Chapter 54

Chapter 54

What’s going on?

The fleeing crowd paused, momentarily stunned. But even after their narrow escape from death, they hadn't forgotten the lingering danger. Evading one anomaly was hardly a guarantee of safety; who knew how many more lurked within the spectral realm?

From that moment on, the escapees moved with heightened vigilance, a caution that ironically helped them steer clear of some anomalies. Most of the entities’ attention was fixated on the three human teams, making these scattered individuals easier to overlook.

“The anomalies are coming,” a voice announced over the radio in the rapidly moving vehicle.

News of approaching anomalies would typically trigger tension and fear. Yet, inside the car, everyone wore an expression of profound relief—a sense of "finally."

It wasn’t as if they’d never eaten garlic before. They knew its pungent odor, how foul their breath became afterward, and how intensely the garlic stench could permeate the air. But usually, it was just a family eating garlic in a semi-enclosed space, perhaps with a window cracked open for ventilation, or followed by a quick mouth rinse.

Now, however, a vehicle designed for thirty people was crammed with nearly sixty. If only a few had eaten garlic candy and used diffuser stones, the smell might have been tolerable, even in the confined space.

But everyone had eaten raw garlic. And to maintain the garlic concentration for over an hour, they took turns gnawing on raw cloves.

The sharp, spicy garlic, combined with the fermented stench of garlic breath, stewed in the car. Before the anomalies even arrived, the occupants were already pale from the suffocating odor.

If not for the knowledge that the garlic stench was their weapon against the anomalies, they would have flung the windows open for fresh air long ago.

“The anomalies are finally here—ugh!”

“Stop talking, you’re making me want to puke too.”

“Please, for God’s sake, don’t vomit. The smell in here is already unbearable. If someone adds a garlic-vomit combo to the mix, I—I…”

“Everyone, cover your mouths. Once the order to open the windows comes, we’ll do it immediately. Those by the windows, stay alert—we might need to open them any second.”

Everyone in the car understood: the closed-window garlic stench could repel some anomalies, but if too many were drawn in, they’d need to intensify the garlic concentration. It couldn’t just be a steady release; they had to hit the anomalies with a concentrated wave.

Otherwise, what if the anomalies grew accustomed to it?

At first, they’d hoped the anomalies wouldn’t come at all—that they could simply slip past unnoticed and escape the spectral realm safely. But now, they wanted the anomalies to suffer too.

The first wave of pursuing anomalies didn’t detect anything unusual. The garlic stench was foul, yes, but they were weak and desperate for sustenance. Even subpar meals were acceptable if they filled their stomachs; taste was a secondary concern.

Soon, however, the convoy received the order to open the windows based on their position. Eagerly, they threw the windows open, everyone crowding near them to gasp for fresh air while venting the foul air from the car.

Anomalies were far more sensitive to smells than humans. Even Lan Ying, who was stronger than most entities in the spectral realm, had struggled with the garlic stench—and that was from preserved garlic after he’d exhausted himself working.

So these weaker anomalies stood no chance.

The leading anomalies caught a whiff of the stench and collapsed unconscious before they could react. Some, already too weak, even began to dissipate.

The ones who passed out were the lucky ones. Those still conscious faced the full horror of the garlic barrage. A single person with garlic candy might repel an anomaly through sheer disgust, but a group’s combined stench was like a biohazard attack. The anomalies behind reeled, their vision darkening as they questioned their very existence. Their momentum carried them forward—only to be nearly suffocated by the stink.

The lead car had already shut its windows again. Most of the stench inside had been released, and keeping the windows open wouldn’t help much now. Better to let the smell build up again.

“Did anyone see what happened to the anomalies?” someone asked.

“They don’t seem to be chasing us anymore. Earlier, I saw one charging from behind—if they were still following, they’d have caught up to the rear vehicles by now. But the group behind us isn’t in chaos, so we must be clear,” another replied.

“This is basically stink warfare. Who knew I’d live to fight anomalies with biochemical weapons,” someone remarked.

“How much longer until we’re out of the spectral realm?”

“Another fifty minutes or so. But we’ve still got some garlic left—the reek should hold out.”

The sudden burst of odor after the convoy opened their windows not only repelled the anomalies chasing them but also deterred a large number of other anomalies that had noticed the convoy and thought about investigating.

