Chapter 23: Omega Category

Chapter Twenty-Eight: w-Class

Inside Tidal Prison's emergency safe room.

Leech Demon had been sealed in a strange spiderweb, reduced to a half-congealed state, and tossed into a corner of the room.

Sean sat beside him, looking grim.

But merely looking grim was getting off lightly. Jefferson looked positively deathly by now. His face was swollen and bluish purple, the whites of his eyes bloodshot, making him look like a living Zhong Kui. Who knew how much seawater, sand, and microscopic life had poured into his lungs and stomach...

Still, he forced himself to rally, picked up the safe room's telephone, and called Naval Fortress One.

…

Back above the sea, the Inverted Cross's live broadcast began.

“Members and leaders of the resistance organizations, distinguished personages of Tiandu, I'm sorry to disturb you so early in the morning. Ordinarily, I'd probably still be drooling in my sleep at this hour, but today, I'd like to invite you all to enjoy a good show.”

Tian Yi appeared on screens before the warlords of this troubled age.

“My name is Tian Yi. Tian as in ‘all under heaven,’ Yi as in ‘first.’” Tian Yi began by introducing himself.

“What's with this guy?”

“What a lunatic.”

“Arrogant brat.”

“How exactly was our system hacked? Find out, now!”

“Can the emperor see this? Report it to the higher-ups immediately. If we're late, we'll be held responsible!”

Across the world, reactions varied.

The picture changed. An island appeared on-screen, floating in the air. But this was not Tiandu. It was hell! Hell Island.

“Hey... that's Hell Island.”

“How is that possible...”

“It's actually risen into the air...”

“Is this real?”

“Don't tell me those people standing on the island are escaped prisoners.”

“God help us. If this footage hasn't been doctored, it's a disaster.”

Fear, unease, a sense of opportunity, madness—all took root in people's hearts at that moment.

Tian Yi continued, “A century has passed since the first emperor united this planet. Today, under imperial rule, enter the court and you will hear no honest counsel; pass through the countryside and you will see hunger on every face. The imperial kin and nobility wallow in arrogance, luxury, and debauchery, wielding power without restraint. They forsake the duties of sovereign and subject, hold marriage and public office in contempt, and treat the people as livestock and weeds. Their deeds are beneath those of pigs and dogs.

“Since ancient times, dynasties have fallen largely through the folly and corruption of their rulers. You beasts in human dress monopolize power and prey upon the people, generation after generation, repeating the cycle. You think that by sealing the people's mouths, you can deceive yourselves and everyone else, dress up the world as peaceful, and make your comfortable lives last forever. Heh heh... utter fools. Do you not know that those whose crimes reach the heavens meet their retribution in this very life? In my view, the realm will change hands within these next few years. You would do well to prepare yourselves. When the oppressed visit their suffering upon you a hundredfold, death will be the greatest of pleasures.”

“That lunatic really has some nerve.”

“The looks on those imperial bastards' faces must be priceless right now.”

“Go find out which resistance organization this kid belongs to.”

“After a boast like that, he'll either become a ruler or go down in infamy, a laughingstock for all time...”

Having delivered all that in one breath, Tian Yi took a sip of coffee. “As for those of you in the resistance... upheaval is coming to the world, and imperial dominion lies within your grasp. The Empire is already battered by wind and rain, teetering on the brink. I trust you're all familiar with the war in Eurasia. The so-called imperial ** forces are nowhere near as invincible as you imagine. As I just said, ** has long since seeped into their bones. A dying man's blade may still be sharp, but it is no more than an empty show of strength.

“And today, I have a generous gift for you all.”

The camera moved a little closer, and close-ups of the prisoners appeared in many of the separate views.

“This is the hour for the world's great talents to rise, to join those destined for power and pursue their ambitions. Most of these people must have considerable ties to you, or may even be your former comrades. Today, we of the Inverted Cross free them from hell and return them to the world.” As Tian Yi spoke, quite a few prisoners were indeed recognized. Many had once been figures of tremendous influence. Even the senior leaders of the resistance organizations would have to acknowledge them as their seniors...

“What will the world become after this... I look forward to seeing it.”

“The Inverted Cross... and Tian Yi. Both names we'll have to remember.”

“Have you still not found out how the system was breached?”

“This kid is that danger-level-six fugitive?! Will someone explain what happened on Hell Island?!”

“Apparently, an emergency transmission came in from the warden just now. General Andrew has already requested a nuclear strike!”

“What?! Does the emperor know? No... wait. Perhaps we should choose an appropriate moment to show His Majesty this footage...”

The picture returned to a wide shot, and Tian Yi's voice continued. “Next, I imagine Hell Island will shortly come under attack from at least two nuclear warheads. Heh heh... I have just one thing to say to our imperial audience through this broadcast. Be my guest. I'll broadcast the results of your attack live.”

“What did he say...”

“Is he joking?”

“Would a normal person still be laughing?”

“Could there be an ability user there who can withstand even a nuclear bomb?”

“What the hell is intelligence doing?! Why does he know we're using nuclear weapons?!”

