The System Arrived Four Years Early, but the Anomaly Is Still a Juvenile - Chapter 99

Abilities:

• “No-Escape Anomaly Domain (Type I)”: Upon activation, creates a space that blocks all signals and anomaly energy, trapping any living beings inside. If the user centers the domain on themselves, it moves with them. Consumes 50% mental energy per second.

  Due to its unique properties, the terrain within the domain can be altered.

  Note: Upgrading the ability can expand the domain’s range, reduce mental energy consumption, and unlock Type II Anomaly Domain.

  …

Shen Ge wanted to test a simple effect—similar to the “collapse” application of the formless anomaly domain. Since the “No-Escape Anomaly Domain” also allowed terrain manipulation, he believed it could achieve fine control as well.

First, he needed to test the domain’s basic effects.

“No-Escape Anomaly Domain!”

Shen Ge activated the domain on himself, limiting it to a two-cubic-meter space. When he tentatively reached forward, his hand was blocked by mental-energy barriers on all sides.

Next, he canceled the domain, retreated to the kitchen entrance, activated “Silent Mode,” and drew his pistol. Then, he cast “No-Escape Anomaly Domain” on the coffee table ahead.

The distance was to avoid ricocheting bullets, and “Silent Mode” prevented gunshots from attracting attention. Even with a suppressor, the Special Tactics Division’s dormitory housed either technical staff or combat personnel—security was tight, and the slightest noise could draw unwanted notice. Especially since Shen Ge was currently the department’s “protected asset.”

Bang! Bang!

Two shots struck the coffee table, leaving it unharmed—but Shen Ge’s mental energy was instantly drained.

Just like in the hospital, the domain could block attacks, but at the cost of accelerated mental energy depletion.

At first glance, blocking two bullets only to run out of energy seemed useless. But in reality, it meant he could now create mental barriers as a true “mental-energy specialist.”

For someone like Shen Ge—a bomb-loving innovator skilled in “fine control”—this ability could be used to trap targets inside the domain alongside explosives or Molotov cocktails for a “closed-roast” effect.

And there were even more possibilities…

Just as Shen Ge was brainstorming more creative applications, his phone rang. Glancing at the screen, he saw it was Cheng Shengnan calling.

He had planned to return her call after testing the domain—she had already called dozens of times over the past week. Now that she was calling again, he decided to answer.

“Hello?”

“Shen Ge?” Cheng Shengnan’s voice sounded relieved on the other end.

“Yeah, it’s me.”

“I tried calling you several times, but you didn’t answer. I got worried, so I went to the Special Tactics Division to look for you. They said you were on a mission. I just wanted to check if you were back.”

Shen Ge chuckled. “Just a business trip—saving the world, you know.”

“Sounds like it was a success.” She laughed.

“Of course. Otherwise, you’d have gotten evacuation notices to relocate to shelters or bomb shelters.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

“All in the line of duty.”

“Was it dangerous?”

“A little. About ten or a hundred times riskier than all my previous missions combined. Almost died in an anomaly domain, but thanks to my brilliance and heroic prowess, I pulled off some insane moves and wiped the floor with them.”

“…Sorry, I can’t keep up with this conversation.” Though Cheng Shengnan didn’t doubt the truth behind his words—having experienced several anomaly incidents herself—she knew how serious Shen Ge’s work was. If an anomaly event escalated, it could easily become a global crisis.

But Shen Ge had a habit of running with any praise. If she kept humoring him, he’d probably start claiming he could single-handedly conquer the universe.

“Alright, enough joking. What did you need?” Shen Ge asked while picking up the bullet casings scattered around the room.

“Last time, our dinner plans fell through, so I thought… maybe a well-established restaurant would be safer. I remember you always suggested hot pot during team outings, so I wanted to ask—how about Old Dragon Stove Hot Pot on Xixi Road?”

“Sounds good. When?”

“This weekend?”

“Sure.”

“I’ll call you then.”

“See you then.”

After hanging up, Shen Ge reflected on his love for hot pot—far more than Western or other Chinese cuisines. Old Dragon Stove was a reputable brand on Xixi Road, so there shouldn’t be any issues.

…Unless the beef tripe decided to mutate.

Glancing at his nearly depleted mental energy, Shen Ge realized he had exhausted both his anomaly-energy canisters and mental apples during the final battle with the turtle anomaly. Without reserves, further testing was impossible.

His next stop? The tech department—to “borrow” a few anomaly-energy canisters and check on Li Xiang’s latest research.

Though Shen Ge had only been at the Special Tactics Division for less than two months, he was now a recognizable face. He could enter the tech department without a pass or clearance—just by flashing his face.

Shen Ge wasn’t sure if this was Deng Yuqi’s trust or a test. Did they really not worry about him sneaking into the basement to… experiment?

…..

Upon arriving at the tech department, Li Xiang’s assistant informed him that Li was in the innermost lab working on anomaly-energy equipment. If Shen Ge wanted to enter, he’d need to wear protective gear.

Shen Ge wasn’t fond of the Rong City branch’s hazmat suits—they felt awkward and made breathing difficult. So, he borrowed Director Chen’s old electric cart and drove into the restricted lab.

The moment he entered, he heard Li Xiang berating someone:

“Who the hell hired you? If you don’t even understand anomaly-energy conversion theory, what are you doing here? I’m giving you three days to memorize that book. If you mess up another experiment, you’re out. Do you know how hard it is to obtain these materials?”

