Chapter 164: Chapter 164

Chapter 164: Contact Between Humans of the Old and New Eras (4K) Latest content publıshed on novel~fire~net

Apocalypse Sect, Holy Vessel “N47”.

Iron Oath Brotherhood, Iron Vessel “R89”.

Titan Throne, Nature “I33”.

Three world-class organizations’ Mobile Cities thus began a hunt within the ten-thousand-meter trench.

Nature I33 was the first to act.

Its external broadcasting device slowly deployed, transmitting a series of high-frequency sound waves into the depths of the trench.

The sound waves were composed and processed from the roars and cries of the Emperor Beast.

To biological creatures, the meaning these sound waves conveyed was that an Emperor Beast had set its sights on you and was preparing to invade your nest and hunt you down.

According to the estimates of the operatives, since the Ark was alive, it ought to possess the consciousness of a natural organism—perhaps even intelligence and the capacity for thought.

If that were the case, then it had to be treated with the mindset of hunting a living being.

Sure enough, under the stimulation of the sound waves, the Living Ark on the screen began to react.

It started to writhe uneasily and even began to wander back and forth in the depths of the trench.

Though the high-frequency sound waves were proving effective, the researchers of Titan Throne did not appear particularly relieved.

This indicated that the Ark of the Old Era had indeed transformed into a living organism.

As for the humans residing within it from the Old Era, their fate likely wasn’t much better.

“Doctor, do you think there’s a possibility,” one researcher cautiously asked, “that since the Ark is alive, the Old Era humans residing within it might exist in the form of parasites?”

These words immediately caused Mick’s eyes to light up.

By conventional reasoning, this was highly plausible.

“No matter what, we should first drive this big fellow out of the trench and see what it really looks like,” another person suggested.

Mick nodded and promptly increased the frequency.

The sound waves simulating the Emperor Beast’s hunting patterns echoed for a long time within the ten-thousand-meter trench.

Through the screen, everyone saw the Living Ark being violently agitated, beginning to rapidly ascend.

14,000 meters, 13,500 meters, 13,000 meters.

Its distance from the three Mobile Cities was steadily closing.

“What a fast ascent speed!” one researcher exclaimed in astonishment.

“Prepare for battle!”

The three Mobile Cities simultaneously dispersed, each extending hydraulic harpoon forks over a hundred meters tall.

At the same time, Nature I33 deployed a Level 3 Item.

A giant energy net spanning several kilometers.

As an organization specializing in the study of monsters, Titan Throne possessed extensive experience in capturing gigantic beasts—this giant energy net was but one such method.

As the Living Ark surfaced, the massive deep-sea Searchlights of the three Mobile Cities simultaneously lit it up.

Upon seeing its true appearance, everyone was stunned.

The Ark’s hull was forged from high-tech metal, streamlined and modern in style.

However, 90% of it had become grotesquely twisted.

At this moment, its metallic shell had mutated into deep green flesh and tentacles, its surface covered in pulsating vascular-like pipelines, oozing viscous phosphorescent fluid intermittently.

At the forefront of the Ark was an enormous single eye, fifty to sixty meters in diameter.

That single eye seemed as though it did not belong to this planet, or even this universe.

It was monstrously swollen and crimson, grotesque as a malformed blood moon rising from a deep-sea nightmare.

The pupil was not round, but a twisted star-shaped fissure, within which swirled chaotic nebula-like colors, seemingly depicting the madness of countless parallel dimensions.’

On either side of the Living Ark were giant gills that opened and closed rhythmically, with massive fins and a long, scale-covered tail extending from its rear.

When it opened its mouth to roar, the thoughts of everyone present became disordered and chaotic.

One of the researchers struggled to regain composure and spoke with difficulty.

“God Dagon! It must be God Dagon who did something to it!”

As Natural I33 was remotely activated, a giant energy net precisely ensnared the Living Ark.

The behemoth immediately began to thrash and roll violently.

The giant hydraulic harpoons of the three Mobile Cities were fired in succession, striking its body with precision.

However, the Living Ark burst forth with immense force, attempting to break free from the giant energy net.

At that moment, Iron Wanderer R89 took action.

It unleashed a barrage of depth charges and torpedoes at the Living Ark.

The sea in that region instantly fell into a ferocious explosion.

