The Crowsten Central Relay Station.
It was just an ordinary night, yet the air was taut as a drawn bowstring. Beneath the massive sloped glass roof of the dispatch station, personnel clad in crisp railway uniforms stood in formation.
A train carrying ore slowly rolled in from the tracks.
……
From a crevice at the very top of the platform, Wager and Yang Zicang lay concealed, wrapped in sheets crafted by crushing scrap stones scavenged from the railway and coating them onto fabric using alchemy.
So long as they remained still beneath their cover, the effect designed to counteract dispatch scanning capabilities within the station helped ensure the two hidden figures went unnoticed by patrolling officials.
Wager still had his tricks up his sleeve.
They watched as the train ground to a halt. Several men in long black uniforms jumped off—even at this time of year, they wore clothes befitting March or April.
After exchanging handshakes with the platform personnel, the station’s crew boarded the train, each taking a seat in a separate carriage.
The locomotive’s steam whistle shrieked once more as a puff of black smoke signalled its intent to depart.
Just then, the air within the dispatch station began to hum and wail. A swarm of men in black uniforms burst out from doorways on both platforms, weapons raised and trained upon the black-clad men who had just descended from the train, as well as the uniformed personnel who had boarded it.
Bang! Bang!
The two groups down below collided instantly, chaos erupting in a violent clash.
“Search the vehicle!“
“Who are you people! ” These stewards were no easy pushovers. Thick, demonic blood energy radiated from their bodies. With a mere raise of their hands, the charging black-uniformed men were decapitated like chopping vegetables, their arms torn off.
“All fourth-rank Demonic Blood users? “
“There’s definitely something wrong with this train! Let’s take them on together! “
With a thunderous roar, a cannonball shot from a far corner and landed near the train’s front, blasting a fourth-rank Demonic Blood bearer several meters away. The tracks and platform below were instantly pockmarked like the surface of the moon from the ensuing battle.
Yang Zicang, hidden at the very top, shrank back and covered his head with a cloth. Turning to a shocked Wager, he said, “I knew it was too easy for us to just camp here. “
“Damn, they even managed to bring in artillery. This command center that was said to be unbreachable by two whole divisions is nothing but a piece of junk. ” Wager sighed.
“No, oh, the defenses here are way too tight. If we hadn’t spotted personnel from several different countries during the breach, we would have been completely fooled—Cuckoo. “
Yang Zicang, peering out from the gap in the sheet, suddenly widened his eyes and whispered sharply, “How did you get out here? “
“For you this is impossible, for me it’s a piece of cake, oh Cuckoo. “
Cuckoo the Little Bird landed with a skip on the dust-covered passageway with Birdyak-D, then turned to pull a business card, with a texture faintly like mica, from under its wing. Locking his gaze between the two who stood motionless, it turned its head to one side and declared: “I’ve got work to do. You’d better keep quiet. One more heads-up: If you try to leave now, you’re definitely getting caught.“
Cuckoo let out a softshoosound, then dissolved into a dark, rippling blur of whatfirst looked likeair and flew out.
“Your bird is surprisingly kind-hearted, ” Wager muttered under his breath.
Whoosh! The metallic Cuckoo bird suddenly arced back, hovering outside the wall. “Tonight’s work is done, Cuckoo. As for you two, I just haven’t decided on a suitable price yet, Cuckoo. “
With that, it vanished into the air with a swoosh.
Soon after, Yang Zicang and Wager witnessed a tiny elegant business card drifting down from above the train that was struggling to start.
Almost immediately, two figures spotted it and rushed forward with swift steps, wearing boxing gloves.
But in the next instant, its surface suddenly burst into flames, turning into smoke that swiftly spun, forming a door like a whirlpool.
“Not good! ” The faces of those Gene Acceptors shifted rapidly.
Boom!
A fist emerged from the spinning fog door, and with a single punch, it caused a massive explosion in the track area where the train was halted. The shockwave shattered the surfaces of the platforms on both sides, as if struck by a missile.
Amid the earthquake-like tremors, the two who had been pursued by the arm from the heights up above felt their pupils quake along with the ground as they watched the figure stepping out from within.
The Demonblood Bearers retreating from the shock drew out the small flashlights hidden at their waists, pressed the switches, shifted their steps to form a circular encirclement, and scattered fluorescent dust that swiftly traced intricate and varied patterns.
