Standing outside the ICU, Su Xiuyu gazed at the unconscious Chisato through the glass. His eyes drifted toward his own reflection, and in that moment, he noticed something—his Sharingan had awakened. A single magatama spun in his pupils, flickering with a quiet intensity.
Perhaps it was the rush of battle from the Warring States period, the thrill of facing danger head-on. Either way, his eyes had opened naturally.
"Su Xiuyu, nice to see you again."
A familiar voice interrupted his thoughts. Turning around, he saw Lei Jiangang, father of his classmate Lei Gang, standing nearby.
Su Xiuyu took a deep breath, suppressing his Sharingan as he refocused. "Uncle Lei, hello. It's good to see you again. Sorry for troubling you with this situation."
"Don't be so polite," Lei Jiangang said with a casual wave. "Actually, I came here today because I have something to discuss with you. It's a bit of an unreasonable request, but hear me out first. It's not mandatory, so don't worry."
Su Xiuyu could tell that Lei Jiangang had a favor to ask. Given how much the man had helped with Chisato's situation, Su Xiuyu felt indebted. If there was an opportunity to repay that debt, he wouldn't hesitate.
"It's fine, Uncle. Go ahead."
Lei Jiangang nodded, his expression turning serious. "To put it simply, the Yangcheng Special Service Bureau is severely short-staffed right now. Given the current chaos, schools won't be resuming classes anytime soon. That's why I'd like to invite you to join our special mobile team under the Yangcheng Special Service Bureau."
He paused, then added, "Of course, this is a sincere invitation, not an order. The decision is entirely yours."
Su Xiuyu raised an eyebrow. "A special team? What kind of work would that entail?"
"The team's missions are… unique. The risks are high, and you need to be prepared for the worst. Ideally, you should get your parents' approval before making a decision. Also, your classmate, Lei Gang, has already joined the team."
Hearing this, Su Xiuyu glanced at Lei Jiangang thoughtfully. It took courage to send your own son into danger. Not many parents would make that choice.
It also proved one thing—Lei Jiangang was a man of vision.
"Uncle, can I ask why you're letting Lei Gang join? Aren't you worried about him?"
Lei Jiangang let out a deep sigh. "Of course, I'm worried. What parent wouldn't be? But an eagle has to spread its wings eventually. And with the way things are going, keeping him sheltered won't do him any favors. I've seen too many parents cripple their children by protecting them too much. Lei Gang needs to find his own path."
His expression hardened. "Besides, this world is changing. If I don't let go now, will Lei Gang even have a future worth living?"
Su Xiuyu remained silent, digesting the words.
Lei Jiangang continued, "There's another thing. If you join, you'll receive a special subsidy. The amount isn't much, but the real benefit is this—members of the special operations team can move their families into the resettlement community near the Yangcheng Defense Base.
"You know how secure that base is, right? Theoretically, it can even withstand a nuclear strike. If your parents move there, you won't have to worry about their safety, and you'll be free to pursue your own goals without concern."
Su Xiuyu tapped his fingers against the glass, considering his options.
"The special operations team isn't a formal military unit," Lei Jiangang continued. "You can withdraw anytime if you feel it's too much. However, quitting a mission means automatically leaving the team for good."
After a brief pause, Su Xiuyu nodded. "Alright, I'll join."
Lei Jiangang blinked in surprise. "That was fast."
"There's no reason to hesitate. The offer is fair, and I never planned to stay in hiding forever. Plus, with my parents taken care of, I won't have to hold back."
A slow smile formed on Lei Jiangang's face. "Thank you. And I mean that not as the director of the Special Service Bureau, but as a father. If possible, I'd like you to look after Lei Gang out there. I know I can't always be there for him, and… well, he's my son."
Su Xiuyu shook his head. "That's not necessary. Lei Gang is my classmate. If he needs help and I'm able to give it, I will."
Lei Jiangang's smile deepened, but Su Xiuyu could tell there was something else on his mind.
"Uncle Lei, you came here for more than just recruitment, didn't you?"
Lei Jiangang chuckled. "Sharp as ever." He took a step forward, his tone turning serious.
"Su Xiuyu, come with me. I have a lot to tell you—things that will change your understanding of this world."
A heavy sense of foreboding settled over Su Xiuyu, but he nodded. "Alright."
Lei Jiangang led Su Xiuyu to his car, and before long, they arrived at the Yangcheng Special Service Bureau.
