Before the black-haired youth could spare the time to extend his mental ability, he suddenly heard 2d14’s terrified screams in his mind:

"Ahhhhh! Master Host, why did we suddenly get teleported here?! Where is this? This place is so dark—could this be a conspiracy by the parasitic beasts…?"

Previously, 2d14 had been constantly blocked out by Xiao Yi. Today was its first time joining the youth in a covert operation, and it was clear that its adaptability still needed improvement.

"Enough," the black-haired youth said to the system, which was on the verge of panicking to death. "This is the main base of the parasitic beasts. That G Planet was just a front to deal with the parasitic beasts and the Interstellar Federation. This is their real nest—the place we truly need to attack."

"W-We?" 2d14 trembled.

Black-haired youth: "Me. The only thing you need to do is stay quiet. The parasitic beasts will not cause my death, but maybe you will."

.

Eight million Enhanced Parasites stood motionless on the plains like stone statues, despite many among them already being infected by the virus and enduring the torment of illness.

However, the parasitic race’s composure and perseverance were truly beyond human comparison. No one wavered, and no one spoke. All Enhanced Parasites were poised and ready, awaiting their leader’s command to advance—prepared to engage in a decisive battle against the Black Thread Guards of Planet L, who were protecting the last hope of their kind!

Wright and a dozen senior officers stood on an elevated platform, inspecting the fearless parasitic army below, illuminated by the floodlights that made the military camp as bright as daylight.

"Matthew, report the army’s attendance."

Wright commanded. Amid the soldiers and officers clad in solemn, dignified military uniforms, he still wore his signature white lab coat. Yet the air of calm intelligence he exuded made it impossible to overlook or underestimate him. All of the officers and soldiers below regarded him with trust and reverence. With Wright’s leadership, breaking into the Alien's Laboratory was not an impossible dream!

Upon hearing the order, Matthew immediately stepped forward and reported in a loud, clear voice:

"Over the past 17 years, we have successfully created a total of 9,527,857 Enhanced Parasites. Among them, 1,133,890 have perished in missions or succumbed to viral infections. An additional 2,341 are in critical condition and have been placed in quarantine at the laboratory’s temporary hospital. Thus, the expected total attendance of our army is 8,391,626, and the actual attendance is 8,391,626—with no absentees."

Wright nodded in satisfaction. "Very good."

Fernandez immediately stepped forward to report:

"Lord Wright, the Ability Users and Interstellar Federation army on G Planet remain completely unaware. L Planet has not increased its defenses either, and that Alien is still on vacation in Salvation Alliance Town."

Wright surveyed the millions of troops below. "Activate the teleportation array. Transport our forces to Planet L immediately."

"Yes, my lord!" Fernandez responded.

As the teleportation array activated, Wright seized the moment to address the massive army below.

"Seventeen years ago, our shared father was nothing more than an insignificant test subject in the Weyland Laboratory. As a genetically enhanced specimen, his abilities were feeble—so weak that he was on the verge of elimination. He was utterly inferior compared to the Alien race within the same lab. Even against the Zerg, he suffered constant defeat."

The entire plain fell silent, not a single sound to be heard. Every Enhanced Parasite held their breath, attentively listening as Lord Wright recounted the history of their race. His calm yet commanding voice resonated clearly through the speakers spread across the vast plains, reaching the ears of every soldier.

"And yet, in just seventeen short years, our parasite race has conquered over a thousand planets in the human star system." Wright’s tone shifted, carrying an impassioned fervor. "We have risen from the lowest, most insignificant ants to become giants towering over mountains! With only a few hundred of our kind, we successfully seized control of the so-called untouchable Interstellar Federation!"

At that moment, Matthew suddenly shouted in alarm, "My lord! The fully activated teleportation array has somehow transformed into a transmission-blocking barrier! And we can’t shut it down…!"

However, Wright completely ignored him and continued his stimulating speech:

"Despite facing an overwhelming numerical disadvantage of one against billions, we have risen in just seventeen short years to rival the human race, which has developed for tens of thousands of years! Do you know why?"