Soldier No.4, who had landed on the tracks, raised a hand and tore off a section of the bloodstained and twisted iron exterior, from which an interior resembling coal gossiped out in a rustled, splattered mess across the ground.
As the hidden things appeared, a tremor finally stirred within Soldier No.4’s normally calm gaze.
Yang Zicang, who had been secretly watching it all, instantly bit down hard on his lips, holding them shut so as not to make a single sound.
Scattered across the tracks under the guise of ore were countless dismembered corpses of the parasitic Nightmares—evil parasitic nightmares cleared at source.
At once, they set about trying to attach themselves again, forming out of it tarts new shapes fragments like some particular composition pieces, whose thick brindle material connection continues snuffed back trying end there being bound in certain endless world for becoming things such as bricks and club-hafts just made bodies snap-necked she grow stones clean pit.
-｛Distributor April·Odyssey: “I am, being settled all bound try hide deep up am something natural spawn opening take bright get keep eyes true again rest you may think together system voice start flow signal once inside fast is pulse pulse dance so time rich moments hold mind think main wish check: I am breeding the grand future thing call ahead start up growing better pre-placed special fine what need stay steps solid journey end show bound joy need grace line surge forth warm good pulse yet steps wait brand answer among beyond test places hear vast live ways rise keep sight never lost place drop set life time please. “｝
-｛Distributor May Valkyrie indicates: she will raise the price of this glorious prelude I am nurturing by 20%.｝
-｛Distributor February Di’an indicates: I am working together with a host of elites to complete a glorious prelude.｝
-｛Distributor Loki Tata Mingqi indicates: “Just lie back and watch. “｝
The fluorescent powder on the ground absorbed the faint light from the flashlight, glowing to form a pattern akin to a three-dimensional halo. Among them, Soldier No.4 turned a blind eye to it, merely staring at the building materials made from the parasitic nightmares filling the carriage.
“So this is… what the nations across the continent have been hiding. “
He raised his head, scanning the railroad uniform personnel who had insisted on drawing magic runes even as they died under the assault. Ferocious gales swirled around him, bolts of lightning appearing within the swirling fluorescent dust—as if something had opened a vast, ring-shaped maw, beginning to devour everything that was surrounded and encircled.
Lightning suddenly coalesced into the shape of a humanoid figure, hovering a few meters off the ground. Above his head floated the faint, distorted replica of the ring of light on the ground, like a miniature rendering that moved in sync.
“We covered it up for so long, but in this final moment, the people of Steffen have uncovered the secret regardless. “
Soldier No.4 silently stared at him.
“I am the Full Moon Angel, Serafiel. “
The ring tore at Soldier No.4’s body. From his limbs and his head, countless particles seemed to be pulled away at incredible speed, slipping into the open yet intangible chasm of the ring to be swallowed piece by piece.
“Although you are strong, you have already missed the deadline to destroy it. Stay here forever, and let me see what secrets Shidefen has truly mastered. “
Soldier No.4’s skin tattered, he raised his arm, inch by inch with difficulty, as if gathering strength within this slowed pace.
“If… Serafiel’s true form appeared, I… might… care a bit. “
Rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble!
The earth was shaken by a punch that seemed to compress the very air, as countless fragments of ground soared upward beneath Soldier No.4’s feet.
The phantom of Serafiel, suspended high in the sky, had five rings of light flicker and ignite at its pupils. Within his eyes, reflections of swirling galaxies seemed to fall. He raised a single finger, lightning congealing in an instant, and a scorching light appeared from it, drifting down to settle beneath the feet of Soldier No.4’s shadow within the overhead ring.
“Silent Storm. “
Within the orbit, a colossal burst of lightning abruptly flared beneath the ground where Soldier No.4 stood, as though exploding to consume him entirely.
Yet at that instant, Serafiel’s expression suddenly froze.
Below, Soldier No.4, ready to unleash his charged strike, also halted slightly, as if sensing something.
“Damn, it’s a trap! “
A spinning dark phantom, like a black hole appearing out of nowhere, abruptly manifested at the very center of that radiance!
Yang Zicang’s eyes flew wide open; it was the Gravitational Arc Light!
Such an immense Gravitational Arc Light!
The radiance of lightning was devoured. Serafiel hurriedly shifted the dark shadow above his head, seeking the location of that projectile. The very instant he detected the stolen ‘Silent Storm,’
BOOM!
