The System Arrived Four Years Early, but the Anomaly Is Still a Juvenile - Chapter 187

Boom!

The entire Jiangnan Underground Research Institute shook violently. After completing its Tier 5 Aberration, the new Ghost King No. 2’s body was still growing continuously. The hollowed-out ground below could no longer withstand its trampling.

Even more terrifying, the magma flowing from No. 2’s body was sweeping through Han River City’s districts like a flood, instantly turning a bustling city into ruins.

As the anchor of the distorted space, No. 2’s massive form even spanned several twisted spaces, standing at the center like a demon god.

Magma flowed down through the cracks of the collapsed Jiangnan Mall, instantly filling the underground parking garage and forming a subterranean volcano.

Feeling the intense tremors coming from the ground, Shen Ge had Xiaoqi display the situation above. One glance was enough to know they couldn’t delay any longer.

The surrounding military forces had already been fully deployed, even the local specialty “U.S. Troops” were rushing to the battlefield. However, against the terrifying Tier 5 Ghost, Ghost Energy missiles had minimal effect, let alone ordinary artillery shells.

Only two choices lay before Shen Ge now. One was to return inside No. 2’s body and use the Crimson Mist Armor to continuously convert red psychic energy, transferring all the surrounding “misfortune” onto No. 2.

The other choice was to trust Fatty Xin. The new Ghost King was something created by “Heavenly Stems,” so they would naturally have a contingency plan to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.

The inhibitory agent “X11***808,” capable of killing the new Ghost King No. 2, was the key!

Now that the agent was found, stopping the Tier 5 new Ghost King No. 2 was half done. But Shen Ge still needed to make a choice—

Whether to abandon the samples of the “Heavenly Stems” new type of Aberrant.

According to Fatty Xin, “Heavenly Stems & Earthly Branches” initially invested in two research institutes in this country: one was the Jiangnan Underground Research Institute, and the other was the Boundary Trench Research Institute.

Later, the organization split. To avoid an outright break, the two resulting organizations each took control of one institute. “Heavenly Stems” was responsible for the Jiangnan Underground Research Institute.

On the surface, they helped the country research various “Regeneration Agents,” but in reality, they used the “prison” beneath the institute, experimenting on the country’s prisoners.

Unexpectedly, the country hosting the Asian Ghost Research Conference attracted a troublemaker like Shen Ge. To save Lin Yin, he destroyed the Jiangnan Underground Research Institute before the “Heavenly Stems” could transfer some crucial resources.

Learning about the problems at the “Heavenly Stems” institute, the “Earthly Branches” had devious ideas, trying to hinder the “Heavenly Stems” from entering the Jiangnan Underground Research Institute to retrieve their assets, aiming to embezzle the research for themselves.

Thus, the Twelve Branches, using the “Replacement” ability of the Zodiac Captains, gradually took control of the country, creating various obstacles for the “Heavenly Stems” operations.

After discovering the Twelve Branches were behind the sabotage, the “Heavenly Stems” They decided to completely break off relations., decisively broke relations and used previously planted “seeds” to cultivate the new Ghost King No. 2.

However, due to the partial failure of the Sakura Ghost King Project, the “Heavenly Stems” decided to be more cautious this time, allowing the new Ghost King No. 2 to mature more fully. They planned to find an opportunity to access the underground human lab and transfer the samples of those “new Aberrants.”

But plans changed. Interference from the Twelve Branches, conflicts between individual Aberrants like Doo Yu-seong leading to accidents, and the arrival of Shen Ge, the “walking problem generator,” caused one “accident” after another. This ultimately led to No. 2 awakening prematurely and allowed the Twelve Branches to profit from the situation.

Although Shen Ge had brought back many corpses of the Twelve Branches’ Zodiac Captains for Li Xiang to study, Li Xiang wasn’t specialized in human experimentation, so progress was relatively slow.

While bringing back the Aberrant research reports from here might help, as Xiaoqi said, these were just “theoretical knowledge.” Without sample-assisted research, achieving results would be difficult.

The “Heavenly Stems” lacked Shen Ge’s Collapse wall-phasing ability, making it very difficult for them to dig dozens of meters down to the underground institute to transfer the samples.

Shen Ge originally planned to take the inhibitory agent, deal with No. 2 above, and then come back to transfer the Aberrant samples. But the upper experimental areas were already filled with Ghost Energy magma, forming an underground Ghost-created volcano. It seemed this place wouldn’t hold much longer either.

