Chapter 287: 6000 by month-end, seeking monthly tickets
Aside from the Central Cathedral, the streetlights in other City Districts were all extinguished. The Residential Buildings along the Roadside often had only two or three faint yellow lights on, and due to unstable voltage, these lights occasionally flickered, looking eerily like ghost fire.
On the dim streets, only large groups of soldiers wearing black combat uniforms walked back and forth. Their shoulder patches vaguely indicated they were S.H.I.E.L.D. Special Operations Soldiers.
When Nick Fury was in power, S.H.I.E.L.D. was nominally a law enforcement organization directly subordinate to the International World Security Council, tasked with handling various strange events and superpowered crime.
In fact, the organization's name hinted at its true nature: affiliation with the Federation. It was only due to the Federation's hegemony as the World Police that S.H.I.E.L.D. was able to enforce laws within the territory of other countries.
Aside from a certain Eastern Nation, even Russia had to turn a blind eye to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s activities on its own territory.
The so-called international organization was merely a fig leaf for its actions.
No one liked an organization of agents swaggering on their own territory. This was also why various National Governments kicked S.H.I.E.L.D. while it was down after the internal strife between S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra erupted.
However, with Earth's Interstellarization and the Forward Base existing as a community of shared interests, the National Governments, especially the major powers within the World Security Council, had to strengthen cooperation.
Eating alone? Any discerning person could see the world's landscape changing with that Stargate. The rapid development of the Aerospace Industry was the key opportunity.
If the Federation were truly allowed to monopolize this interstellar window, leveraging the advantages of Interstellar Development, once it gained absolute leadership in technology and economy, what would other countries do?
Falling behind meant being beaten, becoming like the Thugs on the Africa Continent today.
Under these circumstances, even with the current International Situation being one superpower and multiple strong powers, the Federation, strong as it was, dared not monopolize the cake of Interstellar Development and had to share some of the benefits. One should know that if pushed too hard, the other countries truly dared to overturn the table.
And under this multi-national cooperation, the World Security Council, an organization previously like a mere Clay Bodhisattva ornament, gradually gained some Real Power. Along with it, its subordinate law enforcement agency, S.H.I.E.L.D., also transformed from a nominally international organization into a truly international one, absorbing agents from many other countries and forming a mixed situation.
Of course, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Funding also shifted from being primarily borne by the Federation to being jointly borne by various countries.
Naturally, there were both benefits and drawbacks to this situation. While its Law Enforcement Authority expanded globally, correspondingly, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Authority within the Federation territory was also restricted, causing it to lose its former dominance.
Immediately after the terrorist attack on the Vatican, S.H.I.E.L.D. agents rushed to the scene and sealed it off, moving even faster than the Police Officers in Italy. One must remember that the Vatican is located within Italy's territory.
Inside the pitch-black Vatican, occasional muffled gunshots could be heard in the distance.
Several high-power searchlights on the Rooftops along the Roadside shone down with bright beams of light. Behind these searchlights, some tall, thin men wearing black clothes with S.H.I.E.L.D. emblems on their chests had pale faces and expressions of malicious pleasure as they searched for "stragglers" among the terrorists. In their unrestrained, silent laughter, through their open mouths, one could see their fangs, which were much sharper than those of ordinary people.
These Special Agents, directly subordinate to Deputy Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Frank, could hardly conceal their excitement. There was a time when the Vatican, the Sacred Place of The Church, was a Forbidden Area for Dark Creatures like them.
Let alone these new generation Vampire Clan members from the American Continent, even the Old Relics from Europe – which Vampire Clan dared to step into Rome, let alone the Holy City of the Vatican?
On the streets of the Vatican, large numbers of S.H.I.E.L.D. Armed Security Personnel were searching the streets for the terrorists who attacked the Vatican.
Some of the larger Armed Security Personnel had eyes that glowed faintly green in the darkness, like fierce beasts hunting at night. Fortunately, they were all wearing night vision goggles; otherwise, if this scene were captured and uploaded online, it would likely cause a huge uproar in the Human World.
In the Back Alley of a church, Adam and seven or eight Bodyguards blocked a group of Clerics attempting to escape.
A dozen Clerics from The Church, a few Church Knights, protecting an aged Cardinal, wanted to flee the Vatican. Unfortunately, S.H.I.E.L.D. had dispatched a large number of Armed Personnel, sealing off the entire Vatican. Escaping quietly was as difficult as ascending to Heaven.