The three Mobile Cities rocked violently amidst the surging waters.

“Damn it! Those lunatics from the Iron Oath Brotherhood, all they know is battle and firing!”

In the monitoring room, Dr. Mick leaned tightly against the wall and shouted through gritted teeth.

Then, he sighed deeply.

“Let’s engage as well—both us and the Apocalypse Sect. Judging by this upheaval, it seems we won’t be able to capture the Ark alive.”

As Natural I33 and Holy Wanderer N47 opened fire, the Living Ark gradually ceased movement amidst the intense explosions, slowly sinking toward the depths of the trench.

Through the screen, Dr. Mick watched the life signals of the Living Ark weaken and gradually vanish.

The Ark from the Old Era, twisted into a monster, had now fallen.

“It’s over,” he said softly. “Now, dispatch the mini-submersibles into the Ark and find a way to extract information.”

Just then, a strange phenomenon occurred.

Suddenly, countless light dots of various sizes appeared on the screen.

Dr. Mick was stunned upon seeing them, his pupils dilating instantly.

These light dots emerged from within the Living Ark—and they still had life signals.

It wasn’t just him; the researchers in the Inspection Room, and people from the other two Mobile Cities, were all stunned.

“This is undoubtedly a miracle from God Dagon,” a High-ranking Bishop drew a cross over his chest in prayer.

A young researcher grabbed Dr. Mick in excitement, jumping up and down.

“Even though the Ark was twisted into a monster, our fellow compatriots from the Old Era still survived!”

However, Dr. Mick held his hand down, his expression grave.

Under the other’s astonished gaze, he slowly spoke.

“Do you think those who can swim freely ten thousand meters under the sea are normal humans?”

Under the illumination of the giant Searchlights, those countless light dots gradually revealed their true forms.

They were indeed humans from the Old Era—men, women, elderly, and children—all dressed in modern clothing.

Their skin was an unhealthy pale, their faces wore smiles, and they were now waving their arms, swimming naturally.

Watching this scene, everyone felt their scalps tingle.

They could accept if the Living Ark had released humans distorted into grotesque and twisted monsters.

But they could not accept that such normal-looking humans emerged from the Living Ark.

Or rather, it was this unnatural normality that was the most grotesque and terrifying.

“Open fire! Open fire!”

The Lords of the three Mobile Cities immediately gave the command.

A torrent of firepower instantly swept over those humans from the Old Era.

Their bodies were torn to pieces under the destructive explosions.

However, the surviving humans remained indifferent. With smiles on their faces, they slowly spread their arms and swam toward the three Mobile Cities.

One, two, three, four...

As the distance gradually closed, countless humans from the Old Era slowly clung to the Brass Observation Windows of the three Mobile Cities.

Their faces still bore that same smile as they waved their hands outside the observation windows, greeting the people within.

In an instant, a chill ran down everyone's spine.

Dr. Mick stared at the scene for a long while, finally making a decision.

“Capture one of the Old Era humans. We need to attempt communication and find a way to obtain intelligence from the Old Era.”

Although others were afraid, the courage and ideals in pursuit of truth inspired them.

Eventually, everyone agreed to the plan.

A few minutes later, in a large room on the mid-level—

Dr. Mick and a group of researchers gathered together, surrounded by heavily armed and vigilant Combat Personnel.

At the center of the large room stood three Old Era humans who had just been captured.

At this moment, they were turning their heads, still wearing those bone-chilling smiles.

Dr. Mick took a deep breath, suppressing the waves of emotion in his heart.

Next, he would attempt communication with these Old Era humans.

If communication could proceed smoothly, he might be able to uncover the secrets of the Old Era, step by step.

The three Old Era humans were respectively: a man in his twenties, a girl in her early teens, and an elder in his fifties or sixties.

“Hello, we are humans from the Wasteland Era,” Dr. Mick waved toward the man first.

However, no matter what he said, the three of them merely kept smiling foolishly, never answering any of his questions.

The only thing they kept repeating was one sentence—

“God Dagon blesses us. It was He who helped us survive the Cataclysm.”

The girl said this while spreading her arms toward everyone.

“You should come too... You should come too!”

Out of caution, Dr. Mick ordered the Combat Personnel to subdue the three and forcibly conducted a series of physical health checks.