“Xiaoqi, what’s the progress on recording the research reports?” Shen Ge asked.

Dozens of Corrupted Blood tentacles extended from the Crimson Mist Armor, methodically tasked with report collection, sample inspection, and equipment checking.

“Beep—”

As the screen in front of the main console lit up, the displayed “progress bar” had reached 97%. Copying was nearly complete.

A few seconds later, Xiaoqi’s voice sounded from the screen: “Report, Master. All research reports have been successfully copied. However, the research on the new Aberrants is based on the corpse of a Primeval Ghost. Abandoning sample extraction makes the possibility of recreating samples based solely on these reports almost zero.”

“Extract the samples into the Crimson Mist Armor for storage?” Shen Ge asked.

“The success rate is very low. The ‘Heavenly Stems’ Aberrant model differs from the Twelve Branches. The Twelve Branches fuse Primeval Ghosts devouring Ghost flesh with human bodies, creating ‘Artificial Ghosts.’ Thus, they require regular consumption of Ghost Energy for sustenance. But the human part cannot resist the pathological changes caused by Ghost Energy, resulting in the Twelve Branches members having generally short lifespans.” As Xiaoqi spoke, it displayed some research data on the screen.

“People with the Heavenly Stem try to avoid ‘fusion’ and attempt to use the human body as a ‘vessel’ to cultivate the supernatural, thus providing nourishment to the supernatural. At the same time, they rely on the rapid regeneration of the parasitic supernatural mother to continuously repair their own bodies, thereby achieving a balance.”

“However, this model has a fatal flaw: it must use a living human body as the ‘vessel,’ and also places high demands on the test subject’s willpower. If they cannot endure the pain of the Ghost consuming their body and collapse, the Ghost will take dominance, completely turning them into a Ghost.”

Boom—
Boom!

With successive loud rumbles, the underground research lab shook violently. Debris began falling from the ceiling. Every step No. 2 took on the surface above caused an earthquake, testing the limits of this place.

Shen Ge thought briefly, then opened a sample cultivation tank and pulled out an Aberrant sample. “Put it in the Ghost Sleeping Bag and take it back. If it lives, it lives. If it dies, so be it.”

There was no more time to consider. No. 2’s condition was extremely unstable. Once the Twelve Branches’ Tumor Man completed the fusion and gained control of No. 2, they would be completely passive.

However, as soon as Shen Ge pulled that Aberrant sample out of the cultivation tank, he saw bumps appearing on its skin. Then, with a series of popping sounds, black worms drilled out from under the skin.

“Master, due to the long lack of maintenance by researchers here, the mortality rate of the Aberrant samples has increased sharply. It’s likely few remain alive,” Xiaoqi reported.

Shen Ge had planned to randomly stuff an Aberrant sample into the Ghost Sleeping Bag. After returning to the surface, he’d let Yoona find her own way out of the Ghost space, while he took the sleeping bag to deal with No. 2.

But now it seemed the first step of taking the Aberrant sample had encountered an obstacle.

“Let’s go!” Shen Ge threw the Ghost Sleeping Bag to Yoona, clearly not intending to waste more time here. Whether they could come back later to dig out Aberrant samples was a problem for the future.

“Wait!”

Yoona caught the sleeping bag, hesitated for a moment, then said, “If the samples can only be preserved in a living host… then… I’m willing to be the vessel.”

“You?”

Yoona nodded.

She had seen Doo Yu-seong and, while stealing information at the Han River City Base, had read some reports about Ghosts and Aberrants. She knew the “fate” of becoming a test subject.

“Mr. Shen, I hope, in exchange for me voluntarily becoming the sample vessel, you can save my sister and get her out of this country. Give her a future of freedom.” Yoona’s expression was deadly serious.

Clearly, she wanted to trade her life for her sister’s.

Yoona’s reasoning was simple. Rather than carefully planning and trying various methods to earn Shen Ge’s trust, it was better to stake her life first to secure a future for her sister.

If she died from becoming the sample vessel, her sister could at least escape her fate and start over.
If the Special Investigations Department could remove the sample and she survived, she could also get a new lease on life.

This was a high-stakes gamble, with her “life” as the wager!
“Xiaoqi, extract the sample!”

“As you command, Master.”

After Xiaoqi spoke, Corrupted Blood tentacles began controlling several cultivation tanks to extract the Aberrant Ghost Energy from within. Then, it opened a container on the experimental table.

