I created a foundation

The tentacles' morphological structure, energy response, and the way they coexisted with the host were all completely consistent with a certain branch in his memory.

"This isn't ordinary flesh and blood transformation. This is a divinely gifted organ unique to the followers of the Sarkic Cult, serving one of the six flesh and blood archangels under their command, [Patriarch Gonggong], who symbolizes water and life. It's the [Animated Gills]."

"A terminal priest who can perform water and flesh baptism."

His voice was calm, but the conclusion he reached was enough to send shudders down the spine of anyone who knew the meaning behind it.

This means that what Eriri caught was not an isolated abnormal creature at all.

Rather, it is an insignificant pathfinder thrown into this world by a huge, ancient hostile organization whose mission is to subvert the world.

Lin Qing connected the internal communication.

"Shiyu."

"Yes, Chairman."

Kasumigaoka Utaha's cold and capable voice sounded immediately, without any unnecessary greetings.

"The threat level of the abnormal incident in the Izu abandoned factory area has been raised from Tiger level to Ghost level."

"Understood, updated."

On the other end of the line, Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't ask why, but simply carried out the order. This was the ironclad discipline within the Foundation.

"Order: First Rapid Reaction Force, [Demon Slayer]."

Lin Qing's voice was emotionless.

"Captain, Busujima Saeko. Immediately assemble the strongest assault team, board the Nightingale, and reach the target location within ten minutes."

"Yes."

Another calm but slightly excited female voice came in from another channel. It was Busujima Saeko who had just received the order to attack.

Lin Qing's gaze fell back on the main screen, looking at the face that still had a holy smile.

"Remember, Saeko."

“There is only one goal.”

His voice was like the final judgment.

"Capture alive and take him into custody."

Communications cut off.

Silence returned to the command room, with only the stars flowing on the walls.

On the tactical map in the headquarters room, a red arrow representing the [Demon Slayer] team was rapidly approaching the dangerous area at an alarming speed.

Lin Qing slowly stood up and walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the huge containment chambers in the underground base that were flashing danger signals.

"Notify Engineering."

He gave his final instructions to the empty office.

"Prepare Containment Unit [015], adapted to the highest specifications for living flesh and blood divine contamination sources."

Izu, abandoned factory area.

The dark green reservoir is like a cold and dead jade embedded in the scar of the earth.

The cold raindrops never stopped falling, hitting the water surface densely, splashing layer after layer of tiny ripples, as if it was the eternal, monotonous breathing of this world.

The silence was broken by an almost silent tearing sensation.

Not a sound, but an intrusion into the space itself.

Three jet-black aircraft, their shapes imbued with a sharp, geometric aesthetic, tore through the low-hanging rain curtain, hovering like ghosts above the reservoir. They had no rotors, no jets, relying solely on anti-gravity engines to brutally obliterate their presence, soundlessly and silently, like birds of prey blending into the night.

Under the belly of the plane, the hatch slid open.

Dozens of black ropes popped out instantly and were precisely fixed to the ground.

The next second, a series of nimble figures slid down the ropes rapidly. Their movements were in perfect unison, and the sound they made when they landed was absorbed by the special material of the soles of their tactical boots, making it as light as a cat's paw landing.

They are the Foundation's first rapid response force, the [Ghost Slayers].

Each member was equipped with the latest model of the [Type 9 Mechanical Exoskeleton]. The dull black alloy fit their bodies tightly, the streamlined design balancing protection and mobility. The faint sound of hydraulic assistance at the joints composed a cold melody of steel and order.

Without any hesitation, they formed a perfect fan-shaped encirclement the moment they landed. The muzzles of the special assault rifles in their hands sank, and the red laser aiming points, like the gaze of the god of death, were firmly locked on the reservoir.

Raindrops slid down their cold masks, but their breathing and heartbeats were controlled at an absolutely steady frequency through the built-in life support system.

They are machines, the blades of order.

A figure jumped down from the highest aircraft without the help of any rope.

He landed lightly on the edge of the slippery and muddy pool without even a splash of mud or water under his feet.

Lin Qing.

He was not wearing any exoskeleton or protective gear, but just a simple black casual suit, as if he was not facing a "ghost"-level disaster, but taking a walk in the rainy night.

When the rain came within one meter of his body, it was separated by an invisible force and automatically slid to the sides, keeping him absolutely dry and clean at all times.

