18: Chapter 18 Promotion, Mission to Ghost Island in the East China Sea

Baijiang Defense Zone Core Base,

At five in the morning, before dawn, the training ground was already filled with people.

Luo Yu was dressed in combat fatigues, a specialized pistol and dagger hanging at his waist, and a tactical backpack on his back. He stood at the very front of the line, the Little Lizard on his shoulder letting out a lazy yawn.

"Lieutenant Luo Yu!"

Suddenly,

General Zhan Kuang's voice rang out.

Luo Yu turned around and stood at attention, saluting, "Reporting, General!"

"At ease." General Zhan Kuang walked up to him and handed him a document, saying, "This is the detailed information on Donghai Ghost Island. Read it on the way."

"Yes, sir."

Luo Yu reached out and took the document.

"This mission is much more dangerous than the Baijiang Nuclear Power Plant." General Zhan Kuang's tone turned serious. "The radiation level of Ghost Island is A-class, and its nuclear waste reserves are ten times that of Baijiang. Furthermore... there are more mutated beasts there, and the species are more complex."

"I understand."

"Su Qingxue and the Guard Squad will be on standby on the helicopter." General Zhan Kuang continued, "But... they cannot set foot on the island. The radiation is too strong; even an S-rank Awakener wouldn't be able to hold out for long."

"Don't worry, I'm enough on my own."

"Good."

General Zhan Kuang looked at Luo Yu and said with satisfaction, "Then I'll look forward to your performance. If you encounter any accidents, don't try to be a hero; retreat immediately, understand?"

"Understood."

"Also." General Zhan Kuang pulled a silver badge from his pocket and handed it to Luo Yu. "This is your lieutenant badge; it was just approved last night."

"Thank you, General."

Luo Yu took the badge, a warm feeling welling up in his heart.

Going from second lieutenant to lieutenant in just two days—such speed would have been impossible in an era of peace.

"No need for thanks." General Zhan Kuang took a deep breath and said, "You earned this. The mission at the Baijiang Nuclear Power Plant was completed beautifully, and the higher-ups are very satisfied."

"I will continue to work hard."

"Good."

Hearing this, General Zhan Kuang turned to the others and said, "Everyone, prepare to board!"

"Yes, sir!"

Everyone boarded the helicopter.

Luo Yu sat by the porthole and opened the document General Zhan Kuang had given him.

[Detailed Information on Donghai Ghost Island]

[Location: Donghai Sea, 300 kilometers from the coastline]

[Area: 15 square kilometers]

[Radiation Level: A-class]

[nuclear waste Reserves: 50,000 tons]

[Background: Ten years ago, there was a super-large nuclear power plant on Ghost Island, equipped with six reactors. It was one of the Dragon Kingdom's most important energy bases.]

[In the fifth year of the Abyss Era, a Fourth-Tier Abyssal Behemoth broke through the defense lines and destroyed the nuclear power plant.]

[All six reactors leaked simultaneously, contaminating the entire island with high concentrations of radiation.]

[All three thousand stationed soldiers were killed in action.]

[During the evacuation of the island's residents, over five hundred people died due to radiation.]

[Since then, Ghost Island has been listed as a permanent exclusion zone, with any approach strictly forbidden.]

Luo Yu looked at these words, his heart heavy.

Three thousand soldiers, five hundred residents...

The price was far too high.

He continued to flip through the pages.

[Mutated Beast Situation]

[According to drone reconnaissance, there are over five thousand mutated beasts on Ghost Island.]

[Species include: Mutated Rats, Mutated Dogs, Mutated Cats, Mutated Snakes, Mutated Wolves, Mutated Bison, etc.]

[Grade Distribution: Approximately 3,000 E-class, 1,500 D-class, 400 C-class, 80 B-class, and... A-class suspected to exist.]

[Warning: A super-large mutated beast exists in the core area of Ghost Island. Its size exceeds twenty meters, and it is suspected to be A-class. Extremely dangerous!]

Luo Yu frowned as he read the last line.

An A-Class Mutated Beast?

That was an existence equivalent to an A-rank Awakener, and in a high-intensity radiation zone, it would be even more monstrous than an SS-Class Awakened.

With Godzilla's current combat strength, could he handle it?

Luo Yu did a quick calculation in his head.

Godzilla's current size was fourteen meters, with an evolution progress of 38.9%, and he hadn't reached the growth stage yet.

And an A-Class Mutated Beast in a nuclear radiation zone... should be dozens of grades stronger than a C-class.

"It's a bit touch-and-go."

Luo Yu couldn't help but mutter to himself.

"What did you say?"

Su Qingxue, sitting opposite him, asked.

"Nothing." Luo Yu closed the document and said, "I was thinking about the mutated beasts on Ghost Island."

"Are you worried?"

"A little bit," Luo Yu didn't hide it. "An A-Class Mutated Beast in a radiation zone won't be easy to deal with."

