Chapter 143: We Are the SCP Foundation, We Are Humanity's Last Shield

(T/N: Finally I'm free!!

We can finally return to our original upload schedule!)

Yukino desperately pulled her mother and sister, using all her strength to distance themselves from the hell behind them.

Haruno finally regained her senses.

Looking at her younger sister, who was gritting her teeth and moving forward, Haruno felt a strange stirring in her heart.

Her sister seemed to have changed.

Recovering from her fear, Haruno helped her sister pull Mrs. Yukinoshita.

Seeing that her mother was still trying to look back and showing resistance to leaving, Haruno felt a chill run down her spine. She decided to take off her scarf and wrap it around Mrs. Yukinoshita's eyes.

After blocking Mrs. Yukinoshita's vision, the resistance weakened slightly.

But there was still no sign of sanity returning.

At that moment, Haruno couldn't help but glance back.

That single glance caused her sanity to plummet.

The scene behind her was enough to instantly zero out the sanity of any ordinary person.

Men and women, reveling in the severed limbs and blood of Tomie.

Women who had embedded Tomie's hair and flesh into their bodies now had horrifying tumors growing from the points of contact. From the tumors, blood vessels protruded, clearly extending throughout their bodies, including their heads and hearts.

These women's faces had already become distorted, their facial features subtly changing, their skin morphing.

A face uniquely belonging to 'Tomie' appeared on these women.

Their expressions were seductive, bewitching to the point of being demonic, as if they were the most beautiful beings in the world.

At the corners of their eyes, a tear mole quietly appeared.

As for the men who had lifted the corpse pieces and devoutly worshipped them, they were no longer human.

The worst was Ga'an, whose neck, arms, and thighs were covered in Tomie's shredded flesh.

Now, these areas had grown Tomie's heads.

Multiple heads sprouted from Ga'an's body; he had become a monster covered in Fujikos, and the proliferation was still ongoing.

After growing necks, the Tomie attached to Ga'an began to fight each other.

Those with only heads used their teeth to bite nearby Tomie's.

Those with hands reached out to twist the necks of other Tomie's, still trying to make Ga'an move to acquire tools for killing.

Even more terrifying were the floor, walls, dining tables, and curtains.

These surfaces, splattered with TOmie's blood, were now slowly growing incomplete, malformed Tomie's heads.

Everywhere you looked, there were grotesque Fujiko heads.

They grew from the carpet, from the curtains, from just a few cells of blood.

The impact of the scene was horrifying, enough to make one's sanity plummet.

The most hopeless part was that the insane crowd was still reveling like it was a festival, slaughtering the newly grown Tomie's.

More blood and shredded flesh splattered, growing new Tomie's.

It was foreseeable that if left unchecked, this party venue would become a breeding ground for Tomie's.

Countless Tomie's would grow from here, continuing this hellish process.

Such a scene was utterly hopeless.

Although they had temporarily escaped, Haruno's pupils were still trembling uncontrollably.

That monster!

Chiba... no, Japan or even the entire world, would probably be destroyed by that monster.

After pulling her mother to a safe area, Yukino collapsed to her knees, completely exhausted.

She had always been terrible at sports, and the actions she had just taken were only possible due to a massive adrenaline rush.

Once she stopped, her body gave out completely.

Looking at the hell in the distance, Yukino's eyes widened.

This was an 'anomaly'?

Kaguya, watching from afar, saw her father being used as a battlefield by the multiple Tomie's growing from his body.

In the end, torn apart by the struggle, he died, his corpse becoming a breeding ground for Tomie's.

Seeing this, Kaguya felt pain and sorrow.

The founder of the Shinomiya family, its helmsman... her father, had met such a gruesome end.

"Hayasaka, what should we do? Run? If that thing isn't killed, Japan will be destroyed, right?"

Kaguya asked Hayasaka Ai, her voice filled with helplessness.

This wasn't a genuine question seeking an answer but more of an emotional outburst. But then, Hayasaka Ai turned her gaze toward the entrance of the venue.

Following Hayasaka's line of sight, Kaguya's eyes widened in shock.

Yukino and Haruno also noticed the unusual activity at the entrance.

Figures dressed in white isolation suits, wearing tactical goggles and gas masks, were entering in an orderly manner.

They carried flamethrowers that looked like they belonged in a sci-fi movie, with small fuel tanks strapped to their backs, marked with hazard symbols.

Behind them was another team, clad in pitch-black armor.

Their armor seemed like something out of a fantasy, with no visible seams, as if it were a single, natural piece.

On the chest of the armor was a fist-sized disk emitting a bright, white light.

Despite the apparent weight of the armor, these individuals moved silently and with agility, completely unhindered.

"Arrived at the anomaly outbreak site. Anomaly threat level high, with signs of spreading. Aborting anomaly contact mission. Initiating containment protocol immediately."

