73: The base self-destructed, setting up a deadly trap; a shadowy figure stealthily assassinates the commander's flag.

Chapter Seventy-Five: A Stronghold's Self-Destruction Hides a Deadly Trap, Shadows Skulk to Assassinate the Commander

On the ruins of a Japanese-style school in the Western Zhejiang Plains, the smoke of battle had not yet fully dissipated.

The two hundred rescued compatriots had already been safely transferred. Soldiers of the Eastern Army Group were busy clearing the battlefield, confiscating the weapons, ammunition, and experimental equipment left behind by the Sakura Society. The data in the combination cases was urgently sent to Dawn City; those red markers indicating Skeleton Serpent's inland strongholds would soon become the next targets for the Five Great Army Groups.

Chen Hao stood in front of the temporary command vehicle, deploying the next phase of the mopping-up plan over the intercom. However, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of an extremely faint black shadow flashing across the distant horizon.

"Something's not right." He frowned slightly and immediately activated his armor's reconnaissance mode. "All units attention, immediately screen the surrounding airspace. If any unidentified flying objects are found, kill on sight!"

Before his voice could fade, a sharp siren suddenly pierced the sky.

It came from the direction of the Skeleton Serpent inland stronghold ten kilometers away!

"Commander! Something's wrong!" The signalman's voice was panicked. "The Skeleton Serpent inland stronghold has suddenly suffered a massive explosion! The shockwave has covered a five-kilometer radius. Our advance reconnaissance squad has lost contact!"

Chen Hao's pupils constricted suddenly.

Self-destruction! Skeleton Serpent actually detonated their own stronghold!

He immediately pulled up the real-time satellite feed. On the screen, the stronghold hidden in the mountain forest was now sending up a massive mushroom cloud. Dark green smoke, like a toxic miasma, was spreading in all directions. Even more terrifyingly, the explosion's shockwave had triggered a tide of Mutants in the forest. Thousands of Mutants were sprinting away from the center of the explosion, heading straight for the Eastern Army Group's station.

"Damn it! This is a diversion!" Chen Hao realized instantly. "Orders! Falcon Attack Aircraft squadrons, take off immediately and provide fire coverage over the Mutant tide! Armored units, establish a defensive line on the spot. Activate all sonic weapons!"

Warplanes roared as they soared into the clouds, shells falling like rain into the Mutant tide. The armored units' heavy sonic cannons fired in unison, sending out ripples of pale purple energy. The screams of the Mutants rose and fell one after another.

But at that moment, the command vehicle's alarm suddenly emitted a rapid beeping—it was an optical stealth signal!

"Enemies have infiltrated!" Chen Hao abruptly drew the bone-spur longblade from his waist, his eyes as sharp as a hawk's. "Protect the data! On guard!"

Just as he finished speaking, three black shadows lunged from the command vehicle's shadow like ghosts. They wore black tight-fitting combat suits and skull masks, the military daggers in their hands glinting with a ghostly cold light. They were the 'Shadow' Squad of the Serpent Skeleton Research Institute—an elite unit specializing in assassination missions.

The leading shadow had a clear objective, heading straight for Chen Hao. The dagger sliced through the air, carrying a lethal cold light toward his throat.

"You're courting death!" Chen Hao sidestepped the attack and swung his longblade back, clashing with the dagger in a shower of sparks.

The other two shadows pounced on the signalman responsible for guarding the data. Their movements were lightning-fast, their daggers aiming straight for the signalman's chest.

"Protect the data!" Two special forces soldiers arrived just in time, raising their guns to fire. But the shadows were too agile, rolling and dodging like civet cats. Their daggers sliced through the soldiers' arms, and blood gushed out instantly.

The battle in front of the command vehicle reached a fever pitch in an instant.

The leader of the shadows was extremely powerful. His dagger was coated in dark green venom, and every strike was cunning and ruthless. Although Chen Hao's armor was tough, it was still marred by several shallow scratches from the dagger. The venom splashed onto the armor, making a sizzling corrosive sound.

"I will have Lin Zhou's head!" The shadow's voice was raspy and harsh, filled with thick murderous intent. "Today, your Eastern Army Group will pay for Matsumoto's death in blood!"

"With just you?" Chen Hao roared, turning his sonic rifle to maximum power and pulling the trigger at the shadow.

