The escalating tremors had begun to sow panic among the populace. In scientific terms, this signaled the frequent agitation of the subterranean fault line, a precursor to the collapse of the entire Pacific Plate. In San Francisco, an area particularly prone to activity along the San Andreas Fault, there had already been sixteen earthquakes exceeding magnitude 5.0, resulting in a cumulative death toll of one hundred and thirty-six people.

Faced with such stark reality, the official reassurances, though still vociferously broadcast, only served to boost ticket sales for the base.

To date, the tickets sold for the base had reached, and even surpassed, fifty thousand. Furthermore, the inaugural trial flights of the airship squadron within the base had undergone complete rehearsals and inspections, a move intended to instill a degree of confidence in the ticket holders. Several thousand personnel had even been invited to witness and participate in test runs.

The spectacle was truly awe-inspiring. Each airship measured an astonishing three hundred and eighteen meters in length and sixty meters in diameter, with a dead weight of three hundred tons and a displacement volume of 300,000 cubic meters. The flagship airship, serving as the core of the formation, was even grander, boasting a length of five hundred meters!

However, the standard airships were now designed to carry up to five thousand passengers, while the core vessel was scaled down to one thousand. This adjustment was primarily because the occupants of the core airship were individuals of status, prioritizing comfort, and the core ship was also tasked with transporting the majority of the food, machinery, and other vital supplies. Even with these modifications, the projected passenger capacity for an entire airship formation remained around thirty-five thousand people.

Imagine, visualizing seven such behemoths docked together, maintaining the mandatory separation distance of one hundred and fifty meters between them. The sheer footprint required would rival that of a medium-sized park!

To avoid undue conspicuousness, the maximum takeoff altitude for the airship formation was restricted to within fifty meters. Nevertheless, the sight of the thirty automatic retractable rope ladders dangling from each vessel—resembling dense, widespread tentacles—coupled with the deeply resonant roar of their powerful engines, profoundly stunned the spectators.

The invitees for today’s viewing were naturally people of considerable standing. As the immense lifting force generated by the airships pulled the cables supporting the gondolas taut, they were ushered by guides to tour the various sections, starting, of course, with the most basic, large cabin accommodations. They then proceeded to view the standard cabins, progressing upwards until they finally reached the so-called VIP staterooms.

If these esteemed guests had been immediately escorted to their custom-designed quarters, it was inevitable that those accustomed to the standards of presidential suites would find fault. But humans are creatures that think and compare. After touring the large rooms where water supply was restricted and shared washrooms and showers were present,

These dignitaries felt an overwhelming sense of value for money. More importantly, they witnessed the core airship’s capability to instantly detach from the adjacent subsidiary vessels. This undoubtedly fortified their sense of security, even lending an air of superiority—the potent feeling of holding the life and death of others in one's hands.

Needless to say, following this viewing event, a frenzy of ticket purchasing erupted anew. Vast quantities of human and material resources began converging maniacally on the derelict factory on the outskirts of London. No further elaboration is needed; the mere fact that rental housing prices in the vicinity skyrocketed by 1300% testifies to the feverish intensity of these people. "Beep-beep-beep," the red light flashed, and Fang Senyan casually picked up the phone. This specialized device had been encrypted by Dr. Octopus, ensuring no risk of eavesdropping. Dr. X's slightly weary but gentle voice came through the receiver.

"Two matters, Sailor. We are now finding boarding a major issue. The number of people holding our tickets has surged to two hundred thousand. Due to the sudden influx of wealth and manpower, our productivity has seen another boost. We estimate the capacity to form fourteen formations, capable of saving nearly five hundred thousand lives. However, the prerequisite is—can you accurately confirm the exact time and location of the event? Otherwise, if it occurs prematurely, it could lead to the needless death of a great many people."

Fang Senyan replied: "I am certain, Professor X—but won't the expansion of production bring unforeseen troubles? For instance, your enemies? Their power can easily inflict devastating destructive strikes, not to mention those bastards from our world who seek to correct history."

