The System Arrived Four Years Early, but the Anomaly Is Still a Juvenile - Chapter 170

Shen Ge initially thought what emerged from underground would be an anomaly awakened by “Misfortune’s” terrifying presence. However, the cracks in the ground extended far into the distance alongside the massive red entity bursting forth, all the way to the anomaly-created inland sea where Shen Ge had landed!

He then realized it wasn’t an anomaly itself, but seemed to be just a tentacle of an anomaly.

Even more horrifying was that this tentacle appeared to be formed from tens of thousands of human corpses twisted together like hemp rope into a gigantic appendage.

As the red tentacle moved, each human corpse wriggled like a worm within it, creating a sight both disgusting and terrifying.

After the first “red tentacle” broke through the ground, a second, a third… over a dozen tentacles tore the earth apart. Surging seawater instantly flooded the city, collapsing building after building.

Then, Shen Ge saw a colossal shadow rising from the inland sea he had previously fallen into.

In that instant, it was as if the anomaly-created inland sea formed by the “devoured” Kawashina and Chiba areas was instantly “filled” and then, the next second, “lifted into the sky.”

The shadow’s size wasn’t much smaller than the sky-filling “Misfortune.” However, obscured by the churning waves, Shen Ge couldn’t make out its true form, only confirming that the source of these earth-rending red tentacles was the monster in the sea!

Shen Ge had no time to ponder further. The earthquake from the splitting earth instantly flattened the town. Humans were insignificant against a magnitude 10 earthquake, mere ants.

Relying on the mobility of the “Red Mist Armor,” Little Seven’s early warnings, and the assistance of corrupted flesh tentacles to dodge falling debris, Shen Ge constantly navigated through collapsing structures.

Coupled with the support of various anomaly domain abilities, he managed to avoid being buried in the ruins.

With the appearance of the colossal deep-sea anomaly, the lightning-streaked night sky turned blood-red, and the bolts of thunder in the sky also transformed into red lightning.

The clash between “Misfortune” and the colossal deep-sea anomaly erupted in the sky. Dozens of tentacles, like coiling dragons, twisted together, biting and colliding!
At this moment, humans couldn’t even see the main bodies fighting within the anomalous mist below; they could only vaguely glimpse the entangled tentacles.

It seemed they intended to tear the sky and shatter the earth!

Previously, Shen Ge would have been delighted to see anomalies turning on each other, allowing him to watch from the sidelines and reap the rewards.

But this time, he didn’t even have the chance to observe the fight. Merely “escaping for his life” and finding a foothold in the shattered landscape exhausted all his energy.

This was the battle between top-tier anomalies!
At this moment, Shen Ge also understood why anti-anomaly organizations worldwide classified anomaly disasters as natural disasters. Facing true anomalies, humans were indeed as helpless as against natural disasters. The only thing they could do seemed to be waiting for the Earth to calm its fury and for the disaster to pass on its own.

What can humans do against a magnitude 10 earthquake?
Nothing.

For instance, within just two or three minutes of the colossal deep-sea anomaly’s appearance and its brief clash with “Misfortune,” a city was destroyed. The terrifying destruction didn’t stop there, continuously spreading, affecting the entire Sakura archipelago with the repercussions of this great battle.

Mount Fuji, renowned as Sakura’s highest peak, experienced volcanic activity triggered by the horrific earthquake. But before it could erupt, a passing tentacle blocked it, and the next second, Mount Fuji collapsed!

Shen Ge naturally couldn’t see Mount Fuji, dozens of kilometers away, being affected by the two colossal anomalies’ battle. Sakura’s most proud landmark was now flattened.

While struggling to survive amidst the two colossal anomalies’ fight, Shen Ge just wanted to say, “You two big shots, please stop fighting! You can’t kill each other like this, but you’re about to sink the entire Sakura archipelago!”
Shen Ge wasn’t joking. As “Misfortune” and the colossal deep-sea anomaly fought with their dragon-like tentacles, Sakura was like a piece of chocolate, being snapped into several pieces.