Pale purple energy waves shot out. The shadow didn't dare take the hit directly and could only roll away in a sorry state. Chen Hao seized this opening, sweeping his longblade across and slashing heavily into the shadow's shoulder.

"Ah—!"

The shadow screamed as the combat suit on his shoulder was torn open, revealing skin covered in scales—he was also an experimental subject of the Skeleton Serpent!

"Monster!" Chen Hao's gaze hardened, and his offensive became even more ferocious.

On the other side, the two special forces soldiers had already dealt with the remaining shadows. The signalman clutched the data case, hiding behind the command vehicle with a pale face.

Seeing his companions fall, a flash of madness crossed the lead shadow's eyes. He abruptly pulled a grenade from his chest, gritting his teeth and howling, "Let's die together!"

"Not good!" Chen Hao's pupils shrank. Without time to think, he lunged and tackled the shadow to the ground.

The grenade exploded with a 'boom,' and the blast wave threw both of them back. The back of Chen Hao's armor was dented by the explosion, and blood leaked from the corner of his mouth. As for the shadow, he was blown to pieces.

The battle ended quickly, but it was exceptionally tragic.

All three shadows were killed, but the Eastern Army Group had paid a price—two special forces soldiers had sacrificed their lives, five were injured, and the advance reconnaissance squad was completely wiped out.

Chen Hao struggled to climb up from the ground, the intense pain in his back making him groan. He looked at the still-burning stronghold in the distance and the Mutant tide being suppressed by fire, his gaze growing colder.

"Skeleton Serpent, you are ruthless!" He wiped the blood from his mouth and said into the intercom in a low voice, "Report the situation to the Commander immediately! Also, have the Research Team analyze the gas components after the explosion and develop an antidote!"

On the mobile platform in the far sea, the Man in the Suit looked at the report of the 'Shadow' Squad's annihilation on the screen, his face grim. He crushed the wine glass in his hand, crimson liquid dripping through his fingers.

"The assassination failed, and even the self-destruction failed to heavily damage the Eastern Army Group..." he murmured, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes. "Lin Zhou, Chen Hao, do you really think you've won?"

He turned and said to the Researcher behind him, word by word, "Initiate the 'chrysalis plan'. Let those 'seeds' take root and sprout in the human settlements."

The Researcher's body trembled violently, a look of terror appearing on his face. "My Lord, the 'chrysalis plan' is not yet fully mature. Starting it prematurely might..."

"Execute the order!" The Man in the Suit's voice was bone-chilling. "I want the entire land of Huaxia to become a playground for Mutants!"

The Researcher didn't dare argue further and could only bow in agreement before turning to execute the order.

The Man in the Suit walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the deep sea, a cruel smile curling his lips.

"The game has only just begun."

Meanwhile, in Dawn City, Lin Zhou was looking at the report sent back by Chen Hao and the data seized from the Sakura Society. His fingers lightly tapped the desk, a look of gravity flashing in his eyes.

Self-destruction, assassination, Mutant tides... Skeleton Serpent's methods were becoming more and more vicious.

What concerned him even more was the 'chrysalis plan' mentioned in the data. Although there were only a few words, it exuded a hair-raising aura.

"It seems our opponent is far more cunning than imagined." Lin Zhou whispered to himself, then looked up and said to the signalman in a deep voice, "Orders! The Five Great Army Groups are to enter a Level 1 state of alert immediately! Conduct a carpet search of all recovered areas to strictly prevent infiltration by the Skeleton Serpent! Furthermore, have the Research Team accelerate the mass production of magnetic storm battle armor and phantom tanks. Our time is running out!"

"Yes!"

The signalman took the order and left.

Lin Zhou walked to the window, looking at the myriad lights of Dawn City, his gaze as steady as iron.

No matter how many conspiracies and tricks the Skeleton Serpent had, no matter how many difficulties and obstacles lay ahead, he would not back down.

Because behind him were millions of compatriots and the hope of humanity.

As the night deepened, a silent contest had already quietly begun in the shadows.

The 'seeds' of the Skeleton Serpent had already been buried in the soil.

And the soldiers of Dawn City were keeping their eyes peeled, waiting to pull these poisonous seeds out by the roots.