Chapter 212: Seeking Backup!
Political Pressure Rises
Joel Nash's "simple and brutal" action sparked a huge reaction. He took all the credit, ignoring the sacrifices made by A.R.G.U.S. and the military in the process of dealing with the alien.
After the press conference, he immediately traveled to several swing states for campaign rallies. Using the "alien threat" narrative, he continuously stoked public anxiety, telling them he was the only one who could protect the U.S. and fight the aliens.
This series of exaggerated claims didn't breed resentment; instead, it earned him widespread support. People in many regions put up pictures of Joel Nash, becoming loyal supporters.
His approval ratings were climbing rapidly, jumping 3 percentage points in just one day. At this rate, he truly might pull off an upset and create another election myth.
Seeing the situation spiral out of control, many people were starting to panic.
At noon on October 19th, Stan Darloff and Maeve, two of the FBI's "Top Five," arrived at Green Lamb Town. They were accompanied by a carload of heavy weapons and three senior agents.
"Mr. Shaw, we can't wait any longer," Nelson said to Luke, who was sunbathing, his expression extremely serious. "We must destroy the cult hideout and find evidence of Joel Nash's collusion with the cult immediately, or something unexpected might happen."
Luke stretched lazily and said with indifference, "One nuclear bomb scares you all this much?"
"It's not about the nuclear bomb."
Nelson clenched his hands. The President's actions were putting massive pressure on Jack Harvey and affecting him, too. "Joel Nash's approval ratings are skyrocketing. The moment he shows any sign of winning, many people will choose to stop and watch, and the FBI will have internal problems. Even though the boss is the Director, he can't call all the shots internally."
Luke yawned. "We still have a month! What's the rush?"
Nelson stamped his foot, pleading in a low voice, "Young Master Shaw, we really can't delay! We're all in this together now. Even if you don't care about us, think about Emily!"
Luke pouted. "You have the nerve to bring up Emily? It all comes back to your department's failure. I gave you the alien's personality, abilities, and weaknesses, and what happened?"
"Look at Amanda Waller's efficiency, and then look at yourselves."
Nelson felt a painful blockage in his heart. That damn black woman, who would have thought she'd use a nuclear bomb? Are those things meant to be used so casually? He sighed, conceding,
"You can mock us all you want after the mission is over. The priority now is the cult. The boss sent a batch of top talent. Stan Darloff and Maeve have incredibly strong metahuman abilities. With their help, plus our existing strength, we can try."
Luke removed his sunglasses. "Then let's go tomorrow."
"Can't we go today?"
"Definitely not today. I need to find some backup."
Nelson was puzzled. "Can't a dozen of us handle one snake?"
"You think there's only one?"
Luke pulled off his towel and walked back into the tavern bare-chested, completely ignoring the surprised looks of Stan Darloff and Maeve. A few minutes later, he emerged fully dressed, followed by Zatanna, Emily, the wizard August, the plant metahuman Roy, and Adam, who was carrying a huge travel pack.
Nelson asked doubtfully, "What is this...?"
"I told you, I'm finding backup."
Luke whistled. A "hummingbird" drone descended from the sky and landed on his shoulder. The bird chirped, seemingly communicating something. Luke nodded occasionally, then took a grain-sized chip and placed it in its mouth.
The drone swallowed the chip, took off, and flew away toward the southeast.
The sequence of events completely dumbfounded everyone nearby. Stan Darloff asked tentatively, "Do you have metahuman abilities, too?"
Luke shrugged. "If being smart counts as a metahuman ability."
Bill, dressed in casual wear, explained, "The hummingbird is made of metal."
"A reconnaissance drone?"
"You could put it that way."
Luke inspected Stan Darloff and Maeve with great interest. They were FBI's aces: one a telekinetic, the other similar to the X-Men's Negasonic Teenage Warhead, able to gather and detonate immense energy inside their body.
"Are you two coming along?"
Stan Darloff didn't answer but looked at Nelson. Seeing the latter nod, he spoke.
"I'd like to see what a seven-meter-long Cobra King looks like myself."
The Coven Site
The group changed into their gear and set off for the forest.
The Swamp Forest certainly earned its reputation as the "Forbidden Zone for Humans." The environment was unimaginably harsh. Decades- or centuries-old trees towered high, their dense foliage practically blocking out the sun. The shrubbery grew taller than a person, and the weeds rose past the knees. Worst of all were the ubiquitous water holes.
The puddles looked small, but one step in, and the mud would suck your foot in, making it impossible to pull out.
"This godforsaken place really isn't fit for people."
Luke, who had tripped over a root again, shook his head helplessly, drawing his knife to cut the root. The thick, black forest made it impossible to tell directions. Without the drone guiding them, they would be lost.
After an hour of walking, Zatanna couldn't help but ask,
"Who exactly are we looking for? Who would live in a place like this?"
"You'll know when we get there."
Luke didn't elaborate. Suddenly, he raised his hand. A flash of light from his knife sliced a poisonous snake, coiled in a tree and preparing to strike, in half.