Inside this container, shaped like a halved eggshell, lay a thumb-sized, blood-red “Parasitic-type Ghost maternal body.” After injecting the Aberrant Ghost Energy, the maternal body was awakened.

Before lying down on the experimental table, Shen Ge used the power of the “Formless Ghost Domain” to remove the Ghost Worm chip from her body, storing it in an experimental vial.

Then, under Xiaoqi’s direction, Yoona cooperated to complete the sample extraction.

The experimental process was actually quite simple: implant the ” maternal body” into the test subject’s abdomen. Once inside, the maternal body would awaken and begin consuming the test subject’s body.

While consuming, the maternal body would continuously lay eggs and release Ghost Energy to “repair” the areas it consumed, achieving a “balance.”

If the maternal body and parasitic Ghosts consumed flesh, it was somewhat bearable. But if they consumed internal organs, the pain experienced even once was enough to drive a person insane.

Yoona went from initially tense, screaming, to gradually disorganization pupils, repeatedly passing out from the pain, only to be awakened by it again and again.

Her hands were bloody, her nails having pierced through skin and flesh. She bit through a piece of her lip, but it quickly healed due to the influence of the maternal body’s Ghost Energy.

Shen Ge didn’t have much time to observe Yoona’s condition. Once Xiaoqi completed the maternal body implantation, he immediately placed her into the Ghost Sleeping Bag and tied it securely.

Then, Shen Ge expanded his Formless Ghost Domain and used “Collapse” to return to the surface.

But he wasn’t in a hurry to deal with No. 2. Instead, using the Crimson Mist Armor’s mobility, he headed towards the Gold Hotel in Mapo District.

The International Hotel two streets away from the Gold Hotel was the venue for the previous Asian Ghost Research Conference hosted by this country. This Gold Hotel was the transfer point Deng Yuqi had previously set up to rescue Lin Yin.

For Shen Ge’s current “reinforcement” mission here, Deng Yuqi had also arranged considerable support and informed him of several key safehouses.

Shen Ge found the contact person based on the information Deng Yuqi left. It was the same soldier who had transferred Lin Yin back to China last time. Seeing Shen Ge, he immediately saluted respectfully: “Investigator Shen! Team J-303, Han River City Intelligence, at your command as per the Minister’s orders!”

“Han River City is experiencing a Ghost disaster. Do you have a suitable shelter here?” Shen Ge asked.

The J-303 team leader replied, “Reporting, Investigator Shen! We have arranged three shelters. Due to the influence of the Ghost space, two are already highly dangerous. The final shelter is set up in Incheon. However, the scope of the Ghost space is currently uncertain, and signals inside are completely blocked. We cannot even establish contact with the Incheon shelter.”

Shen Ge thought for a moment, had Xiaoqi check the range of the distorted space caused by No. 2, and said, “This Ghost disaster’s epicenter is in the Gangnam area, spreading outwards from downtown Han River City. Incheon probably isn’t affected yet, but getting out is the issue. However, you are the experts in evacuation and protection. Last time, Lin Yin owed you a great deal.”

“Investigator Shen, this is our mission and our duty! In the face of Ghosts, Ghost Investigators are key to suppressing them. Investigator Lin is a core member of our Rong City Branch. Successfully rescuing her was our honor!” the J-303 team leader said earnestly.

“I trust you. Now, there’s a more important matter I need your help with…” As he spoke, Shen Ge untied the Corrupted Blood tentacles from the Ghost Sleeping Bag.

“This contains research material crucial to the Rong City Branch, and perhaps the entire Special Investigations Department. I need you to do your utmost to escort it to the Incheon shelter. I’ll find a way to resolve the Ghost space issue. Once the Ghost space disappears, contact the Minister immediately and deliver it to her.”

The J-303 team members stood at attention: “Yes, sir! We will complete the mission!”

“Also, if I recall correctly, the Minister also has people embedded in the Han River City Base, right?” Shen Ge asked the team leader.

The team leader nodded and briefly introduced the six undercover team members inside and outside the Han River City Base.

“Right now, the Han River City Base should be fully deployed to support the city center. Assign one team member to contact all agents at the Han River City Base. Find a way to extract a female translator named Seol from the base. Secure her along with this sleeping bag. After contacting the Minister, hand them over for processing.”

