American comics: I am full of martial virtues and I love to be kind to others.

“Now!” Lynn commanded.

Michael turned the sonic device to maximum power, Carlos surrounded the symbiote with multiple layers of energy barriers, and Emily quickly injected a potent sedative specifically targeting the nervous system.

With multiple attacks launched simultaneously, the symbiote finally lost complete control. The black substance began to peel away from Weber's body, revealing the unconscious but still alive host.

However, the symbiote did not completely separate; it remained partially attached to Weber, putting up a final act of resistance.

"It's still struggling!" Sarah reported. "It's trying to regain control!"

Peter immediately took action, using his spider silk to bind the detached symbiote parts together to prevent them from reattaching.

“I need a sealed container!” Peter shouted.

Michael took a specially made containment device from the car, an improved version of a device based on previous experience containing symbiotes.

After ten minutes of effort, they finally succeeded in completely separating and containing the symbiote from Vice Minister Webber's body. Webber lay unconscious on the ground, breathing weakly but steadily.

“Emily, quickly check on Weber’s condition!” Lynn ordered.

Emily immediately began a medical examination. "He's still alive, but extremely weak. The symbiote has drained a large amount of his life force; he needs immediate medical attention."

“What about the symbiote?” Carlos asked.

“Safe containment,” Michael inspected the container, “but this symbiote is stronger than the previous one; we need a higher level of containment.”

Just then, Deputy Secretary Weber began to wake up. He slowly opened his eyes and looked very confused at his surroundings.

"What happened to me?" Weber asked weakly. "I remember being in the car, and then I don't remember anything."

“You’re safe, Deputy Minister,” Lynn reassured him. “You were infected by a creature, but you’ve been treated.”

“Biological infection?” Weber was even more confused. “What kind of organism?”

Lynn and Peter exchanged a glance. They needed to explain what had happened to Weber, but they couldn't cause panic.

“This was a classified project, Deputy Minister,” Lynn chose a compromise explanation, “There was an alien pathogen that could affect the human nervous system, causing behavioral abnormalities. You were one of the victims, but you have now fully recovered.”

Weber seemed to accept this explanation, but he remained somewhat skeptical. "My memory really was completely blank for several hours."

“These are typical symptoms of that pathogen,” Emily confirmed as a doctor, “but there won’t be any long-term effects.”

While waiting for the medical helicopter, Lynn reported the results of the operation to headquarters.

“Target successfully rescued, symbiote contained,” he said into the communicator, “but this symbiote is stronger than the ones we’ve encountered before; it seems to have evolved.”

“What do you mean?” Deputy Director Stone asked.

“It has shown resistance to our previously effective countermeasures,” Lynn explained, “and it is more intelligent, able to learn and adapt quickly.”

"what does that mean?"

"This means the symbiotes are evolving; they are learning how to better control their human hosts and how to resist our countermeasures," Lynn analyzed. "If this trend continues, the symbiotes we face in the future will become increasingly difficult to deal with."

This news caused silence to fall over headquarters.

“We need to study this newly contained symbiote immediately,” Deputy Director Stone finally said, “to see if we can find any weaknesses in its evolution.”

“There’s one more thing,” Lynn added, “During the battle, the symbiotes mentioned ‘our mission’ and ‘going further than you think.’ This suggests some kind of unified plan and coordination among the symbiotes.”

“Go on,” Stone urged.

“I believe we are not facing scattered, individual symbiotes, but an organized invasion,” Lynn concluded. “They have clear objectives, coordinated strategies, and are constantly refining their methods.”

The medical helicopter finally arrived, and Deputy Secretary Webber was safely transferred. Before boarding, he said to Lynn, "Thank you for saving me. Although I don't fully understand what happened, I know you stopped some serious threat."

“It is our duty, Deputy Minister,” Lynn responded.

After the helicopter left, the special operations team also packed up and departed. They were told that this was a biological weapons attack and that it needed to be kept secret.

