Ling Yun had originally planned to slip away unnoticed, but the two-headed creature's sudden attack caught them off guard. His only hope now was to seize the brief moment of chaos before the Special Abilities Bureau could react and rush to the exit, then escape. However, he feared the Special Abilities Bureau's high-tech barrier possessed special defensive capabilities; if the exit were closed now, the two would be trapped.
Ling Yun's expression suddenly changed. Several figures, unabashedly radiating powerful auras, suddenly appeared in the panoramic view, rapidly approaching the location where the two-headed creature had been. They appeared to be superhumans from the Superhuman Ability Bureau.
Ling Yun frowned. Why hadn't he found these people in the underground base before? He clearly remembered that the panoramic view had been on when he came in, but apart from a few weaker ability users, there were no other high-level ability users in the underground base of the Superpower Bureau. The hundreds of people who were busy working were almost all ordinary staff members. Only Joyce, a mid-level ability user, was in the laboratory on the ground floor, but she was only used as a test subject for Dr. Black and Connie.
Moreover, the underground base only has one passage, which is a straight elevator, and there are not even stairs. However, the figures of these superhumans are now moving quickly along a passage that has just been extended from the barrier. Ling Yun's eyes narrowed involuntarily. It seems that the barrier of the Superhuman Bureau also has the function of spatial extension, which can extend to any place on any floor of the underground base at will. The elevator passage is only for ordinary staff.
The Bureau of Supernatural Abilities' high-tech barrier is at least divided into two parts. Besides the visible part for ordinary people to work in, there must also be a hidden overlapping space specifically for supernatural beings, strictly separating the boundaries between supernatural beings and ordinary people. Ling Yun thought silently, "I just entered the barrier too quickly and didn't have time to notice."
His exploration of barriers was already at a master level; with just a little thought, he had already guessed the exact nature of the Bureau of Supernatural Abilities' high-tech barriers.
A silent, invisible telekinetic force pierced through the gaps in the elevator, precisely penetrating countless material barriers and landing directly below the structural point of the barrier. The copying ability began rapidly analyzing the massive amount of barrier data. Although the high-tech barrier was incredibly sophisticated, it was clearly far inferior to the Skynet barrier of the ability headquarters. Ling Yun quickly obtained the same result as he had guessed. As the data from the copying ability was processed, the underground base in the panoramic view began to slowly change.
On the other side of the base, a vast space unfolded gradually, revealing the results of data analysis like a scroll being unfurled at a constant speed. From an overall cross-sectional perspective, the underground base resembled a giant test tube inserted into the ground, its capacity increasing the deeper it went. The vast space itself was like an even larger, wider test tube placed alongside the underground base, connected by countless passageways. However, upon closer inspection, these passageways were not fixed but rather constantly expanded and contracted with the changing barriers, seemingly under human control.
The powerful superhumans just now arrived at the scene of the incident at the bottom of the base through these passages. It seems that these are special barrier passages provided by the barrier for superhumans. In case of an accident, superhumans can be sent to any place in the base in the shortest time without having to use elevators to go up and down.
Ling Yun noticed that these passages were not real, but virtual ones, somewhat similar to the illusionary passages within the tunnel at the barrier's exit, but only those with supernatural abilities could traverse them. This was the first time Ling Yun had ever seen such virtual passages, so he paid close attention and faithfully recorded all the changes using his copying ability.
Dozens of bright dots are rushing from the vast space along the passage to the underground base. Each dot represents a superhuman, and the brightness of the dots reflects the aura they emit. Among them are many bright dots that shine like stars, representing high-level experts in the Superhuman Bureau. If they get entangled with them, it will be troublesome for the two of them to escape.
Ling Yun's expression suddenly changed. The data analysis of the copying ability told him that the worst thing had finally happened: the barrier exit had just been forcibly closed, which meant that even if the two of them reached the exit, they would not be able to escape through identity verification.
Ling Yun secretly groaned. He had expected the exit to be closed, but he hadn't expected it to happen so quickly. The American Bureau of Supernatural Abilities was not one of those third-rate organizations for supernatural beings. They reacted swiftly. Regardless of whether there were outsiders causing trouble in the underground base, they locked the doors and searched the area first. Although the underground base was enormous, in the perception of supernatural beings, it was not much different from searching a small house. Besides, there was more than one supernatural being.
In the panoramic view, the first few superhumans to arrive at the scene were asking Dr. Black and Connie something. To prevent superhumans with special perception abilities from discovering them, Ling Yun did not dare to use the panoramic view's ability to detect sounds, but only observed the lip movements of the people.
Blake and Connie shook their heads and nodded intermittently, occasionally exchanging a few words. The two ordinary people didn't notice Ling Yun and Xia Lan's presence; they simply recounted everything they had seen, omitting, of course, the erotic activities in the laboratory.