The earth and mountains quaked. The entire Crownsbury Central Dispatch Station seemed to be swallowed by the rending earth. It collapsed as the cluster of lightning detonated underground. All buildings and trains plunged into the dark and colossal chasm.
The stolen mass of lightning had exploded beneath the earth!
“Who is it!” Serafiel shrieked.
Plunging into the darkness, Soldier No. 4 revealed a faint smile. The cuckoo, Bugu, rushed to his side.
“Save these people!” The radiant being of lightning glided at high speed to one of the falling individuals, but he was utterly unable to lift them. Spotting not only this area, but the entire region caving in nearby, where more and more people who had no idea what was happening were truly plummeting, Serafiel flicked his hand, summoning a larger halo of magical runes.
But even if he began the process of spatial orientation now and summoned his true form, it would be too late. He watched the catastrophe unfold with shock and a heavy heart.
Yet, in the next second, those falling people suddenly suspended for a single instant, then eerily surged upward by over ten meters.
A jagged line spread from the heavens.
{Please invest in me. }
Serafiel looked up. Amid countless falling pieces of debris, a giant carpet was suspended there. He saw the urgent figure standing at its edge, raising a business card in his hand!
“Little Machao, come and help!“
{Whoosh, whoosh—! }
“Woo—!“
Bang! The evil nightmare train, tearing through the wind, burst out of a shimmering portal that materialized out of thin air. In the blink of an eye upon exiting, Little Machao realized what needed to be done!
Amidst the high-speed whistling of wind, the sleek, twisted nightmare train, now engulfed in psychic energy, teleported in an instant to the two plummeting figures, swallowing them whole.
｛I’ve obtained an investment of 700,000 N in Full Authority Chronology from the organization.｝(The full authority of time itself)
｛The 700,000 N has been sliced up by the investing organization, the Free Vanguard Legion.｝
{Leaving this to you, the newbie brother. }
……
On the massive carpet, Yang Zicang, his mind unwavering, activated his “Silent Night ” to sense and survey the shifting silhouettes around him.
Hearing the unfamiliar investment voice echoing in his thoughts, Yang Zicang looked up and peered into the immense chronology around him. Amid the surging, angry winds, he couldn’t make out where the investor was in this colossal timeline.
……
Plummeting ever downward—rumble, rumble! Gravel and debris tumbled from the sky, falling along in close radius beside him.
“He didn’t choose to save me, so who did this?“
Cuckoo Bird suddenly landed on Soldier No. 4’s chest, who was falling on his back. “Whoosh—it’s the one who took Wager, Cuckoo knows.“
“So it was him.“
Plop! Soldier No. 4 landed in the water with a splash.
Sensing the scent, he heard a waterfall roar down from his left, like vomiting out currents through a massive hole. Turning his gaze, amidst scars zigzaging slowly—cracks pluck over deep, over nearby distant hole walls widening scars rapidly writ large—more cracks opened wider.
“There’s actually water here. Is this… seawater?! “
Krakakrak!BOOM!
The large cavity, towering as a small building, shattered with a roar as new seawater surged in, startling Cuckoo so much he circled three times in the sky before landing back down.
Floating in the seawater, Soldier No.4 quietly felt the chilling cold intensifying beneath him.
As debris rained down and his torn skin ached, he suddenly seemed to relax.
“Are you feeling sick somewhere, Cuckoo? Want me to find medical help? “
“No. I’m just starting to figure out what they’re trying to do. “
“What is it? ” Little Bird tilted her head.
Closing his eyes, Soldier No.4 listened to the roaring seawater and calmly stated in a low voice: “This is their effort to lengthen the Continent’s lifeline. “
“Exactly right, ” a voice emerged out of the dark nearby. A man clad in a black worker’s jacket and tall rain boots walked to the entrance of a rocky cave.
“This is what we are carrying out — called the Seawater Feedback Plan. “
……
The news that Krostiten City had suffered an immense catastrophe spread like wildfire across the continent.
Before the masses could even figure out what events occurred, even more severe news hit a plot of land—there was a massive geographical collapse in some region.
Down in many regions like Hackerwick, people—especially those in low-lying areas—were urgently ordered to evacuate to nearby safe zones.
