Luna Dawson instinctively tensed her body. Her superpower silently gathered in her palms as she stared warily at the elevator doors, her aura instantly turning sharp and imposing.

Kevin Keane and Kyle Keith guarded her left and right sides. Their sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, and even their breathing was kept extremely light.

Fear spread like a tidal wave. Everyone held their breath and tightly gripped their weapons, their bodies stiff with tension. They were terrified that in the next second, a deadly Patchwork would charge out as soon as the elevator doors opened.

“DING—”

Superpowers surged wildly at everyone’s fingertips. With their eyes glued to the front, everyone’s hearts leaped into their throats.

However, the moment the elevator doors opened, they were all stunned. The expected roars and bloody monsters did not appear. Instead, there was a soft, sweet “WOOF, WOOF,” crisp and adorable.

The crowd froze for a few seconds before slowly opening their eyes. Standing at the elevator doors was a chubby little Cody. He was completely covered in fluffy, light brown and white fur, with perfectly erect ears and round, shiny black eyes. He tilted his head, curiously observing the people outside the elevator, his little tail wagging happily. There wasn’t a single speck of dirt on him; he was so clean that he seemed completely out of place in this eerie pharmaceutical factory.

The stark contrast made everyone breathe a sigh of relief. Their taut nerves instantly relaxed, and even their breathing became a bit smoother.

The sharpness in Luna Dawson’s eyes faded in an instant. Though she knew the sudden appearance of this dog was abnormal, a trace of softness still rippled in her gaze. She took the lead, crouching down and reaching out to gently poke Cody on the head. “Little thing, what are you doing here?”

Not only was Cody unafraid, but he affectionately nuzzled Luna Dawson’s fingertips and barked twice, “WOOF, WOOF,” his voice soft and adorable.

At this moment, Rollo and Pinky poked their heads out and curiously leaned close to Cody. The three of them gathered together, touching noses, and quickly became acquainted. Cody ran in circles around Rollo and Pinky, his little tail wagging even more vigorously. The little dog’s happy panting echoed in the spacious lobby, dispelling some of the eerie atmosphere.

Watching the three of them getting along so well, a faint smile unconsciously curled the corners of Luna Dawson’s lips. She stood up and told the group, “It seems this little thing frequents this place. Maybe it can lead the way for us.”

The crowd remained full of doubt and surprise, whispering among themselves.

“How could there be a dog in a place full of zombies?”

“Could this be some kind of Aberrant Beast?”

“It doesn’t look like one.”

Clayton Churchill slowly crouched down and gently stroked the little dog’s head. “It’s a normal little dog,” he said slowly. “Weirdly normal. Its superpower is extremely weak. I have no idea how it survived.”

Enjoying Clayton Churchill’s petting, the little dog suddenly plopped onto the floor, exposing its belly and looking at everyone with bright, shining eyes. Blake Blue had sharp eyes and noticed a clear scar on the side of the little dog’s abdomen.

“The puppy has been injured,” he noted.

Hearing this, Rhonda Dawson immediately and carefully parted the dog’s fur. She rubbed the area with her fingertips for a moment before gathering a trace of her Healing Ability to investigate. “It looks like a knife wound, similar to a stab from a fruit knife,” she said. “It was also healed by a Healing Ability.”

Luna Dawson petted the little dog. “It seems whatever is downstairs doesn’t want to kill us all. It sent this puppy to check us out.”

Since all the zombies in the city were terrified of whatever was inside the pharmaceutical factory, it was definitely not to be underestimated.

Kevin Keane patted Pinky and Rollo on the head. “Let’s go. We’ll head down and take a look.”

With that said, Luna Dawson and her group entered the elevator that the little dog had just come up in. At this time, William Walsh gently patted his sister’s back, signaling her to follow Kyle Keith and take the same elevator as Luna Dawson.

Apart from the two squads staying behind, the remaining thirty-three people all had to go down. The elevator that had safely brought the puppy up was more reassuring. If they all were to take this elevator, they would have to split into two trips.

Sharon Sloan’s gaze sharpened. “No. Why should I cram into an elevator with these beasts?” As she spoke, she glared at Rollo in disgust, whose back fur had some zombie bloodstains on it. Her eyes were filled with revulsion. One sentence wasn’t enough for her, so she added, “What is my status, and what is theirs? These cats and dogs are full of bacteria!”

Luna Dawson let out a scoff. “Idiot.”

As soon as she said that, she delivered a hard slap right across Sharon Sloan’s face. “What status? You’re too stupid to even scoop my dog’s poop! Don’t you fucking prance around in front of my face.”

“AH!” Sharon Sloan was slapped so hard she spun around in place, half of her face instantly swelling up. She was surrounded by the members of Omni Squad One and Squad Two, who hastily supported her so she wouldn’t fall.

This time, William Walsh didn’t join in on her cursing. “Sharon! Stop making a scene!”

Seeing this, Sharon Sloan looked at her brother in absolute disbelief. She never expected him to actually side with that woman! She glared angrily at Luna Dawson. “You’ve hit me time and time again!”

Her shrill question echoed through the spacious lobby of the R&D building, so piercing that it made everyone’s scalps tingle.

Luna Dawson watched her frantic questioning, a smile curling on her lips. However, the sight of it sent chills crawling up the spines of the Omni Squad members.

Kyle Keith finally spoke up. The gentle smile on his face was gone, replaced entirely by cold indifference. “Sharon Sloan, quiet down!”

His expression was icy, and the surrounding temperature plummeted. Sharon Sloan, who had been about to open her mouth to curse again, immediately snapped it shut. William Walsh then tapped the elevator button.

“It’s safer to go down with Captain Dawson. I’ll take the second trip. Be good,” he said.

Tears streamed down Sharon Sloan’s face, but she still wouldn’t yield. “No! I absolutely won’t go in!”

Dylan DuPont furrowed his brows deeply, his impatience growing even more evident. “Miss Sloan, then you can take the second trip with Captain Sharon and me.”

The Decron rescue operation was already incredibly difficult and riddled with strangeness, and the captain of the Omni Squad was completely brainless on top of that. He had truly had enough.

The escape just now had cost them two vehicles full of combat teammates. Although they weren’t Superpower Users under his direct command, it still made him extremely uncomfortable. He couldn’t let anyone who sacrificed themselves for the base during a joint mission die in vain. The upcoming tasks had to be completed with the fewest casualties possible.

Furthermore, this underground research institute still harbored unknown entities. That, along with this baffling dog, proved that something was definitely waiting for them below.

Luna Dawson’s patience ran out. “Whoever is coming in, hurry up.”

Kyle Keith pursed his lips, his cold gaze fixed on Miss Sloan and her brother. “Commander Ford, you, William Walsh, and Luna Dawson head down first. I’ll stay with Miss Sloan and the second squad for the next trip.”

Two seconds later, Dylan DuPont, William Walsh, and their group entered the elevator. After the doors closed, William Walsh pressed a few buttons on the display. Surprisingly, it required fingerprint and iris scanning. With a “BEEP,” the elevator finally began to move.

Luna Dawson’s heart skipped a beat. No wonder Dylan DuPont had asked her to spare the two of them; this underground research institute was truly not easy to access. This place was definitely not simple. It seemed the Patchwork was inextricably linked to this location.

The elevator slowly descended as everyone warily observed their surroundings.

“DING—”

The elevator stopped on the first basement level. As the doors slowly opened, a dense stench of blood mixed with the smell of disinfectant rushed at their faces, far more pungent than on the other floors. The moment the group stepped out of the elevator, they were stunned by the sight before them.

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