Coastal areas were completely submerged by the tsunamis triggered by the deep-sea anomaly’s emergence. The magma from the flattened Mount Fuji instantly covered the entire Shizuoka region.

Initially, Shen Ge could navigate collapsing buildings using the corrupted flesh tentacles of the Red Mist Armor and the intangible barriers created by the Unyielding Domain as “stepping stones,” combined with the Collapse ability of the Formless Domain to leap from rubble piles. But eventually, the ground beneath became a vast ocean, with no place to stand.

Although Shen Ge could still use the Unyielding Domain to create “stepping stones,” continuously doing so consumed a massive amount of Spirit. Moreover, the deep-sea anomaly occasionally slapped the sea surface with its tentacles; the spiritual barriers created by the Unyielding Domain couldn’t withstand the impact of the waves.

Caught in the crossfire of the entangled tentacles of the deep-sea anomaly and “Misfortune,” Shen Ge was first slammed into the sea, then lifted into the air by a rising red tentacle.

Truly, when immortals fight, mortals suffer.

At that moment, Shen Ge noticed a particularly conspicuous red glow beneath the turbulent waves. But he could barely maintain his balance, let alone go investigate.

If not for the defensive power of the “Red Mist Armor,” he would have long perished in the crossfire of the “immortals’ battle.”

“Master, within the submerged building clusters on the seabed, I detect anomaly energy reactions identical to those of the Flesh Maw in the underground laboratory base cavern!”

Little Seven’s reminder sounded like heavenly music to Shen Ge’s ears. It simultaneously controlled eight corrupted flesh tentacles to assist Shen Ge in swimming forward.

Time and again, Shen Ge seemed close to reaching the red glow, only to be carried away by waves churned up by red tentacles, either towards the surface or deeper into the sea.

He was like a small sailboat on the ocean, rising and falling entirely at the mercy of the waves.

Just then, the anomaly energy fluctuations within “Misfortune’s” domain surged wildly. The system became an emotionless repeater, countless warnings summarizing into one sentence—

You’re doomed. Quickly find a comfortable spot to lie down and wait for burial.

“Master, ‘Misfortune’s’ domain has triggered various natural disasters!” Little Seven’s warning just finished, when meteorites began raining down from the blood-red sky.

Magnitude 10 earthquake, volcano, tsunami.

A movie Shen Ge never had the chance to see in his original world—”The Sinking of Sakura”—was now playing out before his eyes in reality.

This time… Sakura truly sank.

As the Sakura islands crumbled during the two anomalies’ battle, Shen Ge was also affected and sank into the sea. However, this ironically fulfilled his wish, allowing him to successfully approach the red glow.

Shen Ge’s Spirit was nearly depleted, but the opportunity was right before him. If he did nothing, he would sink with the Sakura islands!
“Little Seven!”

“Yes, Master!”

Having cooperated countless times, Little Seven no longer needed behavioral analysis to guess Shen Ge’s intentions.

Eight blood-red corrupted flesh tentacles stretched forward simultaneously, grabbing onto sinking buildings to pull his body forward. Shen Ge could only muster his last strength to activate “Bullet Time,” allowing Little Seven to precisely control his body through the gaps between collapsing structures and rocks.

Twenty meters!
Ten meters!

Shen Ge’s Spirit was already overdrawn. Intense dizziness assaulted his senses and consciousness. Without Little Seven, he would have surely sunk by now.

But Little Seven didn’t disappoint. At the final moment, it dragged him to the seabed. There, Shen Ge saw countless red lights gradually becoming clear—

They were actually numerous Flesh Maws!
Shen Ge was shocked to discover that these Flesh Maws, composed of countless gathered human hands, originated from the limbs of the colossal deep-sea anomaly.

Even more bizarrely, a significant portion of the deep-sea anomaly’s body seemed fused with the Sakura islands. Judging by direction and location, it resembled the “devoured” Chiba and Kawashina districts…

Wait!