“What the hell is going on! “
“I heard there’s a flood. “
“Our finances are still waiting at home! If we troop out with you like this, we’ll be left with nothing! “
“The nation will arrange everything for you! Please follow us urgently. ” Serious-faced soldiers waved their arms as armored vehicles lined the roads one after another. These roads, once widened due to wartime confrontations, were now filled to the brim with all kinds of vehicles.
Under the protection of able-bodied young men, women, children, and the elderly left their homeland in the dead of night.
Almost everyone in the city was jolted awake from their sleep by this news. Many turned on their radios, straining to listen to the broadcasts.
—…Lieutenant General Ross assures us that no one will be abandoned in any disaster—whether real, imminent, or rumored. We will seek solutions for all equally.
—…Lieutenant General Ross stated that regarding this organized and premeditated catastrophe of seawater backflow covering the territory of Haven Zirc, we had long been informed and have already taken measures to respond… The public is urged not to panic.
—…The latest statistics from the Bureau show… Currently, only a few have been injured or are missing. The entire disaster assessment and personnel transfer process is proceeding very smoothly. We ask all nationals and compatriots to believe in the kingdom’s resolve to share both hardship and fortune with everyone.
By the next day,
All nations across the southern region of the continent were utterly shocked and beyond comprehension. Moreover, faced with Haven Zirc’s swift reaction and response, they hurriedly mobilized all intelligence resources in a frenzy of speculation to investigate.
In reality, they didn’t need to do that at all, because almost exactly at nine o’clock sharp, Haevenzic sent a secret letter to all countries with which it had consular exchanges: Through our long-term confirmation, seawater carrying the mist-sea aura can isolate the detection and assault attacks of the underground Devil-root Manlings against biological creatures.
……
“These veins of seawater that are about to cleave our country apart will instead protect our people. ” A tall, steepled tower building rose into the haze, where a robust man dressed in tanned leather read the letter in his hand.
In another country thousands of miles away, within a bustling government hall, a handsome young man looked at the newly arrived document and read softly: “We, Haevenzic, anticipate being able to accept ten to twenty million people from other nations next month, depending on the logistical support from various governments… “
An airship flew over a small town piled with coal coal; this country, nestled on the wasteland, was nearly entirely populated by miners and herders.
A burly man stared pensively at the quickly transferred telegraph, pondered, and looked up at the secretary beside him wearing a leather hat: “How much food can we prepare now? “
“If accepting Haevenzic’s suggestion… then our current stockpile can support about one million five hundred thousand people for a month. ” After a moment’s thought, he amended: “But I’ll need to reissue an order for an inventory check; perhaps we can allocate more. “
One after another, replies flooded into this nation on the brink of being torn apart by disaster, as if pouring into a sacred land once revered by all kingdoms. Within the Special Disaster Response Bureau, surrounded by an entire division, Lieutenant General Ross exuded an even greater air of authority. Despite having not slept well for days, he was now brimming with energy, as if even ten straight all-nighters couldn’t break his spirit.
A lady knocked and entered. “Almost all the countries we’ve contacted have sent us their confirmations. This time… ” Filled with admiration, the woman, who had only learned of her new assignment last night, added, “Thanks to your efforts, Lieutenant General Ross, you’ve been planning such a great undertaking. “
For those working in the high-level departments, almost all of them were filled with doubt, sorrow, and despair about the disaster set to occur in a month. But now, they were pleasantly surprised to discover that someone among them was silently planning a response to this crisis!
“Have the advisory letters urging neighboring nations to accept refugees been written? “
“Yes, sir. Each country has its own customized advisory letter. Would you like to review them, my respected sir? “
“No, that won’t be necessary. ” Ross raised his head. “I trust you all. “
A sharp glint flickered in the woman’s eyes. She nodded firmly with an “mm-hmm ” and immediately pulled the door open to leave.
After she left, Ross reached for the rotary phone on the sturdy walnut desk and dialed a number.
“How’s things at the Central Dispatch Station? “
— “Great. As it happens, that Mr. Mist is there, and he actually… saved everyone. It’s an absolutely unbelievable miracle. “
Ross paused for a few seconds before letting out a chuckle.
“I thought many would die. What a relief that someone could handle a catastrophe of this magnitude on such short notice. This guy is… not simple. “
— “Lieutenant General Ross, this time he didn’t just save the people we abandoned at the Kroshtyn Central Dispatch Station. He also seemed to have uncovered that… coping plan those nations designed for the apocalyptic catastrophe. “
The warm, genuine delight in Ross’s eyes suddenly froze.
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