Although Shen Ge had always been somewhat suspicious of the two sisters, Yoona had voluntarily taken on the role of “vessel.” Having promised her, he would do his best to fulfill it.

Shen Ge was self-aware; he couldn’t help with research. He could only do his best to collect various research reports and resources for the Research Department.

As for what to do next and how to handle the two sisters, that wasn’t for a field investigator like him to worry about. Deng Yuqi would handle it.

Shen Ge didn’t know if the inhibitory agent Fatty Xin mentioned could truly kill No. 2’s heart. Success would be great, but failure might mean staying in Han River City longer.

Even if dealing with No. 2 could be delayed, Yoona, as the Aberrant sample, couldn’t wait. Moreover, carrying her, even with the Ghost Sleeping Bag’s protection, risked injury.

To avoid complications from damage, Shen Ge thought of this professional J-303 team to transfer the Ghost Sleeping Bag.

As for whether they could also fulfill Yoona’s wish and rescue Seol, that depended on the sisters’ luck.

After arranging for Yoona, Shen Ge returned to the city center.

No. 2’s size had grown yet again, its height now estimated at nearly two hundred meters, making it the largest Ghost Shen Ge had encountered so far.

Crucially, No. 2’s size showed no signs of stopping its growth!

No. 2’s originally grayish-white skin had completely sloughed off, revealing the Ghost flesh fused with magma beneath. With each step it took, magma, like blood, cascaded down like waterfalls, transforming into molten rivers that scoured Han River City’s streets.

Just as Shen Ge was heading towards the city center, looking for an opportunity to approach No. 2 again and enter its body to use the inhibitory agent on the “heart,” the local specialty “U.S. Troops” unexpectedly launched an operation.

With a series of whooshing sounds, the United States took the lead by using its latest fighter jets to carry out a bombing raid on No. 2 with anti-magic missiles. Although it failed to break through No. 2’s lava-like outer shell, it successfully attracted its hatred.

Then, attack helicopters took over, attracting No. 2’s attention and attempting to lure it towards the inland sea.

The Han River City Ghost disaster happened suddenly. While international Ghost organizations had dispatched support, distant water couldn’t quench a nearby fire. Eventually, the country had to seek help from the U.S.

After the Sakura Ghost disaster spiraled out of control, the U.S. had also dispatched significant military forces to help contain the spread. So, upon receiving the plea for help, they immediately sent two aircraft carriers for support.

Of course, even the maritime hegemon, an aircraft carrier, was as fragile as a paper toy against a Tier 5 giant Ghost.

But the key wasn’t the U.S. carriers; it was the most advanced technology they carried—the II-***** Experimental Anti-Ghost Mecha.

Shen Ge, unaware of the U.S. plans, only saw them using aircraft to lure No. 2 towards the coast and muttered, “What are the Americans up to? Their own house is a mess. Meddling in Sakura’s Ghost disaster is one thing, but they still have energy to support this country? Really think they’re the world police?”

Anyone could see the U.S. never acted without self-interest. “World police” was just an excuse for invading other countries; most conflicts worldwide had their fingerprints all over them.

The US provided such rapid support for this Korean disaster, with a large number of fighter jets assisting. It’s obvious they’ve even sent an aircraft carrier!
Had the sun risen from the west?
Or had the Twelve Branches leaked information, and the U.S. knew this was a new Ghost King created from a Primeval Ghost corpse, so they planned to take the corpse for research?

Thinking of this, Shen Ge recalled the [Log] entry mentioning that the U.S. was the first to resolve a Tier 6 Ghost incident and obtain the corpse in the future.

Was it this one?
Or did the “Heavenly Stems” continue causing trouble in the U.S. later?
Regardless, Shen Ge was determined to “devour” this new Ghost King’s corpse. Even if others tried to snatch it, they couldn’t out-compete the system’s devouring function.

Although Shen Ge and the U.S. were somewhat “competitors” now, whether opposing the Twelve Branches or from a humanity standpoint, letting No. 2 continue growing was a bad idea.

Even if Shen Ge was reluctant to play support for the U.S., he now had no choice but to use “Collapse” to re-enter No. 2’s body and use the inhibitory agent.

“Report, Master. No. 2’s surface temperature is detected at 1400°C!” Xiaoqi reminded.

Shen Ge activated the “Non-Combustion” trait and leaped forward, extending Corrupted Blood tentacles to latch onto No. 2’s rocky layers and swing over. Then, he expanded his Formless Ghost Domain.