Was it possible that the colossal deep-sea anomaly wasn’t lured from the sea by “Misfortune,” but had been underneath the Sakura islands all along?

Just like “Liu Zongrui” fused with the villa, this anomaly was merging with the Sakura islands. However, as “Misfortune” grew, it was awakened by its rapid development.

To compete for the “cake” that was the Sakura islands, the two anomalies fought to the death.

The Kawashina and Chiba districts weren’t “swallowed” by this anomaly; they had already been fused into its body and hidden beneath the sea.

Now, fighting “Misfortune,” it rose from the sea!
So, the earlier fleeting sensation of the entire Kawashina district being “filled” wasn’t an illusion—that was truly the colossal deep-sea anomaly’s “body”!
And based on the body structure, these Flesh Maws on the seabed were like fine hairs on a human arm, just located…

If the part above the sea was the body, this part in the sea should be…

Legs?
“Leg hair, is it?” Shen Ge really wanted to complain but clearly, he had no time for that now. Little Seven mustered all its strength to drag him next to a Flesh (Leg) Maw (Hair).

Shen Ge was thoroughly battered. Even with the Red Mist Armor’s protection, his body felt like it was falling apart.

As the Flesh Maws opened and closed rhythmically, “breathing,” Little Seven seized the opportunity. Its corrupted flesh tentacles entangled the arms composing the maw and pulled Shen Ge inside!
This time, however, Shen Ge didn’t have the chance to “walk” deeper. Instead, he was swept inward by the seawater rushing into the Flesh Maw along with the current.

Shen Ge didn’t know how long he was “washed” along. It felt like being swallowed down a throat, going straight to the stomach.

Shen Ge once again experienced the sensation from his first entry into a Flesh Maw—it seemed bottomless. One hour, two hours… five hours passed, but there was still no sign of reaching the end.

But this wasn’t Shen Ge’s first time being swallowed by an anomaly. He simply lay back, taking the opportunity to have Little Seven deliver a Mental Apple to his mouth from within the armor.

After his Spirit recovered, recalling his experience during the initial entry, Shen Ge had Little Seven take out several high-explosive bombs and detonate them.

Boom!
Boom!
The explosions caused the downward-flowing seawater to swirl, forming a vortex that sucked Shen Ge in, instantly making him feel dizzy and disoriented.

Subsequently, the “throat passage” began to writhe visibly, just like before, as if trying to expel the seawater from its throat.

Shen Ge could do nothing but pray that being expelled would send him back to the past, not leave him to continue watching “The Sinking of Sakura.”

Until Little Seven alerted him: “Master, intense anomaly energy is detected surging from the depths!”

Indeed!

So, triggering the “gag reflex” is the mechanism for time travel?
However, Shen Ge had initially thought the Flesh Maw was related to “Misfortune,” never expecting its source was actually the deep-sea anomaly that devoured Sakura!
Even more terrifying, this might not be some colossal anomaly that came from the deep sea, but one that was already attempting to devour the entire “Sakura archipelago,” already fusing with the whole island chain!
This would explain why this anomaly’s “leg hair” appeared in the cavern deep under the underground laboratory base.

Shen Ge suddenly remembered that the Takaguchi underground lab researched “human experimentation” involving human-anomaly fusion. The Haiya Research Institute was once attacked by a colossal deep-sea anomaly, repelling it at great cost and capturing a humanoid deep-sea anomaly for research.

Setting aside the fact that the Great Celestial Dynasty was also conducting human experimentation on this humanoid deep-sea anomaly corpse… even if the experiments failed, where was the corpse?
Headquarters currently does not possess this humanoid deep-sea anomaly corpse. Although reports say it’s still at the Haiya Research Institute, is it really there? Who knows?

Based on Shen Ge’s suspicion that the Twelve Branches have infiltrated anti-anomaly organizations worldwide, if the Twelve Branches also had agents within the Great Celestial Dynasty, could they have secretly handed the humanoid deep-sea anomaly corpse over to the International Anomaly Organization?
After all, in the future timeline, the mastermind behind the International Anomaly Organization is the “Twelve Branches.” If the Great Celestial Dynasty’s “human experimentation” failed and they learned their lesson, strictly banning such experiments, wouldn’t it be reasonable for the infiltrating Twelve Branches to shift their human experimentation focus elsewhere?

