Chapter 19: Puppy Warrior! Set Off!

That broadcast instantly made Ji Laili recall the eerie feeling of being watched before.

Was he really here?

Ji Laili couldn’t help but wonder, but he didn’t see Shen Yu anywhere in sight.

That’s why, instinctively, he looked up toward the silver flash that had just flickered past, his curiosity insatiable.

But now wasn’t the time to dwell on such thoughts.

The first wave of pheromones was released, filling the small, enclosed space with the scent of Omega pheromones. Ji Laili, whose sinus issues hadn’t yet flared up, caught a rich floral fragrance in the air.

He couldn’t quite identify what kind of flower it was, only that Omega pheromones were indeed different.

With regular flowers, one might simply remark, “This smells nice.”

But Omega pheromones made that floral scent intoxicating, stirring up a primal desire to crush it, to destroy it.

His body responded naturally, an unbearable heat surging through him.

Ji Laili exhaled a hot breath.

Beside him, Zhai Yifei’s deep voice muttered, “A-class Omega pheromones.”

“The first wave is already A-class? Damn, those bastards at the Federal Military Academy don’t play fair,” Lei Po’s face flushed, but his gaze remained defiant.

“Are you sure this is just A-class? Feels even stronger than that.”

At this moment, even Zhai Yifei had no energy left for sarcasm. This was clearly no ordinary A-class—staying lucid was taking every ounce of willpower.

Leaning against the cold wall, Zhai Yifei closed his eyes, his Adam’s apple bobbing repeatedly.

Lei Po cursed under his breath and stopped asking questions, focusing instead on maintaining clarity.

The room grew quieter by the second.

At first, the Alphas were still cursing or boasting loudly, but after five or six minutes, only ragged breathing and the sound of swallowing remained.

“Ugh… this is unbearable… I can’t take it…”

“Fuck! If they have the guts, they should send a real Omega in here! What’s the point of just releasing pheromones if we can’t even touch anything?!”

The overwhelming scent was driving them mad. An enraged Alpha suddenly roared, his eyes bloodshot and dark with hunger, his nose twitching wildly as he sniffed the air.

He abruptly stood up and lunged at another Alpha, his hands wrapping around the other’s throat, veins bulging as if they might burst. “It’s you, isn’t it?!”

“You bastard, you’re hiding my Omega! Give them back to me!”

The slightly more lucid Alpha gritted his teeth and spat, “Y-your ass! Do you even… have an Omega?!”

What the hell was he yelling about?!

Ji Laili cursed internally. Dude, now is really not the time to provoke him! You’re gonna get yourself killed!

Sure enough, the single-dog Alpha took a critical hit straight to the heart!

For a fleeting moment, reality sobered him up—only for his rage to explode tenfold.

“Shut up! You’re not allowed to say that!”

“My little O, my baby… give them back to me! Give them back!”

The poor guy being strangled was already foaming at the mouth but still weakly provoked him, “… Dream on!”

“AAAAAHHHH!!!”

He was going completely feral!

Seeing an accident about to happen, Ji Laili quickly moved in and pressed down on the Alpha’s wrist, his reflexes sharp as he hit the emergency button on the other’s wristband.

The red-eyed Alpha’s body stiffened as if injected with something, his grip going limp.

That was an automatic safeguard—pressing the button triggered an immediate injection of sedatives, rendering the Alpha unable to move.

“Huh? This kid’s not bad.”

Watching from the surveillance room, Instructor Aige observed Ji Laili’s actions with approval. “Didn’t waste my breath on him.”

Then, shifting his gaze to the now-mindless Alphas, Instructor Aige scowled and took note of their identification numbers.

Talking to these idiots was a waste of breath. Might as well spit in their faces—at least they’d remember that better.

The outburst from the raging Alpha seemed to trigger a chain reaction. More and more Alphas were losing control.

Some hit the emergency button, but most refused to surrender so easily.

Once an Alpha reached a state of mental instability, they were at their breaking point.

If they didn’t withdraw now, full-blown insanity wasn’t far off—but many still hesitated, choosing to endure.

But they seemed to forget… this was only the first wave of pheromones.

After ten minutes, the second wave would be released.

Stronger, more intoxicating.

A deep, dizzying seduction.

The Alphas’ faces contorted in pain and struggle.

Those still barely holding on through the first wave collapsed instantly as the second wave hit!

The enclosed space erupted into utter chaos. Some Alphas were even triggered into their susceptibility period, flooding the chamber with the rich, smoky scent of Alpha pheromones.

Alpha pheromones repelled each other.

And in a state of heightened desire, catching another Alpha’s scent was nothing short of provocation.

It triggered a primal instinct—“You bastard! How dare you steal my mate?!”

The narrow room turned into a battleground of beasts.

Outside, medical personnel anxiously watched the live feed displayed on a massive screen, their hearts pounding.

At this point, they didn’t dare go in.

If they did, forget treating the Alphas— they’d be carried straight to the morgue.

And in the middle of it all, one figure stood out.

