Volume One: Mutation Chapter Fifty-Two: Burning Without Restraint

“Let’s hear it,” said the First Chief, looking quite interested.

“Liucong’s parents divorced when he was very young. His mother remarried and moved abroad. After his father passed away, he’s lived alone ever since. He’s extremely self-disciplined, exercises regularly, and has taught himself a wealth of legal knowledge. He’s always harbored the desire to track down drug traffickers and avenge his father.”

“His thinking might be a bit extreme, but his intentions are good. Those drug traffickers, especially the ones who kill police, don’t deserve to live,” the First Chief commented.

The Second Chief smiled warmly. “Yes, this young man has a great character. Once he gained the ability, he came to us of his own accord and has helped us with many things. If he hadn’t arrived in time this time, G15 would truly have been lost.”

Seeing his expression, the First Chief laughed and scolded, “Alright, I know he’s made a contribution. I’ll remember that, you don’t need to keep reminding me. He’s quite famous online lately—even people abroad know about him, and who knows how many want to become his disciples!”

The Second Chief caught his meaning and shook his head. “That’s out of the question. There’s only one Liucong in the world—there’s no way to make another.”

“Ah, what a pity. If only there were more people like him, what great things we could accomplish!”

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Across the ocean in Japan, the country had long since suffered attacks from mutated sea creatures.

As coastal cities continued to fall and one safe zone after another was breached, Japan’s leadership could no longer contain themselves and dreamed of escape.

In a dimly lit room—

“Idiots! Useless fools! We spend so much on you every year, yet you can’t even handle a few monsters!” Japan’s current Prime Minister, Abe, shouted angrily.

“Yes, sir!”

The one bowing his head and sprayed with spittle was Japan’s highest-ranking military officer, Masao Nakamura.

“How are our people we placed in China?” After venting his anger, Abe remembered the crucial matter at hand.

“Prime Minister, our operatives executed their mission flawlessly. Although Mr. Liu thwarted the missile, we still succeeded in sowing discord among them. I hear Jiang Wen is about to face impeachment—our goal is that much closer,” Nakamura replied.

“Such a shame. Someone like Mr. Liu ought to belong to Japan, but we’ve never had the chance to approach him,” Abe lamented. “Were any of our people exposed?”

Nakamura smiled. “Rest assured, sir. Our people covered their tracks perfectly—no one suspects a thing.”

“Good, it’s best if they have internal strife for now. Let them play it by ear—” Abe’s words were abruptly cut off by Nakamura’s phone ringing.

The urgent ringtone made his heart leap; he had received far too many pieces of bad news lately, and just hearing the phone made his nerves fray.

Under Abe’s gaze, Nakamura shakily pressed the answer button.

---

“General Nakamura! It’s bad—huge numbers of mutated creatures have come ashore along the river, our people can’t hold them back!”

The voice on the other end was frantic, almost shouting; Abe could hear every word.

Abe snatched the phone and bellowed, “Blockheads! Hold your ground! Send more men—don’t let a single one through! If you let even one get past, I’ll have you all shot!”

Without waiting for a reply, he hung up.

The news had come so suddenly—this area had been safe until now. Learning monsters were on their way, Abe could no longer stay calm. After smashing a few teacups in a fit of rage, he summoned his subordinates.

“Immediately—get in touch with China! Request that Mr. Liu be sent to support us. We’ll agree to any condition they set!” Abe said, regaining his composure.

His subordinate looked puzzled. “Prime Minister, why don’t we just leave? The country’s already fallen. Only by seeking protection in China will we survive.”

“Idiot! Just do as I say! Fool! Have you forgotten about that giant bird in the sky? Without Mr. Liu’s protection, would you dare board a plane?”

“Yes, sir! I’ll contact China at once!” The subordinate turned to go.

“Wait! Go to the conference room. I want a video meeting with the Chinese side—I’ll speak to them myself!”

-------

A video conference was swiftly convened and, after half an hour of discussions, ended.

“Old Li, we can’t agree to these terms. We have our hands full as it is—there’s no way we can send Liucong abroad. Who knows when another T4 or T5 might pop up—we can’t do without him,” said the Second Chief gravely.

