The Bigshot's Superstar Wife - Chapter 39

Chapter 39: Unconscious

When Athena, Mors, and Xianli prepared to continue the task and seek the others, an unsettling sight froze them in their tracks.

Daphne, who had been bound in a restriction, lay lifeless before them, her body transformed into that of a withered old woman. How could this happen?

Her features were sunken, her hair turned brittle and white, and her skin resembled dried parchment clinging to her bones.

She was still alive earlier. It was as if the passage of decades had occurred in mere moments.

Xianli’s voice quivered as he broke the silence. “How did she become like this?” His wide eyes reflected a mix of disbelief and horror. “How could the Zerg virus do this to her?”

Mors observed the decaying corpse with a grim expression.

“The Zerg queen, or perhaps someone with the ability to command the Zergs, must have abandoned her. When that happens, the virus loses its purpose. It riots and consumes itself.”

Xianli shook his head, his disbelief barely contained. “Is something like that even possible?”

“Yes,” Mors affirmed with a heavy tone.

“When the Zerg virus can no longer control its host, it triggers a self-destructive process. The virus turns on itself, tearing apart the host from within.”

Athena’s brow furrowed, her curiosity tinged with concern. “If that’s the case, can we burn the body? Or will the virus spread through the air?”

Mors shook his head. “Burning it would be too dangerous. The virus could become airborne, and with the dampness here, it wouldn’t work anyway.”

A shiver ran down Athena’s spine as she glanced at Daphne’s desolate form. The air around them felt heavy, charged with unease.

After a brief deliberation, the trio resolved to destroy the corpse in a way that wouldn’t risk contamination. They acted quickly, leaving no trace of Daphne’s remains.

As they moved on, the oppressive silence of their surroundings became more pronounced. The landscape stretched endlessly before them, empty and devoid of life.

The absence of people heightened the eerie atmosphere, making every sound they made echo unnervingly.

“Where is everyone?” Athena murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

No one had an answer. The emptiness around them seemed to deepen, and a quiet dread settled in their hearts as they pressed forward toward their destination.

–

“Look! That’s the crew’s station!” Xianli pointed.

Athena surveyed the tents, her eyes scanning every detail in the dim light. The storm clouds overhead muted the morning sun, casting an eerie gray glow over the camp.

The unconscious crew lay sprawled inside their tents, their faces pale and their breaths shallow. This is bad…

Xianli knelt beside one of the staff members, shaking his shoulders urgently.

“Wake up! Come on, wake up!” he called out, his voice tinged with desperation. But there was no response.

Athena’s gaze narrowed. “This isn’t normal. Even if they were exhausted, they wouldn’t all fall unconscious like this.”

Mors crouched near another tent, examining a faint, almost invisible powdery substance on the ground.

His expression darkened as he reached for a small device from his utility belt and scanned the area. The scanner beeped erratically, and the readings confirmed his suspicions.

He stood, brushing his hands off. “It’s spores,” he said grimly.

“There must be infected plants nearby that are releasing these. The Zerg virus has mutated, affecting flora as well as fauna. The spores are likely inducing a coma-like state.”

Athena frowned, her fingers brushing over the hilt of Arthivian. “So, the virus isn’t just spreading through infected animal creatures anymore. It’s adapting.”

Mors nodded, his tone serious. “Exactly. The spores are airborne and can travel quickly. If we don’t act fast, this entire area could become a breeding ground for the virus.”

Xianli’s face was filled with disbelief. “But… how do we stop something like that? We can’t burn the entire forest down.”

Athena’s eyes sparkled with determination as she looked at Mors.

“We won’t need to. If we can find the source of the infection, the plant or tree releasing these spores, we can destroy it.”

Mors gestured toward the unconscious crew. “They’ll need medical attention soon. Prolonged exposure could cause permanent damage or worse.”

“But we can’t carry all of them out of here, and the storm is slowing communication with the main fleet.”

Athena straightened, her grip tightening on her sword. “Then we split up. Xianli, stay here and monitor them. Use the camera bot to send a signal to the fleet for immediate extraction.”

Xianli hesitated, glancing back at the unconscious crew. “What if the spores spread further? What if they wake up… changed?”

Athena’s voice was calm but firm. “If that happens, you know what to do. Protect yourself and alert us immediately. We’ll handle the source.”

Mors agreed. “We can’t risk delaying this. Athena and I will locate the infected plant and destroy it.”

Xianli nodded reluctantly, understanding the weight of the situation. “Be careful out there. I’ll do what I can from here.”

Athena and Mors exchanged a glance before stepping away from the camp.

As they moved deeper into the forest, the air grew denser, and a faint, sickly-sweet smell began to permeate the atmosphere. The smell is confusing people.

Athena’s voice was a whisper as she scanned the area. “The source must be close. Can you feel it?”

Mors nodded, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade. “Yes. The concentration of spores is increasing. Stay alert.”

The forest seemed to come alive around them, the sound of rustling leaves mingling with the heavy patter of rain.

Every shadow felt like a potential threat, and the oppressive atmosphere only heightened their senses.

Finally, they reached a clearing where a massive, twisted tree stood at the center. Its bark was dark and cracked, oozing a viscous, black substance.

Strange, glowing spores floated lazily around it, pulsating with an unnatural rhythm.

The ground around the tree was littered with skeletal remains of animals, their bones tangled in the tree’s roots.

Athena’s eyes locked onto the grotesque sight. “That’s it. The source.”

Mors unsheathed his sword, his expression hardening. “We have to destroy it before the spores spread any further.”

As they approached, the tree seemed to sense their presence, its roots writhing like living serpents. The battle to eliminate the infected tree was about to begin.