Chapter 57: Source of Mutation

"All groups, focus fire to eradicate these monsters. The rest of you, assist the mages in extinguishing the flames. Two men, guard the Matter Stabilization Spear." The lead soldier, clad in heavy armor, shouted out the tactical layout.

These true elites completed their deployment and division of labor with astonishing speed, without a single word exchanged, methodically clearing the surrounding monsters.

Only now did Wang Yu notice the mages within the ranks. They numbered a quarter of the heavy infantry, and like the soldiers, they wore armor—though theirs was light, crafted from runic steel and inscribed with various glyphs for impact reduction and puncture protection.

These light-armored mages emerged from the formation, escorted by heavy infantry, and stepped to the front of the fire. They unslung their staves, which appeared far bulkier than traditional ones; the thicker shafts allowed for more auxiliary runes, suggesting to Wang Yu that they had completely abandoned individual combat in favor of specialized, stationary battlefield casting.

Yet, one could never be sure if these mages might swing their staves like clubs. Magic surged as they drew vast amounts of mana into their weapons, channeling it through runic circuits to weave complex spell patterns.

Wind elements coalesced above the central mage, spiraling into a compact tornado pillar. Meanwhile, the surrounding mages began chanting, and as the central vortex grew in scale, ice crystals began to condense in the air.

Guided by the mages, a deluge of ice crystals was fed into the massive tornado, swirling within it. The ambient temperature plummeted as these elements gathered. As time passed, the tornado reached its limit in size, and the ice elements within reached a critical saturation.

"Release!" At the command of the central mage, the ice-saturated tornado was unleashed. The frost-weaving mages ceased their containment, and with a brief delay, the ice elements erupted from within.

In an instant, a bone-chilling cold swept through the vortex. Fourth-tier stationary magic: Frost Tornado! The colossal cyclone, spewing extreme cold and hurling shards of ice, swept across the burning zone. The sheer force of the wind extinguished the flames, while the intense frost prevented them from reigniting.

Ice crystals pelted the ground, melting into water upon contact with the fire. Wherever the Frost Tornado passed, the flames were utterly quelled. Through the combined power of the mages, the fire that had engulfed the entire street was suppressed and extinguished in a remarkably short time.

Three minutes later, the ice tornado subsided. The street was no longer burning, save perhaps for a few embers smoldering in hidden corners.

Wang Yu stepped forward, expanding his ripple. He found that his perception was also suppressed by the Matter Stabilization Spear; a five-meter radius was his limit, but it sufficed. Walking over the extinguished ruins, his ripple penetrated the ground and debris, scanning for any flesh-monsters that had survived.

*Snap.* A short axe cleaved through the rubble, hacking an immobilized but living flesh-monster into pieces. Deprived of the Void energy needed to regenerate, the creature quickly lost its vitality and died.

"Are you a member of the Special Operations Team?" The lead heavy-armored soldier from the Night's Edge squad approached Wang Yu as he cleared the remains.

"That's right," Wang Yu confirmed.

Glancing at Wang Yu, who was swiftly clearing the hidden monsters, the lead soldier nodded. Wang Yu’s strength didn't seem overwhelming, but his unique detection ability was truly exceptional. It seemed the reports about the special talents of these newcomers were accurate.

"Wang Yu, prepare to rendezvous with Charles and Edward. Captain Shugin is arriving shortly. You are to head to the interior and resolve the core of this crisis!" The Professor’s voice crackled through his communicator. He had previously cut the link to verify the status and positions of the other special ops members.

"I thought we were only handling the perimeter?" Wang Yu wasn't afraid, merely curious as to why they were suddenly being diverted to the heart of the problem.

"The cult's activity has exceeded expectations. We thought it was a routine issue, but the situation with this 'Source of Life, Elfin' has clearly deteriorated to a severe degree. Compare the goblins you encountered with these flesh-monsters."

Wang Yu recalled the encounter and conceded the point. The Night Lady's goblins were at most empowered and brainwashed, but these flesh-monsters in the wall district, with their terrifying regenerative abilities, were clearly projections of the god's power. The high-concentration Void zones confirmed that Elfin had begun to significantly influence the material world.

"We of the Third Squad will handle this area. The Rioter Squad will manage the perimeter. You can go execute your mission with peace of mind," the lead soldier said. Though he couldn't hear the Professor, he could hear Wang Yu's responses, and it was clear he was heading off for a special task.

"Understood." Wang Yu nodded. These heavily armed men were truly reliable.

"Don't worry. Since the Captain has arrived, there won't be any issues with this operation. His strength is such that even a mission a level higher than this would be a breeze. This is just to give you some experience and test your capabilities," the Professor reassured him.

"Charles and Edward will be here to meet you soon, and the Captain will follow..." Before the Professor finished, Wang Yu heard rapid footsteps. He turned, and the members of the Night's Edge Third Squad instinctively raised their guard.

"Wang Yu! The Professor told us to gather here and wait for the Captain!" Hearing that familiar, restless voice, Wang Yu knew it was Charles.

The Third Squad members lowered their weapons and returned to their duties.