These anomalies were stronger than those chasing the convoy. Being more powerful, they weren’t as desperate to eat humans, so their craving for humans wasn’t as intense.

After all, while humans could fill their stomachs, they still couldn’t compare to proper anomalous food.

Still, the sight of so many humans piqued the curiosity of some anomalies, making them want to get a closer look. Even if they didn’t necessarily intend to feed, things could turn bloody fast.

But now, humans that stank of garlic like rotten toys—getting too close risked getting smelly. Any anomalies with even a shred of interest quickly abandoned the idea.

The stronger anomalies, capable of withstanding the garlic stench to some degree, had no desire to dirty themselves. Meanwhile, the weaker ones trailing the convoy were left nauseated by the smell, much to the frustration of the Dawn Bureau folks watching.

“Director, shouldn’t we…?” a staff member ventured. Normally, capturing anomalies for research was an arduous task, but now, some were lying incapacitated behind them, looking helpless. Couldn’t they seize the opportunity?

“Nope. Our only job right now is evacuating civilians from the anomalous zone. Everything else is secondary,” the director replied firmly. Though he too was tempted—after all, the Dawn Bureau’s research on anomaly-countering equipment required live test subjects, and capturing anomalies was no easy feat, leaving them perpetually short of specimens—stopping to collect them now was too risky. Any mishap would be unforgivable.

Meanwhile, the rescue teams that had entered the anomalous zone had already eliminated several anomalies but also encountered traces of humans devoured by them.

Even at the fringes, while most had escaped, some had run into anomalies while fleeing—and were consumed.

Others had hidden and prayed for help. Some were lucky enough to be found and evacuated, while others tragically perished in their hiding spots.

The grim scenes at the outskirts weighed heavily on the rescue teams, deepening their dread for the situation in central Nanxi City. They could only pick up speed.

“Captain, what’s that sound?” a team member asked, puzzled by the noise ahead. It sounded like vehicles, but who the hell would dare make such a racket in the anomalous zone? Drawing attention meant certain annihilation.

The lead vehicle of the convoy soon spotted the approaching cars—sporting the Dawn Bureau logo.

The news quickly reached the director’s vehicle at the rear. Recognizing the rescue team, he ordered the front vehicles to relay a message via horn signals.

Stopping wasn’t an option—the convoy was moving fast, and halting abruptly would disrupt the entire convoy. Instead, they used horns to communicate, instructing the rescue team to follow their lead.

The convoy now existed in a peculiar state—both safe and unsafe.

Safe, because the periodic window openings had repelled numerous anomalies, many too weakened to give chase. Unsafe, because their garlic reserves were dwindling rapidly. Chewing raw garlic to maintain the stench barrier was taking its toll.

The arrival of the rescue team gave them added security.

Captain Lin and his team understood the horn signals—the convoy was requesting protection. They swiftly adjusted course to escort them.

Though stunned that a convoy this big had made it this far from the anomalous zone’s heart seemingly without a scratch, Captain Lin knew that at this speed, they could break free in just over ten minutes. Their duty was clear: ensure the convoy’s safe passage.

Not just Captain Lin’s team—other rescue units encountered two additional convoys, stunned by the sight of the massive convoys charging out.

One rescue team, in a fight with anomalies, watched in disbelief as the approaching convoy sent the creatures fleeing before even getting close. Recognizing the passengers as ordinary escapees, they were totally lost.

Weren’t they the ones supposed to be rescuing people?

Yet here they were, seemingly saved by the very people they’d come to help.

With the convoy’s sheer size and passenger numbers, the rescue teams wasted no time jumping in to ride shotgun alongside them. After learning the details via radio, they abandoned plans to push deeper.

Venturing further might save scattered individuals, but staying with the convoy could safeguard hundreds. The choice was clear.

If they were to rescue anyone, priority lay in escorting the convoy out first.

Equipped with communication devices, the rescue teams quickly coordinated, converging on the convoys. Some took point, others flanked the middle, while a rear guard bagged knocked-out anomalies.

Meanwhile, some rescue teams that had just entered the anomalous zone received the news and immediately relayed it outside, causing those beyond the anomaly’s reach to heave a sigh of relief—though they remained on edge.

After all, until the convoy fully emerged, no one could be certain something wouldn’t go wrong.