A dignified gray-haired superhuman listened for a few moments, pondered for a while, and then suddenly turned his gaze to the elevator that was ascending. The elevator had now reached the fourth floor, and the straight-line distance between the gray-haired superhuman and the elevator was more than several hundred meters, with thick reinforced concrete in between. However, the gray-haired superhuman's gaze seemed to penetrate all of this, looking directly at Ling Yun, who was invisible inside the elevator.
Two pairs of eyes, so different yet equally profound, collided silently across layers of material barriers. Suddenly, countless sparks burst forth in the illusory space. From the gray-haired superhuman's eyes emanated boundless majesty and a powerful aura, while Ling Yun's gaze was like a universe as brilliant as stars, its simple black and white lines revealing an unfathomable world. It silently devoured all the gray-haired superhuman's majesty and power, then emitted a silver light and vanished into the void.
The gray-haired superhuman stumbled back a step, his dignified face finally showing shock. From the incident of the two-headed creature's genetic collapse, he had deduced that someone had infiltrated the underground base, and it certainly wasn't a superhuman from the Superpower Bureau. The two-headed creature was the Superpower Bureau's newest biological test subject, its genetic system incomplete, so it could only be treated as a specimen for the time being. However, this specimen possessed a characteristic unknown to outsiders: it was extremely sensitive to the scent of strangers. Therefore, this alone was enough to prove that someone from outside had visited the underground base's clone specimen storage room.
Outsiders couldn't possibly understand the changes in the barrier so thoroughly, so the gray-haired ability user instantly realized that the enemy was on the rapidly ascending elevator. He immediately prepared to use his most proficient mental field thrust to control the opponent. As long as there were people in the elevator, if their strength was below his or about the same as his, they would inevitably be affected by the mental thrust.
There were indeed people in the elevator, and they had indeed been attacked by his mental spike. However, what he didn't expect was that the newcomer not only easily parried his most proficient mental spike in an instant, but also silently delivered a small backlash. The backlash didn't harm the gray-haired ability user, only startled him. But this wasn't because the newcomer was weak; rather, it was because they had held back. The gray-haired ability user understood that the newcomer's strength far surpassed his own.
He composed himself and looked at Dr. Black and Connie, saying, "Doctor, Connie, this is none of your business. You can go back to your work." With that, he waved his hand, beckoning a dozen or so superhuman subordinates who had just arrived to come closer.
Blake and Connie knew that these superhumans had their own things to discuss and it wasn't convenient for outsiders like themselves to know, so they didn't mind, shrugged, and walked away.
"Commander Powell, have you found any clues?" asked a red-haired young man with a mohawk. His attire was the most flamboyant among the group. He wore a baggy t-shirt reminiscent of a rock singer, brightly colored leather pants, and oversized rubber shoes made by Weibang Company in the 1970s. His outfit was utterly mismatched.
Powell frowned and glanced at him. The Special Abilities Bureau wasn't part of the military, nor were they like the low-profile agents of the CIA. These high-achieving individuals often dressed in highly individualistic ways, fully embodying the American cultural characteristic of being imaginative and individualistic. However, being too unconventional and individualistic often meant being rebellious and disobedient, which gave Powell, as a mid-level officer, a major headache. Normally, he would have already reprimanded this guy who dressed like a madman, but now there was no time for that.
He snorted, subtly expressing his displeasure: "Listen up, everyone. An outsider with superpowers has broken into the base and is currently inside the elevator. They're probably trying to exit through the base's exits, but they're unfamiliar with the changes to the barrier. Commander Clark has already closed the underground base's exits, giving us time to intercept them near the barrier entrance. I hereby declare the base on high alert. Without my order, no one, including base staff, is permitted to leave the base. Stay put and await further orders."
Several superhumans immediately responded in unison, "Yes, sir."
Powell nodded to the red-haired youth, a young man in a black leather jacket, and a glamorous girl with blue smoky makeup, and said, "Jack, White, and Chris, the three of you are responsible for conveying my orders to all the ordinary staff in the underground base. Tell them to strictly follow the protection regulations to protect themselves and to be ready to destroy classified materials at any time. Tell them not to resist; they are just ordinary people, so as not to make unnecessary sacrifices."
White, the young man in the black leather jacket, hesitated for a moment before saying, "Sir, are we only responsible for these simple notification tasks? There are junior ability users in the base responsible for guarding, wouldn't it be better to let them do the notifications while we go after the enemy?"
Powell sneered: "Are you questioning my orders?"
White was immediately startled. His superior had never spoken to them in a stern tone before, but that did not mean Powell lacked authority. In fact, without saying anything, as long as the tall Powell remained calm, his imposing face alone was enough to command the respect of his subordinates.
He immediately stood at attention and roared, "No, sir!"
“Execute the order. Be careful to use the virtual passage of the barrier and do not get within 200 meters of the elevator. Just a reminder: the enemy is inside. If you want to be a hero, that's fine, but if you die, no one will collect your corpse.” Powell said calmly, his gaze once again passing through the nearly 1,000-meter distance to look at the elevator that had already risen to the third floor.
