Chapter 135: The Giant Fish-Bird Evolves, and Hope for Survival Grows

Three hundred crystal core energy units?

This figure immediately caught the eyes of many. After all, it was an incredibly rare and elusive reward. Generally, a single mission would only yield one unit of crystal core energy, but their leader was now willing to throw away three hundred. This signaled his absolute, unwavering determination to eliminate Chen Yi. Those who entered the "New Generation Human Project" were subjected to all manner of human experimentation, with a ninety percent chance of failing to survive. The leader’s painstaking efforts to capture Chen Yi were motivated by nothing more than the desire to extract every ounce of his power and graft it onto himself, transforming him into the most formidable entity between man and zombie.

The adjutant beside him understood this perfectly. Ever since they had injected themselves with zombie power alongside their leader, they had become abominations—monsters that neither the zombies would acknowledge nor the humans would accept. Yet, the man who had first devised this special power remained indifferent; in his mind, only the weak would exclude others for such reasons, and he had long since turned a deaf ear to the judgments of the outside world. The X Organization existed because he wanted to foster a sense of mystery, hoping that one day, under the leadership of a true powerhouse, they would break out and force the world to recognize their organization.

Meanwhile, Chen Yi and his companions were jubilant that the Great Kunpeng had survived. Its survival meant that the heavy burden of guilt weighing upon them could finally be lifted. As Chen Yi quickly treated its wounds, the Great Kunpeng recounted its experience. Initially, it had indeed been on the verge of defeat, but numerous creatures in the ocean, determined to see the Great Kunpeng live, had rallied together to target the Demon Whale. Though the Demon Whale was powerful, it could not withstand the combined might of the entire ocean, especially with the relentless onslaught from the mutant sharks. After a fierce struggle, the Demon Whale had been stripped of its combat ability, rendering it effectively useless.

Gazing at the Demon Whale stranded on the beach, Chen Yi drew his twin blades. The Great Kunpeng looked at him. "Are you truly going to kill it?"

Chen Yi glanced at it. "I know it is a creature of the ocean, and you naturally feel some regret. But if I do not kill it, it will come to kill you. I am sorry, but I must prepare for the worst."

"I understand," the Great Kunpeng sighed. "It brought this upon itself. I can understand your feelings. In truth, to ensure everyone survives, I should not be soft-hearted. Yet, there are so few ocean creatures left, so I..."

Chen Yi waved his hand and offered a smile. "Rest assured, ocean creatures will be reborn, though not today. Right now, I must uncover the root cause of the zombie outbreak. I refuse to believe that the X Organization went to such lengths just to kill those of us with special abilities."

The Great Kunpeng fell into deep thought. Perhaps, as Chen Yi suggested, the organization harbored other secrets. However, it was clear that investigating them with their current strength would be no easy task. It cautioned Chen Yi, "Be careful. I have always felt that the organization is far from simple."

"Take this," Chen Yi said, producing one hundred crystal core energy units. "I have heard that some powers can undergo a transformation once they surpass their limits. Your current existence is already defying the natural order. Use these energy units and see if you can trigger a change in your power. If you can take on a human form, it will present a new opportunity for us all."

Despite his words, the Great Kunpeng hesitated. If it transformed into a human, what would become of the Little Kunpeng? Sensing its concerns, Chen Yi brought out another massive stash of crystal core energy.

The sight left the hesitant creature stunned. "Where did you get all of this?"

Chen Yi explained what had just transpired. Upon learning that these were rewards from slaying the zombie prime, the Great Kunpeng could not help but marvel. "Chen Yi, it is truly my great fortune to be friends with someone like you."

"Enough of that," Chen Yi interrupted the pleasantries. "I am merely doing what I can."

"But the things you do are things others could never achieve," the Great Kunpeng replied, expressing its heartfelt gratitude. It knew all too well that there were precious few individuals with special powers willing to sacrifice for the sake of the ocean or humanity. Most would sooner slaughter others for their own gain than concern themselves with the survival of others.

"I must thank you regardless," the Great Kunpeng insisted, shaking its head. "Chen Yi, I understand you are not one for formalities, but in this moment, both my son and I must express our gratitude."

It then led the Little Kunpeng to consume the crystal core energy. As the power flowed into their bodies, they slowly began to manifest human forms. Seeing the two sea creatures successfully transform, the group was overjoyed.

"Wonderful! Now we have gained two of the most powerful allies. Thank you both for your help!"

The Great Kunpeng pulled the Little Kunpeng forward, and they both bowed to Chen Yi and his companions. "If not for you, we would never have had this miracle." Its expression turned solemn. "However, the battles ahead will likely be even more dangerous. While fighting in the depths, we discovered many experimental subjects beyond the Orcas. These subjects have likely surpassed the level of ordinary zombies. I believe you understand this as well—the very fact that these crystal cores are offered as rewards should be proof enough."

"I know," Chen Yi said, feeling a sense of unease. "It is likely that someone is using these cores as bait to lure zombies and humans into slaughtering one another. In time, once they have outlived their usefulness, they will be eliminated by their masters and lose their lives."

"Precisely," the Great Kunpeng nodded, looking at Chen Yi with approval. Chen Yi’s assessment was accurate; many were driven by temporary gains to engage in such acts. However, the Great Kunpeng had a different concern. "What I am thinking about now is whether we should prioritize the humans. There are nearly a thousand survivors left. Preventing them from being used further is the most important thing."

Chen Yi agreed. "Can you sense the traces of human presence? I can perceive the presence of special powers, but that does not mean I can predict those forces in advance."

"I can," the Great Kunpeng nodded. "I have the ability to sense the presence of humans."