Everyone waited anxiously until, finally, they saw vehicles rushing out of the anomalous zone—one after another…

The rescue was being broadcast live, and at this sight, many viewers couldn’t help but cheer in excitement.

Shen Yan’s mother clenched her fists, staring at the live feed, desperately scanning the faces inside the vehicles, hoping to catch a glimpse of her daughter. She had turned her phone’s vibration volume to the maximum, terrified of missing a call from Shen Yan.

Yet, as car after car escaped the anomalous zone, Shen Yan still hadn’t appeared before her. Her mother’s face grew increasingly pale—until suddenly, her phone rang. It was Shen Yan’s number.

She answered in a panic, hearing her daughter’s familiar voice on the other end.

“Mom, I made it out.”

Countless others were receiving calls from loved ones at this moment, and the internet was ablaze with reactions.

“I thought I’d never see my mom again… Thank goodness she escaped!”

“I thought I was done for too. Luckily, I caught up with the convoy and left with them. Who knows if I’d even be alive otherwise?”

“I still haven’t heard from my friend. I don’t know if they’re safe.”

“What’s it like inside the anomalous zone?”

“To the person asking about their friend—if they were with the convoy, chances are they’re fine. Maybe they just haven’t gotten out yet or forgot to message you.”

“And if they weren’t with the convoy?”

“Uh… that’s harder to say. The anomalous zone is packed with anomalies. If they were alone, it depends on whether they had a way to protect themselves. If they had garlic candy or aroma diffuser stones, they might’ve escaped. Otherwise… well, it’s not looking good.”

“*Sobbing* I made it out alive… I’m so, so grateful to Ying Yuanxing. The anomaly count in the anomalous zone was beyond imagination. At first, only a few people in each car had garlic candy or a diffuser—who knows if that would’ve been enough with so many people packed inside? Later, delivery personnel delivered garlic, and everyone got some. We had to gnaw on raw garlic nonstop the whole way. The smell… I even saw anomalies passing out from it! Otherwise, I don’t know if we could’ve escaped.”

“Is garlic really that effective? I thought it just masked human scent to keep anomalies away. But if they’re already chasing you, can it actually repel them?”

“Maybe it’s the sheer amount. That smell was unbearable even for humans, and anomalies are way more sensitive to scents. They probably couldn’t take it.”

“Just thinking about the stench in the car makes me want to puke. It saved us, but… *gags*”

“I swear I’ve been marinated in garlic stink. Even my arms reek of it now.”

“Hey… did you all get the notice? About the, uh… waste from anyone who ate garlic these past two days…?”

“Stop, stop! I already got the notice. I know what they’re planning to do with it, but… *complicated feelings*”

“We shouldn’t be the ones feeling complicated. The people who have to *use* it should be the ones suffering.”

The rescue teams *were* suffering. When the notice went out, they remembered what the researchers had said earlier about garlic’s uses—though it hadn’t been *that* extreme back then. But now, were they really going to extract compounds from waste just to avoid wasting garlic?

“Captain, this…” A team member grimaced. They weren’t ignorant of garlic’s effects—the convoy’s escape proved its potency against anomalies. But extracting from waste? Even if it was just spraying the substance on themselves…

According to the researchers’ plan, the stench would cling relentlessly, stubbornly to their bodies. Were they really going to be marinated in garlic stink forever?

“As long as it works, we’ll deal with the rest later,” the captain said, his face twitching briefly. In times of scarcity, you used whatever you had.

The person delivering the notice took one look at the rescue teams’ expressions and immediately understood their thoughts. They gave them a sympathetic look. The researchers were overly frugal, but this was crossing a line.

As soon as the convoy emerged, a detailed report was compiled—one copy sent to the government, another to the research institute. This was, after all, the first large-scale use of garlic against anomalies, and the results were invaluable.

“Who knew concentrated garlic scent could be *this* effective?” A researcher marveled at the report, particularly the section on anomalies being knocked out by the stench.

“Turns out, the effects aren’t just additive. They multiply.”

“Storing the scent in the cars and relying on wind dispersal was inefficient, yet even *that* was enough to incapacitate anomalies. We’ve barely scratched the surface of garlic’s potential.”

