Returning to the Mysterious Era-Chapter 651 - A Terrifying Battle Of Three Large Forces

On the morning of July 6 at East Sand County, a line of bulky military trucks followed a dirt road near the border, followed by a similar number of black sedans on a dirt road near the border. The convoy moved fast and reached their destination, a pine forest close to the road, in half an hour.

As the vehicles came to a halt, an officer in yellow combat boots who was maintaining order in the forest came over, trailed by a squad of armed soldiers. All were powerfully built, their resolute faces marked by a war-tempered solemnity.

The officer led the soldiers to the front of the convoy. His attention was fixed on the first black sedan in the center of the convoy.

The car door opened with a click. A black leather boot touched ground, and a cold-faced youth in a black and white suit stepped out. He was tall and slim, with an icy bearing that warned strangers away. He wore a white shirt and black waistcoat that had a gentleman's air, yet more closely resembled that of a butler's.

Gold clips at his rolled sleeves and collar glinted faintly. He had a brass-colored badge pinned to his left breast: an inverted cross sword in hand, with thorned vines coiling the palm. The same emblem was on the white gloves covering both his hands. It was strikingly conspicuous.

Information flashed through the approaching officer's mind.

Amos, one of the Black Ops Agency's higher-ups... called the Reaper...

The officer, named Clooney, was one of the Federation military's designated liaisons with the Black Ops Agency. He knew the Black Ops Agency to a degree and had a good working relationship with some of its higher-ups.

Thus, Clooney understood that the youth's arrival signaled the Black Ops Agency’s seriousness in this matter. Reaper Amos was one of the Black Ops Agency's ace enforcers, adept at handling all manner of supernatural affairs. His record left Clooney no room for underestimation.

Clooney stepped forward and extended a respectful hand.

"Mister Amos, welcome."

Amos frowned slightly, declining to shake his hand, and explained, "No need. Some of my special abilities aren't under perfect control at present. To avoid harm, let's forego physical contact. No need for formalities. Get straight to the situation..."

Officer Clooney nodded, and the two walked side by side. Personnel from the Black Ops Agency and the military followed behind.

"The underground base executing the Black Serum Project and the Black Soldier Program was found last night. Its reinforced concrete structure remained intact, with no outward damage. However, a thousand-ton underground base appeared in the White Mist Pine Grove near Route 38, a hundred kilometers from its original location. Is this... possible by human hands?"

Clooney relayed the information to Amos, his voice tinged with doubt and shock. He felt like this was beyond technology, and likely through some supernatural force. Yet the supernatural powers Clooney knew, though astounding, did not reach that scale.

Reaper Amos fell silent for a moment. "A thousand tons, a hundred kilometers... I don't know either... At the very least, I absolutely couldn't do it. Even multiplied several times over from my base strength, I couldn't reach that level. As for whether anyone in the supernatural world could do it, I'm skeptical. Perhaps... the Gate Organization..."

He stopped mid-sentence. The Gate Organization's might in the world was beyond doubt. Each of its General Kings held their own, and its deputy leader had arrogantly claimed the title of Holy Fist while its elusive leader was seen by none. If there were a likely culprit, it would be a powerhouse from the Gate Organization.

The group pressed on through the pine trees.

"The base's personnel also turned up in the White Mist Pine Grove mostly unharmed, but a few researchers and staff are missing. The ones who didn't vanish have amnesia..."

As Clooney spoke, he pointed into the distance, where a mass of pine trees lay crushed beneath a colossal concrete object. Temporary tents had been set up outside the underground base. Some researchers from the Black Serum Project were resting, eating, or cooperating with military medical checks. No one was allowed to leave.

"Amnesia? How severe?" Amos asked.

"Quite severe. Not only are the two or three days of the base's disappearance blank, but all memories of the Black Serum Project and the Black Soldier Program are gone. Furthermore, we can't find any cause, which is why we're seeking your help..." Clooney said gravely.

Clooney turned and looked at Amos.

"Raw materials, data, and the researchers' memories—everything's gone. If we can't recover them, it's equivalent to the plan's total collapse..."

Amos nodded and immediately sent two subordinates. Both were arcane energy users specializing in mental warfare involving hypnosis and memory. Ten minutes later, he had the results of their examination. The two arcane energy users were unable to find a single trace. It was as if the memories from that period had never existed.

Amos furrowed his brow and quickly sent others in. This time, it wasn't about memory but about residual energy inside and outside the base. Perhaps they could thereby identify the true culprit.

Unfortunately, there was still nothing. The Black Ops Agency could detect nothing; the findings matched the military's in every way.

Of course, that didn't mean it was a mundane natural occurrence, but rather that it exceeded the capability of the Black Ops Agency. Something beyond control had appeared. While the base's disappearance remained in doubt, another message came from the Black Ops Agency.

Since the Black Soldier Program had abruptly gone awry, the military's sweep had uncovered some Gate Organization spies. Thus, the Black Ops Agency spent several times more effort tracking the Gate Organization's every move.

The Gate Organization had indeed stirred. Its scattered six General Kings were converging in the Federation's west!

At this news, the Black Ops Agency immediately linked it to the Black Soldier Program and all but instantly identified the Gate Organization as the culprit. Realizing the gravity of the situation, the Black Ops Agency emptied their nest without any prompting from the Federation military. They sent all their combat strength to the Federation's west.

Besides Reaper Amos, there were also...

Red Hound, Glen.

Ten Command Gun, Yuma.

The sole Hunters' badge-holder, Wild Hunt Anthony.

Deputy head of Special Affairs, Meditator Rod.

Head of Special Affairs, Golden Sun Andrea.

There was even the current Chief Mechanist, Black Sword Dixie.