So, they found Sakura, who had always been a “lapdog,” and gave them the humanoid deep-sea anomaly corpse for research, leading to a base full of aberrant humans?

But the research still encountered problems, causing the underground lab in Takaguchi to be “abandoned,” and Sakura to clam up about the experiments here?
The originally created monster, after fusing with the “Sakura archipelago,” remained dormant, gradually devouring the island nation, until “Misfortune” suddenly appeared?
Shen Ge felt he was getting closer to the “truth.” But regardless of whether the “truth” matched his speculation, it wasn’t good news for humanity.

Just as Shen Ge figured this out, the Flesh Maw pfft spat him out. He stood up and looked around.

The spacious underground cavern, the uniquely shaped stalactites on the walls, the withered “rotted flesh” trees filling the cave… He had indeed returned to the cavern where he first entered the Flesh Maw.

“Good, I didn’t appear underwater.” No sooner had Shen Ge sighed in relief than he saw the Flesh (Leg) Maw (Hair), composed of countless hands, slowly “lie down” and merge into the ground…

It disappeared.

“So, I’m back?” Shen Ge turned on his communicator and was immediately greeted by a rapid beep-beep-beep; countless messages almost crashed the device.

Glancing through them, most were from Fang Mingyue, ranging from battle reports to inquiries about his status. Next were messages from Luo Jing and Deng Yuqi. Especially after he went “offline,” Deng Yuqi’s messages had increased significantly.

Checking their messages, Shen Ge gathered from Fang Mingyue’s updates the current situation in Takaguchi and the status of the joint force.

After being forced into the anomaly-energy building by the mysterious green-robed figures, Fang Mingyue and Luo Jing followed Xiao Cheng’s signal to rendezvous with him. They found Xiao Cheng, Watanabe Natsumi, and others searching for a way out inside the building, but all got lost due to the anomaly space’s influence.

So, adhering to Shen Ge’s teaching of “when in doubt, blow stuff up first,” Fang Mingyue used the bombs provided by the others to blast through the anomaly-energy building. Surprisingly, they found the building’s “heart,” rescuing the trapped joint force members and survivors hiding inside.

While Shen Ge was in the future for three days, three days had passed here as well. The joint force had been fighting anomalies near Tokyo Tower for three days.

Of the eight anomalies Shen Ge lured into the brawl, two were killed in battle. Of the remaining six, four were still fighting, while the other two had withdrawn, roaming the city devouring lower-tier anomalies.

The joint force seized this opportunity and, led by Watanabe Natsumi and others, successfully eliminated these two isolated Tier 3 anomalies.

But merely facing two Tier 3 anomalies cost the joint force dearly. They dared not rashly attack the four still brawling, opting to lurk nearby, resting while seizing chances to clear out the wandering low-tier anomalies to prevent more Tier 3s from appearing.

Seeing Watanabe Natsumi’s name in Fang Mingyue’s messages surprised Shen Ge somewhat. He then recalled the woman who infiltrated the Great Celestial Dynasty in the [Logs], and the reconnaissance regiment leader Watanabe Natsuhagi he met in the future.

If inferred from the [Logs], Watanabe Natsumi went to Rong City to resolve Takaguchi’s anomaly disaster, attempting to seize the “Unyielding” corpse.

But the current timeline differed from the future line in the [Logs]. Firstly, Rong City had no “Unyielding” corpse. Secondly, anomalies were exposed earlier, drastically changing many circumstances… and most importantly, the future timeline had no “anomaly space”!
“So that’s why Watanabe Natsumi is in the Tokyo Tower area now?” Shen Ge promptly set aside the Watanabe Natsumi issue, as in the problems they faced next, the threat of “spies” to the Special Response Department was negligible.

