Chapter 111: Xiriel Arrives-Post-Apocalyptic Future(Li Xuehan)

Chapter 111

“Alert! Alert! An unidentified flying object is rapidly approaching the base. All units, prepare for immediate combat!”

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Suddenly, alarms blared over Longsheng Base. The soldiers, well-trained and disciplined, swiftly took their battle positions. The individuals and groups within the base promptly received the notification, instructing them to assist in the defense.

At the research institute, Mo Chen and the others naturally heard the alarms as well. They also received a message from Ling Feng, requesting their assistance in protecting the institute.

But unfortunately, the members of Team Ni were far too preoccupied to pay attention to anything else.

One by one, they stared at Mei, whose breathing grew weaker by the moment on the bed, neglecting the soldier who had come to summon them.

Outside the base, when a towering white skeletal figure with wings—standing seven or eight meters tall—descended before everyone, all were stunned into silence.

Could it be that this apocalypse virus has the power to resurrect creatures reduced to nothing but bones?

But what kind of skeleton was this? It was enormous!

Could it be a dinosaur?

No, that couldn’t be right.

Although some dinosaurs had wings, none were this large, and even their wings couldn’t possibly support such a colossal body soaring into the sky.

This was utterly unscientific.

As the crowd marveled and cautiously speculated about the creature’s origin, the bone dragon suddenly moved.

It opened its massive maw, and an unknown black smoke rapidly enveloped everyone.

Suddenly, darkness fell before their eyes; they could not see their hands in front of their faces. Panic surged, and someone accidentally fired a shot.

Immediately following was a harrowing scream.

One gunshot, one scream—it was like a signal. Suddenly, many began attacking, the air filled with continuous cries of agony, drawing even more into the chaotic fray.

Of course, some remained calm. After shouting “Stop!” several times with no response, they began running toward the base, hoping to escape the black mist.

Could they?

Yes, many successfully evaded the stray bullets and reached beyond the mist.

But before their eyes could adjust to the blinding sunlight, a tremendous force hurled them right back into the darkness!

Those left inside the base watched this strange scene with confusion.

What exactly did this skeletal creature intend?

Why trap people like this?

Was it merely to force them into mutual slaughter?

Did a pile of bones possess such intelligence?

Regardless of its motives, they could not allow those outside to remain trapped. The base swiftly dispatched forces to launch a counterattack against the bone dragon.

However, its strength far exceeded their expectations. Psychic powers struck its bony frame without leaving a mark. Artillery fire was like a mere tickle, failing to inflict any real damage. Worse, a flick of its tail destroyed several tanks.

Still, these attacks were not entirely futile. Soon, someone discovered the bone dragon’s weakness: a cluster of pale white flames inside its skull. Each time it attacked, those flames flickered. When attacks targeted its head, it would retaliate fiercely, unlike the indifferent response it showed to strikes on the rest of its body.

With this knowledge, base command quickly revised their battle plan and redeployed forces for a new assault focused on the dragon’s head.

While most eyes remained glued to the bone dragon, a shadow slipped quietly into the base from the direction nearest the research institute.

When a figure cloaked entirely in black, face obscured beneath a hood, appeared in Mei’s hospital room, Mo Chen and the others were stunned.

How had this person entered without making a sound?

That thought flashed briefly before Mo Chen launched a warning strike—a lightning bolt the thickness of an arm struck precisely at the intruder’s feet, halting their advance.

“I don’t care who you are, leave immediately!” Mo Chen warned.

The figure paused, then resumed moving toward Mei, ignoring the warning completely.

Seeing the intruder’s clear intent, everyone ceased holding back and attacked. Yet their strikes were effortlessly deflected by a flash of dark light emanating from the figure.

The group recoiled in shock, about to strike again, when the cloaked man finally spoke.

“Stand aside! If you don’t want her to die, get out of my way!” The voice was clear but carried a subtle accent, enough for a few to understand.

Everyone froze.

Could this stranger be here to save Mei?

“Why should we trust you?” Mo Chen asked suspiciously.

The man said nothing, but a faint, mocking smile seemed to appear beneath his hood. Without waiting for their reply, he flashed the back of his left hand, then continued toward Mei.

