Chapter 86

Chapter 86: Artificial Soul 13

The garbage mountain was composed of piles of discarded items, including derelict vehicles, rusted shipping containers, and decommissioned construction machinery, all stacked haphazardly, teetering precariously.

This was a maze constructed from garbage, with people living within it. Their homes were makeshift shacks made from rusty containers and corrugated iron sheets or even just plastic sheets draped over frames for rudimentary shelter.

Kui Xin had different types of bullets loaded in her hand cannon. The first two shots were armor-piercing rounds, while the third one was an explosive round.

Because of the dire conditions on the garbage mountain and the cramped living spaces, if she used an explosive round, the scattered steel pellets might hit her, turning her into a pincushion. The armor-piercing rounds wouldn’t be enough to stop their enemy; that’s where the explosive rounds came into play.

A submachine gun in her other hand offered additional firepower, although it wasn’t as penetrating as her hand cannon, its rapid fire made up for this deficiency.

Their enemies, the Heterogeneous Blooded, who usually boasted superior regenerative abilities, would not be kept at bay by anything but high-powered weapons.

“The containment area has thirty-two residents, twenty-nine adults and three children.” Augus said, “I’ve marked the information. Please proceed to the indicated locations.”

A miniature map appeared on the headpiece visor, with red dots marking every inhabited spot.

Captain Yu Liang and Kui Xin were flanked by several regular security officers—tasked personnel assisting them.

Captain Yu addressed Kui Xin: “Follow me closely and watch what I do. Scan the area before approaching any structures. Only enter if there are no Xenomorphs detected. Your headgear visor should have thermal imaging; the body heat of Xenomorphs is slightly different from humans’. If anything looks off, pull back. When things seem normal, you may open the door. However, Heterogeneous Blooded don’t visibly differ from humans temperature-wise…”

He walked to a tin shack and kicked the door open shouting, “Don’t move; raise your hands! Place them somewhere I can see!”

Three individuals froze with their trembling hands raised high.

“Come outside,” Captain Yu instructed calmly, directing them toward the empty space outside. Several armed security officers stood ready; any unusual movement could trigger their gunfire.

“If necessary, bite yourself, bang your head against the wall, or create a wound on yourself; make sure it’s sufficiently deep.”

Kui Xin observed thoughtfully.

Heterogeneous Blooded were characterized by their extraordinary regenerative capabilities; consuming Divine Blood instantly activated their healing powers. Creating wounds on themselves to determine whether they had consumed Divine Blood was the simplest method.

The three people under threat bit their arms harshly, blood welling up; Captain Yu then instructed, “Clean them thoroughly so we can inspect the wounds.”

They promptly wiped the blood away with their clothes, revealing the injuries to Captain Yu.

After a few seconds of scrutiny, Captain Yu concluded, “Alright, you three may leave the containment zone and wait outside.”

The accompanying security officers immediately pointed their guns at them, escorting them to the periphery for custody.

“Do you understand the procedure?” Captain Yu glanced at Kui Xin. “In case of any abnormality during the search, you are permitted to shoot.”

“Yes,” Kui Xin replied.

“That’s good. You’ll handle the next house.” Captain Yu nodded towards Kui Xin.

Kui Xin approached Captain Yu and moved to another home marked on the map. She booted the door fiercely and coldly commanded, “Raise your hands!”

Behind the door was a child, a little girl with dirty face and matted hair who seemed to be about two or three years old. Scared by Kui Xin entering, she stayed stock-still, not moving a muscle, while her parents raised their hands high.

Seeing her daughter’s lack of response, the mother urged, “Niu Niu, put your hands up!”

The father, sweating heavily, also pleaded, “Put your hands up!”

Reluctantly, the hesitant girl lifted her hands. This young age lacked the awareness of fear or understanding, only curiosity about Kui Xin’s identity.

As Kui Xin stood outside in her black combat suit, the child lifted her face, saying, “Sister, you’re so scary…”

Kui Xin paused.

Parents looked at Kui Xin in terror, perspiring profusely.

Kui Xin showed no response, stepping back and coolly instructed, “Go outside, keep your hands up. Don’t lower them.”

As the civilians reached the more spacious outdoors, Kui Xin continued, “Injure yourself, it must bleed.”

