Chapter 227: North Sea Whale-Loach

Chapter 227 – The North Sea Whale Eel

Chen Jian reacted swiftly, dispatching a drone for reconnaissance the instant the anomalous signal was detected.

Yet even so, when the drone reached the site of the disturbance, it still failed to capture any trace of the creature.

The crystal‑clear images streamed back, revealing astonishing evidence of “geomorphological alteration.”

Vast swaths of forest lay toppled, a half‑hill collapsed in a single, coherent sinkhole, its center faintly exposing a dark, yawning pit—yet as the drone drew near, it found the pit’s depth woefully insufficient to conceal any monster.

Again, the same story unfolded.

A growing unease gnawed at Chen Jian’s heart; he stared intently at the PDA‑uploaded pictures and spoke:

“If this keeps happening, we’ll have no choice but to change our strategy.”

“We must take the initiative, pursue the monster ourselves.”

“Otherwise we remain forever on the defensive, clueless about how to respond.”

“If this truly heralds the tide of beasts, once we lose our informational edge I’ll have no idea how to fight.”

His words hung in the air, and the room fell into a heavy silence.

After a moment, Lei Jie exhaled deeply and said:

“I’m more concerned about where those monsters have gone.”

“Given the current data, there’s only one plausible explanation.”

“That they’re all underground.”

“Fuxi, are you certain your intel is accurate? Are you sure the ‘nuclear Great Wall’ beneath this area can’t shelter these monsters?”

“I am sure.”

Fuxi’s voice crackled through the headset.

“The subterranean nuclear installations are a highly classified project. Because of the leaders’ cautious, conservative stance toward AI back then, I wasn’t granted access to most top‑secret files. Yet after the Great Cataclysm began, I received emergency clearance for a portion of the program.”

“That includes the locations and scale of the underground nuclear facilities.”

“If you expect me to remotely fire a nuclear warhead, that’s impossible.”

“I don’t even know the exact deployment of the weapons.”

“But when it comes to nuclear sites and anti‑nuclear fortifications, I can guarantee my data is flawless.”

“Because those structures serve not only as a retaliatory strike but also as protection.”

“That is one of my core functions, one of my fundamental duties.”

“Understood.”

Lei Jie nodded slowly, paused, then said:

“That leaves us with no explanation at all.”

“Unless—”

“The terrain.”

Chen Jian cut in abruptly, adding:

“Unless the monsters have already merged with the terrain, like that Level‑2 beast in Jinling.”

“If it isn’t a case of the creature voluntarily exposing itself, we may be facing exactly the same situation now.”

“From an aerial reconnaissance viewpoint you can never pinpoint its location, because it is a mountain.”

“This monster’s case is likely no different.”

“It may have been active briefly, then slipped back into stillness; to find it we can only get close and look.”

“Far too dangerous.”

Ji Xing raised his hand and said:

“If we must look, let the people of the Holy Blood Hall go—say, Lin Yu’s squad.”

“You’re not holding back at all.”

Chen Jian chuckled, shook his head, about to reply, when a low, resonant wail sounded again.

“Wooo—”

This time the cry lingered longer, unmistakably nearer.

“Drone!”

Chen Jian shouted, and even without his command, Fuxi instantly mobilized the still‑in‑flight drone toward the source of the sound.

“Not the west side—this time the east side!”

Chen Jian fixed his gaze on the drone’s feed, paused, then continued:

“The east is sea!”

“I see it!”

His words fell, and everyone turned to the screen together.

The image was a void of darkness, yet across the seemingly endless sea, its surface shimmering faintly with starlight, a vortex hundreds of meters wide churned ferociously.

Billions of luminous algae spiraled within the massive whirl, casting an eerie glow like a rotating galaxy.

A colossal shadow prowled beneath the vortex; Chen Jian held his breath, watching the terrifying tableau, unsure whether to order a closer probe.

In truth, proximity mattered no longer.