“Collapse!”

Shen Ge entered No. 2’s body once more. However, in just a few hours, the interior had undergone a dramatic transformation. Previously, influenced by the Deep Sea Giant Whale Ghost, there were large amounts of accumulated water and deep-sea plants. But after completing the Tier 5 Aberration and awakening the magma ability, that water had turned into magma. Any living being entering No. 2’s body now would only face being consumed by magma.

Fortunately, Shen Ge used his Ghost Domain to neutralize the danger. Not exactly taking a bath in magma, but it allowed him to safely use Corrupted Blood tentacles to climb to the “heart.”

The originally massive “heart,” after continuous contractions, was now only about ten meters tall, shrouded in dense black Ghost Energy mist.

Shen Ge used Fatty Xin’s Ghost Energy transfer device to try and divert the outer layer of black Ghost Energy. But No. 2, after Tier 5 Aberration, had absurdly high Ghost Energy levels, quickly reaching the device’s limit.

Shen Ge was maintaining the “Non-Combustion Ghost Domain” for ignition point control to prevent himself from being melted by the magma. But to prevent the Ghost Energy defensive barrier from repairing too quickly, the best method was to use the Formless Ghost Domain to block the transferred Ghost Energy, then activate “Collapse.”

Switching between three Ghost Domains was usually almost effortless for Shen Ge. But now he had to maintain “Ignition Point Control.”

“Hah.”

Shen Ge took a deep breath and began shrinking the Non-Combustion Ghost Domain’s range of effect. Then, he focused on creating a barrier at the gap made by the Ghost Energy transfer device.

Activating two Ghost Domains instantly drained most of Shen Ge’s psychic energy. Luckily, the Crimson Mist Armor provided continuous power, barely balancing the clash between the Ghost Domains and the scorching Ghost Energy inside No. 2.

The Crimson Mist Armor’s power supply relied on absorbing Ghost Energy. Although upgraded to “Type III” with faster absorption rates, it still struggled to keep up with the dual Ghost Domain consumption.

“Master, Ghost Energy conversion is insufficient. Crimson Mist Armor Ghost Energy reserves are below 20%,” Xiaoqi warned.

Shen Ge’s combat effectiveness lay in his traits and Ghost Domains—essentially, a mage who maxed out “Intelligence (Spirit),” with a body as fragile as paper.

Without the protection of the Crimson Mist Armor, even with “Non-Combustion” ignoring the magma’s temperature, his physical body couldn’t withstand the magma’s pressure and impacts.

Crack.
Crack.

Just as Shen Ge’s psychic energy was about to give out, the “heart’s” thick rocky layer developed cracks. The defensive Ghost Energy was successfully neutralized.

“Time for a pick-me-up!” Shen Ge took out the “X11***808” inhibitory agent and stabbed it forcefully into the heart, injecting the Ghost Energy medicine.

And then.
Nothing happened.

“?”
Did that fatty Xin trick me?
As Shen Ge complain, he used the Formless Ghost Domain to encase himself, consuming a psychic apple every two or three seconds to replenish his energy.

The next moment, the barrier shattered.

Shen Ge tried to expand the Formless Ghost Domain at the “heart’s” gap and use “Collapse” to enter and check on Fatty Xin and the others.

But now the “heart” felt like a solid mass. Before the Formless Ghost Domain could fully expand, his own psychic energy was significantly drained.

Given the situation, if Fatty Xin and the Twelve Branches members like Wei Yang hadn’t managed to escape after Shen Ge left the “heart,” they were probably crushed into paste.

Just then, Shen Ge noticed the dense black Ghost Energy mist around the “heart’s” outer shell began to dissipate slowly. Then, the sturdy rocks started to fall off.

“Is the inhibitory agent taking effect?”

While Shen Ge was examining the heart, No. 2 was successfully lured towards the coast by the U.S. attack helicopters. The naval fleet at sea was poised for action.

Inside the lead aircraft carrier, the II-***** Experimental Anti-Ghost Mecha underwent final assembly after completing diagnostics.

“II-***** Experimental Anti-Ghost Mecha activated. Opening Bay 1 for docking. All relevant personnel, prepare immediately!”

Due to the Anti-Ghost Mecha’s immense size, it was raised from the specially modified Ghost-fighting carrier’s bay before the legs were docked.

Then, a massive mechanical platform pushed it out.