They had also sent many of the Black Ops Agency's arcane energy users. If needed, the Black Ops Agency would even seek contact with the western Hongli Federation's Covert Martial Arts world, mustering every ounce of force.

After all, they were facing the world's largest supernatural faction, the Gate Organization. Furthermore, the Gate Organization's six General Kings gathering together was a once-in-a-blue-moon sight. Perhaps even the deputy leader and the leader might appear!

Even with the Black Ops Agency fully deployed, it would likely be far from enough...

On July 7 and 8, Black Ops Agency personnel arrived one after another at the western Federation military garrison.

That night, a startling report suddenly arrived. The Federation military confirmed that the United States of Yana and the three western nations had been spying on and mimicking the Black Soldier Program, with a special experimental complex at the border akin to the Federation's underground base.

Yet almost immediately after the Hongli Federation's underground base vanished, the western nations' experimental base had also disappeared. Personnel were found hundreds of kilometers away, with all experimental data and memories utterly gone. Their internal sweep also turned up Gate Organization spies. Both lines were pointing to the same target.

The Gate Organization!

On July 9, the two nations at war even held a rare secret talk. Of course, it wasn't the militaries but their supernatural institutions that spoke.

They temporarily set aside hostilities, exchanged views and intelligence, and concluded the Gate Organization was behind both of their setbacks. Their nations' Black Soldier Programs had been poached by the Gate Organization!

That enraged the supernatural institutions of the United States of Yana and the Hongli Federation. As two of the world's three great powers, their supernatural institutions were top-tier forces. The Hongli Federation's Black Ops Agency and the United States of Yana's Steel Knights were renowned in the supernatural world, yet the Gate Organization's existence had repeatedly spit in the faces of these two powers.

This time, it had struck at their core interests. If the Black Soldier Program had truly succeeded, it would have been revolutionary progress. An organized, replicable method for cultivating supernatural individuals would have been a monumental advancement. It would have been enough to form the pillar of any major organization. Although current tests suggested a limited ceiling, future technological advances could realize the once-unthinkable.

Nonetheless, a plan of such vast potential had collapsed. The Black Ops Agency and the Steel Knights were pained beyond acceptance. Perhaps even the Gate Organization hadn't foreseen that an operation meant to hamstring the Hongli Federation and the United States of Yana would turn into a sharp spear aimed back at themselves!

Should the Gate Organization explain to the two powers that the Black Serum Project was a massive trap all along? That its sudden collapse was actually good, so there was no need to feel pain? Would the Black Ops Agency and the Steel Knights believe that? Of course not!

Besides, the Gate Organization wouldn't explain. They were far too arrogant for that.

Thus, on July 9, the Black Ops Agency and the Steel Knights joined forces. According to the Black Ops Agency's intelligence, the Gate Organization had appeared in force in the Lotak mining area, apparently for some crucial plan.

Judging by past patterns, the Gate Organization had likely found an ancient ruin. Otherwise, it was tied to the Black Soldier Program they'd acquired. In any case, the Black Ops Agency and the Steel Knights wouldn't let the chance pass. They would act together.

The Lotak mining area also wasn't far from the warfront, so support might be secured.

Supernatural individuals were strong, and the Gate Organization members were stronger still. However, aside from the very top, the rest still had to be careful of large explosives. If bombs struck, it would be a tremendous aid!

This operation might well be the most promising plan against the Gate Organization from ancient times up till now. Thus, it was named Project Gatecrash.

Project Gatecrash would be led by the Black Ops Agency and the Steel Knights, with supernatural elites from the three western nations joining in. The army would also provide fire support.

On July 10, the Knight Commander of the Steel Knights arrived in the Falik Republic, along with many top knights under his command. All were qualified to sit on the Steel Knights' council, and wielded first-rate power in the supernatural world.

On the night of July 10, the Steel Knights' commander met secretly with the Chief Mechanist.

On July 11, the Gate Organization's top members were all present in a white town near the Lotak mining area, barring a few who truly could not break away. This included the deputy leader and five of the Six General Kings. The Second General King was on a major three-year mission in the Blue Star Empire that was too critical to leave midway.

In a dim conference room, the Gate Organization was holding a meeting that had reached a critical phase.

"So we proceed like this. We will use the Arcane Stone Tablet to manifest a projection of the origin of calamity onto the Lotak mining area. It will make sludge steeped in calamity's power, and the yet-to-emerge dark creatures within it. Then we’ll offer up our sacrifices and forcibly seal the Miracle Garden!"

An aged figure in the chief seat set forth the Gate Organization's principal plan. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"It's the only way..." said a figure to the table's left.

"Pity... this will cost us dearly. If not for the Black Soldier Program's sudden mishap, we'd never need to go to such lengths. Damn whoever erased both the Hongli Federation's and the western nations' experimental bases!" A core Gate member spoke in anger.

A figure shrouded entirely in darkness spoke. "We'll investigate that later. What matters now is seizing this once-in-a-millennium chance. Trap the Miracle Garden and break the ultimate seal. This is a task personally decreed by the Leader. We must not disappoint..."

"Understood."

"Of course!"

"We will not disappoint the Leader..."

The Gate Organization members responded in succession.

"Preparations are nearly complete. At midnight tonight, commence the Calamity Projection Ritual. No errors are permitted. Perform your parts. I will allow no accidents to ruin our success..."

In the chief seat, the aged figure slowly rose with a terrifying aura.

"Yes, Deputy Leader!"

Many Gate Organization members rose and left the conference room.

At midnight on July 11, night shrouded the land as the moon shone brightly down on the land.

At last, three great factions converged! Nearly half of the world's top powerhouses of the era had come to the Lotak mining area.

A terrifying battle was inevitable!