Shen Ge had Little Seven compile his experiences in the future timeline, along with his conjectures about the anomaly space, the institute’s anomaly reports, the colossal deep-sea anomaly, “Misfortune,” etc., into a highest-level classified file. After multiple encryptions, he sent it to Deng Yuqi for her to “prepare” in advance.

Shen Ge didn’t know if he could prevent the “Sakura archipelago” from becoming anomalous, but once the colossal deep-sea anomaly devoured Sakura, the Great Celestial Dynasty would likely be next.

The battle between the colossal deep-sea anomaly and “Misfortune” made Shen Ge understand how insignificant humans were before Tier 8 anomalies.

Whether the “preparations” were useful or not, they couldn’t just wait for death. Even having an “evacuation” plan was better than doing nothing.

When Deng Yuqi received Shen Ge’s “encrypted intelligence,” her first reaction was surprise that the missing Shen Ge had finally returned. While she believed in his capabilities, his three-day disappearance was still worrying.
Secondly, the “encrypted” file with Little Seven’s highest-level security clearance underscored its importance. She even suspected Shen Ge might have been planning something big in Sakura during his disappearance.

Before she could read the report, she tried contacting Shen Ge via communicator to check on him. Unexpectedly, Shen Ge directly ended the call, telling her to “read the report to find out what he’d been doing.”

Seeing this message, Deng Yuqi knew Shen Ge must have important matters to attend to and didn’t disturb him further. She went to her office’s secure room to read the report. What she read left her stunned for days afterward!

The constantly restarting planet, the future timeline, the “god war” of Tier 8 anomalies, the mysterious anomaly already devouring Sakura… Compared to these shocking revelations, the anomaly-energy equipment research reports Shen Ge brought back from the Kawahara Institute seemed insignificant.

As Deng Yuqi expected, Shen Ge indeed had more critical tasks. While having Little Seven send the message to Deng Yuqi, he actively contacted Fang Mingyue.

Shen Ge first sent a message to Fang Mingyue’s special communicator, instructing her to find a private place to connect.

“Investigator Shen!” Seeing Shen Ge, who had been missing, contact her initiatively, Fang Mingyue felt as if she had regained her backbone. The dim path ahead seemed filled with hope.

Trapped in Dongyu Village for months, facing anomalies and despair repeatedly, had nearly broken her spirit.

Shen Ge’s appearance showed her a light. In her subsequent life, it seemed as long as Shen Ge acted, all problems became solvable.

After connecting, Shen Ge got straight to the point: “Where are you? I have a very important mission and need your assistance.”

Having experienced the “god war” between the colossal deep-sea anomaly and “Misfortune,” Shen Ge knew the only way to save his world was to prevent “Misfortune” from reaching Tier 8 and keep the deep-sea anomaly “dormant.”

Not just “Misfortune”; ideally, no anomalies above Tier 4 should appear in Sakura in the short term to avoid attracting the deep-sea anomaly’s attention.

To achieve this, the best method was to first eliminate “Misfortune,” which had the highest potential. According to the intelligence from the future, “Misfortune” was most likely 379 meters below Toshiro City.

However, both the International Anomaly Organization and Sakura in the future timeline had designs on “Misfortune,” not only failing but also causing “Misfortune” to fully awaken, leading to the apocalyptic future.

Shen Ge suspected the so-called joint force was part of Sakura’s “scheme”—using other countries’ agents to mitigate the disaster in Takaguchi while secretly sending people to Toshiro City to target “Misfortune.”

Shen Ge believed he couldn’t just go there directly. It was best to act against “Misfortune” only when success was guaranteed. Thus, he thought of the fog anomaly that even “Misfortune” was interested in.

The fog anomaly should be somewhere in the Kawashina district. It was only Tier 3 four years later, so it was likely just a “juvenile” now.

Others might not find it, but Shen Ge had the system’s “scan.” If it already existed, now was the best time to deal with it.