“Sorry, Director Li! I won’t make such a basic mistake again!” The nearly forty-year-old researcher bowed his head, not daring to argue.

“You’d better remember. Otherwise, go back to being a nobody! Three pieces of anomaly flesh—worth millions—wasted because of you!” Li Xiang scoffed.

“Understood!” The researcher was frustrated. He had worked at headquarters before, where anomaly-energy equipment was developed through trial and error. Back then, there were no freaks like Shen Ge and Li Xiang—one who could capture anomalies on casual strolls, and the other who could produce breakthroughs by tinkering with anomaly corpses.

Sure, the three anomaly flesh experiments weren’t a total loss—they confirmed the lack of regenerative properties. But compared to these two monsters, he felt like a kindergarten kid.

Just then, Li Xiang noticed the electric cart entering. Assuming it was Director Chen, he was about to send his assistant to handle it—until he saw Shen Ge inside.

Surprised, Li Xiang approached. “Hey, what are you doing here? Weren’t you still hospitalized? Recovered already?”

“Too boring. Needed some air.” Shen Ge grinned.

“Yeah, hospitals suck. Last time my left hand got blown up in an experiment, they forced me to stay for over a week. Wasted so much research time.”

“Right? Worst part was I didn’t even have my phone… Speaking of which, how’s your research after all this time?”

Li Xiang’s eyes lit up. “Thanks to you, I’ve never had it this good. A whole crate of anomaly corpses! Even if we gathered every unprocessed anomaly in the entire Special Tactics Division, we might not match this haul.”

“Don’t get too cocky. If we can preserve anomaly corpses this way, so can other branches—especially headquarters.”

“Fair point. Anyway, check this out—my latest breakthrough. First, the turtle shell you brought back. Tests show it can block sniper rounds, let alone pistols or rifles. The problem is, once infused with anomaly energy, the shell becomes too rigid to reshape into defensive gear.”

“So I came up with a solution: drain the anomaly energy first, then reshape it. But here’s the thing—if this were truly a Tier-4 anomaly’s remains, its energy levels should match that tier. Tier-3 anomalies have over 600% energy, yet draining a single shell only gave me 107%—barely Tier-1 levels.”

Shen Ge froze. Was the lie already exposed? He prepared an excuse, but Li Xiang continued:

“My theory? The real Tier-4 corpse is still buried in the rubble. These might just be offspring or residue.”

Shen Ge: …Brother, you’re not wrong.

“I’ve ordered the troops to speed up clearing the rubble. But back to the shell—after draining it, I found the turtle’s anomaly energy has a ‘fusion’ trait, allowing seamless merging with other anomalies’ energy.”

“According to Old He and Fang Mingyue’s reports, the turtle fused perfectly with that anomaly-infested building—likely due to this ability. The key takeaway? Once fused, the energy can’t be separated again.”

“So, I tried breaking down the shell and merging it with the regenerative energy of the rat anomaly. Success! It became malleable.” Li Xiang picked up a half-meter-wide circular shell and strapped it to his forearm.

“See? Looks like Captain America’s shield, right?”

Shen Ge didn’t expect the usually serious Li Xiang to joke around. “Except in real life, enemies shoot your legs. And anomalies? One bite can swallow half a person. What’s a half-meter shell gonna do?”

“Watch this.” Li Xiang activated the shell’s anomaly-energy device. A disgusting squelching sound followed as black sludge oozed from the shell, encasing his entire arm.

“…So you’re going for a ‘Venom Captain America’ vibe?”

Li Xiang grabbed a test pistol and fired at his arm—only for the bullet to be caught by the sludge, which then bubbled and spat it out.

“Recognize this?”

Shen Ge immediately recalled the bullet-spitting cat anomaly. “You fused the cat and turtle corpses?”

“Close. Remember when I fed the cat corpse to the rat? That was a fusion test. The sludge here combines both their traits.”

“But this gear has more to it.” Li Xiang smirked, activating a second mode. The shell melted, reforming into green arm guards covering his hands and forearms.

“I call it ‘Anomaly-Sludge Arm.’ Three modes: green gloves/arm guards (bulletproof against small arms), shield mode (stops sniper rounds), and hybrid mode. Switch freely.”

“Since you requested a bulletproof, self-healing anomaly suit from HQ, I thought—why not fuse three shells with it? With the rat’s regeneration, we could make shape-shifting full-body armor.”

“But once fused, anomalies can’t be separated. If this works, you get a transforming armor. If it fails… even your current suit might be lost.”

Shen Ge shrugged. “Go for it. The suit’s from HQ anyway. Success means profit; failure means no loss.”

“Good to hear.” Li Xiang relaxed.

Technically, the suit was Shen Ge’s reward for resolving the Tier-4 incident—effectively his personal property. That’s why Li Xiang had hesitated despite having a plan. Respect mattered.

“By the way, since you have my suit, where are my other anomaly tools? Who handled them after I passed out?”

“All here.” Li Xiang opened a secure cabinet, retrieving Shen Ge’s gear. “I recognize most, but this cleaver and eyeball? Also anomaly tools? From Dongyu Village?”

“The eyeball was taken from a mercenary. Stick it on a target, and they go blind. The cleaver? Long story.”

“Got it. Remind me later. For now—interested in leaving your anomaly gloves, suit, and shoes with me? I’ll try fusing them into one shape-shifting anomaly combat suit.”