68: Chapter 68: The Eating of Misfortune

"An Anomaly of this level should be left to the Human Alliance to handle.

Our The Convoy doesn't have the strength; going up there would just be serving ourselves up on a platter. It's not worth the risk."

Zhou Che was never the type to play the hero.

If there was a benefit to be had, he'd rush to the front; if there was danger, he'd be the first to hide.

Such thankless tasks that could potentially result in a total wipeout were, of course, best offloaded to the strongest force around: the Human Alliance.

He turned his head to look at Captain Liu Ruyan:

"Take Wang Zhiming and Wang Laowu to the Human Alliance base.

Tell Captain Ma Shangwu our findings and deductions exactly as they are."

"Let him weigh the situation himself.

If even the Human Alliance can't handle it, then we shouldn't hesitate—we should just prepare to run."

Captain Liu Ruyan nodded in acknowledgment and immediately set off with Wang Zhiming and Wang Laowu.

When the three of them arrived at the Human Alliance base, Captain Ma Shangwu was in the middle of arranging the patrol team's shift schedule.

After hearing Captain Liu Ruyan's purpose, he immediately dismissed those around him and led the three into a private conference room.

Wang Zhiming, with clear logic, recounted everything: the deciphering of the blood-red text, the three characteristics of the Anomaly, and the speculations regarding its growth potential.

Captain Liu Ruyan added from the side:

"Captain Ma, these deductions were all derived step-by-step based on every detail of the disappearance cases. They are highly credible."

Upon hearing this, Captain Ma Shangwu's expression instantly turned grave.

He had been with the Human Alliance for so long and had seen countless Anomalies.

But this was the first time he had heard of one that could read minds, shapeshift, and grow rapidly.

If this thing were to truly grow up, let alone the East Bank The Convoy circle, the entire Shancheng would be devoured by it.

"Captain Liu, thank you for providing such important clues."

Captain Ma Shangwu's tone was serious.

"This matter concerns everyone's lives. I dare not make the decision on my own."

"I will report this to the Alliance leadership immediately. I will give you an answer by tomorrow morning at the latest."

Captain Liu Ruyan didn't say much more and nodded:

"Alright, we'll wait for your news."

With that, she turned and left with the two men.

Only Captain Ma Shangwu remained in the conference room.

He sat in his chair, fingers tapping rhythmically on the table, his expression growing increasingly dark.

This matter was too thorny.

The Anomaly hid in the shadows, unseen and intangible, and could transform into whatever a person feared most. It was impossible to defend against.

If it wasn't resolved quickly, the Transcendents of the East Bank would be devoured within three days.

He dared not delay and immediately took out the Alliance's exclusive communicator, connecting to the encrypted channel of the upper echelons.

He reported all of Wang Zhiming's deductions and every detail of the disappearance cases without missing a word.

There was silence on the other end of the communicator for a long time.

After a full five minutes, a calm, steady voice came through.

"Captain Ma Shangwu, we will investigate this Anomaly you reported before we decide further."

Not long after, the results were in.

"It is called the Devourer of Calamity."

Captain Ma Shangwu's heart tightened:

"Devourer of Calamity? What are its characteristics?"

"The Devourer of Calamity is an indescribable type of Anomaly.

It has a physical form yet also lacks one; it manifests a physical form when attacking, but remains in a void state otherwise. Ordinary physical attacks are ineffective against it."

"It can read the target's inner fears and shapeshift into what the target fears most.

At the same time, it amplifies that fear, causing the target to lose the will to resist, and then it devours them silently."

"It is extremely vengeful; once it targets you, it will not stop until you are dead.

Most importantly, its growth rate is extremely fast. The stronger the creature it devours, the stronger it becomes."

The voice from the upper echelons carried a hint of gravity:

"It is currently in its larval stage. This is the only opportunity to kill it."

"Once it devours enough Transcendents and enters its growth stage, even if the Alliance headquarters takes action, we will have to pay a heavy price."

