The System Arrived Four Years Early, but the Anomaly Is Still a Juvenile - Chapter 113

Shen Ge went downstairs and found Cheng Shengnan’s car. After getting in, he instructed Xiao Qi to drive straight to Nanhu International. By now, the residential complex had already been cordoned off by the military, police, and special operations teams from the Special Response Department (SRD).

As soon as Shen Ge pulled up to the entrance, he was stopped.

“Investigator Shen!”

“Investigator Shen!”

The SRD operatives recognized him immediately, snapping to attention and saluting.

“No need for formalities—we’re all drinking buddies here. I’m not one for strict protocol anyway. Old He, what’s the situation inside?” Shen Ge asked.

“Old He” was a seasoned SRD operative in his thirties, decently skilled but not quite on par with frontline fighters like Wang Han and Ma Chao.

“According to the cleaning staff, around 6 a.m., they found the body of a golden retriever in the trash—blind, missing a leg, its fur burned, likely abused to death. One of the women recognized it as the dog from Unit 601.”

“They reported it to the property management, but when they came back, the dog’s body was gone. A cop stumbled down the stairs, screaming at them to evacuate.”

“We arrived, evacuated the other buildings, and locked down the area under the guise of an anti-terror drill. Captain Feng is leading the team to evacuate Building 3—the one where the anomaly is.”

“Got it. Keep doing what you’re doing. I’ll check it out.” Shen Ge headed inside, passing SRD operatives escorting residents out.

Anti-terror drills were the SRD’s go-to cover story. A few “compensation gifts” later, and any disturbance was quickly smoothed over.

A curious cop sidled up to Old He. “So that’s your ‘expert’ for dealing with these monsters?”

Old He nodded.

“He looks pretty young,” the cop remarked.

“Skill and rank aren’t tied to age. Don’t let his youth fool you—Investigator Shen’s the real deal.”

Given Shen Ge’s classified status, Old He kept details vague. Most cops only knew there was a “monster” inside, with descriptions coming secondhand from the traumatized officer. Many still doubted the whole thing.

When Shen Ge reached Building 3, a technician from the Detection Unit reported: “Investigator Shen, no signs of a dimensional rift yet. Residual anomaly energy suggests it’s below Tier 2.”

“Understood.” Shen Ge headed upstairs.

After months in the SRD, he was familiar with the drill: secure the area, detect anomaly energy, evacuate civilians, locate the anomaly, engage, and contain.

On the fifth-floor landing, Feng Chengxiu, Wang Han, Ma Chao, Zhang Hu, and Zhao Long were in assault formation, with other operatives covering the rear.

Huo Yu’s sniper team was positioned in the opposite building, observing Unit 601.

“Investigator Shen,” Feng Chengxiu said, “we’ve evacuated the building. There’s a lot of blood in 601, but no bodies—likely consumed by the anomaly.”

Huo Yu’s voice crackled over comms: “We’ve got eyes on the living room and study—no sign of the anomaly. Bedroom curtains are drawn.”

“Copy.”

Wang Han eyed Shen Ge. “Investigator, you’re not in tactical gear? Want mine? I can switch to an SMG.”

“No need. I’ve got my own gear.” Shen Ge tapped his wrist device and the cleaver sheathed at his waist.

The custom leather sheath let him carry it like a sidearm—though it looked ridiculous with his casual outfit.

“Let’s move.” Shen Ge headed for 601.

Feng Chengxiu barked orders: “Wang Han, Ma Chao—cover the left flank. Zhang Hu, Zhao Long—right. The rest, hold the stairs.”

The team snapped into position, weapons ready.

[WARNING!]
[Host has entered an anomaly’s nest. A Tier 3 anomaly resides here. Current combat ability insufficient. Retreat immediately.]

A Tier 3?

Shen Ge doubted it could’ve evolved so quickly. The system must be referencing its future strength.

“Xiao Qi.”

“Yes, Master?”

“Analyze the blood and anomaly energy. Pinpoint its location.”

“Understood.”

Tendrils extended from Shen Ge’s wrist device, sampling the blood before wiping themselves clean with a tissue.

Shen Ge’s eyebrow twitched. I asked for AI, not a human impersonator.

