Chapter 174: Original Form

Chapter 174: Original Form

"Ding dong—!"

"Ding dong—!"

In the afternoon, the doorbell suddenly rang. Lu Yan, who had been sitting in front of his computer searching for information about the Red Moon, subconsciously pulled out his chair and got up to open the door. What greeted him was a face beaming brighter than the sun, with eight gleaming white teeth that spoke volumes of their owner's excitement:

"Brother, I've come to find you!!"

Lu Xiaozhao stood outside, dragging a suitcase, wearing a sun hat on his head, and carrying a cross-body bag on his shoulder—a scene reminiscent of a primary school student on a spring outing.

Seeing this, Lu Yan was momentarily stunned before he remembered that he had sent a message to Lu Xiaozhao yesterday, asking him to move over. He rubbed his face, closing his eyes, and said somewhat headache-inducingly, "Come in."

What kind of situation was this? There was already a wanderer at home, and now another one was coming. Lu Yan seriously doubted whether he would even know how he died if it happened one day.

Unaware of Lu Yan's concerns, Lu Xiaozhao dragged his suitcase into the house to change his shoes. He cautiously glanced at the living room and asked in a lowered voice, "Brother, where is...that person?"

He had forgotten Xing Yuan's name.

Lu Yan replied, "You're asking about Xing Yuan? He's gone to a meeting and probably won't be back until tonight."

Sky City was almost on the brink of being lost, and the higher-ups couldn't sit still anymore. The lights in the administrative building shone brightly throughout the night. Drones and detectors were sent out in batches, all heading for the contaminated area. However, that strange region seemed to have a barrier around it; any instrument that approached would malfunction or get damaged for no apparent reason. After a day and a night passed, no useful information was obtained.

Lu Yan settled Lu Xiaozhao in the guest room and then sat back down in front of his computer. He put on his headphones, which were connected to Feng Xiangming on the other end. Today, the Chief Director was holding a large conference in the multimedia room, and even as a small researcher, he managed to secure a seat to listen in. He was currently relaying messages to Lu Yan from afar.

Because there were too many people in the meeting room, the microphone picked up a slightly chaotic noise. It wasn't until the Chief Director began speaking that everyone gradually fell silent. In Lu Yan's headphones, he could only hear the voice of the elderly man:

"According to reliable sources, there may be a large gathering of wanderers deep within the contaminated area, waiting for an opportunity to wage war against humans. Their numbers are massive, far exceeding any previous ambushes. They are likely to make their move after the Red Moon disappears."

Lu Yan reclined in his chair with his eyes closed. No need to say, this piece of news must have been brought by Xing Yuan.

Someone in the audience was unconvinced. "According to historical records, wanderers have attacked us countless times. Although this time the scale is huge, it's not necessarily unbeatable."

The microphone emitted a piercing screech due to the excessive volume. The Chief Director stared straight at the speaker and asked in a deep voice, "What if I told you that Sido has awakened?"

"Whoosh—!"

The mention of this name was like a stone thrown into water, instantly stirring up a storm in the previously quiet meeting room. Everyone looked at each other in shock, clearly struggling to digest this news. They discussed in a flurry of voices:

"How could that be possible?!"

"Sido is already dead, isn't he?"

"How could he still be alive?!"

The Chief Director's face was already exhausted to the extreme. He closed his eyes, pinched the bridge of his nose, and patted the table to signal everyone to be quiet. A virtual display screen behind him projected a somewhat outdated historical record:

"Sido is not an ordinary monster. He once created the wanderers himself and has long possessed human thought and intelligence, but his specific form remains unknown."

"Hundreds of years ago, he led the wanderers in an attempt to conquer Shelter City. That was also the first recorded attack on a city in history. Humans were once on the brink of extinction during that catastrophe until Sky City suddenly appeared, giving us a place of refuge."

The elders who witnessed history have long since passed away, and those who survived can only fill in the story of that year with a few sparse words.

Back then, Devil City wasn't called Devil City,

Her name was Shelter City.

No one could explain how humans managed to survive. Perhaps it was divine mercy, perhaps it was fate, but after Sky City appeared, the remaining humans hid in the clouds for safety. And on that day, countless raging fires suddenly appeared on the ground, fiercely burning everything alive. The wanderers were thus annihilated.

A crack opened in the city's ground, sealing Sido inside. That area became desolate, turning into an uninhabited contaminated zone.

Later, humans gradually awakened their abilities and rebuilt the city, but everything was different from before. Shelter City became Devil City, and they suddenly had a string of virtual data on their wrists, using life as currency and distinguishing between the rich and poor by lifespan.

They all thought Sido was dead, but they never expected that he had merely fallen into a deep sleep.

Humans could repeatedly drive away the wanderers largely because those monsters hadn't developed consciousness. They could easily be lured and captured with weapons. But if Sido was directing them, the advantages humans could gain would be few and far between. It would be nothing short of a disaster.

Panic, helplessness, fear, unease, despair, silence.