"Orders received. Beginning anomaly containment. Utilizing information provided by C-Class Investigator Hayasaka Ai. Equipping flamethrowers for initial containment."

"C3 Armed Squad, left flank. C7 Armed Squad, right flank. If flamethrowers prove ineffective, retreat immediately. Otherwise, encircle from the rear."

"Remaining squads, follow me. Three-person teams, triangular formation. Prepare to move in! Preserve one original anomaly specimen. Eliminate the rest!"

As the B-Class agent in black armor relayed the Foundation's orders, the armed squads and special teams immediately sprang into action.

They ignored the hellish scene before them, advancing without hesitation.

Each team of three moved in a triangular formation, each member facing a different direction to ensure they could monitor their teammates at all times.

Upon entering the venue, they immediately activated their flamethrowers.

A crimson blaze engulfed every part of Tomie within its reach—her head, severed limbs, and even her blood.

Shrill, agonized screams echoed throughout the venue.

Seeing this, Ai Hayasaka let out a breath of relief.

Finally, the SCP Foundation had arrived!

Meanwhile, Kaguya and Haruno stared in shock at the unfamiliar group before them.

These people were highly trained, equipped with cutting-edge gear the likes of which they had never seen before, and showed no fear in the face of the terrifying entity that was Tomie.

Both of them came from wealthy families and had encountered elite soldiers and powerful bodyguards.

But none of them could compare to these people.

Because whether they were soldiers or private guards, they were still human. When confronted with a hellish nightmare like this, fear would creep into their hearts, some might even retreat.

But this group was entirely different.

It was as if they had been born to handle anomalies like Tomie.

Their steps were firm and unwavering, their actions smooth and decisive. They embodied the very essence of hope and courage.

And the one most affected by this sight was undoubtedly Yukino.

Watching these individuals march fearlessly into hell, she recalled her previous assumptions.

An organization like this—wouldn't they be an oppressive force, one that arbitrarily lorded over humanity?

At that moment, a Foundation agent, clad in jet-black tactical gear, approached the group.

"Investigator Ai Hayasaka, Investigator Yukino Yukinoshita, thank you for providing us with intelligence on the anomaly. We have now confirmed that fire is an effective containment measure. Neither of you are carrying standard equipment, nor are you armed with a flame-thrower specialized for 'Tomie.' Please evacuate immediately."

"The subsequent containment operation will proceed under the guidance of the O5 Council. A vehicle is stationed outside to transport you."

"Due to the medium-level cognitohazard associated with this anomaly, you are both required to undergo memory erasure procedures. We ask for your understanding in this matter."

"For individuals already displaying severe cognitohazard symptoms, there is no need for concern, our response team is equipped with Class-D amnestics."

"Once the amnestics take effect, the cognitohazardous influence should be neutralized. After a period of observation, affected individuals can safely reintegrate into society."

After delivering these statements, the agent handed them two pieces of standard Foundation equipment.

Yukino took hold of the gear, gripping it tightly.

Hearing the Foundation personnel mention memory erasure once more, she finally understood.

She finally grasped why the SCP Foundation insisted on forcibly wiping people's memories.

A scene like this akin to a vision of hell itself, was something best forgotten.

Memory erasure wasn't an act of oppression. It was a measure to protect human cognition.

This principle had been repeatedly emphasized in the Foundation's doctrines, but only now did she fully comprehend its meaning.

Kaguya watched as Ai Hayasaka accepted the equipment, unable to hold back her question any longer,

"Who exactly are you people? When did Hayasaka… join the Foundation?"

Ai Hayasaka looked at her mistress and sighed helplessly.

She had wanted to keep this a secret for the rest of her life.

When it came to anomalies and the SCP Foundation, the best thing one could do was remain ignorant.

Unfortunately, Kaguya had the worst possible luck this time, coming face-to-face with an entity like Tomie. There was no keeping the truth hidden now.

The agent hesitated for a moment before responding,

"We are the SCP Foundation. Our mission is to Secure, Contain, and Protect."

"We secure anomalies, contain anomalies, and protect all of humanity and its perception of reality, ensuring that people continue to live in a normal world."

"We are the last shield of mankind. We do not retreat. We will sacrifice everything to protect humanity."

"As for Investigator Ai Hayasaka's personal matters, I am not authorized to disclose them. You may ask her directly—before your memory erasure."

Kaguya fell silent.

The last shield of mankind.

How was she supposed to argue against that?

She looked toward her maid and saw Ai Hayasaka give her a bitter smile.

At that moment, she finally understood.

So this was the truth.

On the other side, Haruno stared at her sister in shock.

When had her little sister joined… such an unfathomable organization?

A flood of questions rushed to her lips.

But when Haruno saw Yukino's expression, she swallowed them all.

Yukino… had truly changed.