While Xiao Qi worked, Shen Ge scanned the room. A family photo on the shoe rack caught his eye—an old man and a child. Familiar.

Then he spotted the dog crate on the balcony.

“Investigator, you know them?” Feng Chengxiu asked.

“Met them once at a cat café.” Shen Ge recounted the encounter as he examined the crate, plucking a few golden hairs.

“Xiao Qi, analyze these.”

“Processing… Blood samples indicate four different humans. Viscera fragments suggest the anomaly tore them apart before feeding. The golden retriever was eight to nine months old—”

Shen Ge cut off the breed history lesson. “Case closed. The kid was an animal abuser—had a history at the cat café. Bought the dog, tortured it, and it came back as an anomaly for revenge. Family’s probably all eaten.”

He moved down the hall, checking rooms. Kitchen, study, guest room—nothing. Then he pushed open the master bedroom door.

Blood seeped out.

“Feng, fall back.”

Feng Chengxiu raised his rifle, retreating as Shen Ge kicked the door open.

Inside, a six-year-old boy lay in a pool of blood—missing an eye, a hand, and a leg. In the corner, a two-meter-tall, melting black dog-like anomaly crouched, tendrils writhing from its back.

Tsk tsk tsk. Shen Ge clicked his fingers, activating his full-body armor, then wiggled his fingers at the beast.

The anomaly’s gulping sounds boomed like war drums, vibrating Shen Ge’s skull.

Its head split into a gaping maw, lunging—

Shen Ge sidestepped, palms slamming down in a Bajiquan strike—Meng Hu Ying Pa Shan (Fierce Tiger Climbs the Mountain)—crushing its skull before driving a knee into its jaw.

As he reached for his cleaver, a tendril shot from the dog’s empty eye socket, aiming for his throat.

Bang bang bang!

Feng Chengxiu opened fire from the doorway, but the bullets sank harmlessly into the creature’s molten flesh.

Shen Ge grabbed the tendrils, wrenching the beast down, then hacked at its neck with the cleaver—

More tendrils lashed out, binding his arm.

Then he noticed black smoke billowing from the dog’s back, swirling like flames.

Blind. Maimed. Burned.

Shen Ge leapt back just as the anomaly erupted in black fire, igniting the room.

“Damn, Amaterasu, is that you? Feng, fall back—this fire’s anomaly energy. Your gear won’t stop it.”

Feng Chengxiu retreated without hesitation. “Be careful!”

Alone with the flaming beast, Shen Ge assessed it—already Tier 2. The dog’s hatred had accelerated its evolution.

He glanced at the dying boy. Hard to feel sorry for someone who tortured his own pet.

Anomaly or not, this thing had to be put down.

As they clashed, a sniper across the street radioed in: “Large avian sighted—wingspan over two meters. No visible mutations… Wait, it’s diving toward Building 3!”

Huo Yu’s rifle boomed—a modified MK-14 round aimed at the eagle’s head.

Instead of splattering, the bullet sank into suddenly molten flesh before being spat out.

“It’s mutated! Anomaly confirmed!”

The eagle smashed through the bedroom window, talons seizing the dog anomaly mid-fight.

Shen Ge barely had time to react before the bird snatched his prey and lunged at him.

He blocked with the dog’s body, slashing with his cleaver—

The eagle recoiled, wings flaring as it retreated with its prize.

“You think you can steal from me?” Shen Ge leapt after it, activating his glove and boot enhancements.

He landed on the eagle’s back, choking it with one hand while hacking at its head.

“Thief! Thief! Thief!”

Black blood sprayed. The dog anomaly regenerated, lashing out at its captor.

From below, operatives gaped as Shen Ge rode the eagle, cleaving wildly.

The bird slammed toward a building—

Shen Ge forced it to veer.

[WARNING!]
[Tier 5 anomaly detected: Three-Headed, Six-Armed. Host cannot win. FLEE.]

Before he could process it, a sniper round cracked into his skull.

His armor held, the damaged flesh reforming instantly.

“Shooter’s on the roof opposite!” a sniper radioed—before another shot dropped him.

“Old He, move in!” Feng Chengxiu ordered.

“Don’t!” Shen Ge roared, wrestling the eagle. “It’s the same bastard who hit the Asian Anomaly Research Conference! Stay put!”