The alarms on Ark Island blared, shaking the skies. Nora Su followed Adrian Fu into the central control room, where the massive display screens were already flooded with red dots—twelve warships forming a fan-shaped blockade around the island, the closest barely three nautical miles from the shore.
"General Wang finally shows his hand," Adrian said with a cold sneer, fingers flying across the console to bring up the defense systems interface. "Chen Mo, activate 'Ragnarok.'"
Chen Mo's face went pale. "Mr. Fu, that system hasn't completed testing yet…"
"Execute the order," Adrian's voice left no room for argument.
Nora watched the busy staff uneasily. "What… is 'Ragnarok'?"
Adrian didn't answer. Instead, he zoomed in on the surveillance feed. The main screen displayed the deck of a flagship, where a middle-aged man in uniform scanned the island through a telescope. Even through the screen, his hawk-like gaze made Nora's spine chill.
"That's Wang Zhiguo, head of the military bioweapons institute and the mastermind behind the Blood Moon Project," Adrian said, his voice icy. "Looks like he's decided to personally claim Ω-7."
Nora remembered the man her father had mentioned in the video. "He's the one trying to weaponize Ω-7?"
Adrian nodded slightly, about to speak when the communicator rang. "Mr. Fu, they request a video call."
"Connect it."
The main screen flickered. General Wang's face appeared, a man in his early fifties with graying temples. Every wrinkle carved into his face radiated merciless resolve.
"Adrian Fu, long time no see," his voice raspy, like sandpaper. "It seems after Su Mingyuan's death, you've run his little island quite well."
Adrian's expression remained unreadable. "State your purpose directly, General. I have little time."
Wang laughed—a cold, humorless sound. "Very well. I'll be blunt. Hand over all Ω-7 research data and samples, and I may consider letting you and your team into my safe zone."
"Consider?" Adrian raised an eyebrow. "How generous."
"Don't play naïve, Fu!" Wang slammed his fist on the console. "The outside world is finished! Only I hold the power to restore order! Your little private army is nothing against my fleet!"
Nora's eyes widened. Adrian's profile was taut as a drawn blade, radiating danger.
"I'll give you thirty minutes," Wang said, softening slightly. "When time's up, my missiles will turn your island into a sea of fire. Think carefully, Fu."
The screen went dark. The control room fell silent. All eyes turned to Adrian, waiting for his decision.
"Adrian…" Nora whispered, "maybe we could…"
"No maybe," Adrian interrupted, his gaze razor-sharp. "Wang Zhiguo will spare no one who knows the truth. Surrender equals suicide."
He turned to the technical console. "'Ragnarok' readiness?"
"Activated, but the energy can only sustain for seven minutes," the engineer reported nervously. "And coverage is limited to two-thirds of the island…"
"Enough." Adrian pressed the communicator. "All units, execute the 'White Raven Protocol.' Repeat, execute the White Raven Protocol."
Nora had no idea what these codewords meant, but judging by the staff's faces, it was anything but good. She grabbed Adrian's sleeve. "What exactly is 'Ragnarok'? What are you doing?"
Adrian finally looked at her. In his deep eyes burned a decisiveness she had never seen before. "A single choice, doctor: total victory—or mutual annihilation."
He strode to the weapons control console. Nora followed closely. "Are you insane? There are women and children on this island!"
"Exactly why I cannot let them fall into Wang's hands!" Adrian spun toward her, grabbing her shoulders. "Do you think he will show mercy to the Ω-7 researchers? To those who know the truth—like you?"
Nora opened her mouth, but no words came. Adrian released her, voice dropping. "Go to the underground shelter. It's the safest place."
"No," she took a deep breath. "If we die, I'd rather die consciously."
Adrian studied her for a moment and nodded subtly. "As you wish."
The next twenty minutes were a nightmare. All non-combat personnel were evacuated to underground bunkers. Armed units took positions. Nora stood in the corner, watching Adrian command with uncanny calm, as if orchestrating routine operations rather than preparing for a suicidal defense.
"The enemy fleet is moving! Missile silos are open!" a monitoring officer shouted.