While the medics panicked and the instructors shook their heads in frustration, they suddenly noticed a small figure with curly chestnut-brown hair sneaking around with suspicious speed.

Everyone: ?!

Inside the sealed room, the Alphas were either collapsed on the floor, flushed and panting, eyes glazed over…

Or they were in a wild frenzy, consumed by the delusion of “someone stealing their mate,” throwing punches like rabid animals.

The scene was absolute carnage—no wonder no one dared step inside.

Yet, amidst the wreckage, one person moved with clarity and purpose.

His eyes remained sharp, unwavering.

Ji Laili, ever the diligent student, still remembered Instructor Aige’s words.

After hitting the emergency button, he had been waiting for the medics to come in. But seeing no one arriving, he figured the brawling Alphas were blocking their way.

There were simply too many of them.

This couldn’t continue.

The longer this went on, the worse things would get.

Ji Laili nudged Lei Po, whose head was hanging low, his messy hair sticking up in all directions.

“Po-ge.”

“Po-ge, are you okay? They’re fighting over there, and the medics can’t get in. We need to help.”

The troublemaking Alpha, usually the first to pick a fight, blinked in confusion.

“What do you mean fake? You’re the fake one!” His sharp gaze flashed. “My little O is so sweet—how could they possibly be fake?!”

The unruly young man’s lips curled into a cold smile as he cursed out Ji Laili, then turned toward thin air and muttered, “Smells so good… Baby, I feel awful…”

Ji Laili: Baby? o.O?

So This Is the Real Po-ge?

A little surprised, Ji Laili turned his head and nudged Zhai Yifei.

“Zhai-ge? Zhai-ge? You’re still awake, right?”

Zhai Yifei barely opened his eyes, his voice hoarse. “I’m awake!”

“That’s great!” Ji Laili exclaimed in delight. “Zhai-ge, I need your help.”

“Some Alphas have entered their susceptible period, and they’ve started fighting. The medical staff outside are being blocked from coming in. We need to separate them so the medics can do their job.”

“If we don’t, things will get worse when the third wave of pheromones hits.”

Zhai Yifei: “I’ll handle it!”

Ji Laili nodded happily. “Alright, we’ll do it together. Let’s go, Zhai-ge!”

Zhai Yifei: “Let’s go!”

Ji Laili immediately got up, covering his slightly irritated nose, stepping past the “corpses” on the floor as he made his way forward.

After taking two steps, he sensed something was off. Looking back, he found Zhai Yifei still leaning against the wall, unmoving.

His crescent-shaped puppy eyes widened. “Zhai-ge, why aren’t you moving?”

As if recognizing the familiar form of address, Zhai Yifei barely lifted his eyelids, a dazed look in his eyes, but he still stubbornly declared, “Let’s go!”

“……”

Ji Laili facepalmed. “Ge, you always respond to everything, but you never follow through.”

“Forget it, Zhai-ge, just rest and hang in there.” Ji Laili clenched his fists. “I can do it alone!”

“You agree, right, Tong-ge?”

System: 【……】

Ji Laili sought confirmation. “Tong-ge, why aren’t you saying anything? Are you still there?”

The system felt a bit helpless. It had been bound to many hosts before, all for these one-time missions.

Its relationship with hosts was usually indifferent—purely a business partnership.

The host completed tasks to improve its performance record, and it provided revival shields.

This was the first time it had encountered someone like Ji Laili, who constantly talked to it.

For the sake of future peace, the system remained cold and detached.

System: 【Please handle it yourself.】

Ji Laili’s expression fell. “Did I annoy you?”

The little puppy was utterly dejected, his invisible tail drooping. “Sorry, Tong-ge.”

“I just finished talking to Zhai-ge and suddenly remembered that I’m not alone. You’re here fighting alongside me, and that made me really happy.”

As he spoke, a bright smile spread across his face.

…How the hell was it supposed to stay indifferent to this?

Even though it wasn’t human, the system still felt a pang of guilt.

Finally, as Ji Laili prepared to go in alone, he heard a response from the system.

The usually silent system spoke up.

System: 【Handle it yourself… Host, I believe in you.】

Ji Laili’s smile returned. “Thanks, I feel more confident now.”

Little Puppy Warrior, move out!

—

There were over a dozen Alphas fighting, and Ji Laili couldn’t guarantee he could take them all down.

So, he resorted to guerrilla tactics—hence, the sneaky movements everyone saw.

All the stamina he had built up over the past few days of training was being used up in this moment. Though the Federation hadn’t officially taught him combat techniques yet, Ji Laili had been top of his class at the police academy in his previous life.

For him, some skills were etched into his bones—impossible to forget.

—

In the surveillance room, the young man’s swift, precise movements and sharp posture left onlookers in awe.

He had rolled up his uniform sleeves, his shirt bunched at his elbows. With a quick, decisive strike, he took down an Alpha, rendering him immobile.

The taut lines of his forearm muscles flexed, pale blue veins threading under his skin, the elegant curve of his strength mesmerizing.

Unconsciously exuding an undeniable allure.

“Last time I fought this kid, he definitely held back on me.”

