Chapter 22: Live Broadcast

“Hey… hey… hey… what the hell is going on?!” Gunsmith cried, staring at the main screen.

An invisible force was pulling the entire island upward. The breach blasted open by the bow cannon had become the dividing line. It was like punching a hole in a sheet of paper with a pen, then pulling hard on either side until the paper tore across the hole.

The rock and sand on Hell Island's surface, along with the man-made Tidal Prison inside it, slowly rose out of the sea and into the sky. In volume alone, the rising section was equivalent to a medium-sized city.

Coffee in hand, Tian Yi had moved an armchair and a small round table into the empty space at the back of the bridge. He sat watching the screen with interest, as though watching a film. “Probably a mutant's doing.”

Stranger asked, “Can a human mind sustain the effort of moving something that big?”

Tian Yi said, “Mental power doesn't enter into it. At this scale, it basically comes down to the inherent superiority of the ability itself.”

“The so-called w-class?” Gu Wen put in.

“That's what an ability without limits is like. In theory, assuming his ability is moving objects with his mind, he could move an entire planet, move the sun, move galaxies, rearrange everything in the universe, and so on. Anyway, so far he's only moved an island. Nothing to make a fuss about,” Tian Yi replied.

Gambling Snake then asked, “Are they born with that kind of ability?”

“Yes, but in our universe…” Tian Yi shrugged. “Let's assume for the moment that there are infinitely many universes operating under different rules. In ours, clearly no creature exists that can destroy a planet at the age of one or two, or we wouldn't be here.” He pointed at the screen. “w-class mutants need to grow too. Once they reach maturity, it becomes very difficult to measure them by ability-user ranks. A Strong-rank ability user might be able to kill a mutant like that, yet under certain special conditions that mutant could destroy the universe.”

“I don't know who he is, but I can see why the Empire locked him up. This guy's already grown a little too much!” Gunsmith said, looking back.

Gu Wen smiled. “Personally, I don't think this ability is all that powerful. For a w-class mutant at the same stage of development, even shitting would be a stronger ability.”

Everyone was stunned by this argument, but Tian Yi sipped his coffee and nodded as they discussed this disgusting subject. “Exactly. An excellent example.”

“I don't particularly want to hear you explain this, but I am curious. What makes it such a good example?” Spayton asked.

Gu Wen replied, “It's simple. Suppose a mutant's ability is producing shit, and his ability has no limits. He could fill a city with the shit he produces, then a planet, a galaxy, and eventually the entire universe… At the stage of development we're seeing here, if his ability were producing shit instead, he could fill the oceans with it, raising sea levels worldwide and causing a global disaster. This fellow in front of us is only moving a city. He'd certainly be discovered and stopped before he destroyed the planet. But someone producing shit would be very difficult to locate…”

“I think… you and the boss both need to learn when to stop. Some of your ideas are far too dangerous…” Accountant might call Tian Yi the boss, but his eyes were full of contempt.

Tian Yi said, “All right. Anyway, the island floating up is good news for us. It makes the show more entertaining, doesn't it?” He snapped his fingers, and Darkwater came to his side.

“Get into the island before the lower half of the prison is completely out of the water. Bring out as many of the prisoners without abilities in the special confinement blocks as you can.”

Darkwater left the bridge without a word. Soon they saw a black shadow on the screen dart through the sea and into Tidal Prison.

“How do we get in?” Gambling Snake asked.

Tian Yi smiled. “Gunsmith, surface.”

…

Somewhere inside the island.

Jefferson stood chest-deep in seawater. Blood Owl stood opposite him, but at around two meters tall, the water reached only just above his waist.

“Coughed up quite a bit of blood, haven't you, Warden?” Blood Owl grinned viciously, though his own chin was covered in blood, as if he'd just vomited three liters of it.

Jefferson said, “Once this place fills with seawater, it'll be even harder for either of us to win. Do you want us both to die here?”

