Chapter 332: Turmoil in the Maze

Inside the dim maze, a Third-Stage squad stood frozen in shock.

The leader, a young man with a buzz cut and a sturdy build, looked utterly dumbfounded.

The aura emanating from him cut the ground beneath his feet like razor-sharp blades.

“Fang Tong, should we hurry out of here?!”

Staring at Fang Hao, who was still in shock, several High-Level Awakeners from the Demon Hunting Legion asked in unison, voices trembling between astonishment and confusion.

Just over four hours ago, they received word that a military mutiny had erupted in the nearby East Sea Battle Zone.

The Military ordered them to provide immediate support while hinting that Yenir might have ‘rebelled.’

A little over two hours ago, the Military reversed course, claiming that a Sea Beast had broken out in the East Sea and ordering them to cooperate with Yenir to block its pursuit.

A minute ago, the Military issued a new directive, demanding that they bring back Yenir immediately to take command of the East Sea.

Oh no.

The East Sea is already lost.

Now they have to focus on rescue operations in the aftermath of the disaster.

Even though each of them held high status as top-tier fighters, such an absurd piece of news left them in a state of lingering disbelief.

What the hell is going on?

Has the Military gone mad? Or is the world itself unhinged?

Yenir?

Isn’t that the First Sequence Fire Seed? Shouldn’t it be safely holed up in the Capital, leveling up in peace?

Yet it sounds like an invading enemy—with a mega-strong fighter named Yenir stirring up all of China?

Taking a deep breath.

Fang Hao nodded with a conflicted expression and said in a deep tone:

“Let’s get out of here as quickly as possible. We can investigate any anomalies later.”

“The Military Department has just issued a life-or-death order for us to get moving!”

After speaking, Fang Hao buried his head in thought, clearly distressed.

How could such a situation occur… What on earth is that kid up to?!

Unlike the rest of the team, who were utterly clueless, Fang Hao recalled a moment from Yenir’s address at the conference.

“An early warning… A-Level disaster…”

“Did that kid really get it right?!”

“A mutiny, and now the Military made him a commander…”

“Is this kid trying to preempt disaster by taking matters into his own hands and evacuating survivors?”

He murmured softly to himself.

Fang Hao strained to piece together the available clues to deduce what was really happening in the East Sea.

The Military’s secrecy clearly indicated a highly complex situation.

After some deliberation, he began to form a rough idea of the events unfolding.

But then…

“Why blow up the East Sea?!”

“Does that kid really think the East Sea is indefensible—no, that a Sea Beast will catch up, so he must cut off its pursuit?! But if the Military is furious, they must believe the situation is under control…”

He quickly skimmed through the frontline reports provided by the Military.

Reading about the Sea Beast levels involved in the East Sea disaster, Fang Hao’s eyes flashed with an intense, foreign light.

An A-Level beast tide is indeed terrifying, but that was partly due to the lack of proper defenses.

With reinforcements from various troops—and given his own Third-Stage Advanced Sea Beasts—even the most unusual ones could be handled with a little extra time.

He wasn’t underestimating them.

As Huaguo’s pinnacle warrior, Fang Hao had complete confidence in his own strength!

Especially since he was the best among all commanders at handling mutants!

Utterly perplexed, Fang Hao winced and activated a special communication device in an attempt to contact Yenir.

They had been trapped in this bizarre maze for nearly three days now…

They could only receive messages without being able to send any, as if some rule was constraining them.

Though the situation wasn’t immediately dangerous, their intent to investigate further had run its course. Now, they had no choice.

“Yenir? What exactly is going on with you?!”

“Don’t you realize the Military is in complete disarray because of you? How many high-ranking figures are clashing over your actions?!”

Even so, his tone still held a hint of understanding.

Half exasperated and half conflicted, Fang Hao felt he had never encountered anything as strange as this before.

It wasn’t just total chaos.

He could almost imagine how much Yenir’s antics in a single day could send the upper echelons into a full-blown meltdown. Now, deep into the night, it seemed that no one in the Capital’s leadership dared sleep, with open conflicts, secret disputes, and impeachments likely unfolding like dramatic plays.

Seconds later, Yenir’s voice came through, calm yet laced with mild surprise.

“Fang Tong, you need me?”

“Oh no—it’s you who captured me?”

“Contacting me now—has the Military ordered you to act? When will you arrive? Let me know; I need to take a shower.”

Using a high-reputation communication device, Fang Hao listened as Yenir’s flippant tone tightened his chest, nearly leaving him breathless.

Damn it! Does this kid have any idea what he’s saying?!

Blowing up the East Sea and staging a mutiny! And afterwards, he acted as if it were nothing more than lighting a firecracker!

Without hesitation, if there were a ranking for nonchalance, Fang Hao would place Yenir at the very top.

Truth be told, if it weren’t for his admiration of Yenir, contacting him now would have already been a violation of Military regulations.

After all, it was obvious that the Military had ordered him to bring Yenir back for a disciplinary reckoning!

Suppressing the resentment choking his throat, Fang Hao forced his tone to grow serious.

“Yenir! Now is not the time for your nonsense!”

“Do you understand how serious this situation is?! If this is mishandled, there’ll be nothing even I can do to protect you!”

“With the East Sea disaster nearly over, do you realize how massive the losses are from you blowing up the Safe Zone?!”

“Take my advice—don’t act unilaterally ever again.”

“I don’t know exactly what’s happening over there, but I know you’re not a lunatic, Yenir. Perhaps some incidents within the Military or locally have pushed you to the extreme.”

“But… enough! That’s really enough!”

“Stay where you are—don’t move until I come to get you!”

His tone was filled with earnest pleading.

For once, Fang Hao was unusually anxious.

To be honest, he wasn’t even sure why he cared so much about this kid. Maybe he saw a reflection of himself in Yenir—or perhaps that other person…

Loving someone means taking everything in stride, or perhaps out of guilt, he desperately hoped that Yenir would remain unharmed.

If this continued, Fang Hao had no doubt that, once the Military’s patience ran out, they would take drastic action.

No matter how much merit one accrued, some lines simply couldn’t be crossed!

Recalling the remembered style and deeds of that person, Fang Hao wished that Yenir’s mistakes were just the rash actions of youth—as long as it wasn’t something worse…

Listening to Fang Hao’s scolding on the other end, Yenir’s face remained impassive.

Though it sounded like a rebuke meant to keep him in check, he knew Fang Hao was only trying to protect him.

But then…

Before Fang Hao could continue his plea, Yenir let out a soft laugh and quickly shed his carefree expression.

“Uncle Fang, you really don’t need to come.”

“In six hours, the second wave of Sea Beasts will hit the East Sea. Among them, that Third-Stage Peak mutant—you won’t stand a chance against it.”

“If I don’t blow up the East Sea, even more lives will be lost…”

Facing Fang Hao, Yenir was willing to explain further—at least to ease his worries so he could grab some time for a shower.

As Yenir’s calm voice echoed through the device, Fang Hao’s pupils suddenly contracted and he froze in place.

Third-Stage Peak Sea Beast?!

And a beast tide too?!