Captain Ma Shangwu's heart skipped a beat, and his back was instantly soaked in cold sweat.

Fortunately, the Dawn Convoy had discovered the clues early; otherwise, if the Devourer of Calamity were allowed to grow, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Headquarters orders: immediately assemble all patrol team Transcendents.

Join forces with all available combat power from the East Bank The Convoys to search for and exterminate the Devourer of Calamity."

"I will dispatch two Sequence 4 Transcendents from the Alliance to rush over overnight and support you.

You must resolve this Devourer of Calamity within these few days!

Absolutely do not let it leave the East Bank alive!"

The communication cut off.

Captain Ma Shangwu stood up abruptly, his eyes sharp as knives.

He walked to the door and issued a stern command to the team members outside.

"Immediately notify all patrol team members: assemble everyone!"

"Order all captains of the East Bank The Convoys to immediately bring all Transcendents from their teams and gather at the Alliance base!"

"Tomorrow morning, everyone moves out to hunt the Devourer of Calamity!"

The order quickly spread throughout the entire East Bank The Convoy circle.

The camps, previously full of anxiety, instantly became restless.

Everyone knew that a hunt that would determine all of their fates was about to begin.

Meanwhile, the Devourer of Calamity, hiding in the shadows, did not yet know that its identity had been completely exposed.

It still wandered in the shadows, waiting for the next lone prey.

Early the next morning, rapid knocking pounded on the RV door, dragging Zhou Che out of his sleep.

He sat up groggily and rubbed his eyes.

To his left, Captain Liu Ruyan had just pulled her clothes together, and to his right, Lin Wan also sat up straight with a yawn.

"Who is it? Making such a racket so early in the morning," Zhou Che muttered, his tone full of impatience.

"Mr. Zhou, it's me, Wang Zhiming."

Wang Zhiming's voice came from outside the door, carrying a hint of urgency.

"The Human Alliance has sent word: Captain Ma Shangwu is summoning all Transcendents in the East Bank.

We must go to the base and assemble immediately. Being late counts as an absence."

Zhou Che's head was buzzing, and his instinct was to pretend he hadn't heard.

He had originally planned to just send Shen Fei and Zhou Botao over to make up the numbers.

Just going through the motions would be enough; he'd let the Human Alliance handle the main force.

After all, fighting an Anomaly was a life-threatening business; there was no need for the Dawn Convoy to charge to the front.

But before he could speak, Wang Zhiming added another sentence from outside, instantly extinguishing his thoughts of slacking off.

"There's more news. Captain Ma Shangwu said that whoever doesn't respond to the summons this time will have their qualifications to explore the central urban area revoked after the operation ends, and will be permanently banned from stepping foot into the main city."

"Damn it!" Zhou Che woke up instantly and cursed.

This Captain Ma Shangwu really knew how to manipulate people!

Exploring the main city was the only reason everyone came to Shancheng.

If they couldn't enter the main city, what was the point of being trapped in this godforsaken place?

There was no choice; he had to go.

"Fine, I got it. Go notify everyone, assemble all Transcendents, and come with me to the Human Alliance base."

Zhou Che threw off the quilt and quickly put on his clothes.

Captain Liu Ruyan and Lin Wan also tidied themselves up efficiently.

By the time the three of them got off the vehicle, Shen Fei, Wang Laowu, Luo Xi, and the others were already waiting at the camp entrance.

Twelve Transcendents stood neatly in two rows, although most were Sequence 1.

Their combat power was uneven, but they had the advantage of numbers; standing there, they immediately projected an imposing aura.

Zhou Che waved his hand:

"Let's go. Let's see what trick Captain Ma Shangwu is up to."

The group marched imposingly towards the Human Alliance base, passing by the camps of other The Convoys along the way.

Everyone stopped what they were doing, their eyes fixed intently on the Dawn Convoy's team.

At first, no one took it seriously, thinking there would only be three or four Transcendents.

But as they watched, everyone was stunned.

Someone subconsciously started counting:

"One, two, three... eight, nine... Damn, twelve?!"