“Don't be ridiculous, Warden. How could I possibly die along with you…” Before he finished, Blood Owl threw a punch. The blast of air it produced split the seawater and shot toward Jefferson's chest.

Although the water slowed him down, Jefferson just managed to evade the blow. “I still don't quite understand your ability. How can you have this much strength while fighting me?”

Blood Owl said, “But I saw through your tricks long ago, Warden.” He laid bare the truth behind Jefferson's ability. “Your ability is quantization. In the twenty-odd minutes we've been fighting, you've broken down all the destructive force of my attacks. Otherwise, this dump would have been smashed to pieces by now.”

“Just what rank of ability user are you?” Jefferson stared at Blood Owl. “The way you circulate energy is highly sophisticated. Yan Kong's handiwork, without a doubt. But you certainly aren't Mad rank…”

“Heh heh heh…” Blood Owl wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. “If I were Mad rank, you'd already be dead. Is that it?”

Jefferson had no objection to admitting it. “That's right. You use a Fierce-rank energy form, yet your combat capabilities far exceed mine. Your regeneration and destructive power are both monstrous, at a level only those at the upper end of Mad rank can reach. But ultimately, you aren't Mad rank. You can't beat me!”

“You do have grounds for your arrogance. Even drawing on the ‘evil’ on this island, I'm still being suppressed by your ability. Still, I don't think I'll lose here, so please hurry up and die. I've got plenty of other troublesome things to do.” Blood Owl threw another two punches in succession.

This time Jefferson did not dodge. He took both impacts head-on, forcibly neutralizing them with his ability.

Jefferson claimed he would not lose, but fear had already begun to take hold. He himself did not know why. The longer they fought, the more his fear grew, without his realizing it, while Blood Owl only fought harder.

Whatever attacks he faced, this opponent showed no sign of fear. He responded to lethal attacks and feints alike with extraordinary calm, without a single mistake. He seemed to have no weaknesses or blind spots at all.

The rising water slowed Jefferson more and more, making it increasingly difficult to exert force. He had assumed his opponent's punches would also suffer, yet those last two blows had been stronger, harder, and faster than the earlier attacks. Jefferson truly had been unable to dodge them, leaving him no choice but to neutralize them with his ability.

If this continued, Blood Owl, fighting on physical strength alone, would eventually drive Jefferson into a corner. An ability requiring conscious control naturally consumed more energy. Leaving ability ranks aside, Blood Owl's power, much like an inborn curse, was remarkably easy to live with once he got used to it.

“Warden, you're looking a little pale.” A mocking voice came from behind Jefferson.

Jefferson had been so intent on his confrontation with Blood Owl that he had failed to notice another prisoner approaching.

A humanoid mass of filthy water rose behind Jefferson, and two glue-like streams wound around the warden's neck. The speaker had a grotesque, ghostly face. His entire body had merged with the water, leaving no flesh or blood. “You've kept me bottled up in liquefied Divine Mist for years now. Even a fish tank needs its water changed, doesn't it? HUH?!” His last word became a hoarse, full-throated roar. The bodiless prisoner's voice sounded like a mournful howl echoing from a cave.

Blood Owl said coldly, “Hey, slug. We're not finished here.”

“Slug… I'm Leech Demon! Where the hell did you come from?! Talking to me like that…” Leech Demon looked Blood Owl up and down. Taking in his physique and bearing, he immediately continued, “…A professional male escort?! The prisoners they lock up here get tackier by the day!”

Blood Owl felt no particular anger, but he did have common sense. He knew that when someone called a scientist a male escort, he ought to respond with something unpleasant. “A slug that hasn't dissolved in seawater. You're surprisingly resilient.”

While they traded insults, Jefferson tried and failed to break down Leech Demon, who was wrapped around him. The seawater had already reached his neck, making it very difficult to shake Leech Demon off.