Acquiring the fog anomaly’s special ability, whether to combine it with “Formless + Soundless” and this shielding ability to approach “Misfortune,” or use it as bait to lure “Misfortune” out, were both viable plans.

Unsure if the fog anomaly had already developed the ability to create the mysterious fog, Shen Ge decided to prepare two approaches.

Shen Ge would search the Kawashina district for the fog anomaly, while Fang Mingyue would acquire an Anomaly-Energy Fog-Dispersing Bullet for him.

Currently, the colossal deep-sea anomaly was still “dormant,” the Kawashina district hadn’t become an inland sea, and the Kawashina Self-Defense Force base was still intact. Acquiring the fog-dispersing bullet shouldn’t be too difficult.

The second approach involved Luo Jing. Shen Ge planned, upon contacting Luo Jing, to have her request Sakura’s Anti-Anomaly Response Department, using the Great Celestial Dynasty’s authority, to supply Anomaly-Energy Fog-Dispersing Bullets and launch them to his specified location. If Sakura cooperated, good; if not, he had Fang Mingyue as a “backup.”

Shen Ge didn’t explain too much to Fang Mingyue, only stating he had found a way to resolve Takaguchi’s anomaly disaster and needed her cooperation.

Her “mission” was simple: secretly infiltrate the Kawashina Self-Defense Force base, secure an attack helicopter and Anomaly-Energy Fog-Dispersing Bullets, and standby.

As a Headquarters anti-anomaly agent, Fang Mingyue’s growth over the past six months was evident. She promised confidently to “accomplish the mission without fail.”

Of course, Shen Ge was just “preparing for all eventualities.” Whether the fog-dispersing bullets would be used was unknown. Not only was finding the fog anomaly uncertain, but even if found, with a four-year difference, it should be a small fry. Anomalies below Tier 4 posed almost no threat to Shen Ge.

After arranging everything, Shen Ge contacted Luo Jing. His relationship with Luo Jing wasn’t as close as with Fang Mingyue, so he used a different approach.

Fortunately, Deng Yuqi had laid the groundwork before the operation. Luo Jing agreed to Shen Ge’s proposed plan without suspicion.

After finalizing arrangements, Shen Ge checked the latest [Logs] to see if his “intervention” had caused any changes. To his surprise, it seemed to be developing towards “collapse.”

[June 21, 2028: The battle between the Tier 8 anomaly in Takaguchi City and the colossal deep-sea anomaly destroyed the entire Sakura archipelago in just half a day, causing it to sink. After Sakura’s sinking, unprecedented massive tsunamis hit coastal areas near Sakura, with South Korea and Shanghai being the most severely affected.]

“…” Shen Ge fell silent, looking at the [Logs].

He felt this was just the “beginning.” From today onward, the future four years from now would likely accelerate towards destruction.

The future him couldn’t even handle the Tier 7 “Formless” in Rong City, let alone face two terrifying “Tier 8” anomalies. If “Misfortune” and the colossal deep-sea anomaly reached a conclusion, and one devoured the other… could it mutate to Tier 9?
“Whew.”

Shen Ge took a deep breath, deciding to set these issues aside for now. The priority was finding the fog anomaly with the shielding ability.

For safety, Shen Ge also sent Deng Yuqi a “backup plan.” If Luo Jing and Fang Mingyue failed in their roles, Deng Yuqi, as the overall commander of this operation, would pressure Sakura into cooperation using Headquarters’ authority.

With all “insurance” in place, Shen Ge set off for the Kawashina district.

Fang Mingyue also departed “simultaneously.” She left the joint force under the pretext of hunting low-tier anomalies. If Sakura wasn’t up to anything, they likely wouldn’t pay much attention.

However, as Shen Ge suspected, Sakura was secretly investigating “Misfortune” under Toshiro City with the International Anomaly Organization. Therefore, any movement by the joint force agents was immediately noticed by Sakura’s spies.

After leaving the temporary command post in the Tokyo Tower district and acquiring a vehicle, Fang Mingyue had only driven a few blocks when she noticed a “tail.”