The meeting room had unknowingly fallen silent, so quiet that the sound of a needle dropping could be heard. Finally, someone asked with a grim expression, "Is the information accurate?"

The Chief Director slowly closed his eyes and said expressionlessly, "Accurate. They are expected to act after the Red Moon. Sido is currently hiding in the contaminated area, guarded by countless high-level wanderers. All the detection instruments we sent were destroyed due to energy field interference, unable to obtain any information."

"The Research Institute has been testing the P.B. barrier, hasn't it? In previous experiments, this energy barrier could effectively prevent wanderers from invading. If used on the battlefield..."

The Chief Director interrupted coldly, "Do you know how expensive and scarce the energy required for the P.B. barrier is?! With our current technology, the barrier coverage can reach at most two-thirds of Sky City. Do you know what that means?!"

None of the people present were fools, of course they knew what that meant.

Did it mean that at least one-third of Sky City would lack security? No, no...

It meant that Devil City would be completely cut off from human territory. It meant that the land, and the humans living on that land, would be abandoned by their fellow humans, completely erased in the dust of history.

Professor Mo was the first to slam his hands on the table and stand up. His beard was gray, and his face twitched in anger. "What do you mean?! Are we just going to ignore the people of Devil City?!"

Others explained in low voices, "Professor Mo, Sky City is already overcrowded. The total population of Devil City is more than twice that of Sky City. If it really comes down to it, we can only consider the greater good..."

"Rip—!"

Upon hearing this, Professor Mo suddenly tore the listening materials to shreds in a burst of anger. Several students tried to hold him back but failed. He laughed bitterly and said, "Twice as much? I think it's more than that! The population of Devil City historically outnumbered Sky City by more than ten times. Now it's only twice as much?"

He questioned everyone with piercing words, his voice echoing in the meeting room, deafening and awakening: "Do you know where the rest of the people went? Do you know how many people have died in Devil City over the years? What does considering the greater good mean? What does it mean when there's no other choice? I'm old and my eyesight is failing, I don't understand all these twists and turns. Just say that the poor should die, I'll hear that clearer as an old man!"

The Chief Director interjected, "Old Mo, the situation isn't that dire yet. We are still discussing countermeasures..."

"Bullshit!"

Old Mo's face flushed red with anger as he scolded, "You discuss every year, you plan every year, and what's the result?! Devil City is always the one that gets abandoned! They live underground, they are the poor, you live in the clouds, and you've all become beasts!!"

The deep furrow between the Chancellor's brows was a testament to his inner turmoil as he pushed back his chair and rose, his face etched with self-reproach and guilt. "Professor Mo, even if we evict everyone from Sky City and allow the residents of Devil City to move in, we would still be unable to protect two-thirds of humanity. This war will claim lives—lives that are destined to be lost, the only question being whose. As your Chancellor, I have failed you; my incompetence is on full display!"

With limited psychics and scarce ammunition, humanity was stretched to its absolute limit. The Chancellor could only strive to ensure the survival of those in Sky City, lacking the means to extend substantial aid to Devil City. Diverting the already meager resources to Devil City would inevitably plunge Sky City into chaos.

Professor Mo's eyes welled up with tears at these words. His heartbreak stemmed not from the Chancellor's inability to save those in peril, but from the recurring instinct to abandon rather than fight when faced with disaster—the willingness to forsake one's own kin.

Trembling, Professor Mo tore off his name badge and hurled it to the ground in a fit of rage. "If it comes to that, I resign in disgrace! I've lived long enough, dedicating my years to diligent research with the sole aim of seeing the Wanderers expelled. If I must witness the annihilation of Devil City, I'll die without the face to meet my ancestors in the afterlife!"

His outburst was fierce, a tiger's wrath despite his age. Yet, the moment he removed his badge, Professor Mo seemed to lose all strength, barely able to stand. He covered his face and wept like a child, his sobs echoing through the room until he was led away by his students, leaving behind the muffled sound of his lament: "We are kin... kin... humanity wasn't meant to survive this way..."

The vast hall, capable of accommodating thousands, was a stark contrast of factions. At the front sat the official leaders of Sky City, while the rear was occupied by psychics in black uniforms. To the right were researchers in white lab coats, and to the left, the patrol teams in camouflage. Further back stood the guards...

A medley of colors represented a mosaic of social strata. Among them, who was born to their station? How many had clawed their way from Devil City to reach this point?

Chen Yan and his companions closed their eyes in anguish, never expecting such news. These were living, breathing souls, some of whom were their very own kin residing in Devil City. How could they bear to watch them perish?

A low sob broke the silence, rippling through the assembly like a contagion, yet no one could pinpoint its source. Perhaps everyone was crying, or perhaps it was just one person, their grief indistinguishable in the collective sorrow.