…

Meanwhile, on the surface of Hell Island.

The prisoners knew nothing about the live broadcast. They were still baffled by the submarine, so no one made any rash moves.

Suddenly, a black drill broke through the ground. The nearby prisoners all moved away.

A few seconds later, filthy seawater gushed up from below as though being pumped out, with people tumbling through the jet.

Flung into the air by the water, they soon climbed to their feet unaided. They seemed to be alive, having merely choked on a few mouthfuls of water. Their prison uniforms identified them as inmates too, but the higher-ranking ability users could tell that almost all of them had no abilities. Clearly, they were political prisoners, mad scientists, or the like.

After several dozen people had come flying out this way, the flow finally stopped. A pool of black water slowly gathered at the drilled hole, then took on a human shape, its eyes glowing blue-green.

Blood Owl recognized Darkwater and walked over. “What next? I've put a hell of a lot of work into your boss's plan without getting anything in return. If he dares sail off now...”

Darkwater raised his head and looked at the sky. “Something extremely dangerous is approaching.” The blue-green glow in his eyes allowed him to see a different scene beyond the material world. “It will arrive within a minute.”

As he spoke, another uproar rose among the prisoners. It was not because they had spotted the approaching nuclear missile, but because the submarine had just sunk beneath the sea.

…

Inside the submarine, Divine Key told Tian Yi, “We haven't gone deep enough. We'll still be caught in the blast.”

Tian Yi replied, “We're not submerging to avoid the nuclear bombs. This submarine has nothing to fear from nuclear weapons. It's just that, from what I've seen, at least twenty people on that island could reach us in a few dozen seconds using their abilities. They haven't come over because they aren't sure whose side we're on, or whether it's more dangerous here. If someone loses patience and jumps over in a bit, getting rid of our guests will be a nuisance.”

“Thirty seconds until the nuclear missile arrives,” Sorcerer reported quickly, his eyes on the screen.

Divine Key asked, “Are you planning to abandon that companion of yours called Blood Owl?”

“Hmph... what's a nuclear bomb? An explosion you don't see coming is one thing. One you can see is another. With that many monstrous ability users gathered there, what do we need to worry about? There are over a hundred ability users of Strong rank or higher standing on the island's surface alone. Based on an analysis of their abilities, I can think of over a hundred ways to keep the bombs from detonating.” Tian Yi spoke casually. “We can just sit back and enjoy the show.”

Sure enough, many of the prisoners on the island had now spotted the guided missile flying toward them. A few were eager to show off their abilities and shoot the thing down.

But Darkwater's voice rang in everyone's ears. “That is a nuclear missile. Do not act unless you can prevent it from detonating.”

Everyone turned to look at this pitch-black, alien-looking fellow. His mouth had actually transformed into an enormous loudspeaker.

There was no time to determine whether Darkwater was telling the truth, but on reflection, he was probably right. Many faces went white with fear. They'd only just escaped, and here came a nuclear missile straight at them. The Empire was too fucking ruthless. If I survive today, you bastards, we're enemies for life.

By the time Darkwater broadcast his warning through his own body, the nuclear missile was very close to the island. It looked ready to strike and explode, yet even many of the higher-ranking ability users dared not act rashly. They feared that without coordination, their abilities would clash and make things worse.

Suddenly, the nuclear warhead stopped in midair, completely motionless. Its booster, however, had not cut out and was still firing, keeping everyone on edge.

It was like putting your head beneath a dog-headed execution blade. The blade was already against your neck, but somehow your head had yet to fall.

“Which direction is Tiandu?” A deep voice rang out. A man with disheveled hair and an immensely long beard, dressed in a special prison uniform, floated up from the hole in the ground.

“Jarvidon Harl!” Someone recognized him and cried out his name.

Jarvidon turned to look at him. “Did you want something?”

The man looked utterly terrified, as though a single glare might get him pregnant. “N-no... n-nothing...”

“Is that so...” Jarvidon murmured. The man's limbs and head separated from his torso. Ripped apart by an external force, he spilled blood and entrails all over the ground.

“Just like that...”

“Was that guy he killed Strong-rank...”

“I knew it... this monster must be the one who raised the island.”

Jarvidon roared, “Shut up!”

In an instant, over a hundred people were torn to pieces. The surface of Hell Island truly became a vision of hell, covered in blood, bones, entrails, and splashes of bodily fluids.

Among the Tiandu officials watching the live broadcast, quite a few vomited on the spot.

“Who is that...”

“What ability is that...”

“Does that still count as human?”

“They really did have a w-class guy locked up on Hell Island.”

Jarvidon spoke again. “I'll ask one more time. Which direction is Tiandu?” His voice was not particularly loud, but everyone could hear him, because everyone else on the island had fallen silent.

“T-to the west, about t-twenty nautical miles away,” someone in the crowd answered.

Jarvidon said, “Whose ability can pinpoint Tiandu's location for me?” He had asked another question, but no one answered. “No one? Hmph... what a useless bunch. All of you...”

