Lantern Sister is still very capable.

Chapter 157 Backhand

Zero's eyes were bloodshot. He hadn't rested for three days straight, and his spirit was exhausted. His level four ability user physique was enough to support him for three days without sleep, but the increasingly severe battle cast a dark cloud over his heart.

"Chu Deng still failed..." Zero looked at the dark clouds in the distance, the sea was undulating, and a rainstorm was about to arrive, which was simply adding insult to injury for the human side.

Fighting marine monsters in the rain, coupled with the weakening of their main fire-type ability users, means that if he doesn't make a decision soon, the southeastern sea defense line will fall, and the entire Guangdong province will become a huge nest for hiding insects, putting them in a passive position.

"Mr. Zero Degree, Cai Zhizhi wants to see you."

Zero nodded. Not long after the messenger left, Cai Zhizhi came over with red eyes.

"What is the exact number of casualties?" Zero asked, sighing inwardly before Cai Zhizhi could speak.

"18 people were seriously injured, 62 were slightly injured, and 31 died." Cai Zhizhi clenched her fist, turned her head away, and replied through gritted teeth.

Zero stared blankly into the distance. For three days, he kept a close eye on the movements at sea, hoping for the fireworks that represented hope to bloom. At the end of the first day, a researcher advised him that the potion's hidden effect only lasted for one hour. With Chu Deng's level three strength, it was impossible for him to survive in the sea for more than 24 hours. He suggested that Zero abandon the decapitation plan and make a backup plan.

But he could never forget the girl's stubbornness when she confronted him. He was unwilling to believe that she had died in the sea, so he still clung to hope.

Three days was the limit he could give, and also his greatest indulgence.

"Let's begin preparations," Zero said softly. "The evacuation will begin at 18 PM tonight."

Finally, we have come to this step.

"Yes!" Cai Zhizhi pursed her lips, feeling somewhat resentful for those who had sacrificed themselves, but thinking of the survivors, she saluted and replied loudly.

When Cai Zhizhi returned to her temporary residence, the air was thick with the stench of blood from the wounded. When she saw Wen Lan, who had lost a leg, her throat felt as if nails were being driven into it.

Seeing his friend's expression, Cheng Feng immediately understood. He took a few steps forward and hugged Cai Zhizhi, patting her back to help her catch her breath. "You are our last resort. Without you, we can only hold on to our deaths."

So don't be sad, it's not your fault that someone sacrificed their life.

No one comforted her, but when someone gently told her not to cry, Cai Zhizhi's tears fell in a flash, like beads from a broken string flowing down her cheeks. She choked back sobs, her friend's image both blurry and clear in her mind, and mumbled a "hmm".

The reason why only Zero Degree, a level 4 ice-type, has been stationed in the Southeast Sea without sending additional level 4 support is because Cai Zhizhi, a level 4 space-type, is also in the team.

As a storage-type spatial ability user, she discovered the uniqueness of her ability after reaching level four. She could connect the storage spaces of various lower-level spatial ability users to form a super-large storage space that could even accommodate living people.

Once the space is formed, any foreign object entering her space will be detected by her. Superpowered individuals of level three or below cannot enter the space without her permission. Superpowered individuals of level three or above can forcibly enter the space, but their whereabouts will be exposed to her perception.

Her ability is the nemesis of areas invaded by Alpha parasites. As long as she opens up her space to protect an area, the alien beasts and plants controlled by Alpha parasites will undoubtedly be rejected by her space. Even if they are above level three, she can still allow level four Zero to carry out targeted extermination.

The only weakness is its location. Cai Zhizhi's ability can connect low-level storage spaces, which requires the cooperation of other space-type ability users. However, low-level storage-type space-type ability users are often quite fragile. Once they are killed during the connection process, Cai Zhizhi's space will instantly lose a protected area. Therefore, when the Alpha Bug is hidden in the sea, Cai Zhizhi's space is not very useful.

However, if the parasitic sea monsters intend to come ashore and the front line cannot be held, Cai Zhizhi can unite with the storage space-type ability users in the ability user bases of various provinces and cities on land to form a protective zone, protecting most of Guangdong Province and preventing the Alpha parasite from using Guangdong Province as a springboard to spread rapidly.

The reason it's called the final trump card is because once this plan is launched, we must be prepared for the spread of the Alpha parasite. For the past six months, Chinese superhumans have been trying to eliminate the Alpha parasite and keep it off the coast. However, parasites reproduce quickly, and if we don't find a way to eradicate them quickly, they can easily spread. The higher-ups have already made preparations for this.

