CHAPTER 100: CHAPTER 100: PURE HEART LAKE

Zerra wasn’t supposed to have too many feelings for her mortal parents, the people she treated as paper men. But unfortunately, she did.

The memory of her parents back in the celestial realm, which had become blurry after so many reincarnations, unexpectedly gained more clarity. Even though she hadn’t been able to recall their faces yet, only vague outlines.

Her parents really loved her. Perhaps that was why she cared a lot for her parents in this mortal world. They also loved her deeply. Although she didn’t know whether they did that because they were mostly influenced by the plot or not.

Evan furrowed his brow when he heard his subordinates’ report.

"We have dispatched a team to that place, right?" He turned to his assistant.

The Pure Heart Lake, a location not too far away from the main base.

His assistant nodded. "Yes, Sir. Major General Stone already sent an order for Captain Dalton to lead the mission this morning."

They checked the time. It was already past noon, so they should expect the result soon. The people dispatched to handle the mission were mostly high-level ability users with offensive power.

The residents who had lived not far from the lake sometimes heard loud splashing sounds of water. Then, some days later, they saw weird tentacles coming out of the lake, grabbing those who were trying to get water.

The tentacles brought people to the water, and they never emerged from the lake again. Many people were in great fear and worry. The lake was their last source of water.

The Research Institute had identified the lake water as having low contamination. People could drink in moderation. Even though ordinary people were allowed only small sips.

Zerra took a deep breath to calm herself down. She had a bad feeling about this, suspecting that the plot was trying to harm her parents again.

When she learned about the monster sighting on the lake, she found it strange too. "Tentacles? What kind of aquatic lifeforms live on a lake and have such a thing?"

Most aquatic lifeforms with tentacles live in the ocean, right?

From the sound of it, the tentacles grabbed more than one person at once. It seemed like an octopus.

Evan’s subordinates, who had just come to report, were taken aback by Zerra’s words. He looked over with hesitation to Evan, then lowered his eyes.

"A month ago, there was a report about people from the Research Institute staying near the Pure Heart Lake for quite some time." Evan gripped the armrest of his chair tightly. His lips had a hint of mockery.

"They were saying that they were just taking the water sample for a quality check. But they might have lost something there."

The soldier was a little bewildered that his lieutenant general would say such a thing in front of these people, but when his eyes swept over Cassias’ figure, he seemed to understand something. They were the lieutenant general’s relatives.

Zerra pondered Evan’s words and found they made sense. If it was something that those scientists created, that thing might live on the freshwater.

After the apocalypse, the scientists were getting crazier, conducting experiments on this or that. Some were extremely obsessed with discovering the cause of the zombie virus and the cure.

Not all the scientists were extreme, but a lot of them did; abandoning morality and secretly conducting human experiments.

Fortunately, it was only the early stage of the apocalypse now, so they didn’t dare to be so rampant, fearing the public backlash if the survivors were to find out what they did. So, they conducted their current experiments in absolute secrecy.

Now, they were mostly targeting the mutated animals.

It was also unknown whether the Research Institute deliberately released its experimental subject on the lake or not.

Zerra turned to Evan, keenly noticing his dislike toward the Research Institute. This person’s perception was quite sharp. He knew there was something wrong with the Research Institute.

Evan soon dismissed the soldier who had come to report. He tapped the table in front of him and turned to the two of them. "So, what’s your plan?"

Zerra clenched her hands. She wanted to go to the location and look for her parents herself. There wasn’t much time to dawdle, and she feared she might be late.

Her parents would have suffered by then, losing a layer of skin.

"I will go there." She stood up, and Cassias was about to stand up too, but he was interrupted.

"Lieutenant General, there is an update about the mission at Pure Heart Lake." The soldier, who had just come out, returned with a gasping breath. "The entire time nearly wiped out. Two people died, and the rest got injured..."

Evan’s expression changed drastically. "Dispatch a new team to assist them. Call Colonel James to lead them."

"Understood, Sir." The soldier quickly left to execute Evan’s orders.

Zerra’s face crumbled. "I will go quickly now."

Without waiting for any response, she exited the room. Cassias followed her. Evan just let out a sigh in his chair. Alas, he was a lieutenant general and still had many things to do.

Upon arriving outside, Zerra realized she had no means of transportation. Her eyes quickly found the patrolling soldier from earlier, who cursed his luck.

"Is there a car I can rent or use here?" She asked him hopefully.

The soldier swallowed. He hurriedly shook his head. "Miss, how can there be such a thing? Everyone treasures their car so much."

It made sense. The public transportation was no longer running. It was either having their own vehicle or they would have no means of transportation.

"Zerra?"

When the soldier’s eyes found Cassias’ figure, he turned around and ran, like seeing a ghost.

"Come with me." Cassias grabbed her hand, and she let him. She was about to thank the patrolling soldier, but he was already gone.

Besides calling her a little girl, now he ran away without warning too.

Cassias was leading her to a military vehicle. "We can join the mission. They are going to set off soon."

She obediently nodded. It was also her next plan too, and Cassias saved her the time to ask around or go back to Evan’s office. Indeed, she had been a little impulsive.

"Colonel James, we are here to join the mission to Pure Heart Lake." Cassias immediately found the person.

Zerra wasn’t surprised. She stared at the bald man with a shiny head ahead, who was now frowning. "This mission is only for ability users with high-level powers. It’s dangerous and not a play–"

Cassias whispered something in his ear. In an instant, Colonel James’ face changed, becoming solemn. "You can join, but this little girl..."

"She is with me. She is also an ability user. You don’t need to worry about her safety." Cassias told him.

Colonel James finally let it go. He was no longer dwelling on the matter and went to arrange people for the mission.

After everything was settled, they finally set off for the Pure Heart Lake. When they arrived there, the first sight that entered Zerra’s eyes was her parents.

And they weren’t safe. An octopus’ tentacle was clutching their bodies tightly, lifting them into the air. In an instant, Zerra’s heart was in her throat.