It was Su Xiuyu's first time here, and he was surprised to see the place buzzing with activity. Construction crews worked tirelessly, reinforcing structures and expanding facilities. The entire area resembled a war zone preparing for battle.
After passing through several security checks, they entered a high-tech conference room.
Lei Jiangang activated a multimedia device. The room dimmed slightly as classified information flashed across the screen.
"The information I'm about to share is being suppressed by governments worldwide," he warned. "Su Xiuyu, you must keep this to yourself. Do not leak any of this to outsiders."
Su Xiuyu straightened, his curiosity fully piqued.
"I'm ready. Tell me, Uncle Lei… what's going on?"
Lei Jiangang took a deep breath.
"The world…"
----
"The world has begun to change. And it's not just some minor shift—this is a massive change," Lei Jiangang said, pausing for a moment before continuing. "I believe you, Su Xiuyu, have encountered it before. That mutant lizard that rampaged through campus—everyone thinks it was brought in through a spacetime wormhole."
"Isn't it?" Su Xiuyu raised an eyebrow. He was certain it was a creature from another world.
"No, I'm not saying it wasn't," Lei Jiangang clarified. "I'm telling you that the transformation of Blue Planet has already begun. And it's far more than just creatures from another world appearing."
He pulled up a satellite image on the screen. "Look at this picture of Blue Planet taken from space. What do you see?"
Su Xiuyu studied the image for a moment before answering, "The landmasses are expanding, and their shapes are becoming more irregular."
Lei Jiangang nodded. "Exactly. The land is getting bigger, but the oceans aren't shrinking. Blue Planet itself is expanding—literally growing in size."
"But expansion requires material. The world can't just get bigger without new matter being added. Where is all this extra mass coming from?" Su Xiuyu questioned.
"Our preliminary theory is that numerous undiscovered spacetime wormholes are pulling in vast amounts of matter, directly causing the world to grow." Lei Jiangang gestured toward the screen, showing topographic data. "Many regions have formed special ecosystems, much like the mutant monitor lizard from before. According to our research, the lizard's body has remarkable pharmacological properties. In fact, consuming its flesh can promote human evolution."
"Evolution? To what extent?" Su Xiuyu asked, intrigued.
"It's not as dramatic as you might think," Lei Jiangang explained. "It mainly enhances basic physical capabilities—helping humans push past their natural limits. For example, breaking the 100-meter sprint record of 9.87 seconds would become possible. But this only applies to normal humans. It has no effect on people like you, who already possess extraordinary abilities."
"So that's just an ordinary mutated lizard," Su Xiuyu mused. "What if there are other, stronger mutant creatures? Wouldn't their effects be even greater?"
Lei Jiangang sighed. "You think these mutant lizards are weak, but that's only because of your own strength. Other countries have suffered severe casualties dealing with them. Without heavy firepower, these creatures are extremely difficult to eliminate."
Even now, Su Xiuyu had no real understanding of his own power—one of the main reasons why Lei Jiangang wanted him in the special mobile team. Su Xiuyu's combat strength was the team's greatest asset. Looking at the young man, Lei Jiangang didn't know whether to laugh or cry. As expected, truly powerful people always had their own quirks.
"Uncle Lei, I can't be the only special person out there," Su Xiuyu said. "There must be others in Yangcheng with abilities like mine."
"You're right," Lei Jiangang admitted. "Across the world, a large number of people have developed special abilities—most after passing through spacetime wormholes or being exposed to their radiation. But the vast majority have only awakened weak powers, with limited practical use. Even fewer have abilities suited for combat."
He smiled slightly before adding, "In fact, my son—your classmate Lei Gang—recently awakened a superpower called the Vajra Body. As the name suggests, it dramatically enhances his physical strength and durability."
Lei Jiangang's pride was evident as he continued, "With our combat armor, he can temporarily withstand attacks from a mutant lizard. But his abilities lack the offensive power needed to take one down in a single strike. Without heavy firepower, prolonged battles still pose a great risk. We tested this in a live combat simulation after capturing a mutant lizard."
Lei Jiangang chuckled. "I think my son is doing great—he's strong, and I'm proud of him. But compared to a monster like you, he's still got a long way to go."
He looked directly at Su Xiuyu. "What I'm telling you is that people like Lei Gang represent the higher-tier combatants among superpowered individuals. Yes, there are those stronger than him, but not many. You need to recognize your own power."
Su Xiuyu finally understood—he was being classified as one of the strongest superpowered individuals. Even though he wasn't actually a superpower user, others saw him as one.
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