The gap between Second Sequence and First Sequence could be described as the difference between heaven and earth.
It was precisely because of Nathaniel Gray's existence that Ning City was now one of Huaxia's safest cities.
Only with a First Sequence guardian could a city provide its citizens with a sense of security.
Why hadn't Cloud City produced even a single First Sequence?
Clearly, whether in economy or culture, they surpassed Ning City...
"Hah..."
If they had a First Sequence, he wouldn't need to worry so much now.
Just as he was sighing helplessly, a panicked voice suddenly came from behind him.
"This is bad! Something's happened, Director!"
"What happened?"
He jerked his head up, his heart involuntarily beginning to race.
"Beast Tide!"
"It's a Beast Tide!"
"Large quantities of spiritual energy fluctuations are appearing outside Cloud City. Mutant creatures are suspected to be undergoing transformation."
"And we've detected massive spiritual energy sources beginning to gather—the quantity and intensity even exceed the Second Spiritual Energy Tide!"
Hearing this, even though he'd already experienced one Beast Tide, his expression changed drastically.
Was it coming again this quickly?!
A Beast Tide...
Emotions continuously shifted across his face. Finally, he took a deep breath.
"Don't be too pessimistic. Last time caused such severe impact mainly because there were not only external mutant creatures but also internal mutant beasts. Due to restrictions, many weapons couldn't be used."
"Now the city and wilderness are completely separated. We don't need to restrict high-power weapons."
"The advantage is ours."
As long as technology usage wasn't restricted, even vast numbers of mutant beasts wouldn't be too worrying.
But one thing puzzled him.
Why did these mutant creatures launch attacks against humanity every time large-scale spiritual energy tides occurred?
To absorb the energy needed for evolution?
But if so, why not directly slaughter other mutant beasts? Shouldn't their bodies contain more energy?
Or was it... truly because humanity's individual strength was too weak?
Indeed—compared to other mutant beasts, human strength really wasn't strong.
As food, they were indeed the best food for those creatures.
But there was an even deeper reason.
These mutant beasts hadn't yet evolved the wisdom to recognize the strength of human civilization.
Their current intelligence wasn't sufficient to understand humanity's might, didn't know how terrifying human technology was. They only knew that humanity's individual strength was weak—that humans were the best food for their evolution.
"A bunch of beasts. Sooner or later, we'll wipe you out."
He spoke coldly.
"Pull up the projection. Where have those mutant beast tides reached?"
"Yes, sir!"
As the projection continuously displayed images, they saw massive numbers of mutant beasts appearing.
Mutant rats with bodies as large as pre-mutation cats. Crimson pupils plus sharp claws, combined with reproduction speeds even greater than before the Spiritual Energy Revival—though these mutant rats' individual strength wasn't formidable, they remained a troublesome presence.
They didn't unite with other mutant creatures. They were a singular mutant rat swarm.
A Rat Tide existing within the Beast Tide!
And in another image—
Vast numbers of different mutant beasts gathered together. Mutant wolves, mutant rabbits, mutant boars, mutant tigers, mutant sika deer—these former hunters and prey seemed to have overturned their species' characteristics, uniting solely for human flesh and blood.
Evolution required energy. Compared to those powerfully strong mutant beasts, humans with extremely weak spiritual energy fluctuations were the best choice.
Moreover, humans gathered in massive numbers.
The wisdom amplified by spiritual energy hadn't yet taught them that humanity's greatest strength lay in technology—in weaponry. They merely passively sensed humanity's life force fluctuations, which were extremely weak compared to other mutant creatures.
Powerfully strong existences—their very life force fluctuations were like beacons in the night, incomparably dazzling. Compared to them, humans were like candle flames in the darkness—but possessed numbers no other species could match.
Tens of millions of candle flames gathered together produced radiance even more dazzling than beacons.
Though these candle flames included formidable warriors, compared to all these flames, those strong individuals were too few—so few they instinctively overlooked them.
Therefore—driven by instinct and the pursuit of evolution—they began launching attacks toward human cities.
"Maximum alert! Mobilize all teams and ability users with combat capability to prepare for battle! Defend the city's defensive line to the death! Do not allow even a single mutant beast to breach the perimeter!"
"Maximum alert! Mobilize all teams and ability users with combat capability to prepare for battle! Defend the city's defensive line to the death! Do not allow even a single mutant beast to breach the perimeter!"
"Maximum alert! Mobilize all teams and ability users with combat capability to prepare for battle! Defend the city's defensive line to the death! Do not allow even a single mutant beast to breach the perimeter!"
"..."
One alarm after another rang cyclically through all relevant departments. All departments began operating rapidly like cold machines.
Since the Beast Tide of the Second Spiritual Energy Tide, they had anticipated today's occurrence and constantly prepared.
Massive numbers of fully armed convoys drove toward the city gates. Ability users with offensive capabilities also swiftly arrived.
In truth, for those talented ability users, now was the most suitable time for cultivation. Extremely pure spiritual energy would let them rapidly increase their strength.
Unfortunately, danger didn't permit this.
Though in the past they'd said things like "don't morally blackmail me," "there's nothing wrong with being selfish," "protecting civilians is someone else's responsibility, it has nothing to do with us"—when such danger arrived, after brief hesitation they still chose to fight for family, city, and nation.
Even at the cost of their lives.
At the same time, what some people hadn't anticipated was that those who had nearly despaired of awakening abilities actually awakened them during this spiritual energy reciprocal feedback.
Though during the First and Second Spiritual Energy Tides, the vast majority—even 99%—of humanity had awakened abilities, and though their ability intensity was weak and talent low, they had ultimately grasped extraordinary powers, the remaining 1% of humanity still hadn't awakened abilities.
They had long since despaired of awakening abilities. Moreover, though the vast majority had awakened abilities, they weren't much different from those who hadn't—so they'd gradually set aside such thoughts.
Who would have imagined that this time, their abilities had actually awakened!
Within the military forces—
A man gripping his gun tightly, nervously and vigilantly watching ahead, suddenly felt his forehead itch slightly.
At first, it was tolerable—within the range he could endure.
He'd received professional training. His tolerance for itching and pain far exceeded ordinary people.
But as time passed, that itch grew more and more intense. Even he couldn't help wanting to scratch it.
(End of Chapter)