Adrian's expression remained unchanged. "Activate electronic interference. Prepare to intercept."
The first wave of missiles soared through the sky. Nora's heart nearly stopped. Dozens of white trails screamed toward the island. As they neared, beams of blue energy erupted from the sea, weaving into a net and intercepting each missile.
The explosions shook the control room glass, fire painting the sky red.
"First wave intercepted!" the technician cheered.
Adrian remained unmoved. "A mere probe. Wang will soon find our blind spots."
Sure enough, a second wave came from another angle. A few missiles slipped through, detonating somewhere on the eastern side of the island. The lights in the control room flickered.
"East defense tower destroyed!" a voice reported urgently.
Adrian's fingers danced across the keyboard. "Activate 'Ragnarok,' now!"
The island shook violently. Nora nearly fell, saved by Adrian's hand. She stared in awe as the surrounding waters began to swirl, forming a massive vortex. At its center rose dozens of metal platforms, each equipped with a laser-like emitter.
"What… is this?" she whispered.
The answer came in the form of chaos on Wang's fleet. The platforms glowed bright blue, beams intersecting above the fleet, forming a colossal energy sphere.
"Three minutes to reach critical mass," an engineer reported, voice trembling.
Adrian's eyes fixed on the screens. "Sufficient."
The sphere grew brighter, like a miniature sun above the enemy fleet. Wang's ships began turning, but it was too late. The sphere suddenly split into hundreds of lightning-like arcs, striking each vessel precisely.
No explosions. No fire. The ships simply… stopped. All electronics died instantly; engines shut down. The vessels floated like dead fish.
"An EMP weapon?" Nora whispered.
Adrian smirked coldly. "An upgraded version. Not only paralyzes electronics, but interferes with biological electric signals."
Then a monitor blared. "Movement on the flagship! Someone boarding a lifeboat!"
Adrian zoomed in. Wang was evacuating with soldiers, carrying several metal crates, looking unusually heavy.
"Trying to escape?" Adrian pressed the communicator. "Helicopter squad, intercept that lifeboat."
"Sir!" another officer shouted. "Detecting abnormal biological signals from the crates!"
Nora leaned closer, shivering. The crates were… shaking, as if something inside was struggling.
"No…" she grabbed Adrian's arm. "Bring them back! Stay away from those crates!"
Adrian frowned. "Why?"
"They contain infected!" she said, voice trembling. "And highly modified ones! I saw this in my father's data. The military has been experimenting with controllable mutations!"
Adrian's expression darkened. "Abort interception! Repeat, abort! All units, keep distance from the lifeboat!"
But it was too late. The helicopter hovered above, rope ready. Wang opened the crates.
Even through the screen, Nora could see the creatures crawling out—larger, faster than ordinary infected, with unnatural blue-gray skin and clawed fingers.
"Oh God…" someone muttered.
The mutants leapt at the helicopter. One soared three meters high, grabbing the landing gear. The pilot struggled, but couldn't shake it off.
"Take it down," Adrian ordered coldly.
"But the pilots are still inside—"
"Take it down! Now!"
Anti-air missiles fired, striking the helicopter perfectly. A fireball erupted in midair; debris fell into the sea. Wang's lifeboat accelerated, vanishing from radar.
Silence filled the control room. Adrian slowly sat back, face as dark as deep water.
"They'll return," he said softly. "And they'll bring more of those… things."
Nora tried to speak but suddenly felt dizzy. She leaned against the wall, noticing a cut on her palm, blood trickling down.
"You're hurt," Adrian said, standing to check her wrist.
"Just a scratch…" she tried to pull away, but he held tighter.
His expression suddenly shifted. He stared at her wound, eyes sharp. "Your blood… it's not normal."
Nora looked down, frozen. Under the light, her blood glimmered faintly blue—a subtle glow, almost imperceptible.
"This… this can't be…" she murmured.
Adrian's gaze grew complex. "It seems the last hope your father left for the world isn't Ω-7." He raised his eyes to meet Nora's astonished stare. "It's you."