“Hey, beggar.” A burly man seized Jarvidon's ankle and yanked him out of the air onto the ground as though pulling down a curtain.

“He's insane!”

“Who is that?!”

“I think he's called Blood Owl... Fierce-rank.”

“Oh shit... he's going to die horribly. He could get ripped into tens of thousands of pieces.”

Everyone was talking at once. The people watching the broadcast were so stunned their mouths hung open, their jaws practically ready to dislocate.

Blood Owl grabbed Jarvidon by the collar. “Beggar, have you had any education at all? That kind of nuclear warhead can be detonated remotely. Move it farther away before you start asking questions.”

Jarvidon stared blankly for two seconds. “Hmm... good point.”

“He actually agreed!”

“He's that easy to talk to?!”

“Were they just speaking some special language only lunatics understand...”

The nuclear missile shot upward into the heavens, faster than a missile would normally fly. As it pierced the atmosphere, it erupted in a flash of light and vanished.

Jarvidon said, “In that case... if I sent it toward Tiandu, they could detonate it halfway there too. It would still accomplish nothing. Destroying it was the only option after all.”

Blood Owl grabbed his beard and threw him over his shoulder with one hand, slamming him hard into the ground again. “Idiot! If you'd aimed it at Tiandu at the speed you just moved it, how could they possibly have reacted in time?!”

Spectators around the world were stunned. Those watching the broadcast had it easier: they could see the scene but couldn't hear the dialogue. The prisoners on the island, however, felt nothing but fear and shock as things spiraled out of control. All they could do was dread the moment Jarvidon flew into a rage and shredded all matter within a hundred li to dust.

“Do you know who you're laying hands on?” Jarvidon did not use his hands to push himself off the ground. He simply let his body float upward.

Blood Owl looked at him. “What? Want a fight, beggar? Theoretically speaking, I should be in a pretty bad mood right now. You'd better think this through.”

Jarvidon raised his right hand and moved his fingers, intending to twist Blood Owl's neck through seven hundred and twenty degrees. Yet the man showed no reaction whatsoever.

“What the...” Somewhat incredulous, he casually tried the same thing on another prisoner beside him. The next second, that man's head spun far beyond seven hundred and twenty degrees, twisting round and round like a rope of dough, his cervical vertebrae cracking and popping as they were wrung out of alignment and broken. Blood jetted from his neck, splashing everyone around him.

“You... you...” A prisoner with blood all over his face began shouting like a madman. “We're going to die... we'll die if we stay here... I finally escaped from hell. I don't want to die!” Wailing, he jumped into the sea.

Quite a few prisoners followed his example. Even after a lifetime of renown, they knew drowning would be better than dying horribly at the hands of this monster who treated lives as worthless.

“Enough. This stops here.” An old man stepped forward. His name was Yan Kong.

“Gentlemen, we all know that if this monster returns to human society, there will be no world left. Everyone on this planet will soon be dead. We have no choice now. With so many powerful people here, we must seize this opportunity and kill him together.” Yan Kong continued, “Anyone who has not reached Fierce rank and cannot protect themselves with energy, leave immediately. Don't throw your lives away.”

His words had their effect because he was right, and because there was no other choice.

More than thirty prisoners stayed behind and surrounded Jarvidon.

“Oh? You want to kill me?” Jarvidon smiled. “You pathetic lower life-forms want to kill me? Hahaha... hahahahaha!” He burst out laughing, then stopped abruptly. That same second, Hell Island's surface began to deform violently. The broad, uneven ground caved inward, the island's upper layer closing like a fist, gathering everyone standing upon it into its palm.

Closing, clenching tight...

Inside the submarine, the Inverted Cross members watched, speechless. Even Gu Wen looked surprised.

“Say... if he spots us, he'll crush this submarine into a sardine tin from a distance,” Gu Wen said.

Tian Yi said, “Ah... that's why I said I had foresight. Diving was the right move after all. Anyway, he can't see us now, and I don't think he knows much about energy. His strength comes purely from having an unlimited ability. I believe Blood Owl can kill him.”

“What if he can't?” Gu Wen asked.

Tian Yi said, “It's fine. We still have one last move.”

Gu Wen thought for a moment. “You mean we risk surfacing, then throw you out of the submarine.”

“No need to throw me out. I only have to stand outside the dark-alloy armor,” Tian Yi replied. “Without that barrier, Blood Owl can draw strength from me.”

Gu Wen said, “In my capacity as the Inverted Cross's chief consigliere, I hereby order you to surface immediately and throw the boss out.”

“Ridiculous. I'm still sitting right here, and you dare take command?” Tian Yi had barely finished speaking when he discovered that everyone aboard was obeying Gu Wen.

“What are you doing?! You're actually listening to him?! Who pays your wages?”

“Gu Wen.” The answer came in perfect unison.

Tian Yi splashed half a cup of coffee into his own face. “Fine...”

Gu Wen said, “In my judgment, the sooner this battle ends, the better. We gain nothing by letting those powerful ability users die here for no reason.”

Tian Yi replied, “Fine, fine...” He seemed incapable of saying anything else.