Chapter 241: Second Stage Execution

“Grr…”

A sound like wind whipping through a suddenly snapped taut wire pierced the air.

Empty, yet imbued with a sense of mystery.

Another wave of psychic energy radiation expanded, spreading across the city in all directions.

This radiation of psychic energy swept through the entire city, penetrating walls, steel, and human bodies. Only glass objects offered feeble resistance. Each time the pulsing sound of the radiation echoed, this energy surged further into the distance. Originating at the East Sea Grand Hotel, it propagated toward the edges of the Main City, weakening steadily until finally dissipating.

Those affected by this radiation instinctively turned their gaze skyward toward the Red-Cloak Spiritual Monster.

Initially, it was mere curiosity mixed with terror—a desire to see what it was.

The longer they stared, the clearer the creature within the Red Cloak became in their vision.

For many, including some Special Dispatch Team members and Ability Users, this was their first clear glimpse of a Psychic Entity.

To most, a Psychic Entity manifested only as a twisting mass of chaotic Mental Power.

Its presence was discernible only through the distortion of the air it caused.

This tangible visibility made this particular Psychic Entity inherently mesmerizing.

The pull wasn’t overwhelming, which paradoxically made it harder to detect.

Lost in this dreadful gaze, few realized they were growing increasingly exhausted, a drowsiness creeping over them. Yet, the adrenaline rush from their wonder and fear at seeing the entity masked the subtle sensation of their Psychic Energy being devoured. They didn’t even know what they were losing.

Scattered throughout the city:

Someone slumped in a room, transfixed as if worshipping the Psychic Entity.

Another stood rigid like a statue.

Some had already withered, flesh shriveling like a desiccated flower.

…

“The contamination traits of the ‘Red Apostle’ are intensifying…”

“Per the advice from the Information Analysis Department, immediately issue a public alert: Do not directly observe the Red Cloak entity…”

“…”

Chen Jing had approached Lu Xin. She too heard the periodic impact waves emanating from the Red-Cloak Spiritual Monster. The sound tugged at her focus, tempting her to look, but she wrestled it down with sheer Willpower. Warnings and reminders had been dispatched to all personnel on the Cleanup Mission.

By exercising Willpower to avoid looking—or prolonged gazing—one could remain uncontaminated.

But Chen Jing understood: Though public broadcasts had urged against observing the entity the moment it appeared—borne from ingrained caution toward a Source of Contamination—many would have already gazed upon it. This spread of Contamination was nearly unstoppable.

Not everyone possessed sufficient Willpower to resist the pull of the colossal Red-Cloak figure.

The critical task now was its elimination.

Urgently, before it devoured the Psychic Energy of most within the city.

…

“This seems to be the first time Lone Soldier has expressed uncertainty about confronting a Psychic Entity…”

An unusual heaviness settled in Chen Jing’s heart.

Over the comms channel moments ago, the Information Analysis Team had advised against deploying Doll against the Red-Cloak.

Thus, her hopes now rested elsewhere.

As the direct superior who first recruited Lone Soldier and witnessed his increasingly astonishing displays step by step, Chen Jing held strong expectations for his capability. That’s why, feeling powerless, she couldn’t help but ask that question.

But if even Lone Soldier himself perceived “danger,” she couldn’t compel Lu Xin to engage.

The Special Clean-up Department was no military force.

…

Lu Xin hadn’t elaborated to Chen Jing that his “danger” remark referred not to himself.

The Psychic Magnitude of the Red-Cloak Spiritual Monster was undeniably high—that much was easily ascertained.

But what unsettled him more were the creature’s inexplicable oddities. Lu Xin’s intuition screamed that confronting it directly would yield disastrous consequences.

Internally, he warred with himself.

A primal impulse urged him to charge in and battle the entity head-on.

Simultaneously, stark rationality warned that yielding to it would destroy everything.

This internal conflict left Lu Xin temporarily silent.

He merely stood still, brow deeply furrowed, as if trying to decipher his own thoughts.

Beside him, Doll watched calmly.

She understood nothing of his struggle, sensing only his distress—and mirroring it within herself.

It was amid this tense stagnation, this suffocating silence enveloping them, that headlights suddenly pierced the gloom. Three Jeeps barreled toward their position, screeching to an abrupt halt.

…

Whoosh, rustle, splash…

From both the front and rear vehicles, two squads of Armed Soldiers descended. Clad in black Protective Suits and wielding standard Plasma Weapons, they swiftly deployed around the area, securing every angle. Their bearing and demeanor, regardless of rank, marked them as distinct.

Once these fighters had secured all points, three individuals emerged from the middle vehicle.

