15: encounter

"Is this a Disaster Zone..."

Zhang Huaiyuan gazed out at the starry sky through the panoramic glass of the starship's command cabin.

It was an endlessly deep darkness, with the occasional twinkle of starlight.

Occasionally, dense asteroid belts swept by, adding to the sense of deathly silence.

Yet, amidst this vast scene, a mass of pale red was abruptly expanding in the center.

It was like a festering, diseased wound on healthy skin, its edges constantly writhing and spreading.

It exuded an unsettling aura.

"That's right. This is only a small-scale Disaster Zone; a large-scale one would be truly terrifying."

Randy seemed to recall something, sighing with lingering fear.

"It seems to be constantly expanding. Does that mean it can evolve?"

Zhang Huaiyuan couldn't help but ask.

"Hmm, if left unchecked, the living beings in the surrounding space will be affected. However, usually, it just increases the quantity; it rarely crosses its original rank."

"Since it can evolve, then..."

Zhang Huaiyuan hesitated slightly, remembering a Disaster Zone on the route from the Fifth Temporary Survival Zone to the Imperial Mining Zone.

He couldn't help but ask: "Why do I see quite a few Disaster Zones remaining between various regions? Why don't they go and resolve them in advance?"

"Uh... little brother, we are a mercenary group!"

Hearing this, Randy couldn't help but laugh: "We aren't philanthropists. Do you know how much it costs to clear a Disaster Zone, even a small one?"

"If the Imperial authorities don't care about such things, why would it be our turn?"

"That's true..."

Zhang Huaiyuan thought about it carefully. It seemed that the small Disaster Zone was right next to the Imperial Mining Zone. With their strength, they could easily clear it, yet they chose to leave it be.

If the Imperial authorities were like this, then it was even more expected of these mercenary groups.

"Stop thinking about it. We are about to enter the interior of the Disaster Zone. Remember to put on your protective suit in advance, otherwise, you might feel physically unwell."

Randy reminded him in time: "I'm going to the combat cabin to prepare. You do as you please, little brother, but it's best not to leave the main ship's shield area."

"I understand. Many thanks for the reminder, brother."

Zhang Huaiyuan nodded and pressed the pocket watch on his wrist. A black standard-issue combat suit immediately covered his entire body.

Although it couldn't carry various combat weapons like a mecha, it was lighter and more flexible, and it could filter out harmful substances in unknown environments.

A layer of light blue light shield quickly rose on the surface of the starship, and it dove headfirst into the pale red mist.

"Huh, this...!"

Zhang Huaiyuan stared wide-eyed at the data feeding back into his mind.

【Diluted Biological Potential Stimulation Serum】

Effect: Extremely low probability of awakening latent special abilities in living beings under low-level world rules.

Concentration: 2%.

Composition: Scarlet Crystal fragments, water (gaseous), Element Zero radioactive material...

Current Mastery: 0.51% (Cannot be manufactured).

Requirements: 《Advanced Biological Genetics, 《Reasonable Range Inference of Radioactive Elements' Influence on Potential》...

"How can this be... This mist is actually a potential stimulation serum?"

He suddenly remembered the scene when he awakened his ability previously.

What he had consumed back then was also a potential stimulation serum.

To say there was no connection between the two, even a fool wouldn't believe it.

"Could it be that this isn't a natural disaster, but rather being pushed by a powerful force behind the scenes? But who has such powerful strength?"

"Is it the Empire... No, the Empire has no need to create such big trouble for itself. And if the Empire had such powerful energy, all they would need to do is deploy the Disaster Zone into the territories of the other major powers, and they could have annexed them long ago."

Zhang Huaiyuan was suddenly shocked.

He vaguely felt that he seemed to have touched upon some unimaginable secrets.

Bang!

Just then, a violent jolt accompanied by the sound of an explosion occurred.

Caught in deep thought and completely unprepared, Zhang Huaiyuan stumbled and was about to fall.

"Be careful."

A gust of wind swept past, gently supporting him from behind.

It turned out that An Yu had arrived in the command cabin at some point; it was she who had acted just in time.

"Many thanks, Commander."

Zhang Huaiyuan hurriedly activated the base of his combat suit to lock onto the ship's deck, then looked outward through the star telescope.

He saw on a nearby planet, a sky-obscuring tree standing proudly, its top piercing through the clouds and almost reaching the vast void.

Its roots completely pierced through the entire planet, and countless fine, writhing tentacles could be vaguely seen evolving on it, devouring all living things as nutrients.

Across the entire planet, floods, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes... various disasters covered every inch of land; it was clearly entering the countdown to extinction.

And the vibration just now was because this tree had extended a branch, attempting to shoot down the starship, but it was blocked by the Ion Shield on the surface.

"This... it should be nearly 20,000 kilometers away from us. This tree can actually attack from so far away..."

A flash of brilliance crossed Zhang Huaiyuan's eyes, and he activated his ability.

【Mutated Man-eating Tree】

Classification: Carbon-based lifeform.

Rank: C+.

Ability: Super Growth (Can devour any object containing energy to promote its own growth, can grow up to A-rank at maximum.)

Flaw: As its body grows, the energy required to maintain it also increases synchronously. When the absorbed energy is insufficient to provide for basic survival needs, it will wither and perish.

"So that's it. No wonder such a powerful monster is only C-rank; the flaw is too great. But I need to find a way to tell them there's no need to fight this monster that is about to die."

"Commander, this..."

"Don't worry. This type of mutated beast that far exceeds its normal form usually self-destructs due to insufficient energy supply caused by evolving too quickly."

Just as he was about to speak, An Yu, who was at his side, suddenly said indifferently: "This planet is about to be destroyed. Apart from this mutated tree, there are no other living things left. Even the other mutated beasts on the planet have been eaten, which actually saves us some trouble."

"The Commander is wise."

Zhang Huaiyuan was stunned for a moment, then praised sincerely from the bottom of his heart.

The other party didn't have his ability; such a judgment came entirely from long-term combat experience with various types of mutated Galaxy Beasts. No wonder her reputation in "Dark Destruction Legion" was so high.

"Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles; the ancients truly did not deceive me."

Zhang Huaiyuan's gaze lingered on that arrogant, mutated man-eating tree. This shock could not be fully captured by a few sparse sentences in literature.

"This small Disaster Zone was discovered early; it's only been a little over a month, so not many mutated beasts have been born on the periphery yet. Once we get closer to the core area, the real battle will begin."

An Yu toyed with the sniper rifle in her hand and said nonchalantly:

"If you're afraid, you can go back to the rest area and stay there. If we encounter a special environment that requires you to adjust your combat readiness, I will send someone to notify you."

"It's fine, Commander. I still have the courage to just watch."

Zhang Huaiyuan shook his head and smiled:

"It can also be considered broadening my horizons."