Behind him, another figure followed closely.

Busujima Saeko.

She also wore no standard combat uniform, only a black, easy-to-move-in outfit that outlined her breathtaking figure. The rain fell on her body, but it seemed to have life, sliding down the texture of her skin without soaking an inch of the fabric.

Her right hand never left the hilt of the knife at her waist.

The Zanpakutō named "Noshai" seemed to sense its master's fighting spirit, or perhaps it smelled the disgusting smell of flesh and blood in front of it. An almost inaudible, excited buzzing sound came from between the blade and the scabbard.

Saeko's eyes were fixed on the center of the pool.

Those purple eyes, which usually carried a hint of laziness and charm, were now burning with a pure desire to fight that was almost tangible.

The blood in her body was rushing, cheering, and longing for a hearty fight.

The fighting instinct that had been suppressed for too long was finally allowed to be released at this moment.

It seemed that he had sensed this enormous force filled with the aura of "order" and "steel", or perhaps he was alarmed by Busujima Saeko's undisguised murderous intent.

In the pool of water, the girl's head, which was slowly floating up, suddenly rose up.

Iwasaki Maika.

The holy and peaceful expression on her face shattered into pieces like a low-quality plaster mask, and was replaced by a distorted look that was a mixture of fanaticism, hatred and extreme contempt.

She was no longer the pitiful sacrifice that needed to be saved.

She is the priestess.

"It's you again..."

Her voice squeezed out of her throat, no longer the clear and crisp voice of a young girl, but became hoarse and sharp, as if countless rusty iron nails were rubbing against each other.

A flame of resentment ignited in those originally empty eyes, sweeping across the soldiers wearing exoskeletons, and finally fixed on Lin Qing, who was standing by the pond like a god.

".~You...are heretics who worship cold steel and a deadly order!"

Her scream pierced the rain and echoed in the empty abandoned factory area, filled with deep hatred.

"You imprison your souls within fragile mechanical creations, using so-called rules and logic to stifle the infinite possibilities of life! You fear evolution, fear change, and fear the most primal and greatest rhythm that stems from flesh and blood!"

Her voice became increasingly high-pitched, and in the horrific lacerations on both sides of her neck, translucent flesh tentacles danced wildly with excitement, as if accompanying her sermon.

"Look! This is the true form of life! Break free from the constraints of bones, tear apart the cage of skin! Feel every cell division and proliferation. This is the sweetest gift bestowed by our Lord!"

No one paid any attention to her rant.

To the Foundation's elite, this was just the routine, meaningless barking of countless anomalies before being contained.

Their fingers remained steady on the triggers, and their heart rates remained unchanged.

Instead, a cold arc appeared on the corner of Busujima Saeko's mouth.

heresy?

She likes this word very much.

There was no expression on Lin Qing's face. He just calmly watched the crazy one-man show in front of him, then raised his chin slightly towards Busujima Saeko.

The simplest instruction.

It's enough.

"As ordered."

Saeko responded softly, which was more like announcing the start of the hunt than accepting an order.

The next moment, her figure disappeared from the spot.

boom!

The ground beneath her feet suddenly exploded into a deep pit, and mud mixed with rainwater rushed into the sky.

A black afterimage that was almost impossible to capture with the naked eye, at a terrifying speed exceeding the speed of sound, drew a straight white air wave channel in the rain curtain and headed straight for Iwasaki Maika in the center of the pool.

fast!

Almost reaching the extreme!

Those elite soldiers equipped with the [Type 9 Mechanical Exoskeleton], whose dynamic vision far exceeds that of ordinary people, can only barely catch a series of blurry afterimages in their tactical eyepieces.

Saeko ignored the other party's disgusting tentacles dancing wildly.

Her order was to "capture him alive."

Therefore, her goal was extremely clear from the very beginning.

Limbs.

The [Yeshai] in his hand was finally unsheathed, emitting a clear dragon roar that had been suppressed for too long.

In the dim rainy night, the broad and heavy blade flashed with a heart-pounding pale cold light, as if it could cut off the soul.

The blade moved with the brutal momentum of cutting through mountains and tearing the earth apart, and it went straight for Iwasaki Maika's right arm at an extremely tricky angle!

"How dare you——"

For the first time, the enthusiasm on Iwasaki Maika's face was replaced by horror.

She had never expected that the attacks from these "heretics" would come so quickly and so decisively!