“What a schemer,” Instructor Aige muttered, though the admiration in his tone was unmistakable.

“This technique is quite impressive—just the right amount of force. What do you think, Xiao Shen?”

A pair of dark eyes traced the movement of that slender forearm. Shen Yu responded, “It’s beautiful.”

Aige: “Huh?”

He blinked in confusion before realizing. “You mean the technique is beautiful?”

Shen Yu murmured in a low voice, “Not just the technique.”

He reached up to touch the back of his neck, where his jet-black hair draped over his brows. His pale skin contrasted sharply with the darkness, exuding an inexplicable allure.

Cold and composed, but now laced with an unfamiliar heat. His eyelashes were slightly damp with restraint.

That spot was burning.

He was being affected—by an Alpha. His thin lips pressed into a tight line.

The hand gripping the back of his neck felt scorched. He abruptly let go, adjusting his collar.

His expression remained indifferent, but his movements betrayed his agitation.

It was rare to see Shen Yu so unsettled. Aige raised an eyebrow. “Not feeling great, huh? I get it.”

Realizing the truth, he smirked knowingly.

It wasn’t just the pheromones—Shen Yu had noticed the younger student he had been keeping an eye on.

And that student had the potential to surpass him.

Aige was an old hand at this. He leaned back comfortably.

“No need to torture yourself. If you’re not feeling well, just stop watching. I’ll keep an eye on things—go get some rest.”

Whether he stayed or left didn’t really matter to Shen Yu.

His gaze flicked back to the monitor, where the young man was dodging an Alpha’s attack. His chestnut curls bounced with his movements, and his expression was alight with unrestrained joy.

Shen Yu twirled his fingers slightly. The words left his lips before he even thought about them.

“No need.”

“I’ll just keep watching him.”

He had said he would always watch Ji Laili.

How could he leave now?

As if it were a perfectly reasonable excuse, Shen Yu stayed.

Inside the sealed room, the situation with the out-of-control Alphas gradually came under control.

Ji Laili either knocked them out or seized the right moment to press the button on their wristbands. His goal was simple—

To incapacitate the Alphas.

And it worked well. Quite a few of them collapsed.

Ji Laili pinched his slightly irritated nose. Now what? Should he go knock on the door to alert the people outside? Just as this thought crossed his mind, the door swung open.

Medical personnel, fully equipped with protective gear, filed in and swiftly administered injections to the unconscious Alphas, one by one.

Then, they carried them out.

But Ji Laili couldn’t help but find it odd—

Why did every single medic glance at him as they passed?

Could they tell he was carrying some kind of bug?

After running through a series of strange thoughts in his head, Ji Laili sniffled and crouched down to wait for training to end.

The pheromone intensity was weakening, and the more strong-willed Alphas were beginning to regain consciousness.

Turning his head, Ji Laili caught sight of Zhai Yifei and Lei Po’s grim expressions.

Clearly, they had just remembered what they said while they were unconscious.

Especially Lei Po—his face was as dark as a stormcloud. He had completely withdrawn from the group, sulking with his back turned to them.

A brooding tough guy sulking—why was that kind of funny?

Ji Laili secretly chuckled to himself. Just then, the silver doors slid open, and a strict-looking instructor, dressed impeccably in a black-and-gold military uniform, strode in.

He glanced at Ji Laili before coolly announcing, “Training is over for today. The results will be compiled at the end.”

“Be here on time tomorrow.”

The freshmen looked utterly defeated.

No words were needed—they all knew how terrible their performance had been.

“What, still standing around? Want to continue?”

Proving that even the most tight-lipped instructor could send Alphas scattering with a single sentence.

The freshmen dispersed like startled birds, sprinting past the sealed training rooms at full speed.

Ji Laili’s group lagged at the back.

Lei Po had been wearing a sour expression ever since he regained consciousness. Hands shoved in his pockets, his brows furrowed in frustration.

Then, as if making up his mind about something, he turned stiffly toward Ji Laili.

Ji Laili, who had been walking perfectly normally, was suddenly bumped into.

“…?”

Turning his head, he saw Lei Po looking around in an exaggerated manner—up at the sky, down at the floor, anywhere but at him.

Ji Laili wanted to laugh. “Po-ge, what are you doing?”

“Ahem.” Lei Po’s gaze darted around. “Things said when a person isn’t fully conscious… shouldn’t be taken seriously.”

The moment Lei Po spoke, Ji Laili understood.

So it was about that.

Ji Laili wanted to laugh even more but feigned ignorance. “That’s true. Ge, was there something else?”

Why wasn’t this kid getting it?!

Lei Po really wanted to yell at him—Keep that a secret!

It was humiliating! How could something so disgustingly affectionate have come out of his own mouth?! This was sabotage!

But with Zhai Yifei still nearby, Lei Po had to play the long game.

This was so damn frustrating.

“What I mean is—”

Suddenly, a faint trace of something cold and sweet passed under his nose.

Lei Po’s pupils dilated instinctively, and before he could stop himself, he blurted out—

“Omega pheromones?!”