"This should be an Important Figure. Can we interrogate him to find the person Father is looking for?" Adam looked at the crowd blocked in the Alley, then turned to the Bodyguard behind him.
The Black-clothed Bodyguard examined the Cardinal being protected in the middle of the crowd, staring at his face for a few extra moments, silently comparing and confirming his identity.
"Boss, he's the fourth-ranked Cardinal of The Church. He definitely knows where the Big Boss is looking for!"
Adam nodded, lifted his chin, and stared at the Cardinal in the center of the opposing group, asking, "Old Man, do you know where West is? He's the Vice Chief Judge of your Inquisition. Tell me where he is, and I can let you go!"
"West, you are Heretics of the Sacred Shield Brotherhood!" Upon hearing Adam's words, the Cardinal's old face, wrinkled like orange peel, was filled with anger. "West, that damned Heretic, was sent to the Pyre by Lord Michael long ago, along with those Bastards who blasphemed the Lord!"
"Hmm?!"
Upon hearing the Cardinal's words, Adam's seemingly simple and honest face instantly turned cold. He didn't care about Michael or not.
That guy named West was the person Father wanted. If he was dead, how could he explain to Father?
"Dead! He's dead, so why are you still alive!" Adam bared his teeth at the Cardinal, a chilling smile on his face, his gaze like an enraged male lion.
"You protect the Bishop and go first!"
A Big Beard Silver Knight took the lead, holding a flail, standing in front of the many Clerics, blocking Adam who was slowly advancing.
The Western flail is similar in length and shape to the Eastern nunchaku, but one short stick is replaced by a meteor hammer.
The creation of this weapon, much like the spiked club and heavy hammer in ancient The East, was specifically as a heavy weapon for breaking armor.
The hammer head at one end of the flail generally has a large number of spikes, just like the spikes on a spiked club. They can cause huge damage to the enemy and the armor on their body.
The flail in the Big Beard's hand was a weapon used by a Crusader Knight of The Church during the Crusades in the Middle Ages. After being nurtured by several generations of owners, it, like the armor on the Big Beard's body, became a set of Sacred Gear.
One should know that within the entire Church, there are fewer than twenty sets of such Sacred Gear combined. Knights chosen to wear this Sacred Gear can display strength no less than that of a quasi-first-rate Superhero.
Even Dark Council Members, Vampire Grand Dukes, and Orc Race Tribal Leaders, these high-level Dark Creatures, would not dare to face more than two Holy Knights simultaneously.
This was also the reason why the Big Beard dared to block the enemy alone. The only thing the Big Beard was worried about was the terrifying warship in the Sky.
He needed to finish the fight quickly, otherwise, once locked onto by the warship, his several tragically killed colleagues in the Secret Room beneath the Central Cathedral had told him with their lives that even Sacred Gear could not withstand a strike from the warship's giant cannon.
"Whoosh!"
The Big Beard swung the flail in his hand, and the meteor hammer at the end of the chain emitted streams of Holy Light, smashing towards Adam.
Facing the white light smashing towards him, Adam waved his large hand, and countless blazing white current condensed in his Palm, forming a hand that enveloped the entire Alley, directly gripping the Big Beard Knight along with the flail in his hand.
If Frank were here, he would definitely feel that Adam's move was very similar to the scene where a certain cunning Boss held him in his Palm, except Boss Tang used a hand formed from lake water, while Adam used a hand formed from the super strong current within his Body.
Adam naturally learned this method from Boss Tang. This was a Divine Ability called "Innate Vital Energy Grand Capture".
When cultivated to a profound level, it possesses the powerful power to overturn mountains and shift veins.
Adam heard his Father say that someone once used this Innate Vital Energy Grand Capture to pluck stars from the Sky and play with them like projectiles.
He naturally couldn't reach that level, nor could he even do what Tang Song demonstrated to him, which was to directly grab a Small Mountain and throw it hundreds of meters into the Sky before catching it again.
However, his Innate Vital Energy Grand Capture was more than enough to capture a small Church Knight.
The blazing white current originating from King Ghidorah's gene directly caused the Big Beard Knight's body to tremble violently. If he hadn't been wearing Sacred Gear, Adam's grip alone would have instantly turned him into a pile of charred remains.
However, even with the Sacred Gear protecting him, the Big Beard Knight was so electrocuted that he lost control of his bladder, and a pungent smell of urine filled the air, causing Adam to frown.
He swung the large hand transformed by the blazing white current and slammed it fiercely onto the Ground.
Boom!
