16: Ghoul Nest

Donghai City Psionic Bureau.

Inside the command center, the air seemed to freeze, only to be torn apart by countless urgent commands and alarms.

On the pale blue holographic screen, countless data streams refreshed like a waterfall.

One of the glaring red data points was climbing frantically at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"Report! In the Abandoned Industrial Zone in the East of the City, the Demonic Qi concentration has broken through the threshold! And it's still rising!"

"Large-scale life signal clusters detected! Signal characteristics... they're all Ghouls!"

"Wait! There's also an exceptionally powerful energy reaction rapidly taking shape!"

Dozens of intelligence personnel sat at their respective consoles, fingers flying across keyboards as sweat soaked the hair on their foreheads, every face filled with gravity.

The Intelligence Team Leader walked quickly to Director Qin Shan, his expression solemn to the extreme.

"Director, after data comparison and model deduction, it's basically confirmed that the location in the east of the city is the source nest of all the Ghouls that have been causing trouble in the city recently."

His voice carried a hint of uncontrollable tension.

"We always thought it was scattered demonic infiltrations... I didn't expect them to establish a nest of such scale right under our noses!"

Qin Shan, the elder in charge of the Donghai City Psionic Bureau, had a face that was terrifyingly grim at this moment.

His gaze, like a hawk's, was locked onto the expanding red area on the main screen.

A poisonous thorn had silently pierced the heart of Donghai City.

Once this nest fully erupts and lets these Ghouls flood into the city... he didn't dare to imagine the consequences, nor would he ever allow it to happen.

"They must all be eliminated before they fully gain momentum!"

Qin Shan's voice wasn't loud, yet it carried an unquestionable decisiveness.

Personally taking command, he picked up the communicator and asked in a low voice.

"Special Operations Squad, what's the situation?"

...East of the city, abandoned industrial zone.

The piercing screech of brakes tore through the deathly silent night.

Several black special operations vehicles came to a steady halt in front of a massive, rust-stained factory building.

The car door opened, and Wang Hu, captain of Action Team Three, jumped down from the lead vehicle.

His burly frame was clad in a custom black combat suit, a hideous scar ran across his face, yet his eyes were as sharp as blades.

"Reporting to the Director, all action squads have arrived at the target location and are ready to begin the elimination operation."

He responded in a deep voice into the personal terminal on his wrist.

Behind him were five elite Special Operations Squads from the Spiritual Energy Bureau.

Two Third-Class Squads and three Second-Class Squads.

The members of the Third-Class Squads were all third-rank Core Condensation Realm Special Agents; they were the backbone of the Donghai City Psionic Bureau.

And the members of the Second-Class Squads were all battle-hardened second-rank Resonance Realm experts.

Such a formation was enough to handle a small-scale demonic riot.

Standing before the dark, cavernous entrance of the factory, Wang Hu turned to face the determined young faces behind him.

"Brothers! Behind us is Donghai City! These filthy Ghouls think they can nest here and turn our home into their hunting ground! Can we allow that?"

"No!"

A unified roar, filled with soaring fighting spirit, echoed through the night sky.

"Then let's go! Crush all these light-shunning bastards into the darkness!"

Wang Hu waved his hand.

"Operation begin!"

The Special Operations Squads were well-trained, filing in using standard combat formations.

Inside the factory, it was cold and damp, the air thick with a nauseating stench of rust and rotting flesh.

As soon as they entered, several dark shadows lunged from the darkness.

They were scattered, wandering Ghouls.

However, they were met with merciless blades and scorching Spiritual Energy Bullets.

"Puchi!"

"Bang!"

After a few muffled sounds, those Ghouls were reduced to fragments on the ground.

The operation was exceptionally smooth.

The Special Agents' morale soared even higher.

"That's it? These Ghouls are nothing special."

A young Special Agent wiped the black blood splashed on his face, his tone relaxed.

"It looks like tonight's mission will be wrapped up quickly. These Contribution Points are practically free."

"Haha, true. I haven't even warmed up yet."

A few chuckles rang out over the team channel.

"Don't get careless!"

Wang Hu's cold voice instantly silenced everyone.

"Until the mission is confirmed complete, everyone maintain maximum vigilance!"

"Yes, Captain!"

The members immediately set aside their complacency, their expressions turning serious once more.

Just then, Wang Hu's footsteps suddenly halted.

He looked up toward the depths of the factory, where the darkness seemed even thicker.

A thick, impenetrable Demonic Qi was spreading from that direction.

There's something big in there!

"Team One, Team Two, follow me!"

Wang Hu ordered decisively, referring to the two strongest Third-Class Squads.

"The rest of you, clear out the remaining Ghoul clusters on the perimeter. Remember, don't let a single one escape!"

"Yes!"

All squads answered in unison.

Immediately, Wang Hu led the two Third-Class Squads, advancing rapidly into the depths where the Demonic Qi was thickest, like a sword unsheathed.

The three Second-Class Squads remained in the perimeter area, continuing to clear out the scattered Ghouls.

Watching Wang Hu and the others disappear into the darkness, one Second-Class Squad captain curled his lip.

"Captain Wang Hu is too tense. What threat can these small fry pose?"

With a casual swing of his blade, he split an attacking Ghoul in half.

"It couldn't even block one of my strikes."

Another captain agreed, "Indeed, these low-rank Demonic Evils don't even have the right to make me use my full strength."

However, the ease on their faces didn't last long.

"Roar—!"

A roar saturated with brutality and hunger suddenly exploded from the darkness behind them.

That sound was completely different from the previous Ghouls' screeches.

More violent, and much... larger!

Every Special Agent's heart skipped a beat.

They instantly turned, blades pointed toward the direction of the sound, standing ready.

"What is that?"

A Special Agent shouted nervously.

No one answered him.

However, in the next second...

In the darkness, pairs of blood-red eyes lit up.

Two pairs.

Ten pairs.

Hundreds of pairs!

Densely packed blood-red spots of light, like Equinox Flowers blooming in Hell, instantly filled their entire field of vision.