As someone in sequence 001, I also want to give up today.

At 4:45 a.m., on the 17th basement floor of the China Superpower Bureau, in the emergency operations conference room.

The atmosphere here is even more oppressive than in the command center.

More than twenty people sat on both sides of the long table, all of them high-ranking officials from the General Administration and S-level representatives who were still in Beijing.

A holographic projection hovered above the table, displaying the real-time location and energy readings of "Abyssal Echoes".

The scarlet dot of light was moving westward at an alarming speed.

Zhou Zhengguo stood in front of the main seat, his hands resting on the table.

His gaze swept over everyone present.

"Everyone is aware of the situation."

His voice was exceptionally clear in the quiet conference room.

"The 'Echoes of the Abyss' is moving towards the island nation and is expected to reach its eastern waters in five hours. Once it lands on the island nation, our East China Sea will be next."

No one spoke, but everyone's expression was solemn.

"The General Administration's decision is: to take the initiative."

Zhou Zhengguo spoke slowly and deliberately.

"Intercept, kill, or seal it before it approaches our territorial waters. The location... is in the waters east of the island nation."

"And the price?"

The speaker was an elderly man with gray hair, a strategic advisor to the General Administration.

"Last time, we paid the price of three S-rank permanent damages to barely seal the 'Abyss Singer'."

This time, the opponent might be at its complete form.

How many S-class destroyers would we need to stop it?

Five? Ten? Or...all of them?

"We won't use all of them."

Zhou Zhengguo pulled up a list.

"After assessment, we can select up to seven S-level personnel, plus twenty A-level special agents, to form an expedition team."

The list is projected above the desktop:

[Sequence 002 - Witch of Reason] Lilith

【Sequence 003 - Hyotei】

【Sequence 028 - The Wind Whisperer】

[Sequence 030 · Akito]

【Sequence 033 - Fire and Ice】

[Sequence 041·Neptune]

【Sequence 068·Mount Tai】

Upon seeing the list, several gasps were heard in the conference room.

"002 and 003..."

A middle-aged woman said in a low voice.

"These are the two highest-ranking members in our sequence."

"And there's also 041 'Aquaman',"

Another staff member added.

"He has a natural advantage in naval operations."

033 The "Ice and Fire Man's" ability can counteract the opponent's extreme temperature field.

028 'Windtalker' can manipulate the weather, making it an important asset in naval warfare.

068 "Taishan's" gravity manipulation... might be able to restrict the opponent's movement.

"But 030 'Mingren'?" someone questioned. "Although he possesses the strongest defensive capabilities, his combat experience..."

"The ability of the Ming people is 'absolute defense'."

Zhou Zhengguo interrupted him.

"When facing SS-class enemies, defense is more important than offense. We need him to protect the others."

"But Chief,"

The strategic advisor frowned.

"Isn't this list... too risky? 002 and 003 are our strongest fighters. What if something happens to them overseas..."

"That's why we need them to go."

Zhou Zhengguo's voice was resolute.

"The energy reading of 'Abyss Echoes' has exceeded the upper limit of the existing assessment system."

Sending an ordinary S-rank fighter would likely be suicide. Only the most elite combatants can lead the team to have any hope of discovering its weaknesses.

He paused, his voice lowering:

"And...do you think this is just our problem?"

The holographic projection switched to display an encrypted communication record.

[03:45 Western Alliance reply: Four S-class personnel and fifteen A-class personnel can be deployed. They are expected to arrive at the designated sea area in six hours.]

[03:47 Arctic Federation Reply: Director Yuri has led the "Ice Wolf" team and is expected to arrive in 5 hours and 30 minutes.]

[03:52 Island Nation Responds: Accepts All Aid, Kamikaze Units Have Entered Highest State of Readiness]

"This is a global crisis," Zhou Zhengguo said.

"If we only send second-line forces, what will other countries think? They will think we are conserving our strength, and then joint operations will turn into individual battles—that would be a real disaster."

Silence fell over the meeting room.

"So," Zhou Zhengguo straightened up.

"The list is finalized. The question now is—who can contact these people and get them to the East China Sea frontline base within three hours?"

The officer in charge of liaison immediately stood up:

"Lady Lilith is currently in the 'Frozen Laboratory' in the Northern Frontier. She has been notified and replied: 'Understood, don't rush me.'"

"Where's 'Hyotei'?" Zhou Zhengguo asked. "He should still be in Antarctica."

"No... Chief."

The officer's expression was a little strange.

"Three minutes ago, we received a communication from Mr. 003. He said... he was fishing in the East China Sea."

Everyone in the conference room was stunned.

"East China Sea? Fishing?"

Zhou Zhengguo frowned.

"He traveled all the way from Antarctica to the East China Sea to fish?"

"His exact words were: 'The fish in Antarctica aren't good, so I came here because I heard the ribbonfish from the East China Sea is delicious. I never expected to run into such a big problem. What bad luck!'"

Zhou Zhengguo: "..."