Magneto interjected gravely: "Sailor, those individuals are merely solitary in temperament; they are neither executioners nor butchers. The aircraft built by the Hulk and Batman can only carry a few hundred people. After witnessing our actions, they have tempered their behavior considerably; it is likely they will refrain from interference, as I suspect they too would prefer not to see a few hundred people isolated on Earth. While conflicts between us might continue, it will not be at this moment."

"As for those you mentioned who originate from your world and seek to correct history, they should currently be heading toward China. Reliable intelligence confirms that China has indeed cloned thousands of Arks! Compared to the tough nuts to crack here, they seem to have chosen the distant China. The American government has also caught its breath and is now tentatively attempting to establish contact with us, considering preliminary forms of cooperation. If negotiations succeed, we might even consider assisting the government in rapidly setting up airship production lines."

"I understand," Fang Senyan said. "I can confirm the disaster arrival time has been postponed. December 21, 2012, is not the end of the world, but the cataclysm begins three hundred hours thereafter. The initial impact zones will be the Gulf of California, followed by the area around the San Andreas Fault."

"New York will have a two-hour buffer... After the protracted earthquake exceeding magnitude ten, which will last for half an hour, survivors will have roughly three more hours to cling to life. Then, the final memory of their existence will be frozen by the terrifying tsunami waves, so colossal they nearly blot out the sky..."

"Understood," Professor X replied, his voice heavy with grief and emotion, despite having heard Fang Senyan's description more than once. "How is everything progressing on your end? Do you require assistance?"

"Everything is proceeding smoothly." As Fang Senyan spoke, he glanced at Groot next to him. This figure, resembling a stout Black child, was vigorously devouring a Beijing Chicken Wrap, red tomato sauce smeared all over his mouth, while his other hand rested on the solid wall.

Under the influence of Groot's ability, dust and sand were raining down from the wall. A fortification rumored to withstand nuclear attack appeared brittle under the assault of the cyclopean being's power. Groot took another savage bite of the wrap, then impatiently swept aside the decomposed debris with his hand, casually snapping the embedded rebar. As his rough demolition continued, a shrill alarm suddenly blared.

Yet, Fang Senyan remained calm. In this secluded spot, which resembled a resort, there were eighty-seven fully armed guards. The alarm was intended for them, but these guards had already lost their freedom of movement and speech, securely bound by Number Seven using the hunting technique of the Dibyans.

Finally, the safe, encased in six meters of reinforced concrete, was excavated. It was said that attempting to open it from the front improperly would result in the forceful destruction of its contents. Thus, Fang Senyan, lacking the combination code and adopting a 'better safe than sorry' approach, attacked the rear of the safe, effortlessly blasting open its rear hatch.

There were many items inside the safe, but Fang Senyan’s gaze finally settled on a seemingly unremarkable gem. He shone his flashlight directly onto it, and after numerous refractions within the stone, a strange, vertically elongated, sharp, and eerie pupil mysteriously emerged. Shaking the flashlight slightly, he noticed the light reflected from the pupil seemed to resemble firelight!

"It seems we have found the main prize again," Ziss murmured in admiration upon seeing this: "Wow. Truly beautiful."

She expressed the unique admiration that women—and dragons—have for glittering objects like jewelry: "The Eye of the Feathered Serpent. Even after being forcefully removed, it retains that aura of majesty. This is a legendary artifact that cannot be counterfeited; modern craftsmanship alone cannot replicate it. The US government hid it deep within their vaults, refusing to display it. I recall that in the real world, the Consortium made significant sacrifices just to gain a glimpse of this treasure. I never expected the government to renege at the last minute."

Old Charlie strode in, followed by Ranthas, who carried an unpretentious-looking box: "I have inspected everything. The Dagger of the Golden Priest is also inside. As expected, it was shipped alongside the Eye of the Feathered Serpent. Coupled with the Tusker Mask of the Indian Chief found in San Antonio, we have exceeded the requirements of the Great Collector. Do we still need to search for the Crystal Skull?"

Fang Senyan wondered aloud: "Why not? Space is always generous to those who complete missions perfectly, especially when this is a job without competitors—at least in the Americas, right? Where is the location of the Crystal Skull? Huh, it's in the hands of a private collector. This fellow has a long name: Jakaya M’risho Hassan Mweene Kijikite. We need to hurry and secure this before the FBI finds him. Constantly crossing the government isn't a good path."