Charles ran in front—the guy dressed like a magician was indeed as fast as the Professor claimed—followed by Edward Walling, clad in knightly armor.

Wang Yu looked at this man, whose specialty was having a special father. Edward fit the traditional Earth image of a knight: sturdy plate armor, an elegant longsword at his hip, and a handsome face with golden hair.

At the moment, Edward was carrying a thin, dark-skinned little girl on his back as he ran to catch up with Charles.

"What's the situation on your end?" Wang Yu asked.

"Same as yours. The Professor briefed us," Charles replied.

"Did the Night's Edge arrive there too?"

Charles nodded. "The Matter Stabilization Spear has been deployed. It looks like we just need to take out that 'Source of Life,' Elfin."

"That's fine, shouldn't be too bad."

"Wouldn't call it good," Charles shook his head. "A lot of people died. It's pathetic for those who lost all their friends and family and are left all alone."

"What's wrong?" Wang Yu noticed Charles's gaze lingering on Edward.

"That kid, Vanessa. Her mother was a believer in the Source of Life. When the mutation broke out, her mother sacrificed herself first, then corrupted her father's soul."

"When Edward and I arrived, we saw her mother and father—those monsters—using voices she recognized to demand she complete some 'Life Return' ritual."

"She's been in this state ever since." Charles's face carried a trace of anger; it was clear he was deeply unsettled by it.

Wang Yu followed Charles's gaze and noticed Vanessa's condition.

Edward was currently speaking with the other Night's Edge members, likely trying to hand Vanessa over to their care.

He held Vanessa's hand and pointed to one of the soldiers, who was presumably the one assigned to look after her.

The soldier removed his helmet, revealing the kind face of a middle-aged man. He wore a gentle smile and reached out a hand, signaling for her to come over.

But the girl's face remained blank, devoid of expression, save for dried tear tracks and hollow, lifeless eyes.

She didn't react to the soldier's outstretched hand, standing there in a numb, emotionless stupor.

The soldier glanced at Edward, his expression darkening with a look of helpless pity.

However, they were battle-hardened veterans; they had seen everything. Though he felt a pang of sympathy, he quickly composed himself, reached out, and picked Vanessa up. The pale, vacant girl offered no resistance, letting the soldier carry her away.

After nodding to Edward, the soldier took Vanessa away, and Edward turned back.

"Sigh, that's the situation. I suppose the trauma was just too much for her," Charles said with a sigh. He knew many more had died, but witnessing such a scene was still hard to stomach.

"Nothing to be done. The world is like this. Disasters don't skip you just because of who you are," Wang Yu said, looking at it pragmatically. He didn't dwell on things that had already come to pass.

"Fair point," Charles replied.

Edward walked back after entrusting Vanessa to the soldier. It seemed this knightly young man possessed the true spirit of a knight, and he was clearly troubled.

"Don't look so grim. We still have to deal with the source," Charles said, patting Edward's armored shoulder.

"I... I know. It's just hard. If we had arrived sooner..."

Edward was unusually dejected; Vanessa's breakdown had clearly affected him.

"By my Light God, I'm upset too! But what can I do? If 'ifs' were reality, would I be like this?"

Charles slapped Edward's shoulder hard, gesturing wildly with excitement.

Edward looked up, glanced at him, and nodded hesitantly, though the look in his eyes seemed a bit off.

"Hey! I was just giving an example! You actually took it seriously? Do you think I'm unserious and unreliable? Do you know that if my dad were the Lionheart King, I wouldn't be like this?"

Somehow reading Edward's mind, Charles jumped up, indignantly accusing Edward of misjudging him and expressing severe dissatisfaction with Edward's birth.

Wang Yu watched their interaction and smiled.

He finally understood why the Lionheart King had sent Edward to serve in the Night's Edge.

His heir seemed a bit too kind and indecisive; a certain amount of tempering and experience was necessary for his growth.

And Charles, that unserious guy, was surprisingly good at helping Edward snap out of his unnecessary melancholy.

The two of them were an unexpectedly good match.

After Charles's nonsensical outburst, Edward's mood improved significantly.

The graceful knight walked up to Wang Yu and extended a hand. "Hello, I'm Edward. We're companions from now on. I look forward to working with you. Leave the defense to me. I'm a High-Rank Apprentice Knight; my knightly secret art is 'Iron Sun'."

Wang Yu shook his hand. "Wang Yu, Mid-Rank Apprentice Knight. My secret art is 'Bloody Gale'. I know a little bit of everything."

"What about me?" Charles popped his head in from the side, looking smug.

Wang Yu and Edward chose to ignore him in unison.

The fellow’s intentions were all too transparent; as a certified mage, he would surely indulge in self-aggrandizement if given the chance to introduce himself.

Wang Yu and Edward reached a silent, tacit agreement to deny this man the opportunity to preen, both maintaining a stoic silence.

"Damn it!" Charles fumed in exasperation.

Just as the three members of the special operations unit were getting acquainted, the professor’s communication crackled in their ears.

"Enough fooling around. The captain is arriving shortly; prepare to enter the wall district and investigate the source."

