Looking at the corpse covered in metal parasites in the iron cage, Ackerman swallowed hard: "Is there any way to get rid of them?"
"If it's just a lone mutated parasite, it's relatively easy to deal with; just target it specifically. For example, metal-type parasites are less resistant to electrical attacks; fire-breath parasites are less resistant to freezing attacks..."
"The problem is that these enemies often appear in groups. By the time you realize that there are special parasitic zombies in the horde and want to target them, they are already right in front of you."
Alfonso tapped the iron cage with his hand and continued, "We lost several people trying to capture these samples."
Remembering what the other person had said, Ackerman asked, "What do you mean by saying that parasites can transfer their powers to each other?"
"That was a hypothesis proposed by His Majesty and the scholars. The plague parasites have the ability to steal the abilities of alien species and can replicate and pass them on to other members of their kind. However, judging from the parasitic corpses that have been captured so far, the stealing of abilities only occurs in parasitic corpses that directly consume the flesh and blood of alien species. There has been no replication or transmission."
Ackerman: "Does this mean that the assumption is invalid?"
Alfonso: "No, according to research from Twilight University, the plague parasite is perfectly capable of transmitting supernatural abilities, but it's not doing so right now, probably for other reasons... But for us, this is still a good thing. After all, think about it, what if all the parasitic corpses possessed supernatural abilities like metallic skin, fire breath, regeneration, splitting, enhanced strength, and enhanced speed..."
Before Alfonso could finish speaking, Ackerman closed his eyes, his head throbbing, and shivered.
As the two talked, the staff in the experimental area also packed up all the materials and equipment.
"My lord, everything is ready."
Alfonso nodded and said to Ackerman, "Let's go, it's time to leave."
The two had just returned to the ground when they were drawn to the sound of an explosion coming from not far away.
At the port's main gate, a defensive line formed by hundreds of Crusaders and alien knights was firmly suppressing the zombie rat horde on the street.
The elves, skilled in fire breath abilities, hurled fireballs into the sea of zombie rats; three orcs, carrying towering steel shields that burned with flames, drove swarms of rats out of the gate; and the alien knights used the extended length of the dragon bone parasites to sweep away any plague rats and parasites that occasionally slipped through the net.
Standing atop the port watchtower, the scout-type mutant used its eagle-eye and clairvoyant abilities to observe the battlefield, occasionally issuing warnings via the honeycomb parasites on its dragonbone armor.
"Southeast, 75.2, scale bar, 1328, Flame Breath variant discovered."
The Valkyrie, hovering in the air, commanded the griffin to swoop down to the coordinates and, using the ability to 'slow down time,' found a special zombie rat that was entirely crimson red.
This zombie rat was different from its kind; it was not afraid of fire and was not harmed by high temperatures. It moved quickly toward the gate of the position through piles of rat corpses.
The Valkyrie drew her bow and aimed an arrow at the head of the Flamebreath Mutant Rat, killing it instantly.
Ackerman surveyed the battlefield and sighed with relief: "Looks like it's safe here."
Alfonso quickly dismissed his claim: "It's not safe here. These rats are just the vanguard. Soon this place will be overwhelmed by a tidal wave of parasitic rats."
At this moment, Ivy, riding a griffin, slowly landed in the camp and said to Alfonso, "Hurry up and tell your men to move. The rat swarms from the north and west have already gathered!"
Alfonso nodded, and after contacting the others using the honeycomb on the back of the insect armor, he said, "Everything is ready."
Ivy took a small horn from her waist and blew it loudly.
The Valkyries, who had been hovering in the air, dispersed and flew to all sides of the position.
The Crusaders and knights maintained their formation and slowly retreated towards the harbor's pier area.
Once back in the air, Evie watched as everyone began to evacuate and sounded the horn for the second time.
The Valkyries lit their arrows and fired them at the piles of firewood that had been prepared near the port.
In an instant, dozens of piles of firewood surrounding the harbor were ignited, and flames rose up along the pre-buried oil lines.
From high above, a large ring of fire, one kilometer in diameter, encircling the port, appears exceptionally dazzling.
The swarming rats circled around the circle of fire, and the few that got close were instantly burned to charcoal. Even the very few that managed to squeeze through the circle of fire were shot dead on their way.
Ackerman stood on the deck of the cargo ship, looking at the thick black smoke rising above the Duchy of Dorkchi, and said softly, "What will happen next?"
Standing behind him, Parne's voice trembled: "Perhaps this fire can burn those rats to death."
Having just finished inspecting the inside and outside of the ship's cabin, Alfonso said, "North of Tero City are snow-capped mountains, south is the sea, and east is an uninhabited desert. Think about it yourself, where do these undead end up?"
Ackerman turned around with difficulty: "You mean, they will eventually come to Twilight City?"
Alfonso: "According to Your Majesty, the plague will gradually spread and eventually infect all living things on the continent. When it reaches a certain size, westward expansion will be an inevitable result."
Ackerman: "How much longer do we have?"
“With a bit of luck, six months,” Alfonso said after a moment’s hesitation, “provided nothing unexpected happens.”
Just as Ackerman was about to speak, a deafening explosion echoed from the distant port.
The entire port was shattered by the violent explosion. Stones, wood chips, and corpses were thrown into the air, forming a large patch of black smoke. A huge shockwave spread from underground, and even on the deck more than ten kilometers away, one could clearly feel the shaking.
Several tens of seconds later, the explosion and flames gradually subsided.
The once prosperous and beautiful port of Dorkci is now a desolate ruin.
Hearing the suppressed sobs of the Dorkch residents around him, a strong sense of unease and fear enveloped Ackerman.
“Moxi City will not become like this…” Ackerman clenched his hands tightly and said in a low voice, “Absolutely not.”
Alfonso didn't say anything, but patted Ackerman heavily on the shoulder and then gestured for the fleet to set sail as soon as possible.
Accompanied by the sounds of waves and sea breeze, the fleet sailed further and further away, slowly moving away from that land of death.
Amidst the charred remains and ruins, a group of corpse rats covered in black parasites pushed aside the rubble above their heads, stood upright, and sniffed the air to the west.
Soon, these messengers of plague turned and burrowed underground, their figures disappearing in an instant.
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