A human-shaped indentation was directly smashed into the Bluestone Road on the Ground. Under the huge impact, the Big Beard Knight convulsed, whether from the electricity or the fall, and kept spitting blood from his mouth.
"Hiss hiss—"
Adam looked at the Big Beard Knight, who didn't seem completely dead, and clenched his Right Hand. A lightning-condensed spear of blazing white lightning appeared out of thin air in his hand. He raised his head, intending to finish off the Big Beard Knight.
If this spear strike landed, the Big Beard Knight's tattered armor might not be able to protect him.
At this moment, the Black-clothed Bodyguard, who had been advising Adam, came up to him. "Boss, wait!"
Adam's action slowed, his finger slightly loosened, stopping the movement of throwing the electric light spear.
He looked at the Bodyguard beside him in confusion. The Bodyguard quickly explained, "Boss, this is a Holy Knight of The Church. Keeping him might be useful. Moreover, Hive Laboratory has always wanted a live sample that cultivates Holy Power and Hell Energy for counteracting experiments! Why don't we take him back!"
Adam looked at the Big Beard Knight twitching in the Deep Pit and mused:
"Since he's useful, let's keep him for now. I'll ask Big Brother Ryan later. If he's not useful, we'll throw him to Hive Laboratory!"
Hearing Adam's words, several Bodyguards pulled the Big Beard Knight out, stripped off his armor and weapons, and shackled him with electronic shackles. They then called for people to escort him away.
Their actions were smooth and practiced.
The Big Beard Knight bravely resisted Adam's group of Thugs, trying to buy time for the Cardinal and the Clerics to retreat. Unfortunately, they didn't manage to escape.
Over a dozen Men in Black, riding Dark Magic Skateboards equipped with missiles and laser weapons, forced the Clerics back into the Alley.
"My God! They are Dark Creatures!"
A young Cleric felt the aura emanating from these Men in Black.
He had seen captured Vampire Clan members in the Inquisition Dungeon. The bloody scent on these Men in Black was identical to theirs.
Thinking of the terrifying and malicious things the Inquisitors of the Inquisition had told him about these Dark Creatures – such as drinking blood, playing with souls, and controlling spirits of the dead – the young Cleric immediately broke down.
"Don't kill me, I know where West Inquisitor is!"
Hearing the young Cleric's words, Adam's eyes immediately lit up. He swung his Right Arm, directly impaling a Church Knight who was swinging a longsword at the young Cleric.
After piercing the Church Knight's Body, the scorching electric spear's residual power did not diminish, impaling four or five Black Robe Clerics like skewered candied fruit, and then collapsing a bluestone wall in the Alley before disappearing.
The young Cleric was trembling all over with fear.
Adam's figure, however, quickly appeared behind him, lifting him up like a little chick.
"You know West's Whereabouts!"
The young Cleric nodded repeatedly, trembling. "Yes, yes, the Bishop took me there. They are locked in the Inquisition Dungeon. The Bishop and the others want to interrogate West Inquisitor and the others about the secret funds they control..."
"Bah, Bach, you traitor! You will definitely go to Hell after you die!" A white-robed Cleric angrily spat at the young Cleric.
The others also cursed this traitor who betrayed The Church.
The young Cleric's face turned red from the scolding. Blue veins bulged on his face, and he completely forgot his fear, directly cursing back at them: "You bunch of dead bastards, pedophiles! Do you really think anyone wants to sleep with you? Especially you, Norris, Cardinal, bah! Just thinking about your hands, rough like tree bark, touching me makes me sick, sick! Go to hell with your Heaven! If God is truly omnipotent, how could the Pope be captured? Let God die!"
Adam held the young Cleric by the collar, listening to his rant, and blinked. He turned to the Black-clothed Bodyguard behind him: "What are dead bastards and pedophiles? He seems very angry—"
Several Black-clothed Bodyguards looked at each other, their mouths tightly shut. If they dared to corrupt Adam, Boss Ryan and Boss Kane would definitely not let them off. At the very least, they would be sent to the Siberian Training Camp to dig potatoes.
"How about, Boss, we also rescue Mr. Vickers? Boss Ryan is still waiting, and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents can't keep the area sealed for too long!"
A Black-clothed Bodyguard, seeing Adam's eyes full of curiosity, quickly changed the subject.
Adam thought for a moment, realizing it was true. He put the young Cleric down and ordered him to lead them to the Inquisition Dungeon.
A Space Gate, sparking with fire, appeared in Arctic, inside the Glacier of Base Zero.