Seeing Ziss and the Fog Song girl eyeing the "Eye of the Feathered Serpent" covetously, Fang Senyan decisively abandoned the idea of keeping the artifact himself. Just then, Dr. Octopus called to inquire about something:

"Sailor, I recall you telling me that the final geological evolution of the 2012 apocalypse was that the Cape of Good Hope in Africa would become the world's highest peak, while the overall changes in America would be minor, correct?"

"Yes," Fang Senyan confirmed. "The American plate is like a cracker, snapped in half, but most of it remains intact."

"Excellent," Dr. Octopus sounded excited. "The resources we possess now are astonishing, yet we want to preserve so many things. I plan to establish several waterproof underground warehouses in the most stable inland areas and cram them full of essential items. If even one can be preserved, it could save us years, even decades, of future struggle."

"Great idea!" Fang Senyan agreed. "I think you should directly ask the government about this. Those nuclear shelters can be easily modified to provide excellent waterproofing. However much of human civilization we can preserve, the better. Uh, I have things to attend to; I need to get back to work... Jakaya M’risho Hassan Mweene Kijikite... Mr. Jakaya's home is in the suburbs of Detroit. It’s already a desolate area, but the blue-and-white villa, nestled among the greenery, still looks quite elegant, and the lawn at the entrance is meticulously trimmed. Under the afternoon sun, gradually receding from its fierce midday heat around four o'clock, it possessed a certain style reminiscent of a 19th-century Impressionist painter... if it weren't for the corpses scattered across the lawn and the haphazardly crashed police cars that had rushed in."

"Brake, shift to neutral, shut off engine, engage parking brake," Fang Senyan executed these actions in one fluid motion, then jumped down from the vehicle. His movements appeared outwardly routine, but the palpable aura of extreme vigilance surrounding him was unmistakable.

Reef was already standing ready, forming a protective screen in front of Ziss, Three-Zai, and Fog Song. Fang Senyan took the lead, supported by Ranthas and Number Seven, the two who could be resurrected, forming the first echelon.

Fang Senyan walked onto the lawn and quickly drew a conclusion after a brief survey: "It seems the FBI was slightly more efficient than us, but they appear to have run into a difficult situation this time."

As he spoke, Fang Senyan approached a police car, confirming his assessment. There was also a body in the driver's seat, its face contorted in an expression that suggested it had been scared to death. The vehicle was still in reverse, and the steering wheel was spun several times, but the officer evidently lacked the strength to engage the handbrake.

Next, Fang Senyan bent down to examine the body. Upon his fingers making contact with the corpse's bare skin, something resembling root tendrils seemed to burrow inside. "The deceased's identity is... Special Agent. His sidearm shows signs of discharge, which suggests the entity we face next might be immune to bullet damage. Huh, the cause of death for this individual is..."

Fang Senyan's expression shifted to shock. He stood up and kicked the corpse's head; it shattered instantly. However, inside the skull was nothing but stark white bone, mucus, blood vessels, and emptiness—not a single thing, not even the spinal cord within the spine had been spared!

The man's brain and spinal cord seemed to have been completely and bizarrely sucked dry!

"What in the world is this? A vampire variant? A brain-eater? A mind flayer?" Fang Senyan frowned.

At this moment, Number Seven stuck out his long, red, lizard-like tongue and hissed "Ah-ah-ah" several times toward Reef, who immediately translated: "He says he sensed a very peculiar aura leaving just now."

Fang Senyan considered the situation: "Ziss, you accompany me. Reef, you protect Three-Zai. Groot, go to the high ridge nearby; the vantage point offers clear surveillance of any enemy movements down here. Fog Song, prepare some spells for crowd control. Our objective is the Crystal Skull, not slaughter. Remember, always remain within the effective range of Reef's 'Hand of God'."

As Fang Senyan issued his orders, every member of the team began to function with the precision of interlocking gears. Fang Senyan continued to clear the path, stepping into the villa's main entrance, with Ziss moving shoulder-to-shoulder beside him. For some inexplicable reason, despite the eerie and sinister atmosphere, Ziss suddenly felt a surge of joy, an indescribable hope fluttering in her heart—the desire to continue walking side-by-side with this man forever.