Leech Demon said, “Hmph… I can't be bothered arguing with you. Jefferson and I have some personal business to settle. You look badly hurt yourself. Get going and save your skin.” Without waiting for Blood Owl's response, he dragged Jefferson underwater. Their energy signatures tangled together as they moved farther and farther away…

…

On the surface of Hell Island, a section of ground burst upward, and a figure shot out onto the island. He was around thirty, with medium-length hair and a thick, untidy beard, apparently from going far too long without shaving.

Before long, another figure emerged, though this one climbed out. This shifty-looking fellow was, naturally, Zuo Dao.

Divine Key looked around. As expected, the boundless Pacific Ocean surrounded the island, which was still rising. Just as he was considering swimming toward Tiandu to escape, Zuo Dao jogged to the edge of the island. Facing the rising sun and the waves, he spread his arms and shouted at the top of his lungs, “Tian Yi!!!!! I'm over here!!!!!”

At the name Tian Yi, Divine Key's face twitched. He rushed over and grabbed Zuo Dao by the collar. “You know Tian Yi?!”

Zuo Dao froze for a couple of seconds, then threw the same question back at him. “You know Tian Yi?!” He immediately realized this was a pointless question, and the other man's identity came to him. “You're Divine Key!”

Divine Key replied, “And who are you?”

“Hmm… This humble Taoist is Zuo Dao. Tian Yi sent me to assist with your escape.”

“Oh? You're the one who cut the island's power?”

“Uh… no.”

“Then what did you do?”

“I came to pass on the timing and procedure for the escape.”

“How come I never received your message?”

“I told you, I'm here to ‘assist’ with the operation. Blood Owl's the one mainly responsible for getting it done.”

“Who's Blood Owl?”

Before Zuo Dao could answer, Divine Key stopped asking questions. He released Zuo Dao's collar and stared out to sea, his eyes wide.

A black submarine shot out of the water like an arrow, its ink-black hull bearing a silver inverted-cross emblem.

Zuo Dao turned and saw the submarine too. His face immediately lit up. “I'm over here!” He jumped and shouted at the edge of the island like a stranded tourist, until one careless step sent him slipping over the edge…

…

Ten minutes later, prisoners were emerging from inside the island one after another. Some had broken their own passages to the surface; others had followed those ahead. Whichever way they had come, these prisoners, who had not seen real sunlight for years, found themselves overwhelmed by feelings they could not name.

I never thought I'd make it out alive.

I'd rather die than go back to the hell beneath my feet.

The air of freedom. It's been so long.

None of them spoke, but similar feelings filled all their hearts. At this moment, they understood more deeply what hell truly was. Compared with endless imprisonment and the long terror of impending death, what sort of punishment was death itself?

Death, too, was a kind of freedom. To be alive, yet controlled, confined, forever without hope, was a real, tangible hell.

“That fellow whose energy was different from everyone else's has actually disappeared…” Blood Owl stood among the crowd on the island, muttering to himself.

Earlier, Zuo Dao had told Blood Owl that finding Divine Key would be easy. He was different from ordinary ability users, unique in this world. Zuo Dao had also explained in detail how to detect his energy form. When Blood Owl first broke free of Jefferson, he could still sense the man at the very top of the island, but now he had lost his target.

“Look over there! A submarine!” Someone sharp-eyed had already spotted the Inverted Cross's black submarine.

By now, however, the submarine was some distance from the island. Clearly, it was deliberately keeping its distance to prevent the prisoners from jumping aboard uninvited.

Blood Owl looked over. When he saw the inverted-cross emblem on the hull, he understood. “I see. The material that submarine is made of can block psychic abilities and energy sensing too. He's already aboard, then…”

Just then, the submarine's hatch opened, and someone climbed out carrying a large suitcase.

Accountant opened the case and fiddled with its contents, then launched nine small, black, hexagonal flying devices one by one from his hands. The devices formed a widely spaced ring high in the sky around Hell Island, their purpose unknown.

At the same moment, every resistance organization of any significant size worldwide briefly lost control of its computers, including Apostle and Matrix. The various mainframes of HL and the imperial court in Tiandu suffered the same fate.

A live video feed from multiple angles began to play.