Tang Song's figure stepped out of the Space Gate. As he tapped his cane on the Ground, a strong electromagnetic current instantly swept through the entire Base Zero, shutting down all electrical equipment within the Base.
Including surveillance and the elevator leading into the Glacier.
The Scientists conducting observation inside the Glacier and the Guards were instantly knocked unconscious the moment Tang Song's figure appeared.
This was the second time Tang Song had seen this Titan frozen in the Giant Iceberg.
This Titan Monster looked like a terrifying three-headed giant dragon covered in golden scales.
It was sealed in the Glacier with its wings folded, its body width definitely exceeding 200 meters. If its wings were spread, it would surely be at least 500 meters wide.
Yamata no Orochi was large enough, but it didn't have the same oppressive force as this frozen Titan. Moreover, unlike Yamata no Orochi's pure wildness, this terrifying creature, just from its appearance, had a hint of evil aura that couldn't be ignored.
It didn't look like an Ancient Deity, but rather like a Demon challenging a God.
Its body extended three slender necks like snakes, and like the body, the Giant Beast's necks were also covered with scales like golden embellishments. At the top of the three necks were three hideous and enormous heads.
The heads were like the dragons in Eastern Mythology, with nostrils like a horse and eyes like a lion. Each head had sharp dragon horns extending from it, but the dragon horns were not as majestic as rumored, but rather like the horns of a Demon.
This cast a tyrannical and gloomy aura over this Giant Beast.
Its three heads were frozen in different positions above the body. From the Platform where Tang Song stood, he could clearly see the outline reflected in the not-so-clear Ice Cubes.
Strictly speaking, this King Ghidorah couldn't be considered a Titan, but rather a Space Beast that drifted to Earth from Outer Space.
The biggest difference between Space Beasts and Titan Monsters is that Space Beasts do not rely on the survival environment of the Planet Surface, just as this King Ghidorah doesn't need Earth's oxygen to survive.
And Tang Song was currently in need of a mount. This one before him was just the right length, size, and everything.
Tang Song raised his cane and pressed it onto the Ice Layer. His Primordial Spirit Power instantly outlined the Beast Controlling Sect's Golden Hoop Technique Restriction. The power of the Immortal Sect Restriction Formation and the Mind Stone fused together, and a golden light enveloped the entire Glacier.
The golden light contracted, transforming into three glittering golden hoops that settled on King Ghidorah's heads. As the runes on the golden hoops flickered, the three golden hoops directly seeped into King Ghidorah's dragon heads.
"Awaken!"
Tang Song tapped his cane on the Ice Mountain. Countless cracks instantly appeared in the hundreds of meters tall Ice Mountain. Inside the Glacier, six golden vertical pupils opened simultaneously.
Roar! Roar! Roar! As the iceberg breaking sound of cracking ice mountains rang out, three dragon's roars echoed across the Antarctic Ice Field.
A group of Monarch members had just finished starting the backup power and restarting surveillance when they watched in terror as the massive Ice Mountain cracked open, and the Ancient Titan spread its wings, breaking through the Ice Layer, instantly soaring above the clouds, flying in the Sky at the edge of the horizon! The dragon's roars were continuous, and the flapping of its wings stirred up storms!
Beneath the Deep Sea, a terrifying figure was swimming.
It was nearly 200 meters long and looked like an ancient dinosaur.
With every swing of its small short hands on the Side of the Body and its huge tail, tens of millions of tons of seawater were stirred, easily forming water ripples similar to ocean currents wherever it went.
Its body was covered in blue scales.
In the dim light below the Deep Sea, the scales shone with a metallic luster.
While roaming, it seemed to hear King Ghidorah's roar in the distance. It surfaced, looking in the Direction of Antarctica.
And simultaneously let out a responding bellow!
"Roar!"
"Enough fooling around, let's go!"
Tang Song stood on King Ghidorah's middle golden dragon head and said lightly! King Ghidorah swooped down towards the Glacier in the distance, and a gust of force wind pressed down. As King Ghidorah swooped down, the entire Ice Surface shook violently, and Ice Mountains were directly cracked by shock.
King Ghidorah's three heads looked at Tang Song fawningly, vying for attention.
The combination of the Immortal Method Golden Hoop Restriction and the Mind Stone's ability was not a simple one plus one. It was enough to control King Ghidorah absolutely.
Tang Song waved his cane, and a Space Gate with a diameter of several hundred meters opened with sparking fire. On the other side of the Space Gate was a pitch-black Space.
(end of chapter)