The Chancellor stood on the stage like a withered tree, aged and defeated, motionless. It fell to Secretary He Zhu to continue the meeting in his stead. "Through analysis of the energy fluctuations of the Wanderers, we've discovered that the Red Moon has likely provided them sustenance. They are undergoing mass evolution, particularly evident among the lower ranks. This means that once the Red Moon passes, their overall strength will escalate, with an increase in Third- and Fourth-Rank Wanderers. Our ammunition may prove ineffective..."

He paused before continuing, "We propose the following measures, which we hope relevant departments will cooperate with."

"First, all entrances to Sky City will be sealed, and the issuance of entry permits suspended. Ordinary citizens are not to leave or enter without permission."

The announcement drew surprised glances. Was this the beginning of a complete severance from Devil City?

"Second, the Military Supply Department will procure large quantities of supplies and set up aid stations along Cloud Road, distributing food and water free of charge to the residents of Devil City."

"Third, all armed units stationed in Devil City will immediately withdraw. Active personnel are strictly prohibited from leaving their posts, and all leave activities are suspended..."

A loud thud echoed through the hall.

A female psychic from the front row suddenly stood, her eyes blazing with fury as she confronted Secretary He Zhu. "So, Sky City is abandoning Devil City entirely?! What about our families? Our friends? They're all in Devil City. Are you asking us to watch them die?!"

"What good are supplies? Are we supposed to eat well before we die?!"

Secretary He Zhu, noting her black uniform, responded sternly, "This is an order! As a psychic, you should know that obedience to orders is..."

"I don't care about orders! I know that my powers are meant to protect my homeland! If I can't even safeguard my own family, what good am I alive for? You're sealing the entrances and suspending entry permits, pushing people to the brink!"

The female psychic ripped off her badge and hurled it to the ground, her eyes red-rimmed as she enunciated each word with gritted teeth. "Starting today, I'm leaving Psychic Squad Twelve! I might as well return to Devil City to be with my family, since I can hunt Wanderers anywhere."

Secretary He Zhu clenched his jaw in anger, warning her, "You're courting death!"

"So be it! I won't step onto the battlefield if I'm afraid of dying!!"

With that, she slammed the door and stormed out, the hallway's light spilling into the meeting room, casting an even darker shadow over the proceedings.

One departure led to another, and soon, Chen Yan and his comrades also left, reducing the vast hall to a mere fraction of its original occupants, leaving only a scattering of high-ranking officials.

Secretary He Zhu could no longer continue. Turning to the Chancellor, he whispered, "Chancellor..."

The Chancellor remained silent, raising a hand to signal quiet. With a shake of his head, his voice aged beyond his years, he said, "Adjourn the meeting."

Xing Yuan had been seated quietly throughout, but this did not mean he was interested in the Chancellor's discourse. Instead, he had encountered an unfamiliar emotion.

Wanderers were acutely sensitive to suffering, and now, a dense cloud of sorrow hung over the meeting room, vast and overwhelming like unending waves, cold and piercing, crashing relentlessly. The intensity of this emotion left Xing Yuan feeling drained, as if submerged in the depths of the ocean. He frowned, wondering if this was human sorrow—sorrow for the inability to save kin, watching them die silently.

In the silence, a thought suddenly struck Xing Yuan: What about Lu Yan?

Would Lu Yan die too?

He was human, after all.

A dull discomfort settled in Xing Yuan's chest, akin to the dampness of rain descending from the heavy clouds above, enveloping everything in its path, including him.

The Red Moon stirred the energies within him, while the human stirred his heart.

Rising from his seat, Xing Yuan prepared to leave. Turning, he noticed Secretary He Zhu's gaze upon him. The secretary was somewhat moved, never expecting Xing Yuan, known for his rebellious streak, to support the authorities in such a critical moment, staying until the end of the meeting.

What a good man! Truly a great man!

Unaware of Secretary He Zhu's thoughts, Xing Yuan found the man's teary-eyed expression somewhat ridiculous, not bothering to spare him a glance as he turned and left.

Meanwhile, Lu Yan had removed his headphones, sitting silently before his computer. Though he hadn't experienced the scene firsthand, the emotions of anger and helplessness washed over him.

What could be done? Was this the only way for humanity to protect itself?

Secretary He Zhu had mentioned that the Red Moon would provide sustenance to the Wanderers, allowing them to evolve collectively, while humanity remained stuck at lower ranks, struggling to find a solution.

Lu Yan unlocked his phone, intending to send a message to Xing Yuan, but hesitated over what to say. Finally, he slowly typed:

"It's going to rain soon, go home early."

He wondered if Xing Yuan would evolve. Already at Fifth Rank, evolving further would make him a Sixth-Rank expert.

So engrossed in his phone, Lu Yan didn't notice Lu Xiaozhao beginning to mutate in the living room. Twisting and writhing on the floor, tearing through clothes, the younger brother transformed into a thick, dark mist that silently drifted behind Lu Yan, his crimson eyes revealing an insatiable hunger for flesh.

As the computer screen went dark, Lu Yan looked up to find a pair of red eyes reflected on it, directly behind him. "..."

Oh, shit.