She didn’t alert them, continuing towards the Kawashina district, planning to lose them at an opportune moment.

Two hours later, after entering an old街区 (block) in the Kawashina district, Fang Mingyue suddenly swerved, driving the car into a storefront.

She quickly got out, sneaked back to the street, and hid in a concealed spot.

Soon, the pursuing car arrived. Six men got out, dressed as Sakura Anti-Anomaly Response Department operatives.

These men were skilled. Within minutes, they found Fang Mingyue’s car in the store through clues and reported via communicator.

Fang Mingyue observed from a rooftop. After reporting, they seemingly received orders to find her and began searching the area separately.

One operative searched the building Fang Mingyue was in. As he entered through the back door, a hand clad in black anomaly-leather gloves covered his mouth, and a cold sensation touched his neck. Then, Fang Mingyue’s voice sounded in his ear:

“It seems you’re looking for me?”

Hearing Fang Mingyue, and feeling the hand loosen slightly, the operative quickly said, “Investigator, we are Sakura Anti-Anomaly Response Department operatives, ordered to assist your operation. We mean no harm, only wish to cooperate to resolve the disaster quickly and save the citizens.”

A few months ago, Fang Mingyue might have believed this. But after all she’d experienced and the so-called “cooperation” she witnessed during this disaster, she no longer trusted these people.

Most importantly, Shen Ge had repeatedly emphasized the critical importance of her mission, and her movements must remain secret.

Fang Mingyue asked several more questions, from their true purpose to his companions’ whereabouts. From his evasive answers, Fang Mingyue decided not to waste time. She slit his throat and swiftly disposed of his communicator.

One down. Fang Mingyue slipped out of the building, moved to another, climbed to the roof edge, and observed the street for the next target.

The operative still investigating the store had no idea one of his teammates was already a lifeless corpse. He continued searching for Fang Mingyue.

Using her anomaly-energy equipment “Inflatable Mat” and Bone Rod, Fang Mingyue moved across rooftops. When she reached the second operative, she skipped interrogation and directly slit his throat.

While searching for the third operative, the sky, which should have been late afternoon, gradually darkened. Then, she witnessed a horrifying scene—

A giant eyeball appeared within the thick clouds, as if an eye was observing the people in the city from above.

Seeing this, Fang Mingyue was frozen in fear.

Others had similar reactions, including the anti-anomaly operatives in the Kawashina district and Shen Ge, who had entered the district from another direction via Seisen Women’s University.

As Shen Ge stepped into the Kawashina district after passing through the university, he received urgent system alerts. Looking up, he met the gaze of that terrifying eye. It felt like a higher-dimensional being scrutinizing him, a low-dimensional “ant.”

After witnessing the “god war” between “Misfortune” and the deep-sea anomaly, Shen Ge thought nothing could shock him anymore.

But this anomalous eye clearly intended to shatter his worldview once again.

Shen Ge looked up, meeting the eye’s gaze without flinching. He felt a sense of familiarity, yet thought if it were “Misfortune” or the deep-sea anomaly at this level, even Ultraman might not be able to turn the tide.

But this was still four years earlier. Humanity couldn’t be completely hopeless yet, right?
Shen Ge suddenly considered a possibility. In the future timeline, at Sakura Women’s University with the reconnaissance regiment, the sudden “Misfortune Domain” attack caused hallucinations among the soldiers.

He hadn’t been affected by the domain then. What about now?

Could this eye be a hallucination?
So, Shen Ge did something bold. He directly pulled an RPG from his Bloodskin Backpack, aimed at the eye in the sky, and fired!
Whoosh—

The rocket’s maximum range was less than 2000 meters. The eyeball’s altitude was likely higher, but Shen Ge didn’t care. Shoot first!
However, something bizarre happened. The eyeball, as if “threatened,” slowly retracted into the clouds.

Crucially, the rocket never reached its altitude, exploding midway, like setting off fireworks before its eye.