Moments later, the vortex’s core rose into a hundred‑meter‑high water mound; dozens of shadows pierced the surface, tentacle‑like arms wrapped in spray thrusting skyward in chaotic arcs.

Parasitic shells were shaken loose, raining down in a torrent that splashed the sea in countless bursts.

Then the monster’s massive bulk breached the surface, only to plunge back into the depths with a thunderous slam.

“Wooo—”

Low‑frequency waves ripped through the air, reaching the eardrums of those several kilometers away.

Chen Jian felt a wave of nausea, blinked hard to steady himself, and at that instant the beast vanished beneath the sea.

Tidal forces surged toward the shore in a wall of water.

The enormous kinetic energy dissipated before reaching land; the monster’s wake merely tipped and rocked the fishing boats moored at the coast.

Yet even so, Chen Jian was shaken to his core.

It was the sea!

Not a lake!

What colossal leviathan could generate waves that travel ten‑plus kilometers from the shoreline to the shore?

Clearly, this was no ordinary monster.

Even by size alone, it dwarfed every creature Chen Jian had ever encountered.

“Is that… a whale?? A mutated whale??”

Lei Jie asked, his eyes wide with astonishment.

“I don’t know.”

Chen Jian exhaled a long breath, paused in thought, then said:

“It’s less a whale and more a sea monster.”

“Kraken, do you know? It’s the tentacled beast from the Cthulhu tales.”

“No.”

Before Chen Jian could finish, Ji Xing suddenly interjected.

Then, her voice trembling slightly, she said:

“I know what it’s called.”

“It is the Northern Sea Eel.”

“It is a Tier‑One monster.”

“It is the only creature ever witnessed by both the Mechanist Church and the Sanctum of Holy Blood!”

“If my records are correct, its last appearance was about one‑hundred‑and‑fifty years ago.”

“At that time it was migrating south, which is why the Mechanist Church saw it!”

“Now it’s heading south again??”

As the words faded, Chen Jian’s gaze sharpened instantly.

South.

That matters not.

What matters is the one‑hundred‑and‑fifty years.

Another one‑hundred‑and‑fifty years.

What, in that span, could possibly have transpired??

Chen Jian drew a deep breath and began:

“Summon Xie Yuan.”

“They can no longer conceal anything from us.” “A Tier‑One monster has emerged; this is not merely our problem, but a concern for everyone!”

Five minutes later, within the manor.

Xie Yuan sat opposite Chen Jian, his tone ever steady, his demeanor solemn as he spoke:

“Gentlemen, I assure you, the Sanctum of Holy Blood knows nothing of this.”

“To be precise, we were unaware of the Northern Sea Eel’s emergence.”

“In fact, days before your arrival, we did notice disturbances coming from the east.”

“The Holy Father dispatched a squad to investigate the anomaly’s source, and that squad was the one later led by the Watcher Lin Yu you observed.”

“Frankly, one major reason they readily complied with your request is that their very mission is exploration and pursuit.”

“The task you assigned them does not conflict with the Holy Father’s orders.”

“We have only just obtained this information, and we are deliberating how to convey it to you without seeming overly ‘offensive.’”

“Clearly, our response has been sluggish.”

“If this has caused you to doubt our sincerity, I offer my most heartfelt apology.”

“Yet, I still hope you can trust us.”

“We had no foreknowledge of the Northern Sea Eel’s appearance.”

“Even for us, it represents a grave risk and crisis; there is no need to lie to you about it.”

As his words ended, Chen Jian nodded and said:

“No problem, I believe your explanation.”

“But that’s not the crux; the crux is, what is this creature’s origin? How does it relate to the beast on the east?”

“Our data indicates the two monsters are linked, even communicating via some low‑frequency sonar.”

“Don’t tell me you think this is mere coincidence; such coincidences do not exist in this world!”

“I understand.”

Xie Yuan nodded immediately, then replied:

“Our assessment matches yours: this cannot be coincidence.”

“From our perspective, we believe this is likely a harbinger of the Beast Tide.”