"Then don't force it." Su Qingxue said very seriously without a second thought, "If you encounter an A-Class Mutated Beast, retreat immediately. We can request reinforcements."

"Reinforcements?"

"Yes." Su Qingxue nodded. "The military has specialized squads for dealing with high-level mutated beasts, equipped with heavy weapons and large mechas costing tens of billions. Although the cost is high, it's better than you taking risks."

"..."

Luo Yu fell silent.

He understood what Su Qingxue meant.

However, if he called for help just because he couldn't win, his value would be greatly diminished. Besides, that wasn't exactly Godzilla's style, was it?

"I'll be careful," Luo Yu said, ultimately leaving his options open.

"Good."

Su Qingxue looked at him and said no more.

The helicopter flew through the air.

Through the porthole,

the endless sea could be seen below.

The sun rose from the horizon, casting golden sunlight across the shimmering surface of the sea.

It was beautiful.

But Luo Yu was in no mood to appreciate it.

He closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking deep into his mind.

The system panel emerged.

[king of monsters system]

[Host: Luo Yu]

[Level: C-Class Awakened]

[Spiritual Power: 18,000/18,000]

[Talent: Mutated Lizard Control (F-class)]

[Beast Pet: Godzilla (Awakening Stage · Atomic Dragon Form)]

[Current Size: 14 meters (can be shrunk at will)]

[Evolution Progress: 38.9% ]

[Unlocked Abilities:]

[1. Internal Nuclear Reactor (Passive)]

[2. Atomic Breath (Active)]

[3. Radiation Pulse (Active)]

[4. Regeneration Factor (Passive)]

[5. Radiation Domain (Passive)]

After a quick scan, Luo Yu felt much more confident.

Godzilla's abilities were very well-rounded.

Why the hell should I be afraid?

Just f*cking do it.

Suddenly,

right at that moment,

the pilot's voice came through the headset.

"Report: Ghost Island is ahead. Estimated arrival in five minutes."

Luo Yu looked out the porthole.

A black island appeared on the distant sea.

That was Donghai Ghost Island.

Five minutes later.

The helicopter circled over Ghost Island.

Luo Yu looked down through the porthole.

The sight on the island made him gasp.

The entire island was black.

The ground, trees, buildings... everything had been turned black by radiation contamination.

A green mist permeated the air—a visualization of high-concentration radiation.

Most shocking of all

was the collapsed nuclear power plant in the center of the island.

Six massive cooling towers lay on the ground, with reinforced concrete debris scattered everywhere.

In the core area of the reactors,

green liquid was constantly seeping out.

"Radiation levels being monitored..." the technician's voice came through the headset. "Outer island radiation value is 5,000, middle zone 10,000, core area... the detector has gone off the charts."

"Estimated radiation value in the core area exceeds 50,000."

Hearing this number, Luo Yu's heart raced.

Fifty thousand times?

This was no longer an environment where humans could survive.

Even an A-rank Awakener wouldn't last three minutes under that kind of radiation intensity.

"Lieutenant Luo Yu, prepare for landing," the pilot said.

"Alright." Luo Yu thought for a moment before saying, "Just drop me off in the outer area. You don't need to wait for me for now; you can head back first."

"Understood."

The helicopter lowered its altitude.

The cabin door opened.

A pungent odor rushed in.

Luo Yu stood by the door, looking at the black ground below.

"Lieutenant Luo Yu," Su Qingxue walked over, "stay safe."

"Don't worry."

Luo Yu leaped out.

Jumping from a height of ten meters.

Boom!

Relying on his strength as a C-Class Awakened, Luo Yu landed steadily on the ground, kicking up a cloud of black dust.

The helicopter ascended again and circled at a height of a hundred meters, not leaving immediately.

Luo Yu stood up and looked around.

This was the outer area of Ghost Island, which should have originally been a residential district.

Now,

all the houses had collapsed, leaving only some dilapidated walls. The ground was overgrown with black weeds, emitting a foul, rotting smell.

Luo Yu took out a radiation detector.

Beep beep beep beep beep—

[Radiation Value: 5,000]

"Not bad."

Luo Yu put away the detector and placed the Little Lizard from his shoulder onto the ground.

"Godzilla, time to eat."

The Little Lizard let out an excited "hissing" sound.

In the next second,

its body began to expand.

Thirty centimeters... one meter... three meters... eight meters... fourteen meters!

In the blink of an eye,

the Little Lizard had transformed into a giant beast covered in thick, heavy scales.

It let out a long, thunderous roar toward the sky.

"Roar—!"

The terrifying sound waves rippled out, making the entire island tremble.

Amidst the distant ruins,

countless pairs of green eyes lit up.

Those were mutated beasts.

They had been stirred by Godzilla's roar.

"Here they come."

Luo Yu clenched his fists.