Fang Senyan pushed open the villa's front door.

Ziss appeared casual, but a piercing, eye-stinging arc of light flashed from her ten slender fingertips. Despite her mental preparation, she still frowned slightly at the horrific scene unfolding before her.

The living room was littered with too many corpses, all with twisted features. Among the deceased were predominantly police officers and FBI agents in black suits, but also servants, an elderly person, and even a small girl!

Undoubtedly, their cause of death was identical: the brain matter and spinal columns were gone. The numerous bullet holes riddling the walls suggested a fierce firefight had taken place here, yet the bullets seemed ineffective—either they missed entirely, or hitting them achieved nothing.

The two moved cautiously through the house, outwardly relaxed but internally tense, reaching the second floor. They found no one there either, only more corpses. Fang Senyan’s gaze swept over a family portrait nearby, and then he stated with certainty: "This entire family seems to have perished inside the villa, with the exception of the Mr. Jakaya we are searching for."

Ziss trusted Fang Senyan's judgment, knowing his exceptional eidetic memory. She re-searched the inside and outside of the villa and, confirming the perpetrator had left, signaled the others to enter. Meanwhile, Number Seven and Ranthas went out to maintain perimeter security.

Although the team now appeared to have reverted to their normal composure, the intense caution they displayed was something Mo Gansa had never possessed before death. Everyone trod lightly, wary of suffering another devastating wound that felt like losing a limb.

The next step was a thorough search. Their purpose in coming here was not to solve a crime or seek retribution, but to seize the Crystal Skull and then swiftly depart. During the search, Three-Zai suddenly discovered a paper packet from a hospital drawer. He pulled out a few sheets, stared momentarily dumbfounded, and immediately called everyone over to look.

The packet contained X-ray films taken by a doctor using CT technology. The patient's name printed on them was clearly Jakaya.

These CT scans looked normal initially, resembling those of a healthy person. However, as the subsequent scans progressed, the patient’s skull began to display strange anomalies, revealing unexpected morphological features. In one CT scan taken just two days prior, the shadow of the skull displayed was identical to the Crystal Skull they were seeking!

"What is happening?" Everyone was further astonished. Had the Crystal Skull carved by the Maya somehow replaced Jakaya's human cranium and grown into his head? Such a bizarre occurrence was unbelievable unless witnessed firsthand.

The Crystal Skull was a sacred relic carved by the Maya themselves. From a mystical perspective, it functioned as a potent artifact, exhibiting distinctive features compared to a modern human skull. With the prior scans of Jakaya as a reference point, the identification was easily made.

Fang Senyan mused for a moment: "Legend holds that the Crystal Skull contains mysterious power, and some rumors link it to the 2012 apocalypse. There's a tale that thirteen Crystal Skulls exist, hiding data concerning human origins and death, capable of helping humanity unravel the mysteries of the cosmos. Humans must find all thirteen before December 21, 2012. That day marks the end of the Mayan calendar, which has cycled 5126 times. Unless all thirteen skulls are gathered and arranged in the correct configuration, the Earth will be thrown from its axis. Only then can the skull's supernatural power save the planet. Jakaya's transformation is likely connected to this legend."

Reef exclaimed in disbelief: "Then what about these dead people? Are you saying Jakaya was the murderer? Damn it, his son and granddaughter are lying downstairs!"

Fang Senyan stated calmly: "I noticed when I inspected them earlier that the villa's residents died at least five hours before the FBI agents. If my guess is correct, Jakaya can no longer be categorized as human, so he wouldn't be bound by human emotional ties. What intrigues me is why this individual lingered here after consuming everyone in the villa, only fleeing rapidly right before we arrived."

Three-Zai immediately chimed in: "I'll ask Groot to search the area."

Under the psychic influence of the one-eyed giant with two heads, almost no secret room could escape its detection—unless there was absolutely nothing related to earth nearby. Thus, a small compartment the size of a wardrobe was quickly discovered. Inside lay a mirror, smeared horribly, almost completely coated in dried blood, next to which rested a terribly scrawled diary.

