Chapter 329: A Perilous Gamble Above the East Sea

Above the East Sea Airspace.

Over seventy-two Yun-30 transport planes, like metal islands, tore through the clouds.

Inside each cockpit, every Awakener’s face was etched with astonishment.

They were merely sixty kilometers away from the East Sea Safe Zone.

After all available transport was scrambled, they had raced here at breakneck speed.

But now…

“Are we turning back?!”

“We’re not supposed to dump the fuel?!”

“What on earth is going on…?”

The order came from Yenir, and at that moment, it felt so abrupt and bewildering.

“Are they playing games with us?!”

“He ordered the fuel transport, and now he’s telling us to return! What does that mean?”

Inside the cabin, communication devices crackled incessantly, filling the air with a chorus of complaints.

On paper, Yenir was the temporary East Sea commander, and as soldiers, they had no choice but to follow orders.

“What did the East Sea higher-ups say? What about our commanders in the Battle Zone?”

Instinctively, a Second-Stage team leader on the 013th transport asked his communications partner. Moments later, his teammate replied hastily with a strange look.

“Our Safe Zone leaders said that since Yenir ordered it, we must comply.”

“After all, if anything goes wrong… he’ll take the blame.”

With a resigned shrug, since both sides agreed, there was nothing left to argue.

In an instant, the entire transport fleet had no choice but to turn back.

Perhaps out of discontent, many Awakener from Dongqing Safe Zone aboard the planes couldn’t help but sigh and murmur under their breath.

“I have no idea what they’re thinking—letting some kid command…”

“This is just too ridiculous…”

Unaware of the full picture, they didn’t know that Yenir had been the first to issue a warning. To them, his erratic behavior was nothing short of a childish tantrum.

And what was even more absurd was that the Military had agreed to it!

“Alright, enough chatter.”

“He’s a committee member after all—it’s none of our business.”

……….

“Beep. Spirit Energy conduit pressure has reached its critical point. Please halt the transport…”

“Beep. Spirit Energy core operating speed is overloaded. Current load: 112%…”

“Beep. Barrier breach detected. Self-diagnostic procedures are under attack. Please address immediately…”

A dazzling red light blazed forth.

Beneath the Spirit Energy Node, in a massive central control room, Ming Luo and the others watched Yenir as he frantically adjusted settings. A chill raced from their heels to the very top of their heads.

“What are you waiting for? Open the remaining six main channels. We’ll evacuate in a moment.”

He maintained an emotionless expression.

Yenir rapidly manipulated the mechanical valves, continuously calculating the maximum pressure.

Amid the urgent clamor of alarms, they seemed almost nonexistent in his ears.

“Operating at 371% overload… With a synchronized instantaneous detonation, it should engulf the entire main city…”

“After more than thirty years of accumulation, the East Sea’s Spirit Energy reserves are remarkably abundant.”

He chuckled softly as he casually activated a series of dangerous controls on the main panel, cranking every power indicator to its peak.

The Spirit Energy Node, at the core of the East Sea and supplying energy to both the Military Region and system facilities, functioned like a nuclear power plant—generating vast amounts of Spirit Energy every second.

The raw Spirit Energy couldn’t be absorbed by humans but could operate system facilities, like the Trial Tower or the artificial instances he’d visited before.

If absorbed directly, or extracted recklessly, that ferocious Spirit Energy would rival a volcano buried beneath the city—at its limit, ready to blow the entire East Sea sky-high.

In a way, humanity’s most potent force wasn’t nuclear warheads or Peak Third-Stage power; it was the very Safe Zone that sustained them.

While it safeguarded humanity, it also concealed a terrifying capacity for destruction.

“Honestly…it’s been ages since a Safe Zone was detonated…”

His eyes filled with memories.

With a hint of wistfulness, Yenir continuously adjusted the Spirit Energy Node. The once gentle orb now blazed like a scorching sun, unleashing torrents of awe-inspiring Spirit Energy. It looked like a caged beast on the verge of a rampage, roaring furiously.

In a past life, detonating a Safe Zone was the final, mutually destructive option in the war between humans and mutants.

During those agonizing two years, over 332 Safe Zones across Huaxia erupted like fireworks, burying wave after wave of mutants and the undead beneath rubble. In the end, even the nuclear strikes on the Capital merely served as a spark to trigger the final node.

After fine-tuning all the parameters, Yenir fell silent for a moment before a wry smile spread across his face.

The value of the Spirit Energy Node was simply too high.

Having been reborn once, he had witnessed situations like this many times before.

In truth, at this point, no one was willing to take such drastic action.

He believed that the massive explosion in a few minutes would deliver a huge ‘surprise’ to everyone.

It would be a grand display of fireworks, visible even from space…

“Yenir, are we really doing this…?”

“This is insane… absolutely insane…”

Feeling a suffocating pressure all around, Ming Luo swallowed hard in the control room.

To be honest, he wasn’t usually the type to lose his composure. No matter how grueling a mission or fierce a battle, he never once furrowed his brow.

But ever since joining Yenir, every one of his actions had redefined what he thought was possible.

Though he didn’t fully grasp Yenir’s plan, he realized that detonating this place would not only send shockwaves through the higher-ups but would likely jolt the entire Huaxia Battle Zone.

Sacrificing a Safe Zone to stop the Sea Beast?!

Such a reckless move was almost unthinkable.

Seeing his team’s nerves fray, Yenir merely smiled calmly and said softly:

“We have no choice…”

“Or rather, I no longer want a choice…”

Without delay, seven hours later, the second wave of Sea Beasts was set to land on the East Sea. Among them was one super Sea Beast!

Seeing Yenir’s resolve, Ming Luo opened his mouth, only to relinquish all attempts to dissuade him.

In a daze, as if struck by sudden inspiration, he couldn’t help but ask:

“So, Yenir…”

“Should we notify the people inside the East Sea Safe Zone? They still seem to be there.”

Instinctively, he glanced toward the direction of the main city.

The group Ming Luo mentioned were actually the middle-level officials of the East Sea, who were scrambling to rescue survivors under the guise of a search operation.

Right now, they were desperately scavenging for supplies, swarming every major warehouse like locusts.

“No need.”

Turning away from the control room, Yenir spoke in a gentle tone, his calm voice resonating even amid the piercing alarm sounds.

“Let’s blow them all to pieces.”

“Send them skyward with us.”

………………