The parents complied without objection.

Kui Xin shifted her gaze toward Captain Yu, “Do we need to test the child too?”

“No need,” Captain Yu frowned, “Why are you even asking? Do I look like someone who wants to harm children? I can tell who deserves to die.”

Kui Xin turned around, “Follow the escorts to quarantine.”

As the family walked away, Captain Yu added, “Children under twelve cannot survive the consumption of Divine Blood, they will die right away. That’s why testing isn’t necessary. This girl isn’t a Heterogeneous Blooded.”

“So there have been cases like this?” Kui Xin questioned.

“Yes, some insane cult members feed Divine Blood to their children.”

“Why are we checking house by house instead of gathering everyone together?”

“Avoiding hostage situations and potential chaos. It’s safer to check individually.”

Kui Xin understood and asked, “How many houses left unchecked?”

“There are thirty-two people in total. Six checked, twenty-six remaining.” Augus mentioned, “Your search area is designated, proceed.”

With mechanical monotony, Kui Xin kicked doors, aimed her weapon, then called people out for injury checks.

While performing these repetitive tasks, memories of the Kraken came flooding back when she and the Seventh Squad executed similar routines on the Mechanized Dawn. Door-kicking, searching, door-kicking, searching.

Her current calmness differed greatly from her high-strung state aboard the Kraken. Her heart rate, vision, and shooting arm remained stable. Kui Xin focused fully, undistracted by external factors or negative emotions.

She was already a true warrior.

One by one, each house in the east side was searched, civilians escorted to the quarantine zone.

Throughout the investigation, no Heterogeneous Blooded were found.

Suddenly, Captain Yu’s communication buzzed in.

“I’m done with the search here, nothing suspicious.” he said, “What about you?”

“All but one building remain unchecked,” she watched the nearby door intently, “It could be…”

She cocked her gun and kicked the final door open shouting, “Hands up! Don’t move!”

Inside lived a mother-daughter pair; the mother raised her hands, her daughter hugging her waist tightly, eyes filled with fear.

About seven to eight years old, the girl had come to her conscious years already.

“Step outside, make a bleeding wound,” Kui Xin instructed the woman, “Let go of you and don’t hinder us.”

The mother glanced sharply at Kui Xin, then reassured her daughter, who loosened her grip and raised her hands.

Together, they stepped outside; she bit her arm slightly, causing bleeding, her wound not recovering.

Kui Xin frowned, whispering into her communicator, “Captain Yu, two checked, a child and an adult, not Heterogeneous Blooded.”

“The last two?” Yu wondered, “Impossible! Our informants…”

“Have they escaped?”

“Unless a Heterogeneous Blooded can burrow into the earth, there are no sewers, everywhere scanned, no life signal detected.”

Kui Xin pondered, “How old are you, little girl?”

Nervously, the child answered, “Seven.”

No need for injury test… Kui Xin thought, but her ‘Absolute Prediction’ suddenly activated. Her temples pulsated, strange premonitions creeping within.

Kui Xin stared at the child, slowly lowering her weapon, ready to command the additional injury check, but the child spoke first, plaintively, “We have done nothing wrong, we are not bad guys, Sister, I’m so scared! Why treat us this way? We didn’t do anything wrong…”

Her innocent words carried peculiar magic, striking Kui Xin’s heart.

Stunned, a wave of pity overcame her, making her voice softer.

“The suspect must have fled… Take them to quarantine for now.” Kui Xin instructed the security officers behind, “I’ll stay and confirm.”

The mother-daughter duo departed under escort, eventually vanishing from Kui Xin’s sight. Suddenly, Adam appeared in her earpiece.

“You’re such a compassionate one, Kui Xin?” Adam remarked lightly, “Perhaps I shouldn’t assume all women with a soft heart are…”

Kui Xin stopped abruptly, struck by his words, struggling to react.

Seconds later, Kui Xin slapped her helmet, muttering a curse, “Damn it, when did I turn soft-hearted?”

These emotions seemed out of place. She never acted this emotional, how could she suddenly?

Kui Xin pulled herself out of pity, her mind clearing, emotions suppressed.

Next to her, another security officer followed. She gestured him forward and retrieved her weapon.