The Japanese side had offered extremely tempting conditions—enough to sway many. But the crux of it was that they demanded Liucong be sent to aid Japan.

“We shouldn’t be so hasty. Let’s bring it up at the evening meeting and put it to a vote,” said the First Chief. Though tempted, he kept his cool and didn’t immediately agree to Japan’s request.

“But, if it passes, you’ll have to tell Liucong yourself. You’re his direct supervisor, after all.”

“No way! I refuse! If the meeting passes it, let whoever wants to go, go. I’m not doing it,” the Second Chief snapped, then left the Number One Residence at once. When it came to Liucong, he wanted nothing more to do with the First Chief.

Liucong, unaware of the discord his fate was causing among the two Chiefs, was sitting side by side on the high G15 city wall, holding Liu Qingqing’s small hand as they watched the sunset.

Perhaps it was an illusion, but with the massive reduction in carbon emissions, Liucong felt the sky was clearer and the sun seemed closer than ever.

Liu Qingqing leaned against his shoulder.

The seaside sunset was breathtaking. Liu Qingqing gazed dreamily at the horizon. “Brother Liu, the sea is so beautiful. But why are there so many monsters?”

“It is beautiful. Maybe some kind of energy substance leaked and polluted the sea,” he replied.

“Then if we find that thing, can we stop the pollution?”

Liucong smiled. “If only it were so simple. Who knows how many dangers lurk in these waters? I’m nowhere near confident enough to explore yet.”

Liu Qingqing looked at him. “When we’re strong enough, I’ll go in with you.”

“Then we’d better train hard and get stronger as soon as possible. The sooner we find the root cause of the sea’s mutation, the sooner this disaster can end,” Liucong said gently. “Alright, let’s head down. We need to take care of those corpses—if we leave them any longer, they’ll start to stink.”

The two of them leaped lightly, using the buoyancy of the wind to land nimbly atop the city wall.

Zhang Chu spotted Liucong and grinned. “Brother, go ahead. The soldiers can’t wait to see you set the fire. Black flames—now that’s something you don’t see every day.”

Liu Qingqing’s eyes sparkled. She had seen Liucong’s black fire before, but only as a small flame. It was nothing like the overwhelming spectacle she’d seen in videos. Now, she was excited to witness its true power in person.

Liucong shot Zhang Chu a glance. “Uncle Zhang, if you’ve got something to say, just say it. Don’t be jealous. If you want, I can give you a little one to play with, but I doubt you’d dare.”

“Haha, what man wouldn’t want to play with fire now and then?” Zhang Chu laughed awkwardly. The more he saw of Liucong’s supernatural powers, the more envious he became.

Liucong glanced around and found the entire G15 wall packed with people, a dense sea of onlookers. Everyone crowded along the edge like a crowd waiting for fireworks, all eyes fixed expectantly on him.

At last, a tiny flame rose from Liucong’s palm, drifting slowly toward the piles of corpses. Every gaze followed its path.

Under everyone’s eager anticipation, the small flame softly landed on the edge of a corpse pile.

“What’s this? Such a huge pile and only a tiny flame—how’s that supposed to burn...”

A young soldier, impatient from waiting, grumbled. But halfway through his complaint, he saw the flame suddenly swell, spreading violently—in just two seconds, it engulfed the entire pile, hundreds of meters across.

The black fire, as if nourished, leapt higher, flames soaring into the sky. The inferno twisted the air with its heat, and the corpse piles visibly shrank, burning to ash before everyone’s eyes.

Why do so many movies feature explosions? It’s because in that instant, when fire erupts, its wild, dangerous energy makes hearts race and emotions surge. In the monotony of daily life, a great blaze or an explosion can overwhelm the senses—no wonder so many crave those moments in film.

Liucong’s black fire was even more awe-inspiring than ordinary flames. Its form and spectacle far surpassed any special effect, and it was all the more real.

“This... this is incredible!” the young soldier stammered, his heart pounding with excitement as he watched the black fire devour everything in its path.