Zatanna gasped in surprise. "A cobra? Why are there cobras in this forest?"
Luke squinted, a green light flashing deep in his pupils. After scanning the surroundings, he said grimly, "Stay alert. There are quite a few snakes ahead."
Everyone's expression tightened. Cobra venom was highly toxic. Even with an antidote, a bite would leave them suffering for half a day.
"Let me handle this!"
August stepped forward, closing his eyes and chanting an incantation. Magic energy gathered in his staff. He lifted the staff and plunged it hard into the ground.
"Expel!"
With a loud shout, an invisible light barrier spread forward from the staff. In an instant, countless rustling sounds erupted in the forest. Snakes, insects, rats, and ants hiding everywhere abandoned their nests, fleeing rapidly as if they had encountered a natural predator.
Luke could clearly see the green lights—hidden in tree holes, bushes, and the soil—all vanishing. The surroundings were perfectly clean.
"Magic truly is a fascinating ability," Luke remarked sincerely. "Mr. Roy, are you interested in working for my company after the mission is over?"
Roy chuckled. "Don't you have Ms. Zatanna? Her talent is much better than mine."
Zatanna scoffed.
"I have nothing to do with him."
After dealing with the venomous snakes, the group continued forward, hacking through weeds and chopping down branches. Their clothes were soon stained with plant juice, looking quite disheveled. As they progressed, the surrounding light grew dimmer, as if they were entering another world.
Mist, drifting from nowhere, hung in the woods, a gray haze that felt like an illusion.
Low wailing sounds drifted from the fog. The dense mist churned, revealing strange faces: human, tiger, wolf, deer... various creatures transformed into foggy apparitions with twisted, grotesque features, lurking in the haze.
"Phantoms!"
Zatanna gasped. "So many phantoms!"
August scraped away the fallen leaves. Seeing white bones emerging from the soil, he quickly dropped his backpack, digging around with his staff. In a moment, he found more than a dozen bones from different creatures.
"Witch Soul Sacrifice!"
"Witch Soul Sacrifice!"
Zatanna and August uttered the phrase simultaneously. They exchanged a look, seeing shock and dismay in each other's eyes.
Emily asked curiously, "What is a Witch Soul Sacrifice?"
"It's a form of black magic. Thousands of animal bodies and souls are used as sacrifices to strike a deal with a demon. After the deal is made, the sacrificial site is corrupted by the power of death and begins to decay—just like this place looks now."
Everyone subconsciously looked around. The surrounding flowers, trees, and soil were all shades of deathly gray, showing no trace of autumn. The air was filled with a faint smell of rot, like a stagnant cesspool that hadn't been cleaned in decades.
Suddenly, the dense mist surged, and the grotesque, foggy apparitions roared like beasts, charging toward the group.
Stan Darloff quickly erected a telekinetic barrier around them. Zatanna and August chanted an Exorcism of Evil Spirits spell together. Roy pulled out three seeds and threw them into the soil. Green sprouts broke through the dirt, climbing at a visible rate. In moments, they turned into wrist-thick wooden vines. The vines whipped wildly, constantly tearing apart the fog-beasts with whipping sounds.
The group used their various abilities to keep the fog at bay, but the mist was overwhelming. Hundreds of phantoms charged simultaneously. With a mighty thump, the telekinetic barrier shook violently.
Stan Darloff's expression changed slightly. "It won't hold! Find a solution, fast! Retreat if you have to!"
Luke glanced at Adam, who nodded, stepping forward. He opened his mouth wide and roared at the surging mist.
ROAR!
The sound wave rolled forward, carrying a suffocating, terrifying force. The mist instantly froze, as if a pause button had been pressed. The next moment, the white fog churned and fled frantically backward. In just a few seconds, the entire mist vanished. Sunlight streamed down, leaving dappled light patches on the gray ground.
Everyone's eyes were wide as saucers, staring as if they had seen a ghost.
The power of one roar was this devastating!
"Soul Magic—Wailing of the Dead!"
Zatanna mumbled, staring at Adam in shock. "You know the Wailing of the Dead? That magic has been lost for centuries! Where did you learn it?"
Adam stepped back, standing beside Luke. Luke ignored the question, narrowing his eyes to examine the swamp lake ahead.
The lake water was pitch black and perfectly still, like a deep, hungry abyss.
A strange sense of oppression settled over the group, as if they were being watched by something terrifying.
Roy took out a brass compass. The needle shook violently, finally pointing toward the swamp on the right. Adam pulled out a hand grenade, yanked the pin, and threw it hard toward the area.
BOOM!
The grenade exploded, sending black water shooting into the air, but the surface soon returned to stillness. Adam reached for another grenade, but Luke stopped him. The group stared grimly at the water.
The viscous surface began to ripple. The waves surged up and down, turning into a massive swell. As the water churned, large fragments of skeletal remains could be seen.
The bones suddenly rose, along with the sludge, pushed out of the lake by a colossal head.
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