Chapter 278: Who Exactly Is He?

Boom!

Blazing flames clashed fiercely with the sea-like, silent tentacles. In an instant, the wrathful blaze surged, steam exploded into the air—two incompatible forces colliding, igniting brilliant bursts of light as the violent energies crashed into each other like hot oil thrown into cold water, erupting in a boiling frenzy!

The tentacles twisted upward, locking onto Mo Chen. The next second, countless beams burst forth from their tips, converging into a rain of light that poured down like a torrential storm onto him!

They were high-energy laser beams!

Mo Chen let out a low shout. His grip on Zanka no Tachi tightened, and under the influence of the Blacklight Virus, his mitochondria spun wildly as his cells were instantly drained of energy, converting it into surging spiritual pressure.

The scorched blade exploded like it had just been doused in hot oil amid a raging inferno!

An enormous wave of energy erupted in a flash, like a massive fireball detonating. Fire surged into the sky, dyeing everything in a blood-red hue. 

Within the firelight, you could see energy rippling through the air in rings, spreading outward like shockwaves.

The lasers that had yet to reach him were incinerated by the searing blade aura, and the descending tentacles above him were reduced to ash in just a fraction of a second.

Energy roared, and the ground cracked open!

Behind Mo Chen, Dorothy's cherry blossom-pink eyes widened, her expression changing as she failed to hide the shock in her heart.

For the first time, she realized that humanity—beings of flesh and blood—could possess such terrifying potential!

But she quickly regained her composure, stabilized her heart, and soared into the sky. Wings unfurled, she broke through the layers of cloud, raised her gun, and pulled the trigger—her slim fingers moving like plucking strings on a harp.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Three bullets pierced the air.

They transformed into three dazzling blades of light, like the swords of Damocles, descending from the sky and piercing the attacking tentacles.

In an instant, radiant brilliance erupted into a luminous barrier. Any tentacle struck was obliterated in a flash of light!

Dorothy's attack wasn't heavily damaging—but it opened a temporary breach in the sea of tentacles, buying Mo Chen a path forward.

Mo Chen instantly accelerated, his body like an arrow loosed from a bow. The sword in his hand grew longer with the wind, expanding to over ten meters in the blink of an eye. With a fierce upward slash, he ripped through the sky!

Unmatched power turned into a surging shockwave that swept outward with explosive force.

Centered on the burst of energy, the shockwave spread out like ripples, unleashing a storm of destructive wind in every direction.

Everything it touched—ruins, trees, even the ground—was crushed and blown away like dry twigs under a storm.

The ruins collapsed under the pressure, stones and debris flying everywhere like a rain of rocks. Charred trees were uprooted, branches shattering as they were flung aside. The ground split apart into massive cracks beneath the force of the blast!

Smoke billowed and the wind howled.

Meanwhile, hundreds of kilometers away, within the Ark…

A riot was unfolding.

Buildings throughout the city trembled amid the chaos, windows shattered, glass flying everywhere. The streets were littered with debris and refuse, turning once-clean roads into scenes of devastation. 

Car alarms wailed in succession, merging with the din of the panicked crowd, forming a nerve-wracking cacophony.

Flames roared sky-high—abandoned shops and vehicles had erupted into infernos, casting flickering light across the twisted and terrified faces of the people. Thick smoke and the stench of burning materials choked the air, making it hard to breathe.

The Nikke squads were struggling to maintain order, but in the face of such unhinged madness, they appeared powerless.

Police and military vehicles weaved through the chaos, trying to disperse the rioters. Yet the terrorists, like frenzied beasts, ignored warnings and continued their rampage.

At that moment, the ground began to shake violently. Even though the epicenter was hundreds of kilometers away, the massive explosion's tremors were so intense that the Ark, buried over a thousand meters underground, could feel it.

At first, it was a low, muffled rumble—like the roar of a distant behemoth—growing steadily louder, shaking every inch of land. The ground began to quiver, like a restless titan stirring beneath the earth.

Then the tremors intensified, as if some unstoppable force was awakening underground. Buildings, trees, and roads all twisted and groaned under the strain, emitting painful, creaking noises like bones under pressure.

Buildings swayed wildly, ceiling tiles from the upper levels collapsed, and the asphalt split open, forming a massive chasm that ran from north to south.

Inside the riot-stricken Ark, both sides in the conflict froze in shock at the sudden quake. Without a word, they all paused, scrambling for cover, and the intense firefight ground to an abrupt halt.

Meanwhile, within the operations command room, Shifty's voice came through.

"The blockade is fully established. The terrorists from Heavenly Ascension have been identified. Just as the Commander predicted, they're launching an assault on the central command center to seize control of the Ark. They've now entered the pre-designated containment zone."

Andersen suddenly stood up and gave a firm order.

"Close the net. Capture all Heavenly Ascension terrorists in one sweep. Try to take them alive, but prioritize your own safety. If necessary—eliminate them on the spot."

"Yes, sir!"

After issuing the series of commands, Andersen didn't sit back down. Instead, he walked over to the window, opened the blinds, and looked out over the city. Columns of smoke rose in several directions, and the crackle of gunfire echoed incessantly.

Andersen's expression was solemn. His heart was heavy—and complicated. He even felt a hint of awe.

The warning about the impending riot from Heavenly Ascension had been relayed through Shifty from Mo Chen. Even the exact location of the initial assault, their planned route, and their intended target—everything had been spelled out in detail.

If Andersen hadn't known Mo Chen personally, he might've suspected him of being one of the terrorists himself.

At first, he had his doubts. But out of trust in Mo Chen, he made the preparations anyway.

To think—it had played out exactly as predicted.

Andersen thought of Mo Chen and couldn't help but feel a deep, elusive sense of mystery.

Who exactly is he?

Meanwhile, in another section of the Ark.

"Warning. Detected energy fluctuation 300 kilometers to the northwest. Energy level: Class 10."

Inside the Ark's central control room.

Enikk calmly reported the situation.

"Analysis: waveform inconsistent with seismic activity. Probability of a natural earthquake is low. Energy is concentrated and surface-based. Tectonic activity is unlikely. Probability of artificially induced energy release: extremely high."

"Location: designated as Nihilister's nesting zone. Probability that event was caused by Nihilister: low. Revised analysis—high probability of a new Heretic detected. Estimated likelihood: 87.5%."