The mecha wasn’t controlled by one or two individuals but operated like a warship, with a full team of operators executing commands jointly.

As the “stand upright” command was issued, the mecha, now connected at the legs, slowly rose to its full height on the giant mechanical platform.

“All Ghost Elimination Fleet units, attention! Ghost Elimination Fleet, attention! High-tier Ghost, codename ‘Magma Spider,’ entering coastal waters. Target entering coastal waters. Prepare for immediate combat!”

The fleet command center, along with the surrounding alert fighters and armored vehicles, received notifications from the baiting unit and immediately entered Level 1 combat readiness.

As No. 2 moved towards the coastline, the magma flood flowing from its body first swept through the forested areas. When it reached the sea, the magma collided with the seawater, instantly creating a sky-full of steam.

The U.S. command center had locked onto No. 2’s position and ordered the fleet to commence the first wave of Ghost Energy missile bombardment!

Boom! Boom! Boom!
Ghost Energy missiles exploded one after another on No. 2’s massive body. Magma from within cascaded down like mad waterfalls, as if intent on filling the ocean.

Thud!
Thud!
The Anti-Ghost Mecha, under the control team’s command, strode off the mechanical platform with giant steps, each step sending towering waves splashing.

The mecha stood like a giant in the sea, each step exuding overwhelming presence. However, the mecha’s nearly sixty-meter height only reached about No. 2’s knee level.

The cryptic mech grabbed one of No. 2’s legs, attempting to overpower it with brute force, and then forced the cryptic missile into its mouth.

“Beep beep beep—”
“Beep beep beep—”

Upon receiving the command to exert full power, the mecha’s mechanical arms released bursts of pneumatic pressure, straining with all its might. But No. 2 remained unmoved. Instead, alarms blared inside the control cabin.

“Warning! Exceeding mechanical arm load capacity. Immediately terminate command! Immediately terminate command!” The system’s voice repeatedly echoed through the command cabin. The controllers had to quickly modify the command.

Since the grapple and throw failed, the controllers immediately ordered the mecha to draw the weapon at its waist—a ten-meter-long Ghost bone… “dagger.”

The mecha gripped the dagger with both hands, but the Ghost Energy covering the Ghost bone dagger couldn’t pierce No. 2’s magma armor. Instead, the dagger was melted by the magma.

The Anti-Ghost Mecha was built to combat Ghosts, so many key parts and joints were made from Ghost corpses. If even the Ghost bone dagger couldn’t withstand the temperature of No. 2’s magma, let alone the metal components on the mecha itself.

They had thought choosing the sea as the battlefield would allow seawater to cool No. 2’s temperature, even if extreme. Unfortunately, while water could extinguish fire, it could also be evaporated.

Faced with No. 2’s terrifying Ghost Energy, the Anti-Ghost Mecha was clearly destined for the latter!
The mecha’s entrance was majestic, but compared to No. 2’s immense height, it instantly seemed “short.” Further countered by the magma Ghost Energy, the time from its appearance to the end of the fight was even shorter than the time it took to assemble the mecha.

When Shen Ge emerged from No. 2’s body, he happened to see the Anti-Ghost Mecha being smashed into the sea by No. 2, one of its mechanical arms bitten off.

“…This is the U.S.’s latest Anti-Ghost tech? This is too lame, right?” Shen Ge stood on No. 2’s shoulder, Corrupted Blood tentacles gripping the rocky layers of its neck to avoid being thrown off by its violent movements.

However, Shen Ge was somewhat “misjudging” the U.S. Anti-Ghost Mecha. According to reports received by the Special Investigations Department, the mecha’s success rate was actually decent.

Invincible against Tier 3 and below, it had even, with the cooperation of the U.S. Ghost Department, taken down a Tier 4 Ghost in Sakura half a month ago.

But No. 2’s situation was special. On one hand, using a Primeval Ghost corpse gave it a strong “Devour” ability, making it immune to Ghost Energy missiles and even using them to “recharge.”

On the other hand, the awakened “Magma” effect had extremely high temperatures. Unless one could, like Shen Ge, directly use a “Non-Combustion” trait to bug through and ignore the heat, even Ghost Energy equipment, after its Ghost Energy was depleted, couldn’t withstand No. 2’s temperature.

The Anti-Ghost Mecha suffered from being hard-countered.

Meanwhile, the fleet group escorted U.S. and international Ghost Organization Ghost Investigators to attack, trying to continue luring No. 2 into the sea.

