Chapter 133 Top Alpha: He was once a crippled Omega. 43. Easy...

In the instant the light blades and even more powerful anti-aircraft bullets arrived, Qi Pingye made the first move.

The steel rod in his hand had just been knocked away. Now, his bloodied hand suddenly rose up, unarmed, yet a beam of light as intense as a small star suddenly burst forth.

The entire lounge was immediately engulfed by the light. Whether it was the guard officer Jack who was close by or the councilor Peng who was a little further away, their eyes were instantly stung, their vision was blazing white, and the emptiness was almost unreal.

Representative Peng's grip on the gun tightened abruptly, and his back pressed firmly against the door of the lounge.

Jack, on the other hand, had more combat experience. With his armor providing emergency protection and weakening the intense light, he didn't act rashly. Ignoring the excruciating pain, he decisively closed his eyes and focused all his attention on his ears, frantically searching for sounds in his surroundings with the help of the AI.

This is undoubtedly the best approach.

But in reality, he failed to detect the enemy's movements.

Extending to hearing far beyond that of normal humans, there was first a very brief silence, followed by a dense rustling sound, like the limbs of countless arthropods tapping and moving, coming from above, below, and beside, from all directions.

Jack is not afraid of insects, and has even ambushed snake and scorpion nests on some missions.

But at that moment, amidst the overwhelming crawling sounds, he suddenly felt a chilling stiffness.

In a daze, he felt as if he had returned to the most helpless time of his childhood, when he had lost his footing and fallen into a deep pit, which was crawling with man-eating ants, spiders, and long arthropods.

They crawled up from his toes, covering his entire body in the blink of an eye, like a constantly wriggling, wet, heavy blanket, completely enveloping him from head to toe.

Everywhere he looked—up, down, left, and right—there were long, dense limbs and bloated, crowded eye covers. They covered his mouth and nose, and burrowed into his eardrums, making even his screams sound like vomiting.

His palms, cheeks, waist, abdomen, neck—every inch of his skin felt only a strange and terrifying itch, as if some tiny, swarming creature was rapidly crawling across his body. It was them, they were crawling all over him…

etc……

wrong!

He was wearing the latest cobalt-electric anomalous intelligent machine from the research institute, so how could he be wrapped in disgusting bugs? Besides, he didn't have that kind of childhood!

Almost simultaneously.

The machine's alarm sounded, and the projection flickered incessantly, indicating that there was special energy sound wave interference, which might have hallucinogenic effects.

Jack suddenly woke up with a start.

"Watch out, Congressman!"

He couldn't see anything clearly, but he rushed towards where Representative Peng was without hesitation.

Even though this would leave him vulnerable and exposed to the enemy—he wouldn't have done it two seconds ago, but now he had no choice. He had missed the most crucial opportunity to react; he was a guard officer and had to protect Congressman Peng, even at the cost of his life.

He was incredibly fast; in a single leap, he reached the doorway.

Even if it's fast, it's still slow.

A burst of intense white light erupted for a moment, then quickly faded, and in the gradually emerging outlines, Qi Pingye had already appeared beside Councilor Peng.

He pressed down on Representative Peng's shoulder with one hand and held a military knife in the other, the blade pressed against Representative Peng's throat, drawing blood from the nearby pile of fat, the blood beads flowing clearly.

The semi-transparent protective shield around the two remained flickering, now broken, and was surrounded by countless fingernail-sized spider-like machines.

Jack stopped abruptly.

"Hiss! Calm down, buddy, let's talk this out, we can discuss anything..." Councilor Peng raised his hand, his fingers trembling, "It was all a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding..."

The red arcs of electricity that filled the rest room gradually dimmed, and the AI ​​armor that had been suppressed on Qi Pingye's body quickly unfolded and reappeared, providing protection while slowing down the healing of his injuries.

Qi Pingye seemed not to hear what Representative Peng said. Beneath his dark eyebrows, his equally dark eyes moved slightly, sweeping over the arcs, shields, and Jack's blue, rippled, unstable AI armor. "Cobalt electricity is integrated into AI. It can be done like this. It's quite interesting... But it should only be a first or second phase of experimental products. It hasn't been put into formal use yet. The defects are still obvious. It cannot completely remove the influence of the corresponding wireless energy magnetic field on the cobalt electricity."

"Is this why you turned on the jamming equipment as soon as you came in? To block out unnecessary interference..."

"Brother, you're right, hahaha, you saw right through me... You're knowledgeable about mechanics? You made all these little spiders? And they can even have energy magnetic fields... Impressive! Can they also steal encrypted communications or something? Hey, how about I introduce you to a mechanical master later? You name it, he'll come..."

