Chapter 694 - 442: Annihilating the White King [3]

The sun sank in the west.

Like a festering wound, it oozed a dark crimson glow across the horizon.

A dilapidated Saint Maria Church stood amidst the overgrown weeds, its rusty steeple cross tilting askew above it.

The light striking it was not a warm gold, but a rust-like, brownish-red hue.

It was like a patch of dried blood smeared across the church’s mottled gray walls.

Lev adjusted his earpiece, his gaze fixed on the church entrance not far ahead.

The church door was half-open, offering a faint glimpse of the scene inside.

However, the poor light made everything hazy and indistinct.

In the sunset’s afterglow, the shadows of the surrounding trees stretched long, like distorted tentacles creeping across the ground.

At this sight, the muscles under Lev’s tan protective suit tensed slightly.

It betrayed his inner tension.

"Command Center, this is Cleaner D-Level Squad 17. We’ve reached the target location and are preparing to enter."

"Copy that. Intel indicates the target has an anomalous effect triggered by visual contact. All personnel must maintain indirect observation."

A calm female voice came through the earpiece.

"Good luck."

The voice trailed off.

The line went dead.

Lev took a deep breath.

He glanced at his teammates.

"Alright, listen up! Final check on gear and suit status! We move out in three minutes, as planned!"

"Copy that, Captain!"

The others nodded in silence. Their heavy protective suits hid their expressions, and only a few muffled electronic tones escaped.

Tan composite material enveloped their bodies, and their sealed faceplates reflected a cold light.

Each of them wore special reflective goggles with lenses treated to filter out specific wavelengths of light.

On their chests, the Cleaner insignia was an inverted black triangle with three jagged cracks inside.

It symbolized destruction and cleansing.

Lev reached out and tapped his watch.

WHOOSH!

A holographic screen materialized.

Mission Codename: Twelve-winged Angel Statue

Target ID: LB-727

Risk Level: T3

Containment Team: White Pagoda, Cleaner D-Level Squad 17 (4 members)

Target Description: Individuals who enter its area of influence or make eye contact with it will suffer Erosion from an unknown force.

Their bodies and Spirit will gradually twist and warp, eventually transforming them into a terrifying, angelic monster.

These Mutations possess extremely high durability and swiftness, and exhibit extreme aggression.

They will indiscriminately slaughter all life within their line of sight, only stopping once there is nothing left alive to kill.

Containment Protocol: Approach and activate optical isolation barrier to block its image.

...

Lev stared at the rows of information.

His expression flickered, and he fell silent.

His mind couldn’t help but drift back to the events of the last few years.

He used to be just an ordinary person.

Then, three years ago, something happened that forced him to recognize the most terrifying side of this world.

This world was home to all sorts of Alien Origin Bodies.

These things simply couldn’t be explained by science.

Their Abilities were strange and varied beyond belief.

Most importantly, some of these Alien Origin Bodies were extremely dangerous. A single mistake could lead to massive casualties.

Based on their threat and various data analyses, these Alien Origin Bodies were divided into five Levels.

From T1 to T5.

T1 Level, also known as Static Level.

Extremely low or no external threat. Containment measures are simple, and any anomalous effects are controllable.

For example, some of the Alien Origin Bodies he knew of:

JZ-004: The Eternal Ink Bottle

Description: A glass ink bottle that never runs dry. Any liquid poured into it is converted into black ink, but it exhibits no other anomalous effects.

Containment Protocol: Stored in the archives for clerical use.

...

JZ-071: The Speed Pocket Watch

Description: A brass pocket watch. The wearer perceives time as slowing down (though external time proceeds normally). The effect ceases upon removal.

Containment Protocol: Stored under a glass dome. Senior researchers may request to use it for a maximum of 4 hours at a time.

...

JZ-099: The Phantom Bookshelf

Description: An oak bookshelf. Books placed upon it will randomly swap positions but will not be lost or damaged.

Containment Protocol: Used for storing non-classified documents. Occasionally used for recreation.

---

T2 (Disturbance Level)

Alien Origin Bodies of this Level have controllable but unpredictable anomalous effects. They require moderate containment procedures and may have a minor impact on humans or the environment.

For example, RD-012: The Echo Phone

Description: An old-fashioned rotary phone. When answered, it plays a random voice clip of the caller from sometime within the next 24 hours.

Containment Protocol: Kept in a soundproof room. Use is restricted to personnel Level 3 and above.

RD-055: The Flesh Pot Plant

Description: A fleshy plant that grows by absorbing the epidermal cells of anyone who touches it. Contact with an open wound may trigger a localized parasitic infection.

Containment Protocol: Housed in a sealed glass tank and trimmed regularly by designated personnel.

And then, T3 (Fission Level).

Alien Origin Bodies of this Level are a direct threat. A containment breach could lead to a regional disaster, so containment protocols must be strictly followed.

Example 1: LB-303, the Light Eater

Description: An amorphous black shadow that devours all surrounding light sources and emits intense cold.

Any living creature it touches is instantly frozen solid.

Containment Protocol: Must be stored in an electromagnetically shielded room in absolute darkness. All entering personnel must wear thermal insulation suits.

LB-104: The Cognitive Plague

Description: A memetic virus. The Infected gradually come to believe they are a fictional character from a game or a book who has transmigrated into the real world.

They then attempt to "rewrite" reality to match their character’s established lore.