But No. 2 was focused on dismantling the mecha, ignoring the flies (attack helicopters) and small fish (armored vehicles) around it. With a gaping maw, it easily tore the Anti-Ghost Mecha apart!
Just as the flee group prepared for another wave of Ghost Energy missile strikes, they suddenly saw No. 2 look up and let out a earth-shaking, sky-rending roar, so loud it triggered a tsunami!

Then, a bizarre scene unfolded.

The magma shell that served as No. 2’s “protective armor” began to shedding. Seizing the opportunity, the U.S. command center immediately ordered the launch of Ghost Energy missiles.

“Holy crap!” Shen Ge, seeing the swarm of missiles coming from the fleet direction, had no time to think. He quickly expanded his Formless Ghost Domain and used “Collapse” to retreat inside No. 2’s body for cover.

“Tch.”
“No wonder it’s a country of robbers, the Americans are really rich. They just drop dozens of these energy missiles like they’re free.” Shen Ge complained and quickly hid deeper inside No. 2.

Although protected by the Crimson Mist Armor, the armor’s Ghost Energy was far inferior to a Tier 5 Ghost’s. No. 2’s frame could withstand Ghost Energy missiles, but if he took a few direct hits, there wouldn’t even be ashes left.

After No. 2’s shell shed, the Ghost Energy missiles finally had an effect when they hit the flesh directly. Under the successive waves of bombardment, No. 2 thrashed in rage, stirring up colossal waves that assaulted the flee group.

In just one round of attack, the flee group suffered massive losses. Caught in the whirlpool’s center, escape was now difficult.

Simultaneously, Shen Ge returned to the “heart’s” location. After the rocky shell completely fell off, the tumor-like heart seemed to be having its nutrients drained, rapidly contracting.

The surrounding “seawater,” having lost Ghost Energy and turning into ordinary liquid, surged downwards like a receding tide. Then, the tumor heart shrank from nearly ten meters to just over two meters tall, transforming into a tumorous humanoid form.

Shen Ge immediately recalled the earlier scene of the Twelve Branches’ Tumor Man merging with the “heart.” Presumably, it was still attempting fusion.

Shen Ge wouldn’t give it the chance. Gripping the Pig-Sticking Knife, he leaped into the air, plunging the knife into the tumor and slicing downwards with his falling momentum.

Sssss—
A torrent of red liquid gushed out. Shen Ge saw the Tumor Man almost fully fused with the tumor heart inside and stabbed towards its chest.

“Gurgle.”
“Gurgle.”

As the Pig-Sticking Knife struck the Tumor Man’s heart, swallowing sounds characteristic of Ghosts could be heard from its body. Horrifically, in the parts where it fused with the tumor, partially digested corpses were visible. Clearly, none of the earlier Twelve Branches “Engraved” members had escaped.

After Shen Ge killed the Tumor Man, the massive tumor began to contract, eventually becoming like a shriveled apple.

[Host, mighty and brave, single-handedly slayed a Tier 5 Ghost. Reward: System Points x8000, E-grade Recovery Item x1, F-grade Recovery Item x3.]

[Ghost corpse can be sold—Value: 15000 System Points.]

Before Shen Ge could choose to “sell” the Ghost corpse, the long-dormant system added another prompt—

[Detected that this heart possesses devouring value. After devouring, it can offset one mission target.]

“Huh? This works?” Shen Ge then took out another shriveled heart from his Bloodskin Backpack. This was a trophy he had Xiaoqi control the residual corrupted flesh on the Aberrant Kang Dong-wook’s heart to retrieve from the short Green Robe’s corpse when leaving the heart area.

If No. 2’s heart could count as mission material, then with this one, his Tier 4 advancement mission would be complete.

But why could it offset?
Because the Tumor Man was originally a Twelve Branches member, essentially also an Aberrant?
But the system issued this mission because it was interested in the unique “Clone” parasitic Ghost inside the Aberrant Doo Yu-seong, right?
Even if the Tumor Man had nearly completed fusion, its essence was quite different from Doo Yu-seong’s “Clone.” Unless… the system was interested in the Primeval Ghost cells!

But now wasn’t the time to dwell on minor issues. With No. 2 dead, the U.S. would soon attempt to recover the Ghost corpse.

Outside, it was night, and there was a tsunami. The U.S. needed time to regroup their fleet and couldn’t immediately check on No. 2’s sunken corpse. This was the perfect time for the “great corpse disappearance act”!
Shen Ge held the two shriveled hearts: “Devour!”