The Enhanced Parasite soldiers, who had activated their empathy systems to fully engage with the speech, were stirred into a frenzy. They shouted in unison:

"Because of our rationality!"

"Because of our collective consciousness! We are never selfish!"

"Because of the sacrifices of countless comrades! We do not fear death!"

"Because we are a superior race compared to humans!"

Matthew, unable to get a word in, was drenched in cold sweat. Even after shutting off his empathy system, his rational mind screamed at him—something was definitely wrong!

Wright’s voice cut through the fervor, firm and unquestionable, "No. None of you answered correctly." His words echoed through the eight million soldiers.

"The greatest reason our parasite race has achieved all this is... because the Alien called Xiao Yi hasn’t grown up yet."

The once bloodthirsty and battle-ready soldiers froze in place: 'What did Lord Wright say just now!?'

Wright, who seemed completely unfazed by the bizarre atmosphere that had settled over the scene, continued speaking in a loud, steady voice:

"When the only Alien in existence grows up and decides to wipe out your parasitic race, this fleeting, weak civilization will come to an end, won’t it?"

The Enhanced Parasite army instantly erupted into chaos!

Matthew, the first to react, shouted, "Lord Wright has been impersonated by the Alien! Fernandez, kill him! Kill this fake Wrig—"

Schlick!

Before he could finish, he was pierced through by a metallic spike that shot through the air.

"How… ha… hah… y-you…!"

Blood gushed from Matthew’s mouth as his wide, disbelieving eyes locked onto Fernandez, a Metal-based Enhanced Parasite.

Then, with growing horror, he watched Fernandez’s right hand slowly morph into a mass of black vines, casually tossing and playing with the deadly metal spike that had just pierced him.

The one masquerading as Fernandez smirked, "Who said only your kind could steal human abilities?"

The fake Wright followed up with a calm, eerie remark, "If I, an Alien, do the same—why wouldn’t it work?"

At that moment, a figure appeared out of thin air on the platform—a black-haired youth, the nightmare-inducing presence for every single member of the parasite race.

Seamlessly continuing the sentence, he declared:

"With Mental-type Abilities and Black Thread manipulation, I can become anyone—any person, any parasite."

His gaze swept over the army below as he uttered the final words, "Now, all of you can die."

As the youth spoke, 120,000 tons of black vines and aberrations, retrieved from system space and positioned around the Enhanced Parasite army, suddenly emerged from their ambush and launched their attack.

In mere seconds, thousands of Enhanced Parasites on the outer edges were either shredded into minced flesh by Black Thread or torn to pieces by the aberrations. At the same time, the 8 million parasite army snapped out of their shock. One by one, they swiftly shut down their empathy systems, forming coordinated battle formations—dozens to hundreds at a time—delivering precise and efficient counterattacks!

The entire battlefield erupted with deafening explosions, rumbling like rolling thunder across the plains!

Thousands of ability beams streaked through the sky like fireworks. At the same time, the fastest Enhanced Parasites unleashed a relentless barrage of abilities and laser cannon blasts, desperately bombarding the Black Threads and aberrations.

Yet, the youth’s army held their ground, continuously reaping the lives of Enhanced Parasites. On this small planet, two of the strongest armies in the entire galaxy had collided in a brutal, deadlocked battle.

.

On Planet G, Huo Li stood ready, carefully controlling the Black Thread aberrations designed by Xiao Yi—from towering beasts to minuscule mosquitoes—all poised to counter the rumored 260,000-strong Enhanced Parasite army that was expected to strike at any moment.

The time was 5:44 AM.

Huo Li’s gaze swept across the Interstellar Federation soldiers lying camouflaged in the grass, their faces streaked with green and brown paint. He took in the sight of green combat tanks, partially concealed by thick foliage, and the hastily buried landmines in the churned-up earth.

Despite the careful preparations, an inexplicable sense of anxiety and unease crept into Huo Li’s heart.

Would the Enhanced Parasite army really arrive at 6 o'clock?

Meanwhile, scattered in ambush across Planet G, the high-level Ability Users—who hadn’t had a proper rest in months and bore dark circles under their eyes—were on edge, ready for the fight of their lives.