"The Crystal Skull is different; I can perceive it clearly."

"Is the end of the world really coming?"

"It's resonating, yes, it's resonating! Is the legend of the thirteen skulls true?"

"I cannot gaze into its eyes any longer. Legend says the skull was used by the Mayans to hypnotize patients during surgery; something seems to be summoning it."

"My head hurts so much!! I must keep looking at it, I've had enough of this damned pain. Aaaargh!"

"Why do I find this accursed Crystal Skull appetizing??"

"Did I see wrong? In the vision just now, if the Crystal Skull is heated red-hot and then thrown into water, it shatters into powder, and then... that priest achieves eternal life!"

"Right, I have to take a gamble... Anyway, I'm in the late stages of lymphoma, only three months left to live."

"The Black Crystal Skull. I see it. Is that the driving force that has always called to me? Is that the voice that has been echoing in my heart?"

"Great God, I shall leave your portrait here to worship day and night. I open my body and soul to You simultaneously!"

"Master... summon... provide nourishment..." Looking at this series of messy notes, Fang Senyan and the others fully recognized that a person, driven by the desire for life, would stop at nothing. Crushing the Crystal Skull into powder and consuming it for longevity. Such an absurd notion might sound laughable, but this Jacaya carried it out with meticulous devotion.

Simultaneously, the group concluded that the skull was definitely not made of crystal, but some other unknown substance. This substance, shattered into powder and eaten, slowly transformed Jacaya's own skull into "crystal"—a process that sounded suspiciously like the work of a specialized parasite.

"It seems this fellow was also being manipulated by a Black Crystal Skull," Fang Senyan judged.

"It’s highly likely that everything this guy did was under psychological suggestion and induction, eventually turning him into a completely controlled puppet. Nothing to be done. Now, we can only chase after him and chop off his head to report back. Wuge, can you track his movements?"

Sister Wuge replied in a clear voice:

"It should be possible. This fellow is saturated with a foul, decaying, bloody darkness. A single Madoka Dryad will be able to track this person clearly."

As Sister Wuge chanted, a small tree began to pull up its roots, its branches rapidly growing and then bending into the shape of a centaur. The difference was that its skin was pale green, and the upper human half resembled a small girl, merrily leading the way, playing the role of a hound.

The Madoka Dryad found the path Jacaya had fled along without much effort. Perhaps the trampled grass and leaves were not obvious, but the animal and human corpses left sporadically along the route were laid out clearly before the group.

The common feature among these corpses was that their heads collapsed like hollow boxes at the slightest pressure, leaving nothing but an empty shell.

Led by the Dryad, the party chose a direct route for pursuit. Fortunately, they were not ordinary people, otherwise, the sheer difficulty of the terrain would have worn them down completely.

After traversing a mountain range that was neither high nor steep, an immense, boundless wilderness opened up before them.

The Western Wilderness.

A railway bisected the land like a zipper. Since there was a railway, maintenance was necessary, leading to scattered settlements along the maintenance stretches. Because these settlements enjoyed strong purchasing power and stable employment, they gradually formed administrative units akin to towns.

When Fang Senyan and his group were led by the Dryad into one of these maintenance sections, they realized the situation was exceptionally tragic—precisely, humanity was being slaughtered as if they were mere food!

At least more than half the population lay dead in the streets! The previous corpses were too old to discern details, but with fresh bodies as a reference point, it became clear they had died from wounds inflicted by sharp implements as thin as electrical wires.

An indescribable stench echoed throughout the air! It was the smell of boiling brains, far more revolting than the scent of blood.

Fang Senyan remained at the very front of the group. Suddenly, a black shadow burst out of a broken window in a building ahead. This shadow was knocked violently away by Zi’s Force Barrier, but upon closer inspection, it was a half-dead human.

Of course, struck by the force of Zi’s blow, he died instantly.

Immediately following, several more corpses were tossed from the windows. The group couldn't distinguish truth from deception and could only retreat. Unexpectedly, one of the bodies that had just hit the ground bounced back up!

