Above Destiny

Chapter 768 The Prelude to the Carnival (Bonus Chapter for the Legendary Orange Cat Silver Alliance)

Under unprecedentedly fierce winds, the thousands of islands on the endless sea have been covered by turmoil.

Bad news came like snowflakes.

It's not just that an island has been devoured, or a city-state has suffered heavy losses, or there's a terrifying battle between monstrous beasts...

In the eastern part of Central Earth, the newly hatched Annihilation-level Disaster Beast had crossed the sea and landed. After devouring several villages, it fought a fierce battle with the local Disaster Beasts, resulting in a draw. Both sides then turned back to recuperate and prepare to meet again on another day. However, because it threatened the surrounding primordial production areas, it suffered a double blow from the Federation and the Empire and was completely wiped out.

The surrounding area, stretching for a thousand miles, was transformed into a barren wasteland.

In the permafrost region north of the Endless Sea, the awakened Kraken has devoured all the monstrous beasts in the entire White River Belt and is now ravenously hungry, showing signs of approaching human settlements...

In the Federal Wasteland, amidst the snow and ice, a patch of charred remains lay.

It was as if the mountains had turned into bones and the ocean was stained red with blood.

Flames and ashes rose endlessly.

The Federation's bomber squadrons took off and landed in three shifts every day to carry out large-scale bombing missions, reducing any area showing signs of activity to ashes.

The signs of Leviathan’s reactivation have been temporarily suppressed, but a large number of wild beasts have shown signs of gathering. The military has now established a defensive line on the snowfield and has begun hunting and driving away any living creatures that approach, ensuring that Leviathan remains dead and cannot be revived.

There has been no news about the unusual activity in the Kunwu region, but the internal movements within the Security Bureau have become somewhat abnormal. Many rumors are like flowers seen through a fog, difficult to discern the truth, and can only be guessed.

A few days ago, some inexplicable disturbances occurred near the Imperial Seas, suspected to be caused by the Celestials from the Empire attacking the newly born Annihilation-level Disaster Beast. There has been no further news yet.

Throughout the endless sea and among the thousands of islands, storms raged everywhere, and news of various calamities and beasts spread far and wide, causing everyone to live in fear.

"Wow, the outside world is so dangerous."

Ji Jue looked at the headlines from all over the country on the screen and couldn't help but make the face of an old man on the subway looking at his phone, his expression complicated: "Isis."

"Sir, I'm here."

A gentle response rang out from the workshop, and the workshop spirit, far away in Punabantu, looked back: "What are your orders?"

"How is Punabantu doing?" Ji Jue asked. "Is the defense against the calamity beasts still in place?"

Isis calmly replied, "Please rest assured, sir, everything is proceeding smoothly. So far, we have made considerable progress and have not yet identified any high-threat targets."

"That's good."

Ji Jue breathed a sigh of relief and then asked, "Apart from that, has anything else happened recently?"

"There's nothing worth mentioning."

Isis said, "However, according to statistics, under the current integration of the Crimson Sky Foundation, the Fly King's organization and execution rate have increased significantly, and the progress of each department is encouraging."

Although the consumption of spiritual energy has also increased, compared to the returns and benefits gained, this expenditure is negligible.

The spirit of the workshop exclaimed sincerely, "I never imagined that one day you would make such a positive contribution to your workshop. It is truly commendable and worthy of celebration."

"..."

Ji Jue's expression twitched; he was genuinely curious about just how abstract an image he, the creator, was in the eyes of the tool.

"Just remember to prioritize safety. With so little wealth, a big storm could wipe it all out in no time."

Ji Jue flipped through Punabantu's security log and breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that there were no abnormalities: "Safety first, safety first."

"clear."

Isis nodded calmly and assured him again, "I'll say it as many times as you want, please rest assured, sir."

She said, "Punabantu, there are no calamity beasts."

At this very moment, the steel city, billowing thick smoke, is still bustling with activity. A large number of construction workers are carrying building materials back and forth, and the bustling expansion and production are still going on.

The surrounding sea area, outside of the surveillance area, was completely empty.

There were no calamity beasts, no storms.

Nothing at all.

Above the gray-black sea, only pale flowers blooming silently in the water concealed the mountains of bones piled up beneath the surface.

They seemed endless, spreading so far that within a radius of thousands of miles of sea covered by the flowers, all living things had been wiped out.

Further out on the border, even the cries of the giant beasts sounded so weak.

The once invincible giant manta ray trembled, struggling futilely amidst the entanglements of silver light, its body covered by a profusion of blossoms, until finally, it was completely swallowed up.

And so, it sank into the sea.

During the long slumber, the massive body gradually withered, its life and remaining spirit were completely drained away, until even the last ashes dissolved completely in the seawater and were never seen again.

From the scattered ashes, tiny specks of light emerged.

Those tiny seeds, drawing upon the last vestiges of life from the ashes, sprouted and grew from the deep sea, eventually rising to the surface, blossoming into tender buds, rising and falling with the waves, drifting away into the distance...

It extends and spreads in this way.

It's like thousands of slowly outstretched hands, taking all living things into their grasp and eliminating all the seeds of disaster before it even happens.

Then, it stretches even further...

Security log update complete.

Calm and peaceful, as always.

Punabantu remains safe today.

Nothing happened.

Compared to Punabantu, where Ji Jue had a much easier time managing Isis, the Seven Cities are now, to some extent, in complete chaos. It even makes one wonder if these people are mentally sound.