This was 260,000 Enhanced Parasites, while their side only had 1,900. Even if their abilities were significantly stronger, the sheer difference in numbers was overwhelming. On top of that, they had to contend with the 2 million utterly clueless and overbearing Interstellar Federation troops that were slowing them down.

They had survived countless apocalyptic crises, even the traitor’s explosion incident—were they really going to die here today?

'What a shame… we hadn’t even taken a proper break yet.' Bleak thoughts weighed heavily on the Ability Users’ minds.

Among the entire ambush force, the Interstellar Federation's troops and officers were in the best spirits.

Having been raised in privilege and victory, these so-called prodigies—who had spent their entire lives basking in military honors and glory—refused to believe in the existence of Enhanced Parasites.

Even the Interstellar Federation generals, who proudly claimed to have fought "bloody battles" for years, had never endured the actual trials of an apocalypse. To them, the most grueling hardship imaginable was piloting a starship through a Zerg swarm.

If they had defeated the mighty Zerg, which dominated half the galaxy, then what could a few backwater planets in the middle of human space possibly amount to?

Clearly, this "so-called apocalypse" was nothing more than another hysterical outcry from the Salvation Alliance, a thinly veiled power grab.

The so-called '260,000 Enhanced Parasite army?' It was most likely a fabrication by the Salvation Alliance's main system, an excuse to expand their influence on G Planet.

Abilities being transferable?

Ridiculous!

A blatant lie concocted by the Salvation Alliance.

If abilities could truly be transferred, then why had the Interstellar Federation’s centuries of research into Ability Genes made no breakthroughs?

Good thing they had seen through the Ability Users’ deception!

Smug with their perceived wisdom, the Interstellar Federation’s troops and officers awaited the battle, utterly blind to the disaster about to unfold.

As 06:00 cosmic time approached, a growing sense of unease twisted in Huo Li’s chest. He hesitated—should he abandon his post to find Xiao Yi? But if he did, he might drag the youth into this battlefield, which would undoubtedly incur the fear and jealousy of the Interstellar Federation and humanity.

Just as his indecision paralyzed him, the air distorted—and a flustered Xiao Mao appeared before him.

She was still wearing home clothes, her hair in disarray, clearly having just received urgent news. She had likely teleported multiple times in a panicked rush to reach him, each jump more imprecise than the last.

“What’s wrong, Xiao Mao?” Huo Li’s heart sank. “Did you have another vision?”

Xiao Mao frantically nodded, "Huo Li, it's—"

But at that moment, the Main System’s voice rang in their minds, “Xiao Mao, don’t say it! I don’t know what you foresaw, but remember the nature of your ability—don’t say it out loud!”

Xiao Mao had been overwhelmed with worry, but the warning snapped her back to reality.

Right—her ability.

If she spoke her vision out loud…

Her face turned pale as she struggled. She opened her mouth countless times, but not a single sound came out.

Huo Li’s gaze darkened dangerously as impatience boiled inside him.

But in the end, rationality won—Xiao Mao bit her lip hard, said nothing, and vanished after using a teleportation talisman.

'Something terrible was about to happen. For Xiao Mao to be this desperate, it was most likely related to Xiao Yi!'

Huo Li couldn’t wait any longer, and his voice trembled as he commanded, “099! Establish a teleportation array immediately! I need to return to Xiao Yi’s villa in Alliance Town!”

099: "Ding! Teleportation array is being established.”

Just then, a tall, burly, high-ranking officer from the Interstellar Federation strode over, his posture arrogant as he smugly patted Huo Li’s shoulder. His tone dripped with sarcasm: “Mr. Huo, where is this so-called ‘260,000 army of enhanced parasites ’ your Salvation Alliance keeps boasting about? Why aren’t they here yet? Don’t tell me this was just more of your baseless—”

“Get lost!” Huo Li, burning with urgency, had no patience to exchange pleasantries as he usually did with these Federation officers. Without hesitation, his boot slammed into the official’s gut, sending him soaring backward.

The officer crashed outside the newly activated orange teleportation light, his outraged curses ringing through the air.

But by then, Huo Li had vanished into the teleportation array, the flash of orange light swallowing him whole.