The first was an Old Man wearing a pristine white suit; his beard and hair both exuded an air of refined taste.

Another was a middle-aged man with a round face, seemingly perpetually wearing a kind smile.

The last was a military man in uniform with a hard, square face, like a block of stone.

Even Chen Jing’s expression suddenly registered surprise upon seeing these three.

She had never expected these three to appear here, so close to the East Sea Grand Hotel, at this very moment.

Snapping to attention, she promptly saluted them.

Swish… Swish… Swish…

Following Chen Jing’s lead, many members of the nearby Special Dispatch Teams conducting checks on the Quarantine Zone also straightened up and saluted.

The arrival of these three seemed to dilute the panic hanging thick in the air.

…

“Hello, Lone Soldier. My surname is Bai; I’m the dean of the Special Clean-up Department Research Institute.”

Amidst the salutes, the Old Man in the white suit, carrying a silver case, approached Lu Xin. Wearing a kindly expression, he extended his hand towards Lu Xin. He appeared ordinary, yet his eyes held keen intelligence.

“The one who likes famous sayings?”

Lu Xin felt a flicker of confusion, but still reached out and shook the offered hand.

“Can you handle that Psychic Entity?”

The Old Man in white got straight to the point, wasting no words.

Lu Xin looked at the Old Man, shook his head slightly, his face remaining expressionless.

Beside them, Chen Jing was also slightly startled; she hadn’t expected Professor Bai to ask the exact same question too.

Did they intend to push the Lone Soldier to attempt it anyway?

“Huh, I see.”

The Old Man in white seemed unsurprised by Lu Xin’s answer. Instead, he shifted his approach:

“Well then, what if you cast aside all reservations? If you act freely, without restraint… would you be able to handle it then?”

Lu Xin was visibly taken aback this time, his gaze locking onto the Old Man’s face.

He didn’t answer; the Old Man’s question was strangely phrased.

Still, he couldn’t deny it – his heart fluttered slightly upon hearing those words.

…

“First, my proposal.”

The Old Man in the white suit stated, “That Psychic Entity is the result of an S-class Ability User from the Maritime Nation sacrificing their own life to transform. It possesses the insidious trait of devouring the Psychic Energy of others, hence its Psychic Magnitude is growing alarmingly fast. Currently, it has surpassed 30,000.”

As he spoke, he glanced meaningfully at his wristwatch.

“Furthermore, I propose we take ten minutes. Ten minutes to share crucial information and arrive at a decisive plan.”

“Given its exponentially increasing growth rate, within ten minutes, we might be facing a Psychic Entity exceeding a Psychic Magnitude of 60,000. Without viable conventional methods of ‘cleaning’ it, an Entity of that magnitude possesses the destructive power to inflict incalculable losses upon Qing Harbor Main City. Frankly, we stand at the brink of existential peril.”

“That, Lone Soldier, is precisely why I sought you out personally.”

“We need you to accept this S-class Cleanup Mission. Eliminate it.”

“…”

Professor Bai’s words bewildered even Chen Jing.

Nearby, Minister Shen and Mr. Su exchanged uneasy glances.

Lu Xin was equally perplexed.

He himself had no idea if he could eliminate this Psychic Entity. On the surface, at least, it seemed a daunting, perhaps impossible task.

“Naturally, I understand your own… reservations.”

Professor Bai continued smoothly, his voice taking on a grave quality as his gaze fixed intently on Lu Xin.

“Therefore, my concrete proposal is this:”

“I will immediately administer the Second Stage enhancement. Once we stabilize your condition post-enhancement, then you proceed to conduct the cleaning on schedule.”

“…”

Swish!

Lu Xin recoiled violently, his head jerking up, eyes wide with shock fixed on Professor Bai’s face.

“Second Stage?!”

Not far away, Chen Jing reacted with equal astonishment, disbelief stark on her features, as if doubting her own ears.

“That is your designation. Your application for advancement has been reviewed. As previously stated, the consensus is yes.”

Professor Bai met Lu Xin’s incredulous gaze directly, his tone deliberate.

“In preparation, the Research Institute commenced preliminary procedures for your Second Stage intensification nearly half a standard operational cycle ago.”

“Admittedly, initiating the full procedure under current field conditions, here and now… yes, it represents a significant logistical compromise. Psychological preparation time is lacking. However, circumstances require flexibility. Therefore, I must ask directly: Will you consent to the procedure proceeding immediately?”

Lu Xin listened, momentarily speechless.

The Second Stage was everything he had been striving towards; accepting it was unquestionable. But so abruptly? Here? Now? In this place?

Here? For Second Stage?

He looked around instinctively. There wasn’t even a proper bed…