Despite it being a season of raging storms and rampant wild beasts, everywhere was teeming with life, a scene of everything flourishing. After an excessively long and agonizing period of desolation, a distorted prosperity had arrived.

The disasters brought by the monsters haven't ended yet, but the economy brought about by them has already taken off...

In fact, it could be said that all of this was thanks to Charybdis, who had passed through the city a few days earlier. The seven cities had gone from an unexpectedly difficult situation to an unexpected New Year celebration in an instant.

It all originated from the remains left behind by that unknown calamity beast that was eaten by Charybdis!
Within the uncontrolled gravity zone, the enormous body parts still floated on the sea surface.

The first to react, the closest to the enemy, immediately dispatched a fleet, which brought back a large piece of wreckage. They discovered that the flesh on the body parts even retained signs of activity, a type never seen before.

As soon as the news broke, before the fleet even returned to port, the fragments were reportedly already reserved by a mysterious buyer who spent a large sum of money to secure them.

As for who this buyer is, it's really hard to guess... Don't you think so, Abang? Adi? Or is the Ring of Taiyi also involved?
After the news leaked, other city-states rushed to send out their fleets, and even earlier, well-informed fishermen had already set sail.

In less than two days, the remains of the giant beast were completely devoured. It is said that the heart was once sold for an astronomical price in the bounty offered in the Wilderness, making the Devouring City a fortune.

As the period of rampant winds arrives, the needs and demands of other calamity beasts increase.

Nowadays, the seas are filled with ferocious beasts fighting and preying on each other. If you're lucky, you can easily earn a fortune that was unimaginable in the past with just one trip.

Once the storm season is over, even if there are any remaining remains, they may be eaten by fish or other scavengers, leaving only a few scraps. It would be difficult to even put together a skeleton, let alone use it for research or as material.

The bigger the storm, the more expensive the fish.

Having tasted success, Yamen was the first to organize a fleet, offer a bounty, and brave the rapids during the high winds and rough seas. Soon, others followed suit...

What's raging across the seas now isn't some monstrous beast, but rather piles of pure silver.

Money, it's all money!

The carnival of the calamity beasts is not over yet, but the carnival of the seven cities has already begun!
For a time, despite the dangerous season, the seas surrounding the seven cities were filled with scenes of thousands of sails racing and hundreds of boats vying for position.

The once deserted dock has become lively and bustling again.

Shouts rose and fell, creating an exceptionally bustling atmosphere.

"Quickly, quickly, make way!"

A harsh urging sound rang out, and the dense crowd was forcibly cleared to make way. Several dying figures, their bodies stained with blood, were sent to ambulances, while others had broken limbs.

Even with such injuries, the stretcher bearer still grinned and laughed, seemingly unconcerned.

The fishing boat that had just returned to port was covered in cracks and broken pieces, but on the deck, a huge sea serpent bound by layers of cables stood out so conspicuously, attracting envious glances from countless people.

Amid the noise, a platform piled with several broken boxes was completely surrounded.

"Anyone want to work? Hurry up!" the second mate shouted from the platform. "We need four sailors, must have served in the military! Engine room mechanics preferred—"

Before he could finish speaking, hands began to reach out.

“Me! I can do it! I have a marine engineer’s license.”

"And I!"

The manpower was quickly assembled, in less than half a minute. The second mate, who was about to leave, was even grabbed and couldn't get away.

"Sir, I can do it too, sir!" The gaunt man leaned in, his eyes gleaming with unusual excitement. "I can be a boatman, I'm very quick! I have my service certificate..."

"Get away, no used cigarettes!"

In the chaos, the second mate disgustedly shook off his hand and hurried towards the large fishing boat preparing to leave port. Then, another man climbed onto the platform and shouted, "White Ice, five men needed! Same rules as always, those who have served in the military first, anyone who's a doctor...?"

"Me! Me! Me!"

"And I!"

"I can too!"

The crowd below the stage surged up again, creating a great commotion.

In every pair of eyes that were once withered and lifeless, a glimmer of hope shines.

Under the transport at the dock, the already dead giant snake was completely dismantled in the newly built factory. Its bones, internal organs, eyeballs, spinal cord, and brain were quickly preserved, packaged, and sealed, and then sold to various parties amidst the shouts and scrambles of the buyers' agents waving banknotes.

Thick, sticky blood meandered across the ground, and amidst the stench of decay, large amounts of minced meat were hauled out of the factory by carts and dumped into the ditch.

Mosquitoes and flies swarmed around.

The slums by the sea were noisy.

Even with the door closed, the sound of crying could still be heard from afar in the dilapidated house that was drafty on all sides. It was unclear which widow had just received the news of her husband's death and was sobbing and wailing.

"Meat! So much meat!"

The child's gaze was drawn to the bubbling pot, from which wafted a rich, pungent aroma. The snotty-nosed child peered closer, eyes wide, and beamed with delight: "Wow, it's all meat!"

"Eat slowly, eat slowly."

The sallow-faced old man coughed repeatedly, and watching him wolf down his food, he smiled helplessly. But the words that came to his lips unconsciously contradicted themselves.

"Eat more, eat more."

He reached out and stroked the child's sparse, yellowish hair, repeatedly muttering a meaningless phrase: "If you're full, you won't be hungry..."

　Ah, thank you everyone for your monthly votes!

　　I didn't check the specific time of the event carefully, and as a result, I set the target number too high, and I couldn't change it... I didn't expect to reach one-third of the target in just one day, thank you! Thank you!

　　I'd also like to ask for your monthly votes!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)