Chapter 99
Chapter 99
Urgent alerts came from the communicator at Qin Lan’s waist, one after another, making it vibrate without pause.
Only then did he belatedly realize that he had received dozens of messages and several missed call requests.
Less than one day had passed inside the instance, but nearly a week had elapsed in the outside world.
“Messages from Director Lu… Luo Yue… and Tang Qingqing?”
Seeing all three trying desperately to reach him at the same time filled Qin Lan with foreboding.
Everyone close to him knew he had entered the Fallen Zone. Spending several days inside an instance was also perfectly normal for an Anomaly Hunter. They should not have been this anxious.
If all three were frantically contacting him at once, there could be only one explanation.
Something had happened in the Safe Zone.
Remembering the dark-green apparition’s final threat made Qin Lan’s heart sink further.
Before it vanished, the apparition had looked at him with more than hatred. Its gaze also carried certainty…
As though it had already foreseen a wonderful spectacle about to begin.
Were the things on the other side of the Abyss truly arranging some terrifying plan?
Qin Lan quickly opened the messages.
As he read them one by one, his expression grew exceedingly grim, and his fingers tightened around the communicator.
Xue Chuan was still cursing Li Yuan beside him. Eventually, however, he noticed the change in atmosphere and glanced over.
“Why’d you stop talking, Old Qin?”
“You look awful… Got hemorrhoids?”
“If you don’t mind, I can lend you the mustard. Fighting poison with poison might work wonders.”
Normally, Qin Lan’s palm would already have struck the back of Xue Chuan’s head, accompanied by a few warm greetings for his family.
Right now, Qin Lan was in no mood. His mind was filled with the disturbing words from those messages.
He stared at the communicator and shook his head. Then he slowly turned toward Xue Chuan, his face grave.
“No…”
“Anomalies have invaded the Safe Zone.”
According to Lu Xingshan, mysterious fissures had begun appearing randomly throughout the Safe Zone two days ago. Anomalies that should have existed only inside Fallen Zone instances emerged from them one after another, like beasts breaking free of their cages.
Even worse, the anomalies emerging from the fissures were no longer bound by any rules.
It was as though some shackle had been removed, allowing them to attack any target they wished.
Humanity’s final sanctuary was no longer absolutely safe.
Tang Qingqing’s messages confirmed the same thing.
Five spatial fissures had appeared across the Safe Zone so far, and the Anomaly Hunter Bureau had dispatched personnel to seal off each site.
Fortunately, only 1-Star anomalies had emerged, so the pressure remained manageable.
The problem was that the fissures were steadily growing in both size and number, like malignant tumors gradually devouring the foundations of the Safe Zone.
Xue Chuan froze. His mouth hung half open, and the mustard nearly slipped from his hand.
Anomalies had invaded the Safe Zone?
The words sounded utterly foreign.
Everyone had been taught from childhood that Safe Zones were absolutely secure. They were the final line of defense, the last harbor of human civilization.
Now that harbor had been torn open with frightening ease.
“We need to go back.” Qin Lan’s voice was grave and left no room for debate.
After a brief hesitation, he looked at Xue Chuan again. “No. I should say that I need to go back.”
“Safe Zone 088 is dangerous now. Your direct combat ability isn’t strong. Maybe you should shelter in another Safe Zone until–”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Xue Chuan interrupted.
“I grew up in Safe Zone 088 too. How could I run when something like this happens?” His expression was serious for once, and irritation even flashed in his eyes. “Old Qin, don’t fucking look down on me.”
Seeing his resolve, Qin Lan stopped trying to persuade him.
Xue Chuan might be carefree and unreliable most of the time, but when something truly mattered, he was more stubborn than anyone.
Just over half an hour later, the two arrived at the entrance to Safe Zone 088.
The place had changed drastically since their departure.
Many additional guards now patrolled outside the entrance. Every face was solemn, and an oppressive atmosphere hung over them. Even the air felt taut.
When Qin Lan appeared, the guards instinctively assumed defensive stances. After seeing his Anomaly Hunter Bureau combat uniform and silver badge, however, they relaxed.
“Another 3-Star Anomaly Hunter? Is he reinforcement from another Safe Zone?”