This time, no one stopped him. Neither Mo Chen nor Ye Jingxuan moved. Others wore expressions of disbelief, for they clearly saw the same emblem on his hand as on Mei’s—a mark of Team Ni.

The man reached the bedside, grimacing at Mei’s fragile state. Without hesitation, he pulled out several vials and tried to feed them to her.

But Mei lay unconscious, her head swathed in bandages—impossible to medicate orally.

Without hesitation, the man poured the medicine into his own mouth, then bent down and pressed his lips to hers, transferring the medicine directly.

Lin Shaojie and Qu Wenyuan were dumbfounded. Mo Chen and Ye Jingxuan clenched their fists, lips tight, watching as the stranger fed Mei vial after vial in the same way. Only An Ziyou glanced briefly before looking away calmly.

Three minutes after taking the medicine, Mei’s breathing gradually strengthened.

The mysterious man wrapped her carefully in a black cloak and lifted her without a word, heading for the exit.

“I’m coming too!” Ye Jingxuan stepped forward, blocking the doorway.

He cared little where the man would take Mei; his sole demand was to accompany them. Otherwise, there was no chance the stranger would leave so easily.

The cloaked man regarded Ye Jingxuan silently for a long moment before finally saying, “Suit yourself.”

Hearing no objection, Ye Jingxuan stepped aside. After the man left, Ye Jingxuan followed immediately.

Mo Chen saw Ye Jingxuan leave without hesitation, then, noticing others watching him, snapped irritably, “What are you staring at? Hurry up and follow! If Mei isn’t here, what are we still doing? Are we just going to keep working for that Ling bastard for nothing?”

With that, Mo Chen exuded a dark aura, his expression grim as he gave chase.

He didn’t care what relationship this sudden stranger had with Mei—Mei belonged to him, and no one was allowed to take her away.

The mysterious man carried Mei silently toward the base’s outer wall. Along the way, they passed numerous fallen, unconscious people, revealing how quietly he had infiltrated.

Upon reaching the perimeter, a black energy vehicle materialized before them. Its design was identical to the one Mei had gifted Ye Jingxuan, further proving the extraordinary connection between the man and Mei.

Inside, the layout resembled Mei’s Moonlight car but was far darker in tone.

The man gently laid Mei on a bed draped with black silk sheets, then moved to the driver’s seat to start the vehicle and set the course.

Since all members of Team Ni had ridden in Mei’s car before, none were surprised. Once the vehicle started, they each found a place to sit.

The man ignored them, and after programming the route, he went to the bathroom, pouring a prepared potion into the tub before returning to cradle Mei.

“Who exactly are you?” Mo Chen finally could contain himself no longer and grasped the man’s hand.

Though the stranger had shown no hostility since arriving, and both his emblem and ability to retrieve a cloak from Mei’s personal space indicated a close bond, Mo Chen could not bear his intimate actions toward Mei. It made him feel as if Mei no longer belonged to him.

“Take your hand away!” The man visibly disliked the touch of strangers, his tone sharp as he brushed off Mo Chen’s hand.

“Which do you think is more important—your questions or her treatment?” The man cut him off with a counterquestion before Mo Chen could reply.

Mo Chen was speechless, forced to watch as the stranger carried Mei away.

Shortly after they left Longsheng Base, the bone dragon that had blocked the gate suddenly spread its wings and soared skyward, flying away without looking back.

Everyone was baffled by this strange behavior. The higher-ups, fearing a trap, did not order a pursuit.

Once the bone dragon departed, the black mist shrouding the base’s entrance quickly dissipated.

Originally housing over three thousand people, fewer than a thousand remained alive.

Ironically, these survivors had not died by the bone dragon’s hand but were victims of friendly fire.

This only deepened the base leadership’s confusion about the bone dragon’s purpose.

What exactly had it come for?

Ling Feng’s mind raced. He immediately turned to his deputy.

“Dispatch a team to the research institute immediately. Check for any losses.”

“Yes, Major!” The deputy saluted and hurried off.

Soon, a report came back: everyone at the institute was unconscious, and it was unclear if any vital data had been lost.

“And what about Team Ni?” Ling Feng asked the soldier who delivered the news.

“Reporting, Major, all members of Team Ni are missing!”

All missing?!

Ling Feng’s brow furrowed deeply at the news.

(To be continued.)