Half an hour later, when the test results came out, his hand trembled for the first time while holding the report filled with data.

The results showed no abnormalities.

These three had survived all the way from the distant Old Era to the present!

“Could this be a miracle brought by God Dagon?” a Researcher muttered.

Dr. Mick was about to retort, but the moment he looked at that person, his expression changed instantly.

That person's face now wore the same eerie smile as the Old Era humans. He even spread his arms and repeated their words:

“You should come too... Everyone should come too!”

It wasn’t just him—several others also became just like him.

Everyone was instantly horrified, and Dr. Mick froze as well.

Coming to his senses, he immediately waved his hand and shouted:

“Do not let your mind waver! Do not believe in God Dagon!”

That shout instantly awakened everyone as if from a dream.

Under Dr. Mick’s orders, the Combat Personnel opened fire madly, killing the three Old Era humans.

Some tried to wake up the companions whose minds had been corrupted, but no matter what they did, it was futile.

Dr. Mick sighed faintly.

“They’re beyond saving now. Let’s grant them release.”

Then he took a gun from a Combat Personnel and executed those companions one by one.

“As long as we refrain from thinking about this or God Dagon, we’ll be fine.”

As he put down the gun and spoke as if to comfort everyone, Dr. Mick suddenly froze.

Before his eyes, everyone was now wearing the same smile as the Old Era humans.

He instinctively raised his gun, but quickly realized something. He lowered it, a helpless smile forming on his lips.

So, he had already been contaminated without noticing.

And not just him—everyone present had already been contaminated.

In everyone’s vision, all faces wore smiles, and every spoken word had become: “Everyone should come too.”

Dr. Mick struggled to compose himself and sent a simultaneous message to Holy Wanderer N47 and Iron Wanderer R89, warning them not to accept any Old Era humans, not to let their minds make any associations, and to retreat from the sea region immediately.

After sending the message, he leaned against the wall and began talking to himself.

“So that’s it. This is what those predecessors meant by contamination.”

“No wonder everyone says God Dagon is the most terrifying of all Wasteland Gods.”

“Disorder, chaos, and collapse… and a nearly incurable mental contamination.”

With a bitter smile, he closed his eyes and continued thinking.

In an effort to escape disaster, people of the Old Era came up with all kinds of methods.

One of them was building giant Arks to seek refuge deep in the ocean.

“So, how exactly did these human compatriots from the Old Era come into contact with God Dagon?”

He pondered silently.

Was it that God Dagon set his eyes on those who sought refuge in the sea aboard the Arks? Or was it that these people, in desperation for shelter, took the initiative to seek Him out?

Thinking of this, Dr. Mick couldn’t help but feel a trace of regret.

God Dagon resided somewhere in the ocean.

Yet to this day, none of the three World-class Organizations had found Him beneath the waves.

Just then, a disturbance emerged in the trench.

A giant figure slowly surfaced.

It was the Living Ark.

At this moment, it had fully recovered.

It had already broken free of the Giant Energy Net and Hydraulic Harpoons, now rapidly ascending.

With a roar, its abdomen split open, unleashing countless giant tentacles that immediately entangled the three Mobile Cities.

While straining at full power to break free, the three Mobile Cities fired at it furiously.

However, the Living Ark rapidly regenerated new flesh from its blasted parts. Each severed tentacle gave rise to even more tentacles.

At the same time, a faint voice echoed from the deep sea:

“Ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn.”

“In the house of R’lyeh, dead God Dagon waits dreaming.”

Realizing escape was impossible, the three Mobile Cities made their final choice.

They each self-destructed in turn within the deep sea.

Like scattered sparks in the night, they briefly flickered on the seafloor.

Then, the entire sea region trembled violently.

High-pressure Water Walls exploded outward from the blast center in all directions. The shockwave instantly vaporized tens of thousands of tons of seawater, forming a death cavity hundreds of meters in diameter.

The explosions radiated blinding light, illuminating the distorted and deformed terrain of the seafloor for several kilometers.

Amidst the rolling blasts, the Living Ark finally lost all signs of life.

The smiling Old Era humans swimming in the deep sea were also caught in the aftermath, their bodies completely annihilated.

The seawater boiled, and smoke billowed.

But soon, the sea returned to tranquility, as if nothing had ever happened.