Shen Ge initially thought it must be an illusion, that no eyeball existed in the sky. But the next moment, after the eyeball completely vanished into the clouds, “rain” began falling from the thick clouds.

Heavy rain assaulted the Kawashina district. But as the “raindrops” fell, Fang Mingyue realized with horror they weren’t raindrops, but starfish-like parasitic anomalies.

Upon hitting the ground, they immediately sought living hosts to parasitize. The operatives searching for her, despite reacting quickly and shooting, were still attached.

The parasitic anomalies stuck to the operatives’ faces, instantly turning them into the parasitized. On the starfish’s “back,” there was an eye remarkably similar to the one in the sky.

What is this?
Fang Mingyue had no time to ponder. Originally planning to eliminate the tracking operatives, it now seemed unnecessary.

She hid, barricading herself in a room to prevent the starfish parasites from entering.

Meanwhile, Shen Ge, clad in his Corrupted Flesh Armor with Little Seven’s defense mode controlling the tentacles, was impervious to these low-tier parasites.

Even if they got close, they couldn’t penetrate the armor, posing no threat.

Shen Ge’s priority was to quickly find the hidden fog anomaly in the Kawashina district before concerning himself with the sky eye.

After all, if “Misfortune” or the dormant deep-sea anomaly had reached this level, the situation was likely hopeless, and overthinking was pointless.

Shen Ge made his way to the hospital occupied by Takaguchi’s anti-anomaly agents in the future timeline. The crisis task to hunt the fog anomaly was triggered here; perhaps it was hiding nearby.

“System, it’s your time to shine. The target is just a juvenile, hasn’t awakened its special ability yet. If you can’t find it now, you might as well self-destruct!” Shen Ge grumbled)while navigating the city via corrupted flesh tentacles, dodging the falling parasitic starfish.

Searching block by block was time-consuming but the most reliable method. Shen Ge could only hope it wasn’t the worst-case scenario.

For instance, the fog anomaly hadn’t even “been born” four years ago.

Four hours passed swiftly. While still searching, Shen Ge received a message from Fang Mingyue: she had successfully infiltrated the Kawashina Self-Defense Force base, subdued a pilot, and was ready to support his operation anytime.

Shen Ge wished he could act immediately, but the problem was… he still hadn’t found the fog anomaly.

Having turned the entire block upside down, Shen Ge arrived at the hospital backstreet where he and Maple Hanada had hidden before. As he approached the hospital, the system finally delivered!
[Detected host approaching area containing Tier 4 anomaly “Attribute: Traceless.” Host’s current strength is no match. Please value your life and evacuate the area immediately!]

What?
Tier 4 anomaly, Attribute “Traceless”?
Shen Ge immediately sensed something wrong. After all, the crisis task four years later was to hunt a Tier 3 anomaly. How could it be Tier 4 four years earlier?

Could it be…

Shen Ge considered a possibility. He was now in the past, four years earlier. The “Traceless” anomaly was still a small fry, so the system, unaffected by its “Traceless” attribute’s shielding, could scan it directly. However, due to the system’s inherent four-year time difference, the scanned rating had some error.

By the future timeline four years later, the system scanned the true ratings. But because “Traceless” had a special ability to block system scans, the crisis task gave an inaccurate “Tier 3” rating?
While this seemed plausible, Shen Ge thought of another issue. Previously, he assumed “Traceless” hid because it feared the Tier 4 anomaly. But if it was also Tier 4, why fear it?
Back in the Chongqing incident, the Tier 3 Brother Kun dared confront the Tier 4 anomaly turtle head-on. If both were Tier 4, why would “Traceless” retreat?
Unless, it wasn’t afraid of the Tier 4 anomaly, but of the Tier 8 anomaly “Misfortune” that had its eyes on it!
Regardless, now that the system scanned “Traceless'” location and attribute, Shen Ge finally understood how it could block detection!

True to its name, “Traceless.”

“Tsk, ‘Formless’ should change its name to ‘Shadowless.’ ‘Shadowless and Traceless’—what a perfect pair!”