"028 'Wind Whisperer' is on secondment at the Jiangnan Meteorological Bureau. We have made contact with him and he is on his way to the base."

The officer continued his report.

"033 'Ice and Fire Man' was conducting research in the Southwest Volcanic Cluster yesterday and just took off."

041 "Aquaman"... He's in the East China Sea, saying he "smelled a big guy in the sea and was thinking of going to check it out."

"068 'Mount Tai' is in seclusion in the Northwest Gravity Anomaly Zone. Forcibly waking it up may be risky."

"Is the risk controllable?" Zhou Zhengguo asked.

He said he needed half an hour to adjust his breathing, and then he could set off.

"What about 'Mingren' (the author of episode 030)?"

The officer's expression grew even stranger: "His Excellency Mingren... is sleeping. His assistant said he stayed up all night playing games yesterday and didn't go to sleep until 3 a.m., and now he can't be woken up."

Zhou Zhengguo rubbed his temples: "Send someone to his house and wake him up with cold water."

"yes!"

---

5:20 a.m., East China Sea Frontline Base.

This was originally an auxiliary facility of a naval base, located on an artificial island in the East China Sea.

The base was brightly lit, and helicopters were constantly taking off and landing on the helipad to transport personnel and equipment.

At the base command center, seven S-class personnel have arrived one after another.

The first to arrive was 041 "Aquaman"—a middle-aged man who looked to be around forty years old, with dark skin.

Wearing a floral shirt and beach shorts, with flip-flops on her feet, she looked like she had just returned from a beach vacation.

He walked into the command center, yawning, "Coming, coming... By the way, is there breakfast? I haven't eaten yet."

Following closely behind is 028 "Wind Whisperer," the gentle woman in a cheongsam.

She held a silk fan in her hand and moved with a light step, looking more like she was attending a tea party than going to the battlefield.

"Good morning, Your Excellency Neptune."

She smiled and nodded.

"Good morning, Fengyu."

Aquaman grinned.

"Don't you think it's a bit inhumane to wake us up in the middle of the night to fight monsters?"

"It's my duty."

The Wind Whisperer spoke softly.

The third to arrive was 033 "Ice and Fire Man"—the boy who looked only sixteen or seventeen years old. He was holding a hamburger and eating it as he walked.

"Hmm... the hamburgers at the base cafeteria are alright."

He said vaguely.

"The cola wasn't cold enough."

"I can cool it down for you," the Wind Whisperer smiled.

"Thanks, but I can handle it myself."

The Ice and Fire Man snapped his fingers, and a layer of frost immediately formed on the surface of the cola cup in his hand.

The fourth one to arrive was 068 "Taishan" - a taciturn middle-aged man.

After he came in, he found a corner to sit down without saying a word, closed his eyes and began to regulate his breathing.

The gravitational field around him was clearly abnormal, and the floor beneath his feet was slightly sunken.

The fifth one... was 030 "Akito" who was carried in by two assistants.

This is a young man who looks to be in his early twenties.

Her hair was a mess, like a bird's nest, her eyes weren't fully open, and she was wearing pajamas printed with anime girls.

"Let me sleep for five more minutes... just five minutes..." he muttered.

"Your Excellency, wake up!"

The assistant shook him.

"Mission! SS-rank alien beast!"

"So what if someone is SS-rank...? Even an SS-rank can't disturb someone's sleep..."

As Mingren spoke, he was about to fall asleep again.

The Wind Whisperer walked over and gently fanned himself with a silk fan.

A gentle breeze blew by, carrying a refreshing fragrance.

The man sneezed, finally becoming a little more awake:

"Who is it... Hey? Sister Fengyu? Uncle Haiwang? What are you all doing here... Where is this?"

"East China Sea Frontline Base"

Aquaman said irritably.

"You little brat, you're about to fight an SS-rank opponent, and you're still acting like this."

"SS-rank?!"

The man instantly regained his senses.

"Wait, wait, wait! I'm a defense-type character! You want me to fight SS-rank enemies? I'll die!"

"It's not that you're asking me to fight, it's that you're asking me to protect us."

After finishing his hamburger, Ice and Fire wiped his mouth.

"Isn't your 'Absolute Defense' supposed to be able to withstand a full-force SS-class attack? Isn't this just asking you to test it out?"

"That's just a claim! Besides, I'd be a sitting duck at sea!"

The Ming people looked mournful.

"rest assured,"

A cool, clear voice came from the doorway.

"If you die, I will reassemble your ashes into a human form and bring them back."

Everyone turned their heads.

Lilith—Sequence 002, the Witch of Reason, stands at the door.

She was still wearing the same black Lolita dress, white stockings, and black leather shoes.

He was still holding that huge hardcover book in his hands, but now it was closed.

She walked in, her gaze sweeping over everyone present.

"Is everyone here?" she asked.

"We're still missing 003," said Aquaman.

"He's here," Lilith said, pointing out the window.

Everyone looked out the window and saw an iceberg that had appeared on the sea outside the base at some unknown time.

No, it's not an iceberg.

is a person.