[Tier 4 Advancement Mission “Aberrant’s Heart” completed. Mission Target: Find and devour 3 “hearts.” 3/3]

[Reward: Trait Enhancement Point x1, System Points x5000, Random F-grade Supply Items x10, Random E-grade Supply Item x1.]

[System upgrading basic functions. “Attribute Enhancement” will be available after upgrade. Please check in two hours.]

[All system-related functions currently unavailable.]

“…”
Well, well, system maintenance update, huh?
Any compensation for the downtime?

Despite the complaints, as the massive corpse number 2 vanished in a flash of white light, Shen Ge plummeted downwards from the sky.

He first entered the triple-buff state of “Formless + Soundless + Traceless.” Currently in the eye of the storm, even if the U.S. fleet was scattered, judging by the Anti-Ghost Mecha technology, the Americans indeed had commendable technological development.

Who knew if they had developed new Ghost Energy detection devices? It wasn’t necessary to save on that bit of psychic energy now; escape first.

The battle against No. 2 cost the U.S. heavily. The most satisfying part was that the “prize” ended up in Shen Ge’s pocket—all their effort was for nothing.

With No. 2’s death, the country’s Ghost disaster crisis was resolved. The core maintaining the Ghost space gone, the distorted space gradually dissipated.

When Team J-303 detected the Ghost space’s disappearance, they immediately followed Shen Ge’s orders, using the fastest means to escort the two sisters back to China.

The Rong City Branch was frantic upon hearing about the Ghost disaster there. Deng Yuqi tried every way to contact Shen Ge, but without success.

Finally, the Ghost disaster was over, but Shen Ge was still unreachable. Even satellites couldn’t pick up his communicator signal. Whether he was alive or dead was unknown.

Deng Yuqi wanted to mobilize the undercover agents in the country to find Shen Ge, but Team J-303 contacted her first, relaying Shen Ge’s orders.

Hearing that one of the sisters, Yoona, had volunteered to be the vessel for the “Aberrant sample” to deliver it to the Rong City Branch, Deng Yuqi immediately understood that if the Special Investigations Department successfully extracted the Aberrant sample, they would essentially possess the research results of the “Heavenly Stems & Earthly Branches” over the years!
Knowing how crucial Yoona was to Ghost research, Deng Yuqi immediately ordered Lin Yin to personally lead a team to rendezvous with Team J-303.

Deng Yuqi was swamped with work, also constantly contacting the country, urging them to provide information on Shen Ge.

Cheng Sheng Nan, as head of the Logistics Department, was now Deng Yuqi’s right-hand woman. Officially and personally, she had to find a way to locate Shen Ge, or at least confirm his whereabouts.

Two hours later, as Deng Yuqi and Cheng Sheng Nan were in the office discussing whether to send personnel into the country under the branch’s name or apply to headquarters, Cheng Sheng Nan’s phone received a text message, and the minister’s office hotline rang simultaneously.

“(＾－＾)V, Miss me?”

Cheng Sheng Nan: …

Meanwhile, Deng Yuqi’s expression wasn’t much better. That hotline was dedicated to the communicators. She knew all the field operations of the branch’s Ghost Investigators. No one should be calling that line at this time, except one person…

Answering the call, sure enough, it was Shen Ge’s voice: “Minister, eaten yet?”

“…” Deng Yuqi glanced at Cheng Sheng Nan, whose eyes met hers, equally exasperated.

Suppressing her anger, knowing Cheng Sheng Nan had pulled two all-nighters with her waiting for news of Shen Ge after learning of the Ghost disaster, Deng Yuqi pressed the speakerphone button:

“You weren’t dead, so why didn’t you send a message? Do you know we were even prepared to send agents to forcibly enter South Korea to find you?”

“Ah, it’s a long story… I finally understand why Spider-Man can’t survive in the countryside. No matter how high-tech the Crimson Mist Armor is, in the sea, you can only rely on swimming! I swam for over an hour in the ocean! Please put in a request to Li Xiang for me—the next upgrade needs a transformation function, at least for land, sea, and air capabilities!” Shen Ge’s tone was somewhat despondent.

“…”
“…”

Deng Yuqi and Cheng Sheng Nan heard the helplessness and wronged in Shen Ge’s voice. Considering the intelligence from headquarters and the gathered information about the coastal