Current research has found that alpha parasites generally only parasitize life forms with supernatural abilities, and there is no immediate danger to ordinary people.

In terms of lethality, the Alpha Bug, which can amplify the host's supernatural abilities, has a wider range of threats. However, in terms of the number of hosts it can parasitize, it is far fewer than the number of ordinary people. It is hard to say whether this is a blessing or a curse.

At 18 p.m. that evening, the resting team withdrew from the Southeast Sea camp in an orderly manner. Under the afterglow of the setting sun, Zero Degree and Cheng Feng protected Cai Zhizhi.

An invisible barrier silently enveloped the land, starting from Cai Zhizhi, and continued to extend into the land.

"How long will it take?" Zero asked in a low voice.

Cheng Feng glanced at Cai Zhizhi, who was concentrating on releasing the spatial energy, and said, "About half an hour, depending on the speed at which people within the range respond."

“We have already notified the space-type ability users in each city to arrive in advance,” Zero said.

Inside a well-known hot pot restaurant in Shantou, a few seasonings floated in the bubbling broth. Xiao Yuan put in a few slices of beef, blanched them for a few seconds, then scooped them out, rolled them in the sauce bowl, and put them in his mouth. The delicious taste made him squint his eyes. In a good mood, he greeted Jin Dahai, who was staring at his personal terminal with a worried expression, "Uncle, let's eat."

Jin Dahai kept sending messages with a wry smile, either signing electronic contracts or comparing documents, and occasionally he had to answer a video call, saying, "Okay, okay."

After recuperating in Hai City for a short time, once he was able to move around again, Xiao Yuan secretly took him away from Hai City and brought him to Guangdong Province. In the morning, the two of them were having morning tea in the provincial capital of Guangdong. In the afternoon, Xiao Yuan took on a mission and took him to Shantou City. They even had time to eat hot pot. Jin Dahai estimated that the mission should not be difficult.

After being notified that the online meeting would be postponed by half an hour, Jin Dahai began to focus on his meal, asking between bites, "When are we going back to Haishi? I miss my daughter."

Xiao Yuan chuckled, "Once the big boss has cleaned up Hai City, we can go back. I heard that a level 4 fire type infiltrated the area recently. The provincial competition is coming up soon, so the Dragon Group simply set the selection venue in Hai City. The small boss is inexperienced and will be stationed in Beijing, while the big boss will be stationed in Hai City."

"That won't be until August." Jin Dahai had also heard about this. The provincial competition for superhumans was in early July, and the Dragon Group selection was at the end of July. By the time he got back after the selection, it would be August.

"You can't see her face-to-face, but once your daughter passes her probationary period, you'll be able to talk to her on the phone," Xiao Yuan kindly reminded her.

Just as Jin Dahai was about to ask about Jin Xiaoyue's recent situation, he saw Xiao Yuan put down her chopsticks. Jin Dahai had spent quite a bit of time with Xiao Yuan, and sensing something was amiss, he closed his mouth and held his breath, waiting. He then felt a familiar sensation sweep over him, and his breath hitched.

He had the same feeling when Xiao Yuan teleported him last time.

"I've already delivered him to his doorstep, and that kid still hasn't responded? I can feel it." Xiao Yuan shook his head and muttered in dissatisfaction.

Feeling uncomfortable being enveloped by someone else's space, Xiao Yuan took a sip of coconut juice and left with Jin Dahai.

"Where are we going? Can we make a deal? I just finished eating, can you please stop bothering me?" Jin Dahai said with a bitter smile.

"I'll find someone and we'll leave Guangdong Province. We'll stay in Beijing for the rest of the month," Xiao Yuan said, frowning as he outlined the next steps.

His temporary task was to transmit the storage space system of the Guangzhou base to various parts of Guangzhou Province to stand by. The last stop was Shantou City. Now that someone had a problem, he had to go and see them to feel at ease.

Apart from Shantou City not responding, Cai Zhizhi had basically connected most of the Guangdong Province. Under the cover of space, an invisible barrier protected the area. Cai Zhizhi came back to her senses and breathed a sigh of relief, "There is a situation in Shantou City, but the rest of the areas have been completed."

Although the Level 4 system in Dongguan City within the space made her feel somewhat uncomfortable, and some Level 3 actions also exhausted her mental energy, overall, she could maintain it for a period of time without any problems.

"Someone has already gone to investigate Shantou. Let's leave the rest to that person." Zero looked at the approaching helicopter in the sky, where a figure that inspired awe floated.

That was the leader admired by countless Chinese superhumans, a level-five wind-type superhuman codenamed "Kite"—Jiang Guoqiang!