“—In truth, you gentlemen must have guessed as much, right?”

“—Indeed.”

Receiving Chen Jian’s reply, Xie Yuan exhaled a slight sigh of relief.

After a brief pause, gathering his thoughts, he continued:

“The Northern Sea Eel is a remarkably solitary creature.”

“It dwells upon the open sea, never venturing near shore.”

“Yet that does not mean it poses no threat to humanity.”

“On the contrary, a century and a half ago, when it first emerged, every coastal city humanity had built was nearly razed by it.”

“That is why modern Jinmen City stands roughly twenty kilometers inland, while its primary ‘work zone’ clings to the coast, forming two distinct districts.”

“We have suffered great losses at its hands, yet we possess no means to counter it.”

“Even now, we remain powerless against it.”

At this point, Xie Yuan’s gaze shifted.

Where before he had been calm and composed, now a flicker of fear and anxiety glimmered in his eyes.

Instinctively rubbing his left hand, he stared straight into Chen Jian’s eyes and said:

“Sir, just as you said.”

“Regardless of the challenges we previously faced, once a Tier‑One monster awakens, those concerns cease to matter.”

“We must unite to confront this looming crisis.”

“Should you require it, the Sanctum of Holy Blood will furnish any necessary aid.”

“However, I believe the immediate priority is singular.”

“You must hasten to the Imperial Capital to meet the Holy Father.”

“I am merely a Watcher; I possess some information, but it is woefully insufficient.”

“Even regarding finer details of this creature, my knowledge is scant.”

“All I know is that it will most likely continue its southward march, yet its destination, the moment it chooses to strike, and its vulnerabilities remain unknown.”

I know nothing at all.

So.

No need to say more.

Chen Jian raised his hand, cutting off Xie Yuan's narration.

It was evident that his demeanor now was frank.

He said he didn't know, and that was truly so.

Further questioning was pointless; confirming that the Hall of Holy Blood was not deliberately concealing this was enough.

Chen Jian rose to his feet and said:

"Return and make preparations."

"At six o'clock tomorrow morning, we depart for the Imperial Capital."

"Yes, sir."

Xie Yuan sprang up at once, retreating backward out of the manor.

The others who remained in the room wore heavy, solemn expressions, an unprecedented weight bearing down upon them, sapping any desire for conversation.

Yet at that moment, Fuxi's voice rang out suddenly.

"Commander, the data analysis on the North Sea whale loach is complete."

"We have yet to pinpoint its characteristics, but I have detected a crucial clue."

"Speak!"

Chen Jian issued an immediate order.

"The creature is emitting weak electromagnetic interference."

"??? Electromagnetic interference???"

Chen Jian looked up in astonishment; the next second, a data chart flickered onto his smart visor.

"According to the data recorded at the creature's emergence, when it broke the surface, the electromagnetic interference within a one‑kilometre radius peaked at 142 dB, causing mild disruption to our cellular and radio communications."

"Because the interference rose and fell so swiftly, I could not capture more detailed data."

"But it is certain that it is the source of the electromagnetic interference."

"This may relate to the clue you once mentioned—that the beast tide renders electronic devices inoperative—and the precise connection warrants further study."

"Understood."

Chen Jian closed his eyes.

The matter grew ever more tangled.

It even began to feel, in a way, intriguing.

A monster that dwells in the sea, capable of generating electromagnetic interference?

That surpassed the limits of what he believed a "monster" could possibly possess.

So, whence does this interference arise?

Did it swallow a ship? Devour a radar station?

Or perhaps the interference is produced directly by the creature itself?

And what principle underlies its generation?

One mystery after another threatened to engulf Chen Jian, pressing so hard that his very brain began to throb.

Instinctively, he reached to lift his helmet and catch a breath, but at that instant another piece of information sprang up unbidden.

It was a message from He Shuo.

"Captain, Zeng Yi has just obtained information about the North Sea whale loach from Zhang Tao."

"It's not that complicated!"

"It's an amphibian!"

(End of Chapter)