“We did it,” Sarah said, “but this is just the beginning, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” Lynn nodded, “if Deputy Minister Weber has been infected, how many other important figures could also be controlled by the symbiote?”

“Moreover,” Peter added, “this symbiote is clearly stronger than any I’ve encountered before. They’re evolving and becoming more difficult to deal with.”

"So what's our next step?" Chen Kai asked.

“Back at headquarters, analyze this newly contained symbiote,” Lynn decided, “and simultaneously begin a full investigation into other potentially infected high-ranking officials. We need to stop the symbiotes before they complete their plans.”

On the way back, everyone was reflecting on the battle they had just fought. Although they had succeeded, they also realized that the threat posed by the symbiotes was escalating.

“Did you notice?” Emily suddenly said, “The symbiote inside Weber seems to have some kind of communication ability.”

“What do you mean?” Michael asked.

“During the battle, it paused several times, as if receiving instructions or reporting a situation,” Emily explained, “if the symbiotes could communicate in real time.”

“That means our actions today may have been known to other symbiotes,” Lynn concluded her reasoning.

This possibility has caused even greater concern among everyone. If the symbiotes possess collective intelligence and communication networks, then combating them will be far more difficult than anticipated.

“We need to speed things up,” Lynn decided. “Before they adapt to our strategy, we must find their core and destroy it.”

It was evening when they returned to the FBI precinct. But no one felt tired, because they all realized that the real challenge was just beginning.

In the branch office's laboratory, scientists have begun preliminary analysis of the newly contained symbiote. "Initial results show that this symbiote's genetic structure is more complex than previous samples," the lead scientist reported. "It appears to possess some kind of learning and adaptation mechanism, capable of adjusting its characteristics according to its environment."

“That’s why it’s resistant to our attack methods,” Michael explained.

"Furthermore, we discovered some peculiar organ structures within its body," the scientists continued, "which may be some kind of biological communication system."

"Can you determine the communication range?" Lynn asked.

"More research is needed, but preliminary estimates suggest it could cover a range of tens of kilometers," the scientists replied.

This means that all the symbiotes in the New York area may know what happened today.

“We need to act immediately,” Lynn told his team. “Start a full-scale search tomorrow for key figures in the New York area who may have been infected by the symbiote. Time is of the essence.”

Just then, the emergency alarm sounded again. The dispatch center reported: "A large-scale riot has broken out in Brooklyn; multiple symbiotes are suspected to have appeared simultaneously."

Lynn looked at the tired but determined faces of his team members. "Looks like we can't rest tonight."

“We are ready,” everyone answered in unison.

Two FBI vehicles sped across the Brooklyn Bridge in the darkness, the distant sky illuminated by orange flames. Looking out the windows, thick smoke could be seen rising from various points in Brooklyn, and the occasional explosions and screams made the night exceptionally unsettling.

“The situation is worse than we thought,” Lynn contacted command center via communicator. “Can you give us more detailed intelligence from the scene?”

"According to the latest report, riots have broken out simultaneously in at least six different locations," the dispatcher said, his voice tense. "Witnesses described the attackers as exhibiting superhuman strength and speed, and being extremely violent."

“Six locations?” Sarah turned from the passenger seat. “This can’t be a coincidence.”

“Absolutely not,” Lynn said seriously. “This was a coordinated attack. Peter, what do you know about this kind of large-scale symbiote operation?”

Peter, in the second vehicle, responded via communicator: “I’ve never seen symbiote activity on this scale before. They usually avoid large-scale exposure; this behavior is completely different.”

“Perhaps it’s because we captured the symbiote that controls Vice Minister Weber today,” Michael analyzed. “They might be launching some kind of retaliatory attack.”

Lynn thought for a moment, "Or perhaps this is part of a larger plan. Remember the 'ultimate assimilation plan' mentioned in that document; maybe tonight is the time to implement it."

After arriving in Brooklyn, Lynn chose the nearest location to the incident site—a large shopping mall. From the outside, parts of the mall were damaged, with shattered glass doors and windows, and police cars and fire trucks surrounded the area.