From its surface, a large number of radiating, independent blood vessels sprayed out with a "hissing" sound. Each vessel was bluish, as thick as an electrical wire, stretching at least two or three meters long, undulating in the air as if in water, moving sickeningly and bizarrely.

Fang Senyan, however, showed no fear. With a loud shout, he drove his foot into the chest of the bizarre monster lunging at him. His kicking speed was so fast that the wildly flailing vessels couldn't close in before the monster was sent flying backward by the impact.

After suffering the blow, the monster’s chest was deeply caved in, and it let out a shrill, strange cry. Unrepentant, it lunged again, but a flicker of cunning light shone in its eyes. Fang Senyan had been pressing his advantage, when unexpectedly, two of the nearby "corpses" suddenly sprang up, tightly grasping his legs.

At this moment, it became clear that the "veins" of the monster were pierced into the backbones of these two corpses, effectively turning them into puppets.

Fang Senyan’s expression remained unchanged. With a burst of strength in his legs, the arm bones of those two corpses snapped with sharp "crack" sounds. However, his movement was noticeably slowed, and the monster shrieked, already thrusting a thick, bluish vessel into Fang Senyan's calf!

The tip of the vessel looked soft, but like a mosquito's proboscis, it pierced effortlessly into the skin and muscle! With a wriggle, it began to burrow deeper, greedily absorbing blood.

But at this moment, it was clearly visible that the Sun Stair, sensing its "territory" invaded, became instantly enraged! Its roots fiercely wrapped around the blue vessel embedded within its body! Where the two made contact, the vessel only held for two or three seconds before being overwhelmed by the entanglement of the roots, retracting violently!

Then, it was clear to see that the vessel which had absorbed Fang Senyan’s blood rapidly turned red. The vessel had been dark green, but it quickly shifted color like a red-hot steel bar, then began to branch out, extending in a network pattern. It twitched slightly with the rhythm of a heartbeat, then rapidly swelled! After expanding to its limit, it naturally ignited, exploded, and self-destructed!

This incident undoubtedly dealt the creature a massive blow to its vital energy!

It let out a piercing scream, rolled on the ground, and landed on its hands, scrambling away like an ape or monkey running. It was clear that when it was heavily wounded, a light emanated from inside its head, vividly illuminating the Crystal Skull within.

The creature fled incredibly fast, bouncing repeatedly before vanishing into the distance. Fang Senyan made no move to pursue, instead turning to the side.

"Did you notice anything?"

Old Charlie emerged from nearby cover. "Yes. Freddy excels at illusions and mental attacks. He felt that something was constantly influencing that creature's thought patterns and brainwaves, pushing its life trajectory off course. Bizarre events like drinking Crystal Skull powder—those aren't things a normal person would do."

Sanzai, holding several recently taken photographs, chimed in:

"Take a look, what's different here!"

The photos showed the monster from moments ago, and based on its clothing, it was confirmed to be Mr. Jacaya. The photos captured the cruelty and venom displayed during the battle. However, as it fled, a change in its silhouette was visible: its hands and feet lengthened for faster running, while its belly bulged strangely, like a starving beggar, and it appeared to be deliberately guarding that area, as if it contained something incredibly important.

Looking at the photos, Fang Senyan mused thoughtfully:

"Interesting. This is the first time I've seen a puppet controlled by a Crystal Skull like Jacaya. But based on his performance, did he only use one-tenth of the absorbed brain matter and spinal fluid for himself? Was the vast remainder stored in his belly to be offered up to the owner of that Black Crystal Skull?"

At this point, Fang Senyan paused, frowning.

"I don't know why, but I have a growing feeling that if we investigate this further, we’ll dig deeper and deeper. Once the true face of the Black Crystal Skull's owner is revealed, it might provide me with an unexpected surprise."

Zi frowned. "You mean it might trigger a side quest? But we don't need that right now."

"No, that's not it," Fang Senyan replied seriously. "The Sun Stair made direct contact with that creature's vessel a moment ago. In that instant, I felt a strange sense of déjà vu, an impression that I might have encountered the owner of the Black Crystal Skull before. But if the contact were deep, I absolutely shouldn't have forgotten." (To be continued) RQ