Instantly shedding their earlier levity, Wang Yu and the others began to steel themselves.

A heavy, metallic grinding sound echoed from down the street, accompanied by the dull thud of something massive dragging against the ground and walls.

Wang Yu looked toward the noise, and a familiar silhouette entered his field of vision, causing him to arch his eyebrows in surprise.

The glow of a lantern illuminated the dim street, casting long shadows as a colossal poleaxe dragged along the cobblestones, trailing a shower of sparks.

The man, puffing on a cigarette, emerged from the street corner in a blood-stained trench coat, axe in his right hand and a lantern identical to the one Wang Yu knew in his left.

What caught the eye was that the axe was not merely being carried; it was embedded deep within the body of a grotesque, stitched-together monstrosity of immense proportions.

The creature, composed of a mangled heap of human organs, twitched sporadically, yet remained firmly impaled by the massive blade, dragged along by the man’s sheer force.

"Burn it," the man uttered in a low, magnetic voice.

With a casual flick of his wrist, he sent the massive carcass flying, crashing down beside the waiting Night’s Edge soldiers.

"Understood!" The soldiers obeyed, immediately summoning a mage to incinerate and neutralize the behemoth.

Wang Yu watched as the man folded the handle of his giant axe and holstered it at his waist; he recognized him—the lantern-bearer from the night he arrived at the Imperial City.

The lantern in his hand was the very same model.

"Shuguin Smoke, your captain. Follow me now, and let’s go slaughter the source of this mutation."

Shuguin stated the plan with concise clarity, already marching forward before his words had fully faded.

His face was etched with weariness and stubble, his expression utterly listless.

"Y-yes, sir!" Charles’s voice piped up, trembling and abrupt, drawing a look of bewilderment from Edward.

He couldn't fathom what had possessed this flighty fellow to suddenly play the role of the obedient subordinate.

"Don't mind him; he's terrified of the captain," Wang Yu whispered to Edward.

He didn't know what the captain had done to Charles, but the latter had shown the same palpable fear when he had first introduced Shuguin to Wang Yu.

Wang Yu stepped forward to match the captain’s pace, with Edward and Charles trailing close behind.

The group began to follow the captain deep into the interior of the wall district.

It was pitch black inside; the wall district lacked public streetlights, as any that appeared would be stripped for parts and oil within half an hour.

Coupled with the horrific mutation that had erupted within, the humble houses no longer showed a glimmer of light, creating a stark contrast between this area and the rest of the capital.

While the rest of the city remained bright and bustling, this place had plunged into a profound, suffocating darkness.

In the shadows of the buildings, the monsters found their perfect sanctuary; the area was dark, but far from silent.

Strange, low whispers drifted through the air: "Life returned..."

"Praise be...!"

"It hurts... so painful..."

...

A cacophony of voices echoed among the dilapidated structures, though the darkness hid their sources, the aura of madness testing the resolve of the visitors.

Yet, the most basic trait of the special operations unit was an ironclad will; Wang Yu and Shuguin needed no mention, and even Charles and Edward were only slightly tense.

The lantern in Shuguin’s hand became their only source of light, its soft, bright glow illuminating their immediate surroundings.

Strangely, despite the lantern’s exceptional brightness, it failed to reveal the origin of the whispers that seemed to emanate from just inches away.

The captain’s stride was steady, maintaining a constant pace as he pushed deeper into the wall district, ignoring every anomaly, with the other three keeping pace.

"Hmm?" Wang Yu noticed something; he realized they had drifted beyond the reach of the material stabilization anchors.

He could sense the concentration of the Void gradually rising in the air.

He expanded his ripples, only to find he could reach but a small radius, receiving no enhancement from the Void energy.

Sufficient Void concentration, yet unusable Void energy—this could only mean one thing...

An entity powerful enough to attract and influence the surrounding Void field.

As if to validate Wang Yu’s discovery, as Shuguin pressed on, the innermost part of the wall district—the wall itself—loomed before them.

And the moment the lantern’s light touched the stone, a massive, abominable thing appeared before the four of them.

A gargantuan mass stitched together from countless limbs, a sight that caused immediate psychological and physiological revulsion.

The behemoth clung to the wall, extending countless fleshy tendrils like the vines of a creeper, coating the masonry in a sickening paste of blood vessels and muscle.

From the bloated, nauseating flesh, a single eye bulged forth, a massive orb weeping a turbid, unidentifiable fluid.

The dark green pupil seemed to be something sentient, swimming freely within the eyeball before coming to a rest on the surface.

The giant eye seemed to fixate upon them, a wave of malevolent, terrifying madness crashing over them like a waterfall.

"So this is the source... a disgusting monster."

Taking a drag of his cigarette, the smoke swirling strangely around him, Shuguin holstered his lantern and unslung his great axe.

"Click!" The three-part handle locked into place. "Clang!" The blade secured to the shaft.

Exhaling another cloud of smoke, Shuguin raised the axe, which stood half as tall as a man, his sharp gaze meeting the monster’s giant eye without a hint of fear.

"Die..."