"Attention all units," Lynn commanded via team channel. "We may be facing multiple symbiotes simultaneously. Sarah, I need you to constantly monitor the surrounding energy fluctuations. Michael, prepare detection equipment to identify symbiote locations at any time."

“Received,” Sarah and Michael replied simultaneously.

“Peter, your experience is invaluable to us,” Lynn continued, giving instructions. “Chen Kai, prepare to use teleportation for rapid support and retreat. Carlos, your barrier is our main defense. Emily, be ready to treat the wounded.”

After getting out of the car, they quickly contacted the police commander at the scene.

“FBI Special Team,” Lynn showed his badge, “we are now in charge of command on site.”

“Thank goodness,” the police commander seemed relieved, “the situation inside was beyond our capabilities. The attackers weren’t normal humans; our weapons had very limited effectiveness against them.”

"How many attackers are there?" Lynn asked.

“At least three, possibly more,” the commander reported. “They are active on different floors and are incredibly destructive. We have evacuated most of the population, but some people are still trapped inside.”

"What about the casualties?" Emily asked with concern.

“More than a dozen people were injured, all seriously,” the commander replied. “The wounds inflicted by the attackers’ claws and teeth are very deep.”

Lynn nodded, then turned to the team, "Sarah, can you sense what's going on inside?"

Sarah focused her mind, closed her eyes, and probed. "I can sense at least four strong, anomalous energy sources, located on the first, second, and third floors, and in the basement. There are also about twenty to thirty ordinary people showing signs of life, most of them hiding."

“Four symbiotes,” Lynn analyzed. “We need to operate in groups to deal with multiple threats simultaneously.”

"How should we group them?" Chen Kai asked.

“Sarah, Emily, and I will be in charge of the first and second floors,” Lynn decided. “Peter, Chen Kai, and Carlos will be in charge of the third floor and the basement. Michael will stay outside to provide technical support and relay communications.”

"Is this grouping reasonable?" Carlos asked worriedly. "There are only three people in each group, and we've already witnessed the symbiotes' combat capabilities."

“That’s why we need to fully leverage the advantages of teamwork,” Lynn explained. “Sarah’s perception can predict attacks, Emily can heal the wounded and analyze the symbiotes’ weaknesses. Peter has extensive experience fighting symbiotes alone, Chen Kai’s teleportation provides mobility, and Carlos’s barrier protects the team.”

"Understood," everyone nodded in understanding.

“Remember, our primary objective is to rescue the trapped civilians, and secondarily to contain or eliminate the symbiotes,” Lynn emphasized. “Maintain communication and call for support immediately if you encounter a situation you cannot handle.”

The two groups entered the shopping mall separately. Lynn's group entered the first floor through the main entrance and immediately saw signs of vandalism: shop windows were smashed, shelves were overturned, and there were deep claw marks and some dark red bloodstains on the ground.

“Sarah, where is the nearest symbiote?” Lynn asked in a low voice.

“To the left front, about fifty meters ahead, inside a large clothing store,” Sarah pointed deeper into the shopping mall, “it seems to be searching for something, its behavior is very purposeful.”

"What are you looking for?" Emily asked, puzzled.

“It might be looking for a suitable new host,” Lynn analyzed. “We should approach cautiously and try to devise tactics before it discovers us.”

They moved stealthily toward the clothing store, encountering several people hiding in a corner along the way. Lynn gestured for them to be quiet, then pointed toward the exit, allowing them to escape.

When they reached the vicinity of the clothing store, they heard sounds coming from inside—not human conversation, but some kind of low growl and the sound of things being moved around.

“It’s rummaging through something,” Sarah analyzed through her senses, “and it’s angry; the energy fluctuations are very chaotic.”

Lynn carefully observed the interior of the shop and saw a figure completely covered in black matter frantically searching every corner. This symbiote was larger than any they had encountered before, at least two and a half meters tall, muscular, and appeared to be a fusion of the powers of multiple hosts. (End of Chapter)