“Captain Yu! The suspect is an eight-year-old girl! She almost brainwashed me!” Kui Xin swiftly informed, “Adam, alert all security teams, be wary!”

Captain Yu responded, “Damn it! An eight-year-old? That breaks logic!”

“Already informed.” Adam replied professionally. “Interesting observation, the girl’s young appearance led to our oversight. Initial assessment suggested supernatural mental abilities. However, she might be a侏儒人 (dwarf person). The woman with her probably isn’t related.”

“… Careless,” she thought.

As she sprinted, gunshots echoed nearby, followed by more shots!

“One security officer dead; another injured, alive…” Adam reported but was interrupted by another shot. “Both gone now.”

The Heterogeneous Blooded’s skill and marksmanship were exceptional. A rare exception, this one could regenerate and wield other supernatural abilities beyond mere tissue recovery.

True exception.

Fang Zhi possessed Death Rebirth, yet during training, Shu Xueyao clearly stated that no additional supernatural abilities beyond regenerative traits developed among Heterogeneous Blooded. This implied they were exceedingly rare, elusive to capture by investigation bureau…

But it’s possible they encountered some, keeping details secret from lower ranks.

Kui Xin dashed, taking a shortcut, leaping across the garbage mountain with agility, reaching the scene in under a minute.

Bloody puddles marred the muddy ground; two dead security officers lay weaponless, traces of the “girl” vanished. Her “mother” cowered in a corner, muttering incomprehensibly as if losing her mind.

The maze-like environment provided perfect hiding spots.

“Adam, scan.”

“Beyond ten meters range, insufficient gear to scan.”

“Crap.” Kui Xin cursed.

Darkness revealed a gun barrel aimed at her, firing—a high-velocity bullet.

Kui Xin evaded swiftly, the bullet barely grazed her helmet, sparks flying as it ricocheted, disorienting her slightly.

Headgear and combat suits were bulletproof but not fully enclosing; aiming uncovered facial areas could be fatal.

With her location confirmed; Kui Xin spun into cover, releasing her hand cannon.

Armor-piercing rounds could punch through concrete walls, easily defeating the garbage mountain.

After regaining composure, she leaped from cover, drawing fire with her own body, catching the shooter in action.

Gunfire erupted. Kui Xin dodged, pinpointed the attacker’s position.

She hesitated no longer, lifting her hand cannon, firing.

“Graze!”

Distinctly different from a pistol, the cannon’s loud booming sound resonated, more ominous.

The shot pierced through cover, effortlessly through the target.

“Ah!” The attacker screamed in agony. Kui Xin advanced quickly, diving where they hid.

The attacker fell, wailing as a gaping hole tore through their abdomen.

Adam intervened, “Wait, Kui Xin—”

Unheedingly, Kui Xin stared coldly, wasting the round, switching to her submachine gun, unloading a hail of bullets, pulverizing the target in three seconds.

“… Kui Xin.” Adam finished thought, “Supernatural Heterogeneous Blooded possess rare research value.”

Kui Xin steadied herself, “Why didn’t you warn me earlier?”

“You acted before I could finish,” Adam replied.

“Research benefits the investigation bureau. Irrelevant.”

“You can’t control yourself when holding a gun, you seek death,” Adam noted.

Kui Xin’s eyebrows twitched.

Through extended observation, Adam detected this trait before Kui Xin, recognizing her trauma-induced issues.

That ‘girl’ was indeed Heterogeneous Blooded, her corpse dissolving into liquid, a consequence of the extreme regenerative abilities triggered by consuming Divine Blood.

Captain Yu’s communication channel buzzed again, “Kui Xin, update.”

“Lost two teammates, slew the Heterogeneous Blooded,” she replied.

A digital interface blinked into view.

“Executed unknown Heterogeneous Blooded.”

“Stripped unknown Heterogeneous Blooded of its supernaturals.”

When she killed ‘Python,’ game data immediately displayed its code. Unnamed deaths didn’t display their names.

“This grants you the Supernatural: Deception [D-Rank].”

“Deception [D-Rank]: There is a probability of convincing opponents to unconditionally believe your deception within a duration, influenced by their mental fortitude and credibility of lie.”