Inside the command tent, every person wore a deep frown, their faces shadowed with worry. The atmosphere was even more suffocating than in previous days, thick with tension.

It had been nearly two days with no word from Shen Ge. None of the three technicians sent in with signal equipment had succeeded in establishing contact.

On the table lay the latest signal device developed by Dianzhou, its display showing a flat, unbroken line—a “death line” devoid of even the slightest fluctuation. The drawn-out beeps of the device hammered at everyone’s nerves, each tone amplifying the oppressive weight in the air.

The lack of feedback was bad enough, but worse still was the fact that the expansion of the anomalous zone showed no signs of stopping. In just two days, it had spread another hundred meters, its speed increasing compared to before.

According to updates from headquarters, if no progress was made in resolving this anomaly within a week, they would consider using missile strikes as a last resort. If that worked, great. If not, nuclear options would be put on the table.

Meanwhile, the ever-meddlesome Americans, having learned of this Level 4 anomaly through their mercenary channels, had been closely monitoring the situation.

The Special Strategies Department had followed several leads, and the intelligence they uncovered left higher-ups stunned—many muttered that the Americans had lost their minds.

If this Level 4 anomaly in Yuzhou risked exposing the existence of anomalies to the public, the Americans were prepared to suppress it with nuclear force.

In their eyes, nuclear accidents and leaks were old news, something people could rationalize. But if the world learned that “anomalies” existed—that humanity was not the sole dominant species on Earth, and that creatures that fed on humans and other life forms had appeared out of nowhere—the resulting panic and chaos would be uncontrollable.

Humanity had a long history of descending into madness when gripped by fear. The Americans might have the audacity to drop a bomb, but would the Chinese really retaliate with global nuclear war?

No.

Those with a broader perspective, concerned for humanity’s survival, would likely do everything possible to help the Americans cover up the incident.

Deng Yuqi saw things differently. In the past, human conflicts had been small-scale—no matter how fierce, they were manageable. But now, there were anomalies that fed on humans.

Earth had no planet-shattering superhumans like in movies and novels—only flesh-and-blood soldiers and advanced weaponry. But as conventional weapons grew increasingly ineffective against anomalies (to the point where a rocket launcher did less damage than a steel pipe enhanced with anomalous energy), kinetic and nuclear weapons became humanity’s last resort.

Some insisted that using nukes was unrealistic, but they failed to grasp how often fear drove people to unthinkable extremes.

The core issue was this: No one outside the anomalous zone knew what was happening inside.

Were the people who entered still alive?

Would a missile strike obliterate the anomaly, or would it destabilize the zone, accelerating its spread—or worse, release whatever was inside?

This uncertainty was the true horror.

It seemed kinetic and nuclear weapons were the only options left.

……

“Seventh Sister, you were so confident in your new recruit, but look—still no news. With the higher-ups pressuring us, if they really push through with kinetic strikes, everyone inside will die, whether by the anomaly’s hands or the missiles!” sighed an agent from Dianzhou.

Deng Yuqi was equally frustrated. She wanted nothing more than to storm the capital, drag out the bureaucrats, and slap some sense into them!

Did they think the agents weren’t trying to resolve this? If they didn’t care, why would they be stationed in this godforsaken place instead of staying safe at their branches?

“The Americans love to talk big, but I don’t believe they’d dare cross borders with nukes. Come on, do they think we’re just sitting around?”

“Exactly. Their threats are just noise. I’m no political expert, but nukes aren’t something you just throw around.”

“Look at the Russians—they’ve been fighting nonstop, but even they haven’t used nukes. It’s not that simple.”

“Speaking of which, did you see the recent reports? Rumor has it a massive Level 3 anomaly—something like an elephant—appeared on the Russian front. It crushed tanks like toys, tanked a few missiles, and only went down after both sides stopped fighting each other and teamed up against it.”

“Honestly, maybe it’s good if the truth about anomalies gets out. Humans are strange—we fight among ourselves until a common enemy appears. Maybe anomalies will unite us.”

“That’s not the point. If a Level 3 can withstand missiles, what happens if they approve kinetic strikes on a Level 4? If the missiles don’t kill it and only wipe out our people, who’d ever enter an anomalous zone again?”

“Right? We risk our lives inside, and they’d just write us off.”

“Enough. This is all speculation. Let’s drop the politics and focus on solving the anomaly.”

…..

As the debate continued, most agreed to ignore the higher-ups’ pressure and concentrate on the anomaly itself.

