novelraw Chapter 38 : A New Prelude
Chapter 38 : A New Prelude
Chapter 38: A New Prelude
A grenade shaped like a flying disc flickered with blue electric arcs.
“This is the ‘Magnetic Storm Grenade’. We expect it to generate an immensely strong pulse magnetic field in an instant, designed specifically to counter abilities that manipulate metal.”
Inside a pressurized canister was a black foam.
“This is the ‘Graphene Energy-Absorbing Foam’. We expect it to absorb and neutralize thermal energy with extreme efficiency—it’s the nemesis of flame-type abilities.”
A large net woven from white fibers lay stretched out.
“This is the ‘Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Restraint Net’. We expect its material strength to be fifteen times that of steel of the same mass, designed specifically to restrain strength-type Transcendents.”
“In addition, we must establish a massive ‘Transcendent Ability Archive’!”
“We will catalog and name all Transcendent abilities that appeared during the Jiang City incident, as well as all abilities that may appear in the future.”
“These are the preliminary files we’ve compiled so far.”
One after another, records appeared on the screen.
【File No.: 001, Codename: Popeye, Name: Zheng Wei, Ability Description: Possesses unimaginable strength and defense. Tests show his normal strength to be about a hundred times that of an average adult male, capable of tearing apart tank armor barehanded. In a special state (after consuming spinach), his strength would skyrocket again—he once displayed the terrifying power to uproot an entire underground base. Status: Deceased.】
【File No.: 002, Codename: Iron Lord, Name: Liu Gang, Ability Description: Can manipulate metallic substances to reshape and move at high speed. Once demonstrated the terrifying ability to gather tens of thousands of tons of metal into a hundred-meter-tall steel giant. Status: Deceased.】
【File No.: 003, Codename: Zhu Rong, Name: Sun Na, Ability Description: Can create and control high-temperature flames and is immune to fire damage. Once manifested in the form of a flaming phoenix. Status: Deceased.】
【File No.: 004, Codename: Plague Doctor, Name: Wu Ce, Ability Description: Puppet control. Can create and manipulate ‘flesh puppets’ stitched together from biological corpses. Status: Deceased.】
【File No.: 005, Codename: ???, Name: Li Ming, Ability Description: ??? Status: Deceased.】
【File No.: 006, Codename: Gale, Name: Zhang Jie, Ability Description: Possesses super-speed movement, ignoring certain physical inertia. Status: Missing.】
【File No.: 007, Codename: Painted Skin, Name: ???, Ability Description: Can flawlessly alter appearance and voice; poses an immense threat to the organization. Status: Missing.】
【File No.: 008, Codename: Voodoo, Name: ???, Ability Description: Capable of remote curse killings through unknown mediums; extremely dangerous. Status: Missing.】
【File No.: 009, Codename: Keeper, Name: ???, Ability Description: Can control animals for reconnaissance and attack. Status: Missing.】
“Our intelligence department will continue updating and supplementing these files to provide the most precise intelligence support for every future operation.”
Gazing at this archive, compiled through countless sacrifices of blood and life, Chen Mo felt a surge of mixed emotions. He knew this was only the tip of the iceberg.
Pausing for a moment to collect himself, Chen Mo continued, “The second part concerns the recruitment of Transcendents.”
“We will continue to use Zheng Wei as the model, extending goodwill toward all potential Transcendents.”
“In the Jiang City incident, aside from those confirmed dead, we must spare no effort to locate the remaining Transcendents.”
“At the same time, we will form a specialized team, recruiting top experts from psychology, sociology, and human behavioral studies to conduct comprehensive analyses of the mental and behavioral patterns of all Transcendents.”
“For those willing to cooperate and who maintain a certain moral standard, we will use every means possible to recruit them!”
“But for those who refuse to cooperate—or harbor clear malice toward the nation and its people—we will carry out the most resolute and thorough purges!”
“And the third part concerns information control.”
“At the level of the ordinary public, the existence of ‘Transcendents’ must be absolutely denied. Their awareness would only lead to widespread panic and instability.”
“Therefore, we will define the Jiang City incident as ‘a major terrorist attack orchestrated by foreign forces colluding with domestic criminal groups, using undisclosed high-tech weaponry.’”
“All our fallen comrades will be posthumously honored with the highest recognition—as ‘Anti-Terrorism Heroes’.”
“This will preserve the basic stability of society and buy us the time needed to absorb and comprehend the impact of the ‘Transcendents’.”
Chen Mo’s plan was methodical, logical, and brimming with rational foresight.
The leaders present exchanged approving looks.
“Excellent.”
The Commander finally made the decision. “We’ll proceed according to Comrade Chen Mo’s plan!”
“I hereby order Project Ark to commence immediately!”
……
And thus, the meeting ended.
Orders, clear and decisive, were issued from the very core of the nation’s power.
Countless funds were injected, countless elites were recruited, countless resources were mobilized.
After suffering a devastating dimensional blow, human civilization once again revealed its indomitable resilience!
Humanity’s greatest weapon had never been guns or cannons—
It was its capacity to learn, to adapt, and its unyielding resolve and courage!
……
Inside Yun Ge’s apartment.
Yun Ge watched the massive, swiftly operating machinery of the nation on the light screen with keen interest.
He saw those sleepless scientists;
Saw the myriad imaginative countermeasures being developed;
Saw the rekindled human fighting spirit;
Saw the newly established Transcendent files, filled with detailed research on the abilities he had designed…
Watching all this, a faint smile curved Yun Ge’s lips.
He felt as though he were watching a group of clever children building a seawall out of toy blocks to resist a tsunami.
Though it was all full of rigor, science, and human ingenuity—
To Yun Ge, it appeared so absurd, so ignorant, so laughable.
Gracefully, Yun Ge poured himself a glass of whiskey, swirling the ice sphere within.
“Oh? So, you’ve begun to resist?”
“Trying to use the order of mortals to defy the script of gods?”
“Good. Very good.”
“Then let me see—what kind of new act your carefully prepared ‘Ark’ will perform, and what kind of amusement it will bring me.”
“I’m starting to look forward to it.”
“Don’t disappoint me too much.”
Then, Yun Ge’s gaze shifted toward the vast, blue planet on the screen.
“Since the first act has come to an end,”
“...it’s time to choose a new stage and new players for the second.”