Chapter 235: The Willing Sacrifice

No one expected the capture operation to proceed with such abnormal smoothness.

When moving against the expert team from the Sea Country, everyone felt tense.

The tension peaked as they rushed the red-cloaked young man, clamping the Ability Inhibitor and Protective Helmet onto him. He was an S-rank Ability User after all, and despite their speed, they had no idea what to expect.

But surprisingly, the man showed no reaction whatsoever.

He allowed the Ability Inhibitor and helmet to be placed on his head, let the special weapons be aimed at his skull, all without the slightest response.

…

…

Mr. Su glanced at the S-rank Ability User, his brow furrowing slightly.

Then he turned to Elder Ye, “So, what exactly is your plan?”

…

“Mr. Su, you should leave.”

Armed personnel already stood protectively in front of him, while others beside him urged him constantly.

But Mr. Su showed no intention of leaving, merely watching Elder Ye.

Elder Ye gasped heavily for a moment, finally recovering from the wave of fear.

He glanced at the red-cloaked young man who was already restrained.

His hood obscured most of his face. The protective helmet, now fitted, pushed the hood askew, revealing more of his features. He looked young, but his complexion was unnaturally pale, and he maintained a silence unlike ordinary people, seemingly indifferent to everything.

From every angle, he appeared to be the weakest among the group.

Even Elder Ye, who usually needed an IV drip just to move around, seemed to possess more vitality than him.

…

“Didn’t we already agree to share the data on the S-rank Ability User with you?”

Elder Ye began, his voice raspy, “This child… he was born in our Sea Country. His psychic power isn’t actually that high. We tested him many times, it never reached a thousand. But his ability… it’s terrifying. Even with all the detection instruments from the Moon Eclipse Research Institute, we couldn’t pinpoint what it truly is, only that it’s unlike anything else.”

“The Sea Country has experienced numerous mental pollution incidents, all of which he resolved effortlessly.”

“Initially, we considered nurturing this child into the Sea Country’s guardian deity to protect us. Unfortunately, he developed significant problems himself, issues that people like us couldn’t resolve, no matter how hard we tried.”

…

Professor Bai looked at the young man with keen interest, asking, “What kind of problems did he develop?”

Elder Ye paused, then gave a slightly helpless, bitter smile. “He doesn’t want to live.”

“He constantly endures pain beyond ordinary comprehension. Therefore, he has only one wish.”

“To kill himself.”

“Only through death can he allow his soul to return to what he calls…”

“…the True Hometown.”

…

“True Hometown?”

Upon hearing these words, several accompanying personnel nearby frowned slightly.

Mental pollution is never a trivial matter.

Thus, they were all required to understand as much as possible about past mental pollution cases in Qinggang City, as well as significant incidents elsewhere. Naturally, they knew about this mysterious organization that had been eradicated in Satellite City No. 4.

This organization gained notoriety for daring to target members of the Special Action Team for proselytization.

Originally, it was considered a minor incident confined to Satellite City No. 4.

But hearing these words uttered by the Sea Country’s Elder Ye sent a subtle chill through everyone.

…

…

“We tried everything, but we couldn’t persuade him to live…”

As expressions of horror and confusion appeared on the faces of others, Elder Ye’s face twisted into a wry smile. “Our normal moral standards dictate that we cannot casually take a person’s life. Yet, facing him, we realized that constantly persuading someone who desires death to live on in agony seems profoundly immoral in itself, and utterly futile.”

“All we could do was ensure he reached a designated location before taking his own life.”

“Consider it a contribution to the Sea Country…”

…

The atmosphere in the meeting room grew heavy, tinged with an unsettling strangeness.

Elder Ye’s calm tone inexplicably made everyone feel extremely uncomfortable.

A person who constantly wants to commit suicide, and whom no one can stop…

Especially when that person is an S-rank Ability User!

Mr. Su adjusted his posture slightly, watching Elder Ye quietly. “So, he plans to use his life to attack Qinggang?”

“And what about you?”

His gaze shifted to Elder Ye. “Do you also plan to leave your life here?”

“Look at me now, I can’t even smoke my favorite pipe anymore…”

Hearing Mr. Su’s words, Elder Ye couldn’t help but chuckle. “Is this life of mine still worth anything?”