A young man with white hair and white eyebrows, dressed in a white robe, is standing on the sea.

An ice layer with a diameter of 100 meters extended from beneath his feet, freezing the surrounding seawater.

He was holding a fishing rod, with the fishing line dangling into the ice cave; he was actually fishing.

"003 'Hyotei'..."

"Mingren murmured."

"Was he really fishing in the East China Sea?"

"Otherwise what?"

Hyotei didn't turn around; his voice came through the glass.

"The penguins in Antarctica are too noisy; it's quiet here."

"But...SS-rank..."

What else did the Ming people want to say?

"So what if it's SS-rank?"

Hyotei finally turned around, revealing a handsome but indifferent face.

"So, SS-rank characters can't fish?"

Everyone: "..."

"Everyone's here."

Zhou Zhengguo's voice came through the communicator.

"Gentlemen, please proceed to the operations briefing room."

---

In the briefing room, the holographic projection has already been set up.

The real-time image of "Abyss Echoes" hovers in the center—that huge, ever-changing dark blue geometric shape is moving northwest at a speed of 320 kilometers per hour.

"Latest data."

The base commander—an elderly general with graying hair—pointed at the projection.

"The target is 1,200 kilometers from the eastern coastline of the island nation. Estimated arrival time: 4 hours and 37 minutes."

"Have you analyzed its energy characteristics yet?" Lilith asked.

"part."

Technicians retrieved the data.

"The temperature in the core area is close to absolute zero, while the temperature of the surrounding seawater is 95 degrees Celsius."

The energy field has a radius of about 1.5 kilometers, within which all physical laws are distorted.

Conventional weapons are ineffective; supernatural attacks... their effectiveness remains to be tested.

"What are its weaknesses?" Aquaman asked.

"Nothing has been found yet."

The technician said with difficulty.

"But based on the battle records of the 'Abyss Singer,' SS-class alien beasts usually have a 'core,' and destroying the core can kill it."

The problem is... we don't know the core of 'Abyssal Echoes'.

"We'll find out if we test it out."

Hyotei finally walked in from outside, his fishing rod gone.

"Who goes first?"

Everyone fell silent.

When facing an SS-class enemy, whoever goes first... might be the first to die.

"I'll do it."

Taishan suddenly spoke, his voice deep and resonant.

"My gravitational field can restrict its movement, creating an opportunity for you."

"I'll go with you," said the Fireman.

"My temperature manipulation might be able to disrupt its extreme temperature field."

"Then Fengyu and I will provide remote support," said Haiwang.

"I have a home-field advantage at sea, and I can manipulate the weather to create a favorable environment by using wind signals."

"I..." Mingren hesitated for a moment.

"I will do my best to protect everyone."

Finally, everyone's eyes turned to Lilith and Hyotei.

These two S-rank individuals, who are the highest in the tier, are the true core of this operation.

"Why are you looking at me?"

Lilith opened the book.

"I'll take care of dismantling that thing before you all die."

"I'll take care of letting it cool down."

Hyotei said calmly.

"In low-temperature environments, all reactions slow down, including energy processes."

The division of labor has been initially determined.

But everyone knows that this is just an idealized solution.

Faced with an SS-class aircraft carrier, any plan could collapse in an instant.

"There's one more thing."

The old general's face was solemn.

"According to intelligence from the island nation, their 'kamikaze' units have arrived at the designated sea area."

The Western Alliance's four S-class and fifteen A-class personnel are expected to arrive in two hours.

Director Yuri of the Arctic Federation and his "Ice Wolf" squad arrived an hour later.

"In other words,"

Lilith closed the book

"We're going to team up with a group of strangers to fight a monster we know absolutely nothing about."

"That's one way to understand it," the old general nodded.

Silence fell over the meeting room once again.

"interesting."

Hyotei suddenly smiled—though that smile was as cold as the polar wind.

"Then let the whole world see just how good China's S-class really is."

He turned and walked out of the briefing room.

Others followed suit.

Lilith walked last. She stopped as she passed Zhou Zhengguo's holographic projection.

"Director Zhou," she said.

"Lady Lilith, please speak."

"If I don't come back,"

Lilith's tone was as flat as if she were saying, "The weather will be nice tomorrow."

"Send the fairy tale books from the third shelf in my lab to a few children I met in northern Xinjiang. I've saved their addresses in my terminal."

Zhou Zhengguo was silent for two seconds: "...Understood."

"besides,"

Lilith added.

"Tell 004, that dead guy—his prediction was spot on. Three years? We haven't even had three months."

After she finished speaking, she walked out of the briefing room.

The door closed behind her.

Zhou Zhengguo stood in front of the holographic projection, watching the seven S-class figures disappear at the end of the corridor.

Outside the window, the sky was gradually brightening.

On the sea, the rising sun is slowly turning the sky blood red.

"Notify all units,"

He spoke into the communicator.

"Operation 'The Great Wall' has officially begun."

May they... return safely.

No one answered.

Because everyone knows that facing an SS-rank enemy and returning safely is a pipe dream.