Chapter 108: Zachary: I Can't Stand to See Others Prosper

On Gaia Earth, even without the powers of the Aptitude Users, the Skylight would automatically alert them whenever enemies invaded. But on Nexus Earth, without the aid of such sensory abilities, the emergence of the Aberrants would go unnoticed.

“That’s not right—sensory ability, after all, is essentially a method of mental application!” Although Qiao Zhe had lost his Aptitude User powers, having employed them so many times before, he was well acquainted with their nature. This involved the Ultramental Force.

Closing his eyes to ponder for a moment, Qiao Zhe unleashed his Ultramental Force and, combined with his mental energy, activated his sensory ability. He focused his perception on himself in his dream form.

The sensory image was hazy and indistinct, lacking the high-definition clarity he had when an Aptitude User. Only a vague human silhouette appeared.

When using sensory ability as an Aptitude User, one directly borrowed Noah’s Ultramental Force, expanding perception to encompass the entire Earth and even outer space, enabling ultra-clear views of any location. Now, with Noah gone, Qiao Zhe alone wielded the sensory power, and the difference was stark.

Not only was the sensory image blurred, but it was limited to a specific area; he could not freely look anywhere he wished. Moreover, the Ultramental Force consumption was enormous!

Given the distance between the aerial base and his current location, after just a short while, silver strands began to appear on Qiao Zhe’s face. Realizing the detrimental side effects of excessive Ultramental Force use, he hastily ceased the sensory attempt.

The transition from extravagance to austerity left him frowning. At this level of perception, it was impossible to promptly detect where Aberrants might appear and attack humans anywhere on Earth.

Qiao Zhe did not complain but instead contemplated solutions.

Within the TLT organization, there was an android gifted with the ability to foresee the future, capable of detecting the precise location of Aberrant appearances on Earth in real time.

Kira Yoshikage—no, the name was actually Kira Sawa Yusai.

An experimental subject of the Prometheus lineage.

Just as he contemplated this, a scene automatically surfaced in the subspace. This caught Qiao Zhe’s attention, and he immediately entered the subspace.

Nexus Earth.

The Night Raid Squad’s headquarters base was located beneath a massive reservoir in the Kanto region, situated within a free fortress submerged in deep water.

Besides the Night Raid Squad, other members of TLT were also stationed there.

Ordinary armed personnel primarily guarded the Free Fortress and sealed off sites where Aberrants appeared but did not have the task of exterminating them.

The Memory Police were a specialized unit selected from police, espionage, or intelligence agencies, dedicated to erasing memories.

Due to fear of Aberrants, the Aberrant factor could materialize, accelerating the evolution of Aberrants. Therefore, the Memory Police erased people’s memories concerning Aberrants.

When necessary, they also manipulated the media to control intelligence and distort reports.

The Anti-Biochemical Weapons Department recovered Aberrant remains for analysis and research, creating weapons to counter them.

With this high-level personnel structure, combined with technology provided by visitors, the Night Raid Squad needed only to focus on exterminating Aberrants.

However, over time, this method could cause numbness and even lead to extremism.

Not to mention, within the Night Raid Squad was Mitsuhiko Ishibori, a wild card.

Recently, after Kou Roki and Nagi Saijo developed feelings for each other, darkness fell upon him.

It was unclear whether this was the doing of the dark Zaki, who resented romance within the team.

As the sun set in the west, Kou Roki and Nagi Saijo were conversing in a fenced-off area, sharing secrets between them.

Perhaps due to a high R7 factor, Kou Roki had been feeling uneasy lately, sensing that something was about to happen.

Looking down at the reservoir, he asked aloud, “Nagi, why do you continue this work?”

“Because I hate the Aberrants,” Nagi Saijo replied. Having witnessed her parents being killed by a humanoid Aberrant as a child, she turned to Kou Roki and said, “I want all Aberrants to disappear from the world.”

Her tone lacked the icy coldness she would later adopt; there was emotion in her eyes at that moment.

Though the dark seed planted by Zaki had taken root in her heart, she was still a normal person then.

“Is it for revenge?” Kou Roki met her gaze.

As the newest recruit, Kou Roki was responsible for training Nagi Saijo and naturally knew her background.

Nagi Saijo neither denied nor confirmed, then asked, “What about you? Why do you fight the Aberrants?”

Since joining Night Raid Squad’s A group, she had suspected that Kou Roki’s situation might be similar to hers.

“Me?” Kou Roki leaned on the fence, meeting her eyes. “I fight because I don’t want to die.”

“Huh?” Nagi Saijo looked puzzled.

That answer was completely unexpected.

Kou Roki gazed at the reservoir below and spoke of his unease.

“I fear death deeply, so to survive, I want to kill all the Aberrants.”

“But even as I kill more and more Aberrants, my heart doesn’t find peace.”

“Instead, it grows more anxious.”

Nagi Saijo sensed the fear in his words. Her expression turned worried; she wished to comfort him but did not know what to say.

Kou Roki’s face grew solemn as he continued.

“Lately, I feel as though a darkness is watching me.”

As he spoke, his fists clenched, overwhelmed by a profound sense of helplessness and terror.

“Don’t be afraid,” Nagi Saijo reached out, taking his hand gently. Her eyes shone with warmth as she met his gaze. “Because I believe you’re stronger than anyone else.”

Her encouragement calmed the unrest within Kou Roki’s heart.

Their eyes locked, and a pure love blossomed between them.

“Nagi,” Kou Roki was moved by the warmth on his hand.

Nagi Saijo slightly lowered her head, avoiding his gaze, yet her hand remained firmly on his.

Just as Kou Roki was about to speak, Nagi Saijo’s wrist communicator beeped continuously.

She opened it, and a video call from Kurakura popped up: “You two return to base immediately—there’s an emergency!”

Upon receiving the notification, both Nagi Saijo and Kou Roki’s expressions turned serious, and they swiftly set off to return.

The base was nearby, and soon they arrived at the Night Raid Squad’s combat readiness center.

Alarm sirens blared incessantly.

Kurakura and Mitsuhiko Ishibori were already nearly fully geared up.

Kou Roki quickly grabbed his weapon and donned his combat helmet and other equipment, not forgetting to remind Nagi Saijo, “Nagi, remember not to show mercy to the Aberrants you hate!”

(End of chapter)