The three subordinates, dressed in different styles, exchanged bewildered glances, their strength at least at the lieutenant level. They had initially been full of confidence and wanted to volunteer for the mission, but now that Powell had spoken, it meant the situation was extremely serious. The enemy who had broken into the base was definitely a high-level expert they could not handle; only a superior officer of Powell's rank or higher could intervene. Without further hesitation, they said in unison, "Yes, sir," and hurriedly turned and left.
Chapter 372 The Traitor Within the Bureau of Supernatural Abilities
"Sir? What are we supposed to do?" The other dozen or so superhumans were dumbfounded. Their strength was not as good as White and the other two, but even White and the other two were sent to do the notification work, so it was easy to imagine what they could do.
"You return to the main control base. Have Deputy Directors Loki and Hans come here immediately and tell them there are enemy officers of general rank in the underground base's elevators. We need to use the virtual passage to reach the exit and stop them as soon as possible," Powell decisively ordered.
"An enemy at the rank of general?" These superhumans, who had been eager to capture the enemy and earn merit, were once again dumbfounded. That was someone whose strength far surpassed their own, an unimaginable master, a powerhouse even more formidable than Lord Powell before them. When did the Superhumans Bureau get such a powerful individual?
"What are you all standing there for? Execute the orders immediately!" Powell was genuinely annoyed. How could his subordinates all be acting like idiots? In the time it took them to be so foolish, the enemy would have already escaped.
The group of young superhumans snapped out of their daze and quickly returned to the main control base via the virtual portal.
As Powell watched his subordinates disappear from sight, his brow furrowed deeply, filled with extreme worry. Since the newcomers had emerged from the underground base, it meant that the secret of the cloned superhumans there had been revealed. Although other superhuman organizations had speculated about the US Bureau of Superhumans' capabilities, they lacked concrete evidence. However, if the newcomers were a spy for some superhuman organization, allowing them to escape would inevitably plunge the world into chaos. Even if the president could suppress the matter, the cloned superhuman experiments could no longer continue.
No matter what, we must keep you in the Bureau of Superpowers, even if you are a general-level powerhouse! Powell's heart was instantly engulfed in flames of anger, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked. No one had ever dared to venture into the Bureau of Superpowers alone before. If this person were to leave safely, not only would the secret be exposed, but the Bureau of Superpowers, this super organization, would also lose all face.
Fortunately, the exit was already closed, otherwise the enemy would not have been able to escape unless he destroyed the entire barrier. But if he really had the power to destroy the Bureau of Supernatural Abilities' barrier, he probably wouldn't be able to survive in this world.
Thinking this, Powell spoke into the miniature communicator in his collar, "Clark, Chamberlain, have you reached the exit?" All the superhumans in the Bureau of Paranormal Activity are equipped with these miniature high-tech devices to handle situations where communication is lost.
A clear, loud voice came through the MSI intercom: "We've arrived. Everything is ready. As soon as that guy opens the elevator door, he'll be met with a beam of light exceeding minus two hundred degrees Celsius and Chamberlain's molten gold flames. Let's see if this guy doesn't turn to pieces."
“Oh, then be careful,” Powell said, then added after a moment’s thought, “Where are Claire and the others? Haven’t they arrived yet? I’m on my way. I’ve already told my men to inform Lords Loki and Hans. As long as you can hold out until the deputy director gets here, we’ll consider it a victory.”
There was a moment of silence on the intercom, then an incredulous voice said, "Dear Powell, what are you talking about? You think Chamberlain and I combined can't handle an outsider with superpowers? You need the Deputy Director to personally intervene? Have you even seen this enemy? Or are you just making things up?"
“I’m not trying to be mysterious. The enemy is a high-ranking officer or above. You need to be careful,” Powell said. He then cut off contact with his two colleagues.
A deep blue beam of light suddenly shone down from the dark ceiling, like the beam of a searchlight, enveloping Powell. Powell looked up and his body quickly rose upwards. When he reached the reinforced concrete slab of the ceiling, the beam of light flashed, and Powell's body disappeared, then reappeared in the second-to-last underground space.
After several attempts, Powell finally appeared in the passageway of the first layer of the barrier. The deep blue beam of light suddenly became vertical at a ninety-degree angle, forming the shortest direct passage to the exit from the illusory passageway. Powell quickly walked through it again.
When he stepped out of the exit, there were already six people standing in front of the elevator. They were all dressed in the standard uniforms of the Superpower Bureau. Except for a woman in her thirties who was wearing a women's uniform, the six men were dressed exactly the same. Superpowered individuals who could still wear the standard uniforms in the Superpower Bureau were all mid-level officers, while the superpowered individuals under them were usually dressed in brightly colored clothes and dressed in very individualistic styles.