But Deng Yuqi’s concern was Shen Ge’s safety. She refused to let her subordinate become a sacrificial pawn. If they betrayed her trust, she’d retreat to Rong City and let the world burn for all she cared.

Just then, Feng Chengxiu rushed into the tent. “Report! Director Li from Tech Division has captured new satellite images of the anomalous zone!”

Many in the tent recognized Li Xiang’s name—the youngest biology Ph.D. in the country, poached by Deng Yuqi for the Rong City branch before headquarters could recruit him. His recent research on anomalies had yielded more progress than years of headquarters’ efforts.

Every time HQ tried to reclaim him, Deng Yuqi blocked them. Everyone who’d worked at HQ knew her reputation: steal her people, and she’d tear the roof off.

“Patch it through!” Deng Yuqi opened her laptop and connected with Li Xiang. Soon, new images appeared.

Li Xiang had sent comparative satellite photos with annotations:

“Compared to pre-entry images, the zone’s expansion speed hasn’t slowed, but its direction has shifted. Initially, it spread concentrically from Dongyu Village. After Agent Shen entered, expansion slowed noticeably in two directions.”

“Earlier satellite images were heavily distorted. My analysis suggests at least six overlapping spatial layers—like merging six landscape photos digitally. Thus, I infer this zone contains six or more spatial anomalies.”

“After deconstructing and reconstructing the images, then cross-referencing with AI-generated maps, I found Dongyu Village divided into six sectors, arranged like tree rings—largest at the center, radiating outward.”

“In short, the Level 4 anomaly created this zone, and the others layered their own spaces atop it, causing the current distortion.”

“After Agent Shen entered, distortion decreased. Current analysis shows only three sectors remain—meaning he’s neutralized three spatial anomalies. If this continues, he’ll soon reach the center.”

“If he succeeds, this incident may be resolved. That’s my assessment.”

Li Xiang’s report hit the tent like a bombshell.

Six anomalies.

Six spatial anomalies at once—no wonder previous teams had vanished. A Level 4 plus at least five Level 2+ anomalies was unprecedented in recorded history.

But what truly shocked them was that their “ordinary-looking” rookie had taken down three in two days.

That was the real anomaly here!

A female agent from Guizhou—once Deng Yuqi’s trainee and now a devoted admirer—gulped. “Three Level 2s in two days? Seventh Sister, where do you keep finding these monsters?”

The deputy director of Dianzhou Branch, a balding, bespectacled man, gasped. “Xiao Qi, first you dug up Lin Yin, who tears Level 2s apart barehanded, and now this guy? Are you trying to make the rest of us look bad?”

“Who is he? Some super-soldier from HQ’s scrapped black ops program?”

“That was shut down ages ago. His file said he was just an office worker,” the fangirl added.

The deputy director frowned. “First university students, now office workers? Since when are they spawning monsters?”

“Agent Shen… is terrifying. Shame we didn’t have time to talk when he arrived.”

“Two days, three Level 2s—even ignoring the previous Level 4 incident, that’s got to be a department record.”

“If he takes down the Level 4, he’ll be the department’s top agent, no question.”

…..

Amid the praise, Deng Yuqi remained calm. But Li Xiang’s report lifted a weight off her shoulders—Shen Ge was alive, making progress.

The Dianzhou deputy director spoke up. “Xiao Qi, since it’s your man making headway, why not report to HQ? If they know there’s hope, they might hold off on kinetic strikes.”

Deng Yuqi paused, then addressed the room. “The Southwest branches have always worked as one. Today, I ask you to keep Shen Ge’s role quiet. If this resolves, the report will credit a joint Southwest task force.”

Silence fell. Why share the glory?

The deputy director adjusted his glasses. “You’re worried the Americans will target him if his name gets out?”

Deng Yuqi nodded. “That’s why I told the old man we needed three anomaly-energy devices for an elite team.”

Laughter followed. “Who’d complain about free credit? Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with us.”

“Just introduce us afterward. We’ll celebrate with drinks—Southwest folk don’t back down from a toast!”

With morale restored, Deng Yuqi turned to Li Xiang. “Draft a report on the satellite data. Omit Shen Ge—say the elite team made progress. Focus on the spatial analysis and halted expansion.”

As the screen displayed the zone’s shrinking distortion—three rings now crossed out—hope surged. If Shen Ge kept this up, the Level 4 might fall soon.

Meanwhile, the very agent they pinned their hopes on was inside a dimly lit shop, eating instant noodles… and telling a female agent to take her clothes off.