“Using garlic-derived metabolites to make perfume feels… excessive. Maybe we should think of another method,” one researcher suggested. The idea had merit, but users might find it… demoralizing.

“You think I meant *perfume*?” The original proposer looked up.

“You… didn’t?” The others looked baffled. That had been their assumption.

The researcher shook his head. “Perfume is for individual civilians. It’s wasteful—especially after seeing how garlic was used in the anomalous zone. Large-scale dispersal is inefficient.”

The others murmured in agreement. They’d noticed the same thing. Unless garlic became abundant, such wastefulness was unacceptable.

“I’m thinking of using dried fish as a shell, filling it with garlic extract to create bait—or an offensive round,” the researcher said, his eyes gleamed ominously. “When rescue teams throw these at anomalies, whether they lodge inside or get eaten, the shell will dissolve, and the extract will explode. The stench will make *intimate contact* with the anomaly’s insides…”

Silence fell. The report detailed anomalies passing out, vomiting, or turning tail and running from garlic scent—and that was just from *proximity*. If the extract detonated *inside* them…

Many researchers winced at the mental image. The lethality was borderline cruel.

But there was no denying it—if perfected, this could become a devastating weapon against anomalies.

“This could also be a lifesaver for civilians. Toss one at an anomaly, and it might knock them out. Or, if you’re about to be devoured, shove it down their throat and trigger it. The latter requires nerves of steel, though—too soon, it’s wasted; too late, it’s fatal.”

---

Anomalous World.

Ying Yuanxing finished replanting garlic cloves across the field. As he worked, his thoughts drifted uneasily to Earth. He had no way of knowing how things were unfolding there.

“1666, can you check on Nanxi City again?” he asked.

“Can’t. No orders to deliver there at the moment—no reason to visit,” 1666 replied. Before Ying Yuanxing could react, it added, “But I can make deliveries elsewhere and see if there’s news about Nanxi.”

“Thanks.” Ying Yuanxing handed 1666 a bundle of fodder as gratitude.

1666 hadn’t planned to take more—ten portions earlier was already generous—but fodder was the kind of thing you never had enough of.

Soon, 1666 returned from its delivery.

“How’s the situation?” Ying Yuanxing asked urgently.

“All three convoys organized by the Dawn Bureau made it out safely. The garlic drove the anomalies back. But for scattered survivors… some escaped, others didn’t.” 1666 reported dutifully, unwilling to waste Ying Yuanxing’s goodwill.

Ying Yuanxing smiled faintly at the first part, but his expression dimmed at the latter. He sighed.

There was little more he could do. He’d given all he had—the rest was up to humanity itself.

“*Sigh*, the streamer’s already done so much. No need to carry this weight.”

“Ying Yuanxing just wants to help as many as possible. But honestly, for an anomalous zone appearing in a city center, only a hundred or so deaths… it’s tragic, but it could’ve been so much worse.”

“Past anomalous zones weren’t in densely populated areas, yet casualties were high. This time, it’s all thanks to Ying Yuanxing’s garlic supply.”

“Watching the news, it’s clear the Dawn Bureau’s strategy of grouping people together amplified the garlic’s effect. If everyone had been scattered, the death toll would’ve been way higher.”

“Saw reports of foreigners offering insane prices for garlic, but no one’s selling. No one’s selling, no matter the price.”

“Who would be willing to sell? After all, you can only buy once a month. If you sell it and encounter an anomaly this month, wouldn’t that be the end?”

“Did you see? It’s not just Xia State facing the descent of anomalous domains—foreign countries seem to have them too, and the number of domains there is even higher than ours. At least with our vast territory, only Nanxi City has been hit, but abroad, even small nations in the federation have suffered anomalous domain descents.”

“Damn, I just checked—foreign countries are really covering things up hard. Turns out anomalous domains appeared two days ago, but no one noticed. There wasn’t even any news online.”

“What? How is that possible? Over here, we noticed within less than ten minutes of losing contact.”

“Seems like their signals are garbage anyway. Occasional disconnections are treated as normal, so at first, everyone thought it was just a signal issue. It wasn’t until anomalies started emerging from the domains and attacking people that they realized something was wrong.”

“This is next-level chaos. Foreign countries are about to fall apart again.”

“Strange, why are there so many anomalous domains abroad while Xia State only got one? Something’s not adding up.”