Representative Peng echoed, his face displaying an extremely friendly and sincere expression, as if the person who had just been wildly firing a gun and ordering people to behead and burn corpses was a completely different person.

Qi Pingye glanced at him, already somewhat used to this politician's ability to change his expression so drastically.

"Does the senator think I'd let you go and not kill you because of some mechanical master?"

Councilor Peng's eyes twitched slightly, and he smiled kindly, "The fact that you didn't stab me in the neck right away proves that we can still talk."

“Indeed,” Qi Pingye chuckled, the bloodstains on his face making him appear ruthless and sharp, “but I suggest we keep it short. We all know that these little guys can only affect the cobalt power for a limited time, so let’s not even think about stalling for time.”

“If my demands are not met, I will cut off your head a second before these cobalt-powered smart machines and devices return to normal, Congressman.”

Representative Peng paused for a moment, his smile becoming somewhat forced. "So, brother, what are your requirements?"

"Lift the siege of the docking pad and control of Shin Kong Hospital," Qi Pingye said. "Open full access to your aircraft and reset the central control system."

"You want to leave by aircraft? This area is close to the first-class zone; ordinary aircraft can't..."

"That's why I chose your aircraft, Congressman."

Qi Pingye scoffed, pressing the blade down again. "Stop talking nonsense and do as I say right now."

Representative Peng jolted awake, gritting his teeth in pain, and cried out, "Alright, alright, I'll do it! Brother, keep the knife away for a bit, I'm afraid you might accidentally press the laser switch and burn me..."

Qi Pingye knew that Councilor Peng was a cunning old fox with a heart full of evil intentions. Every second he lived would increase the danger, but if he was killed directly, there would be a tight net outside, and with his injuries, there would be almost no chance of him escaping.

Caught between a rock and a hard place, they had no choice but to take a gamble.

He bets that once the lockdown is lifted, the people who are supposed to appear will show up.

"Stop talking nonsense."

Qi Pingye raised his eyes coolly, reached out and swiped open Councilor Peng's wristwatch, indicating that he should verify the control.

He wasn't afraid of being summoned by others.

Given his current position and the distance between him and Councilor Peng, even a top-tier sniper with enhanced X-ray vision wouldn't dare to fire.

"Right away, right away..."

Representative Peng's hands trembled as his fingertips slid across the projection screen.

The guard team received orders to retreat to the outer perimeter. Control of Shin Kong Hospital was transferred to Qi Pingye, and the central control of the low-altitude aircraft at position three was reset...

Within the field of vision fed back by the spider-like machine, Qi Pingye watched intently, rapidly sketching out several escape routes in his mind.

"Alright, alright, everything's done!" Councilor Peng said.

Qi Pingye didn't speak, but pressed down on his wristwatch and attached a personal smart chip to it to check and erase any hidden commands he might issue, to prevent this old fox from playing tricks.

Seeing this, Representative Peng's smile turned bitter. "Brother, things have come to this point. We've clearly figured we can't take you down. What's the point of me doing all this? My life is in your hands. If Jack fires now, the bullet won't be as fast as your knife. You'll definitely stab my neck first..."

Qi Pingye ignored him, keeping a watchful eye on him and the guard officer Jack while also keeping an eye on things.

The test results were normal.

But as an old fox, would he really be so honest as to leave no tricks up his sleeve?

Qi Pingye raised his eyes, glanced around, then pressed Councilor Peng down and slowly turned around to open the door to the lounge.

The wind howled outside, and snow began to fall on the vast docking pad, which was deserted and not a soul in sight.

"Brother, I've done everything you said. When are you going to let me go? You can't go back on your word..."

"I'll release you once I'm on the aircraft," Qi Pingye said.

He took Representative Peng hostage, wearing protective armor, and tentatively stepped outside.

Officer Jack looked nervous and carefully followed along.

To prevent remote location attacks, Qi Pingye would occasionally lift Representative Peng and spin him around, the frequency varying. Representative Peng could only smile wryly, looking helpless, and could only cooperate by raising his hands.

"Jack, you're right. I shouldn't have come myself. Sometimes I'm too confident. You should have stopped me. Sigh..."

Representative Peng murmured a low, mournful complaint.

"Shut up."

Qi Pingye pressed down on the blade.

Representative Peng's face twitched, and he immediately fell silent.

Jack looked angry, but dared not say anything, for fear of offending Qi Pingye and hurting Councilor Peng.

The three maintained an odd formation as they moved from the ground crew lounge toward the aircraft in position three.

One meter, two meters, three meters...

Ten meters, twenty meters, thirty meters...

The lounge was about two hundred meters away from the aircraft, and Qi Pingye's pace gradually quickened.

