118: A meteor whispers, summoning evil spirits; shadows first appear, summoning hell.

Chapter 121: Whispers of the Falling Star Summon Evil, Shadows Emerge as Hell Envoys

Reconstruction at the East Sea Barrier Base was in full swing. Soldiers cleared the battlefield debris, researchers repaired damaged equipment, and the air was thick with the sparks of welding torches and the scent of disinfectant, showing signs of life and recovery everywhere after the disaster.

Lin Zhou stood by the observation window of the command tower, a newly delivered monitoring report in his hand, his brow furrowed. After the complete elimination of Zhulong, global fluctuations of mutated energy should have stabilized. However, three days ago, the skynet satellite suddenly captured an abnormal dark purple energy signal deep within the Amazon Rainforest of South America—vaguely similar to Zhulong's energy signature during its mutation, yet colder, more eerie, and carrying a strange frequency that did not belong to Earth.

"Staff Officer Chen, immediately retrieve the satellite imagery and geological monitoring data for the Amazon Rainforest," Lin Zhou ordered into his communicator. "Also, notify the remaining survivor outposts in South America to keep a close watch on any anomalies at the edge of the rainforest and report any situation immediately."

"Understood!" Chen Hao's voice came through. "Satellite imagery retrieved. Geological data is undergoing synchronous analysis; results are expected in ten minutes."

Ten minutes later, the command center's Holographic Sand Table clearly displayed the entire Amazon Rainforest. In the core area of the rainforest, a region about ten kilometers in diameter was shrouded in dark purple mist, which the satellite could not penetrate. Geological data showed unusually frequent crustal activity in that area, and unknown radioactive elements were detected in the soil, with half-lives that did not match any known substance on Earth.

"The appearance of this mist coincides exactly with the timing of the abnormal energy signal," the Research Team Leader pointed at the sand table with a grave expression. "Furthermore, according to geological exploration records, a meteorite about fifty meters in diameter fell exactly in that area three months ago. We suspect the abnormal energy is related to this meteorite."

Lin Zhou's gaze grew sharper: "A meteorite... Could the God Devourer gene in Zhulong have come from this meteorite?"

This speculation caused the atmosphere in the command center to instantly become oppressive. If the God Devourer gene originated from an extraterrestrial meteorite, then humanity's previous victory might only be the tip of the iceberg. More terrifying secrets could be hidden inside that meteorite.

"Form a 'Source Probe' task force; I will lead it personally," Lin Zhou decided immediately. "Equip them with the latest Gene Detectors, Energy Shielding Gear, and Modified Dual-Effect Anti-Core Bombs. We depart tomorrow morning to go deep into the Amazon Rainforest and uncover the truth behind the meteorite and the energy signal."

The next morning, Lin Zhou led the task force aboard a transport plane, speeding toward South America. After a ten-hour flight, the transport landed at a survivor outpost on the edge of the Amazon. The person in charge of the outpost was a white-haired old man who immediately approached Lin Zhou upon seeing him, his face solemn: "Commander Lin, you've come at the right time! These past few days, strange roars have been coming from the rainforest, and many mutated creatures are gathering toward the core area as if drawn by something. Last night, a scout tried to approach the edge of the mist, and as a result..."

The old man paused and handed over a damaged recorder. Lin Zhou played it; the footage was dark, with only the dark purple mist roiling. The scout's camera shook, and tall black shadows could be seen moving within the mist. Suddenly, a pair of crimson eyes locked onto the lens, followed by violent shaking, a shrill scream, and then darkness.

"Those black shadows are unlike any mutated creatures we know," the old man said hoarsely. "They move incredibly fast and emit a suffocating aura of fear, like... demons from hell."

Lin Zhou clenched his fists, the unease in his heart growing stronger. He ordered the task force: "Everyone, rest for two hours and prepare your protection. We head deep into the rainforest in two hours!"

Two hours later, the task force advanced toward the core area of the rainforest. The interior was dark and damp, with mutated plants growing wildly. Vines coiled around tree trunks like venomous snakes, and the ground was covered in unknown slime that emitted a pungent odor. As they went deeper, more mutated creatures appeared; their eyes were dull, and they moved slowly toward the mist-shrouded core like the walking dead.

"These mutated creatures seem to be controlled by some kind of power," the accompanying researcher said, face pale while looking at the genetic data on the screen. "Their brain activity is abnormal, and their gene sequences have been forcibly rewritten, losing their autonomy."

Lin Zhou signaled the team to slow down, alertly observing their surroundings. Suddenly, the mist ahead roiled violently, and a tall black shadow slowly stepped out from within.

It was a monster about five meters tall, its body covered in dark black scales etched with eerie runes flickering with dark purple light. Its head had no facial features, only a smooth black carapace. A pair of tattered bone wings unfolded from its back, dripping dark purple liquid that corroded deep pits into the ground. In its hand, it held a longsword condensed from bone and dark purple energy; the blade emitted a cold aura that turned the surrounding air icy.

"What is that thing?" a soldier instinctively gripped his Magnetic Storm Rifle, his voice trembling.

Lin Zhou's pupils constricted suddenly. He could clearly feel that the energy from this monster was several times stronger than the mutated Zhulong, and that cold, evil aura was definitely not something an Earth creature could possess.

The monster seemed to sense the task force's presence. The black carapace on its head slowly split open, revealing a pair of crimson vertical pupils that swept over everyone in the task force with blatant killing intent.

"Hell... Envoy..."

A hoarse, cold voice rang directly in everyone's minds, like a whisper from the abyss. This sound did not travel through the air but acted directly on the mental level, causing the soldiers to experience a sharp headache and mental disorientation.

"Fire!"

Lin Zhou was the first to react, pulling the trigger of his Magnetic Storm Rifle at the monster. Golden energy beams struck the monster but were deflected by its scales, leaving only faint white marks.

The monster let out a low roar, flapped its bone wings, and turned into a black shadow charging at the task force. The bone sword swept across, and a wave of dark purple energy spread out. Several soldiers who were slightly slower to react were hit by the wave; their bodies were instantly frozen and then crumbled into dust.

"Retreat! Retreat quickly!" Lin Zhou roared, directing the task force to fall back. He knew that with their current equipment, they stood no chance against this monster.

The monster did not pursue. It simply stood at the edge of the mist, its crimson vertical pupils staring at the retreating task force, its bone wings flapping slowly as the dark purple mist spread outward like a tide.

The task force retreated in disarray from the rainforest and returned to the survivor outpost. Lin Zhou looked at the image of the monster on the screen, a storm raging in his heart.

"Hell Envoy..." Lin Zhou murmured to himself. "It seems we are facing an evil civilization from outer space."

He immediately issued orders into the communicator: "Send out an alarm to all survivor bases worldwide immediately! Closely monitor all energy anomalies! The research team must analyze the monster's energy signature and genetic data right away to develop targeted weapons! Also, notify our allies in Bear Country and the Americas to form a Global United Defense Force. Our enemy is no longer just the mutated creatures within Earth, but invaders from hell!"

Alarms rang out across the globe once more. In the Research Center of the East Sea Barrier Base, the lights were bright as scientists raced against time to analyze data. At survivor bases worldwide, soldiers stood ready, the muzzles of Railguns pointed at the sky. The skynet satellite was fully activated, monitoring every corner of the Earth.

Within the mist of the Amazon Rainforest, more and more black shadows began to move. They were the "Hell Envoys," evil existences from outer space, descending upon Earth with a mission of destruction.