"Quick!"
"Everyone hurry up!"
Several seemingly ordinary bread vans appeared near Cloud Shield University, and a group of fully armed Nightwatchers quickly rushed out.
"Deploy the starry Barrier, covering the entire university campus, especially near the Material Research Institute."
The district team leader, possessing Third Tier Extraordinary Power, loudly shouted while throwing a strange eyeball into the air:
"Monitor everyone's movements on campus and arrest anyone who entered or left the Material Research Institute within the past two hours."
"Yes!"
"Move quickly!"
In the principal's office, Gregory, who was checking the year's project submissions, suddenly looked up.
"Marz."
He asked in a low voice:
"What's happening?"
As the principal of the Federation's renowned university and also a Federation senator, he was also a Transcendent.
And a powerful one who has lived for nearly two hundred years.
"Old friend."
Marz, the Nightwatcher district team leader responsible here, looked towards the principal's office and sighed:
"The divine punishment of an Outer Domain Divine has descended, your school has been contaminated."
"..." Gregory paused upon hearing this, his eyes complex:
"So soon?"
The news of the Child of Destruction's birth had not been concealed by the Temple of Gods, and those with Extraordinary Powers were all aware.
Yet no one expected,
the divine punishment to arrive so quickly!
"Where is the Child of Destruction?"
Gregory spoke up:
"Can the Night Watcher Organization contact the Outer Domain Divine? Maybe... we can hand over the Child of Destruction."
The power of the Divine is almost unsolvable to mortals.
Moreover, the stronger the Transcendent, the more they realize the unbridgeable gap between them.
Surrender,
seemed the only choice to him.
"No one knows where the Child of Destruction is." Marz shook his head:
"And even if we hand over the Child of Destruction, the Outer Domain Divine might not spare this world."
"Old friend..."
"The moment of doom has already approached us."
"Is that so?" Knowing that things are irreparable, Gregory was no longer as tense as he had been initially. He stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the vibrant students below.
"I have lived for one hundred eighty-seven years, experienced everything there is to experience, no regrets left."
"But they..."
"are still young!"
Marz remained silent.
The next moment.
"Boom!"
A loud noise erupted from the institute, and a dark figure smashed through the glass, leaping down from the fifth floor. In mid-air, a black membrane extended from the body like gliding wings, descending towards the ground, rolling into the crowd upon landing.
Countless black lines emerged from the body, stabbing towards the surrounding people.
"Divine punishment!"
Marz hurriedly said:
"Something has parasitized the Material Research Institute staff, it cannot escape. Messages from the base say it will split and expand."
"Then..."
"Everything will be over!"
"Swish!"
Before he finished speaking, Gregory's figure suddenly appeared in the scene, the aged body bursting with incredible power.
With just a light wave of his large hand, invisible gravity emerged, gathering everything towards his fist.
The black bugs shooting towards the crowd were also pulled back.
"Boom!"
Blinding light burst from his fist, blasting the shadow into fragments, leaving only several black threads writhing back and forth.
"Still not dead?"
Gregory's face grew dark.
He had just used seventy percent of his strength, leaving thirty percent just to avoid damaging the surrounding buildings, yet the bizarre parasite wasn't completely dead.
Consider this:
The parasitized were merely ordinary people.
In less than an hour, an ordinary person could gain the power to resist a Third Tier.
This thing...
Terrifying!
Marz witnessed this scene clearly too, his face instantly paled, making a quick decision.
"Lock down the campus."
"Apply to use the Gate of Darkness, seal the campus!"
Gregory sharply raised his head.
*
*
*
Polar Regions.
In just a few days, a comprehensive base had been established around the 'Black Bug Stone' in the Polar Regions.
Rapid cooling devices were set up on the base walls, and everyone underwent strict inspection.
"Latest news."
"A highly infectious plague has erupted at Cloud Shield University, currently the campus is locked down, outsiders prohibited from approaching."
"Our reporter has reached close to the campus, where a security interception net is set up..."
"I'm Nari, a reporter from this station, bringing you the latest live report. Now let's interview the police in charge."
"Hello!"
"Can you tell us the situation inside the campus?"
"..."
Carl looked up at the wall-mounted TV, showing some news of Cloud Shield University.
There's even a drone flying in the air, overlooking the campus below.
"These reporters are really daring."
With a Longsword at his waist, Austin lifted the curtain and walked in, frowning at the TV report:
"It was clearly stated that any investigation into the situation inside is prohibited, yet they dare to send drones."
"Big news easily attracts attention." Carl withdrew his gaze, chuckling:
"No problem, I'll be leaving then."
"Professor."
Austin pondered for a while, then said:
"Are you really not considering joining the research?"
"No." Carl shook his head:
"With current means, nothing will be researched, I advise you not to waste your time on this."
Black Bugs parasitizing other organisms would greatly enhance the abilities of the host beyond any explanation.
If the principles could be understood...
Its utility is immense.
But unfortunately,
Carl wasn't optimistic.
It's not that reverse engineering is impossible, but given the current technology, it simply can't be achieved.
Wizard World might offer some opportunities, but they are not significant either.
Because Black Bugs come from the Divine.
Moreover,
If Carl's speculation is correct, these Black Bugs are the progeny of that Divine, so how can it be managed?
However, he might gain some insights from it himself.
"Professor, you need to undergo a physical examination."
"Alright."
Entering and leaving the base requires thorough checks to prevent anyone from bringing parasitic Black Bugs outside.
Just taking one out could potentially destroy the entire world.
"Buzz..."
The helicopter's rotor blades rapidly spun, producing an ear-piercing screech as Carl braced against the cold wind and boarded the plane.
"Goodbye!"
"Goodbye!"
Waving his hand, the helicopter quickly ascended, and the figures below became smaller until they disappeared.
"Professor, we'll first head to a nearby airport, then take a passenger plane back to Fast City."
The pilot turned around, shouting:
"It might take some time, you can rest a bit."
"Alright."
Carl adjusted his clothes, found a comfortable position, and slowly closed his eyes. He was not resting, but his mind was rapidly revolving.
Divine punishment!
Black Bugs!
Child of Destruction!
Hmm?
Carl opened his eyes, looking to the pilot in front:
"How much longer?"
"Almost there."
"Weren't you saying it would take a long time?"
"Professor, you fell asleep, a long time has already passed."
"Is that so?"
Carl stroked his chin:
"You should be the one sleeping."
"This is..."
"Dream World!"
He stood up, disregarding the pilot's obstruction, pulling open the cabin door with inexplicable strength.
He looked out at the vast white mist.
"There is more than one Outer Domain Divine intending to destroy this world, and more than one type of divine punishment has been imposed."
Carl stepped into the void:
"Forcing people into the Dream World, the means of this Divine is truly unresolvable for mortals."
