 

Arrived at destination, target not yet found.

 

10.2

 

Damn, what breed of idiot is this supervisor.

 

11.7

 

No harvest, almost died.

 

11.15

 

Wang He got swallowed into a giant frog’s belly… Fortunately, I’m brave and mighty, directly cut open the giant frog’s stomach and saved him. Shouldn’t he treat me to three big drinking sessions when we get back?

 

11.16

 

Wang He died, he was infected by the giant frog.

 

11.17

 

Beat up that idiot thing. Wang He died, and he actually laughed.

 

11.26

 

Target not yet found, got slightly injured, no infection.

 

11.9

 

Hill, I dreamed of you… I offended you in the dream, not my intention.

 

11.15

 

Everyone’s in bad shape, almost got wiped out by a group of forget-worry vines. A-Lao was killed by that idiot supervisor because his contamination went out of control.

 

Captain says to persist for another half month, if there’s no harvest we’ll return to the safe zone.

 

11.18

 

Hill, I miss you so much.

 

11.25

 

Found a young forget-worry vine! Need to observe for two more days before harvesting.

 

11.29

 

Finally can go back, but everyone’s mood is heavy. Nine people came, now only four remain: me, Si Fu, Karen, and that idiot supervisor.

 

Hill, wait for me.]

 

…

 

Sang Jue belatedly realized that the person who wrote this record didn’t seem to be Si Fu.

 

He rummaged through the backpack and discovered that the golden maple leaf badge had engraving on the side—

 

wuke.

 

Hmm… hm?

 

Wu Ke!?

 

Sang Jue suddenly looked up. The taciturn man who had said his name was Wu Ke had somehow awakened, his pupils turned an eerie dark red, like an ancient demon that had just crawled out from underground.

 

The speeding tires kicked up muddy water from the ground. Under the oppressive mass of dark clouds, rain poured down freely onto the vehicle.

 

Si Fu had said earlier that all his teammates were dead.

 

Then this man staring directly at him… who was he?

 

##

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