“No, I recognize him… That’s Qin Lan, the one who was recently promoted. I heard he only just turned nineteen.”
“Qin Lan? The one who had that dispute with the United Government…”
The guards whispered among themselves and hurriedly opened a path for Qin Lan. Their gazes carried complicated emotions–a mixture of awe and curiosity.
The two soon reached the main hall of the Anomaly Hunter Bureau.
The hall was deserted. Not another Anomaly Hunter could be seen. Only a few exhausted administrative workers stood in a corner, speaking quietly.
Luo Yue was absent as well, her location unknown.
The enormous display used to post assignments was cycling through the latest updates from across the Safe Zone.
[Fissure No. 1: Stable]
[Fissure No. 2: Stable]
[Fissure No. 3: Invasion Alert]
[Fissure No. 4…]
Apparently, all available Anomaly Hunters had been dispatched as reinforcements.
The vast hall stood empty, with only the red words on the screen flashing repeatedly like leaping flames.
“You’re back?”
Lu Xingshan’s deep, powerful voice carried a reassuring weight.
Qin Lan’s strength had advanced another great step, allowing him to sense Lu Xingshan’s arrival.
He was not surprised. He merely nodded. “Yes, Director Lu… I have intelligence concerning the Abyss to report.”
Lu Xingshan’s brows drew together. “The Abyss?”
His gaze shifted to Xue Chuan with a trace of scrutiny. “He was present as well?”
Qin Lan nodded. “Yes. At the time…”
After hearing Qin Lan’s account, Lu Xingshan’s expression grew increasingly grave. His brows nearly knotted together.
He did not know why spatial fissures had appeared inside the Safe Zone, nor did he understand how anomalies were escaping the confines of their instances.
But Qin Lan’s description made the severity of the situation clear. This was not a chance event. It was a premeditated attack.
“In other words, the existence from the Abyss inside that 3-Star instance has already noticed you… and is now preparing a coordinated assault?”
“These spatial fissures are most likely their work as well?”
Lu Xingshan sat in his office with a deep frown and lit a cigarette.
For someone as powerful as him, cigarettes had long since lost their effect.
His physique and Curse Core allowed him to ignore the harmful substances, and even nicotine did nothing.
Still, Lu Xingshan lit one.
It was an old habit, a ritual he performed while thinking.
Qin Lan spoke in a low voice, a suppressed urgency in his tone. “These spatial fissures may be only the beginning.”
“First they deploy anomalies directly into the Safe Zone, dividing our attention and wearing down our defensive forces.”
“If they attack from outside at the same time, breaking the Safe Zone’s defenses would be effortless.”
Lu Xingshan’s expression darkened further. He exhaled a long plume of smoke.
“Agreed. Only something on the other side of the Abyss could possess an inconceivable ability like opening passages between worlds…”
“I will report this to headquarters. The surrounding Safe Zones will send additional personnel as well.”
“But there is one thing I need to make clear in advance…”
Lu Xingshan paused and decisively crushed out the cigarette.
His tone allowed no argument. “If Safe Zone 088 truly reaches the brink of destruction, you must leave. You are not permitted to stay.”
Qin Lan froze, not expecting such words from Lu Xingshan. He opened his mouth to respond, but Lu Xingshan raised a hand and stopped him.
“This is not a request. It is an order.” Lu Xingshan stared directly into Qin Lan’s eyes without the slightest hesitation. “I can tell your strength has improved again. Before long, you may surpass even me…”
“This will not be the limit of what you can achieve.”
“If you are allowed to mature, your value will far exceed that of a single 4-Star Anomaly Hunter like me.”
Lu Xingshan enunciated every word. “That is why you must leave.”
“If someone has to sacrifice himself, it can only be me.”
“I am the director of the Anomaly Hunter Bureau. I have a duty to live or die alongside this Safe Zone.”
Qin Lan stood frozen and speechless for a long time, his throat seemingly blocked.
He had never imagined Lu Xingshan valued him this much. The man would rather perish with Safe Zone 088 than allow Qin Lan to come to harm.
“What about me?”
In the middle of the moving scene, Xue Chuan pointed at himself and leaned forward expectantly.
Lu Xingshan glanced at him without expression.
“You?”
“Who cares?”