After a moment, Mr. Su slowly nodded.

“So…”

Elder Ye took a deep breath, then held it, forcing himself to sound more imposing. “This is war. Because I knew such a war would come sooner or later, I decided to participate personally. My life isn’t worth much anymore. I came this time wanting to witness my masterpiece with my own eyes…”

As he spoke, he looked towards the red-cloaked young man, his voice still trembling slightly:

“And also to see what a true god looks like…”

…

As he finished speaking, a faint red glow seeped through the window. Night had finally fallen, and the Red Moon dominated the sky outside. Its vivid crimson was stark against the darkness, so bright that even the room’s lights couldn’t prevent its glow from spilling inwards, bathing the red-cloaked, head-bowed young man in its light.

As if sensing the Red Moon, he turned his head stiffly towards it.

“Can I be free now?”

Beneath the glass helmet, his pale face revealed the first smile since entering Qinggang.

It was a look of genuine happiness.

As he spoke these words, he straightened his chest.

At his movement, the surrounding gun muzzles tensed, inching forward, almost touching his face.

The personnel beside Mr. Su and Professor Bai immediately shielded them, pushing and urging them out of the meeting room. This was no time for the two old men to display their unflappable composure; they were forcibly removed…

Not just them, Elder Ye and his entourage were also seized, fitted with protective helmets and handcuffs, and quickly dragged out of the meeting room.

Remaining in the meeting room were seven Ability Users, including Watchdog.

They all simultaneously turned their attention to the person in the red cloak.

Some were preparing to activate their abilities, others had already done so.

The air filled with subtle, differing ripples—intertwining yet distinctly warped sensations.

Rustle, rustle…

The notebook on the table was rapidly flipped by an unseen wind, the sound grating.

The incandescent lamp overhead flared intensely bright for a moment, then instantly dimmed, the light pulsing.

Various abilities simultaneously enveloped the red-cloaked young man.

Yet, he seemed to feel nothing, his body motionless, merely slowly tilting his face upwards.

Because of the Ability Inhibitor around his neck, this movement was difficult.

But he managed it, letting out a soft breath, crossing his hands gently over his chest in a self-embracing gesture.

The next moment, his pupils turned white as he unleashed his ability.

…

…

“Crackle… pop… sizzle…”

Because he was already wearing the Ability Inhibitor, the instant he used his ability, a powerful electric current surged from his neck, convulsing his body instantly and even emitting a faint smell of burning.

His body began to slowly fall backward.

But a strange scene occurred: as one ‘him’ fell, another ‘it’ knelt in place.

It was a translucent shadow, also wearing a red cloak, with a pale face.

This shadow separated from the body, a pleased smile on its face. Then it slowly rose, simultaneously beginning to grow larger and fainter. The incandescent lights flickered erratically, electricity arcing along the wires.

Everyone in the room felt a strange ringing in their ears, their vision blurring.

Someone cried out in pain, firing their gun at him recklessly.

Several special plasma bullets passed through its body, erupting in dazzling electric arcs within the room.

…

…

“What is that?”

Lu Xin suddenly turned his head, looking towards the eastern direction of Qinggang.

At the same time, within the Main City, many Ability Users sensed something and quickly turned to look.

The detectors on countless people’s waists suddenly glowed red, the needles pointing to rapidly increasing numbers.

“What’s happening?”

They were all somewhat alarmed and uneasy, staring blankly eastward, wondering what was there.

Visible to everyone, in the direction of the Donghai Grand Hotel, a shadow slowly rose.

No one could tell just how tall the shadow was, only that its head rose above the thirty-three-story Donghai Grand Hotel, making it visible even from such a distance. It resembled a colossal divine statue slowly rising beside the building.

Its hands were crossed over its chest, appearing pious and quiet. A red cloak covered its head, obscuring its face.

…

“Gagaga…”

A sound like popping beans came from nearby.

It originated from the isolation zone pre-established by the City Defense Department, where all the forcibly relocated Altered Persons were held.

The monsters attached to them, as if drawn by something, simultaneously looked towards the high-rise building.

This head-turning motion was so abrupt and unnatural that many of them twisted their necks beyond 180 degrees.