Suddenly, as if it were real, yet also like an illusion, Qi Pingye sensed something strange.

It's a pheromone, but it doesn't quite look like one.

Qi Pingye swept his gaze toward the guard, Jack.

Although they had exchanged pheromones at the beginning of the battle, and this guard's pheromones didn't smell like this, there was no doubt that he was the only Alpha here besides himself.

He frowned slightly, about to speak, but his lips suddenly froze.

The smell of sweat and gunpowder quickly faded away, and Qi Pingye's senses snapped to attention, like a bowstring taut in an instant.

In the wind and snow, an extremely sharp, cloyingly sweet aroma exploded suddenly from a subtle scent in an instant!

This is not a normal pheromone smell.

It's too artificial, too strong, like countless rotting corpses mixed with honey—disgusting and vicious.

Caught off guard, Qi Pingye's neck glands suddenly contracted, and all the nerves in his body seemed to be caught in an electric grid, causing his body to stiffen instantly.

This is--!

His pupils suddenly dilated.

"This is the best test subject I brought this time, the pheromone bomb. How does it taste, not bad, right..."

In the instant Qi Pingye's condition deteriorated, Councilor Peng had already turned around, completely ignoring the flesh cut by the blade on his neck. With a flick of his wrist, he brought the blade down with a thunderous strike. Knuckle armor covered his knuckles, and his AI activated; he was actually a hidden martial arts master!

Qi Pingye's eyes flashed with anger, and he desperately tried to control his body to dodge backward.

The AI ​​armor simultaneously activated its ability to clear and block pheromones, rapidly purifying his senses.

However.

The smell, a mixture of rust and decay, remained vividly clear, like countless steel needles piercing his temples, his mouth and nose, his glands, and every sensory nerve in his body.

A strange thirst welled up deep in Qi Pingye's throat—a thirst for blood, for destruction, or perhaps for something more ethereal and intangible...

"Watch out, Congressman! He's entered his vulnerable period!"

Jack spoke up, but instead of retreating, he advanced.

He was also an Alpha, yet he seemed completely unaffected by the so-called pheromone bomb... No, that's not right. He might not necessarily be an Alpha. He believed he was because of the Alpha pheromones he released at the beginning of the war, but in reality, that might just have been a deceptive tactic, subconsciously making him think that Councilor Peng was unlikely to use pheromone methods...

Qi Pingye was lost in thought.

Wait, the susceptible period...

What is the vulnerable period?

"Vulnerable period? He's an A-level Alpha, right...? The pheromone bomb shouldn't be that powerful. It seems he was already in that stage... In this situation... he still dared to carry it out... He's much more confident than me..."

"Councilor..."

With the aid of the AI, Qi Pingye hastily dealt with the fierce attacks of Councilor Peng and Jack. The sounds they made in his ears seemed to be affected by electromagnetic interference, intermittent and sometimes near and sometimes far.

What are they... saying?

Qi Pingye shook his head, trying to concentrate.

But the slimy and disgusting smell, like a living thing, crawled into all his senses, instantly igniting the madness and restlessness hidden in his blood.

He smelled it.

That unprecedented, extremely intense scent of thorns.

If, on ordinary days, this scent is like grass sprouts growing peacefully on the wasteland, head held high in the scorching sun, swaying in the breeze, then at this moment, it is like grass vines rushing into a sandstorm, tearing at the wind and yellow sand, roaring in the boundless power of nature, and ferociously spreading across the sky in the chaotic and turbulent magnetic field.

This is the only plant that can take root on the surface of the storm zone.

Very few people have witnessed its rampant and uncontrolled growth, but everyone knows that it must have a terrifying side.

Qi Pingye saw it.

No.

He smelled it.

It was like a torrent bursting its banks, gushing forth from every pore of his body, so violent it seemed to tear everything apart and destroy everything.

Belatedly, Qi Pingye noticed the warning message from the armor appearing on his swaying retina.

[Warning! Warning! The current host appears to have entered a susceptible period, and pheromone leakage is out of control. Please inject inhibitors immediately!]

[Pheromone level monitoring in progress, B-level, A-level...S-level!]

On the vast docking pad, amidst the hazy falling snow, his pheromones finally broke free of all restraints and erupted with a roar.

-----------------------

Author's Note: For Ono, the susceptible period is a completely unknown area of ​​physiological knowledge, like "I've only ever seen pigs run." [glasses emoji]

P.S.: I suggest you check back at 18:00 sharp for the updates tomorrow and the day after, it's better to be early than late.

(Just a quick note in the comments: don't set alarms tomorrow. Based on the current drafts, this is just the beginning. The main event will be the update on Monday, the day after tomorrow!)