Chapter 486 - 469: Test Subject

Xue Yinzhou took the clothes Lu Xiao handed over, a flash of white light transformed him into human form, and after quickly putting on the clothes, he turned his head towards Shen Tang and explained, "After Xiao Jin and I entered the experimental base, we encountered a large ambush. The battle was too chaotic at the time, and I didn’t notice where he went."

Shen Tang’s complexion was slightly pale, cold sweat forming in her palms.

After all, Xiao Jin still hadn’t broken through to the Tenth Rank, and even Xue Yinzhou had almost been lost in the experimental base. If the two fought side by side, the situation might have been better, but he went missing halfway...

"The underground hive laboratory has more than twenty levels. Xiao Jin should still be here, perhaps confined. Let’s search around some more."

Xue Yinzhou grabbed her, frowning, "Tangtang, there’s something I’m not sure if I should say, it seems like something’s wrong with that panther."

"What do you mean?" Shen Tang was surprised.

"Ever since entering the experimental base, he’s been acting a bit strangely, absent-minded, and he didn’t respond several times when I called him."

Specifics aside, Xue Yinzhou couldn’t quite articulate it, but he could sense that Xiao Jin’s state wasn’t right.

The two were supposed to fight together, but amidst the melee with the mutant species, when Xue Yinzhou wasn’t paying attention, that panther disappeared without a trace.

Shen Tang didn’t think much of it, "Maybe the situation was too urgent, and he was lured away."

"Perhaps."

Shen Tang opened the system map, discovering that this level of the laboratory had two experimental zones, Xue Yinzhou in the left experimental field, and the right side was shielded.

She had a premonition that Xiao Jin was confined there!

The group hurried over and successfully found the missing Xiao Jin.

He was also trapped inside a giant glass cage on the floor, in his beast form, lying weakly on the ground, body covered in numerous lacerated wounds, as if he had endured some form of torture.

In front of him stood seven or eight experimental personnel, wearing identical protective suits, holding paper and pens, quickly recording something.

Shen Tang and her group launched a fierce attack, attempting to smash the protective glass and rescue Xiao Jin!

"We’ve got company."

One of the staff turned their head to look at them, voice calm, and seemingly carried a hint of a wicked smile.

He injected a syringe of medication into the black panther, patting its head, "It’s up to you, D-233, don’t disappoint us."

"Xiao Jin!" Seeing this, Shen Tang shouted hysterically, eyes red with anger.

What have they done to Xiao Jin?!

As the medication took effect, the black panther’s muscles rapidly swelled, veins bulging hideously, as hard as stone.

It turned to face the uninvited guests outside, its eyes no longer the clear and bright golden hue but filled with a maddened dark red.

Crack—

As the glass door opened, the black panther let out a furious roar, its body wrapped in a violent surge of thunder and lightning, charging at them like a black lightning bolt.

"Female Master, be careful, something’s severely wrong with Xiao Jin!" Lu Xiao shielded Shen Tang, raising a hand to conjure a defensive wind wall.

Xue Yinzhou engaged in a fight with Xiao Jin, trying to bring him back to his senses.

Shen Tang was extremely anxious, knowing Xiao Jin wasn’t a match for Xue Yinzhou. She didn’t want to see her Beast Husbands fighting each other and had to quickly stop them.

She thought: Could Xiao Jin also have been affected by those hallucinogenic gases, his mind unclear, which is why he didn’t recognize her?

She had to quickly provide spiritual solace to wake him up!

"Ah Jin, it’s me! I’m real, stop right now!"

But no matter how Shen Tang called out, the black panther ignored her, transformed into a beast that recognized no kin, its aura growing more and more maniacal and brutal amidst the bloodbath, leaving blood-streaked marks even on Xue Yinzhou.

Those staff seemed to be watching a thrilling beast fight, laughing arrogantly, "Don’t waste your efforts, he’s ours, he won’t listen to you."

Shen Tang angrily retorted, "That’s nonsense, he’s Xiao Jin, my Beast Husband, you’ve forcibly controlled him, you illegal people!"

"Heh, ignorance knows no fear. Let’s see if he’ll choose you or us."

The leading beastman glanced at Xiao Jin on the battlefield, giving an icy order,

"D-233, kill that female!"

In an instant, the black panther turned to look at Shen Tang, those fierce eyes devoid of the gentleness it had when facing its beloved female and partner, entirely the killing intent of a hunter towards its prey!

That familiar yet unfamiliar cold gaze sent a chill down Shen Tang’s spine. She took two steps back, palms sweating, "Ah Jin..."

"Roar!"

The black panther abruptly ceased entanglement with Xue Yinzhou, wrapped in violent power, rushed to attack her.

Lu Xiao and Xue Yinzhou attacked from front and back, trapping the panther.

Both knew well, Xiao Jin had lost control and gone mad, turning into a weapon in the enemy’s hand, difficult to save anymore.

They couldn’t kill him directly, otherwise Tangtang would be heartbroken.

They could only forcibly restrain the panther, depleting its stamina as much as possible.

It’s alarming to realize that Xue Yinzhou and Lu Xiao were genuine Tenth Rank Beastmen, especially Xue Yinzhou, whose superpower was overwhelmingly formidable, yet it was difficult for both to forcefully subdue a Peak of Ninth Rank.

In his berserk state, Xiao Jin transformed into a war machine that didn’t know pain, only slaughter; such ferocity, life-on-the-line fighting spirit on the battlefield meant he’d be an invincible warrior, but once he stood against them, they knew just how daunting it was!

The staff whispered among themselves, recording data.

"D-233’s heart rate in normal state stabilized at 120~140, peaking at 319 in berserk state, still within controllable range."

"Blood cortisol rose from 10μg/dL to 55μg/dL, a 550% increase... extreme stress response, new data recorded."

"In berserk state, plasma adrenaline from 30 pg/mL soared to 2,200 pg/mL! An increase of +7,233%..."

"Noradrenaline and serum testosterone also showed significant increases, boosting aggressiveness and responsiveness to the peak limits of physical function."

"Haha, this time the medication’s effect is better; D-233’s pain nerves have been suppressed above 50% for years, and under the medication’s stimulation, the suppression has reached 98%, with an overall combat capability increase of 400%... 410%... 500%! It’s almost a perfect combat machine!"

These illegal researchers were quite satisfied.

Shen Tang couldn’t quite understand what they were saying, but it was clear they treated Xiao Jin like a lab rat.

In studying the changes in his body during berserk state... damn it, what have these bastards done to her Xiao Jin?!

Xiao Jin was fully exhausting his life, engaging in high-intensity combat; if this continued, he might die here!

Shen Tang couldn’t remain passive any longer, risking it all, she joined the battlefield.

Finally.

They successfully subdued the berserk black panther.

The panther was completely out of its mind, eyes bloodshot and bulging, surrounded by dark energy, frantically trying to tear them apart.

Shen Tang suppressed her inner fear and pain, quickly gathering a spiritual power blade, stabbing it into its forehead.

The black panther’s struggling movements slowed, confusion and helplessness flickered in its eyes.

Shen Tang stepped forward, gently hugging its neck, her spiritual power sinking into Xiao Jin’s Spiritual Consciousness Sea, providing deep solace...