Armor-Piercing Munition: Face Me, Carbon-Based Monster!
Chapter 88 - 1 The Weak Also Wish to Survive

Chapter 88: Chapter 1 The Weak Also Wish to Survive

The next morning, Chen Jian was awakened by someone, Zeng Yi.

When he opened his eyes, sunlight was already streaming in through the church window.

The others were already dressed in full gear, ready to go, while Li Shi and Xie Liu were both sprawled on the bed, sleeping as if in a coma.

Chen Jian sat up, noticing the bluish tinge of exhaustion on Zeng Yi’s face across from him. He quickly said:

"We’ll take over; you should get some rest."

Zeng Yi shook his head and replied:

"I’m afraid I can’t rest."

"People from the Holy Blood Temple have arrived."

"So soon?"

Chen Jian stood up in surprise, grabbing his gear as he asked:

"Who are they? Where did they come from?"

"They came from Han Shui City, one of them is a Blood Source named Zhou Qin, Zhou Yan’s deputy."

"I don’t recognize the other, but judging by the marks on his bloodied clothes, he’s also a Blood Source."

"The strength of these two is quite formidable, likely more than twice my combat power."

"Regardless of their purpose, if we need to engage with them, it’s better I stay by your side."

"To be on the safe side, we could wake Li Shi and the others."

"...Never mind."

Chen Jian shook his head and after a moment’s thought said:

"Just wake Xie Liu, Li Shi is still injured, let him rest first."

"There are only two Blood Sources; no matter how strong they are, they can’t stir up much trouble."

"Let’s go, let’s meet them."

"The hand that held the knife has already been chopped off; this time, the hand extended... should be holding flowers."

Saying this, Chen Jian buckled the exoskeleton hinges.

The motor buzzed to life, weapon mounts deployed, and he strode out the door with Shen Yue and the others, while Zeng Yi woke Xie Liu and followed closely behind.

After leaving the church, under the guidance of Huang Yu, the group of seven headed towards the outskirts of Yellow Stone City. The city defense soldiers, clearly already awakened by Huang Yu, were resting near various cover points and joined them, armed and guarding them closely.

They didn’t need any orders; their actions were perfectly natural.

When Chen Jian walked out of the residential area, the city defense soldiers had already spontaneously moved in front of him, blocking all possible attack routes with a "surrounded and clustered" formation.

----This was evidently not a scientific defense plan, but Chen Jian knew this was the greatest loyalty of these newfound warriors.

A few minutes later, they arrived at the lakeshore, where no one was to be seen.

But when Chen Jian cast his gaze into the distance, he saw a white flag waving on the opposite shore.

He raised his binoculars and, sure enough, saw two Holy Blood members in the distinctive blood-stained uniforms of the Holy Blood Temple.

"Is it them?"

Chen Jian asked Zeng Yi.

Zeng Yi nodded and replied:

"Yes."

"I communicated with them earlier through gestures—they want to come ashore."

"We’re not sure of their intentions yet, but the white flag means they’re here to negotiate."

"However, I suggest we remain cautious... I was on the outskirts of the Holy Blood Temple for so long, even I don’t know what special means they might have."

"If we’re going to contact them... it’s best to control them first."

"Makes sense."

Chen Jian said thoughtfully:

"We need to let them come over, but ensure they have no means to harm us... have them strip and swim over."

"... Wouldn’t this be... too damaging to their dignity?"

Zeng Yi’s mouth twitched with a hint of an irrepressible smile, but in this serious setting, he couldn’t afford to laugh out loud.

He just coughed and said:

"If they refuse and turn back, we can’t negotiate either..."

"Don’t worry, they won’t leave."

Chen Jian said confidently:

"What right does the defeated have to talk about dignity?"

"If they want to live, they must listen to me!"

....

Half an hour later, a stark naked Zhou Qin and his fellow Blood Source, Zhang Hui, swam to the shore of the dreaded Death Island.

The tattered clothes prepared for them on the ground were a great humiliation, but as they looked up at the guns pointed at them, whatever semblance of pride evaporated.

No, it wasn’t the guns or the cannons that terrified them.

Not even the three steel warriors clad in bizarre armor with weapon-like appendages stretched like monstrous creatures.

It was the people in front and behind them.

The residents of Yellow Stone City, once weak and hunched as ants to themselves...

They had completely transformed.

They stood upright, weapons in hand, with eyes that bore no fear, perhaps even a bit of monstrous ferocity, ready to consume.

Zhou Qin had no doubt if he dared to make any perilous actions, these people would certainly tear him to shreds with the weapons in their hands.

How could they have changed like this?

These Mimic Heretics... how long have these so-called "Chosen Ones" been here?

The plague obviously had spread...

What puzzled Zhou Qin was that if it were a disease like the Blood Skull that turned people into bloodthirsty monsters, perhaps it could be called a plague.

But if it were something that turned cowards into warriors like now, is it still a plague?

There was not a trace of confusion in these people’s eyes.

They were very aware of what they were doing, and even though their eyes held unmasked hatred, under some powerful aura, they remained incredibly composed...

This was truly unsettling.

But now, Zhou Qin wasn’t in a position to explore more.

He donned the clothes lying on the ground, covering his body, then turned to the "Chosen Ones" opposite with a humble demeanor and said:

"Chosen Ones, we have come for peace."

"The battle is over; we’ve paid the price for our foolish prejudice."

"Thousands of lives have already perished in meaningless conflict; it’s a painful lesson."

"Misunderstandings only escalate the conflict; I think we should put them aside and talk peacefully."

"Even though we are already insignificantly weak now, we are willing to take responsibility for our mistakes."

"There are still thousands of residents in Han Shui City who are entirely shrouded in fear."

"Even if not for me, please show mercy to them..."

As Zhou Qin finished speaking, Chen Jian looked somewhat surprised.

He looked at the other side from afar and spoke with a hint of sarcasm:

"I thought your stance would be more hardened."

"But now it seems you are quite articulate."

Zhou Qin’s face was full of bitterness.

He didn’t know how to answer this question.

Hardened?

He had initially planned to be somewhat firm.

At least not to the extent of suffering such humiliation and still having to flatter the other side.

However, before coming ashore, he detoured to Yuqing State.

He saw the remnants of that massive explosion.

Then he realized that his so-called toughness would only expedite his demise.

Under such circumstances, why put on a pretense?

He raised his head to look at Chen Jian about ten meters away and said:

"I just realized my own weakness."

"Please forgive the grave errors we’ve committed, for even the weak desire to survive..."