The Vanishing Cemetery

"I feel like I've dug myself into a hole," Sun Hang said, turning off the TV. "Is this... urgent?"

"Extremely urgent," Yang Qi replied. "More than three-quarters of Tianfu City's management personnel were involved in the flower-laying ceremony, not to mention representatives from the Federation Council... If they remain missing for more than forty-eight hours, the entire Tianfu City will descend into chaos."

"If it's that serious, hasn't the Federation sent anyone?" Sun Hang asked. "Having me, a rookie Hunter, take on such a crucial task... it feels a bit like a joke."

"You're the only Hunter available in Tianfu City right now," Yang Qi said. "The reinforcement aircraft have already taken off and should arrive in about six hours... but no one can predict how the situation will change by then. We have to make every second count."

"...So what can I do? I'm no different from an ordinary person right now. Even with six hours, I won't be able to find those missing people."

"That's not necessarily true. You saw images on TV that shouldn't have been there, which means you have Resonance with Anomalies... Once you arrive at the scene, this Resonance will become even stronger. This is our breakthrough point," Yang Qi explained.

"Alright... but I can't guarantee that this so-called 'Resonance' will still be present when we get there."

"We'll deal with it when we get there!"

The two walked out of the villa. Yang Qi pulled a large black duffel bag from the trunk of the SUV and tossed it to Sun Hang.

The duffel bag was heavy, and its contents clinked together with a distinct metallic sound.

"This is the gear I prepared for you... I wasn't sure what you'd need, so I just grabbed some things," Yang Qi said. "You were supposed to choose these yourself, but there wasn't time."

Sun Hang unzipped the bag. Inside was a full set of top-spec tactical gear, two carbines equipped with various expensive devices, several special magazines with different labels, and a small titanium alloy case containing six disposable syringes.

"The case contains medications developed by the Anomaly Research Institute. Three yellow ones are Enhanced Stimulants, primarily Adrenaline. I don't think I need to explain their effects," Yang Qi said.

"What about the other three red ones?"

"They're Serums extracted and refined from Anomalies. After injection, they significantly enhance a Hunter's abilities, but the degree of enhancement, the direction of enhancement, and the side effects vary from person to person... They're still in the clinical trial phase. I don't recommend using them unless it's absolutely necessary," Yang Qi said.

Sun Hang zipped up the duffel bag and got into the car.

Yang Qi didn't let him drive. She jumped into the driver's seat herself and floored the accelerator, drifting out of the villa's gate.

The rear of the SUV scraped against the wrought-iron gate, sending sparks flying.

"Do you know how to use a gun?" Yang Qi asked amidst the rush.

"I guess so." Sun Hang picked up a carbine and aimed it somewhere outside the car window where no one was. The holographic sight was much more suitable for a beginner shooter than iron sights requiring a three-point lock. The safety switch and magazine release on the receiver were also thoughtfully marked with Chinese inscriptions.

"But I don't think a gun will be necessary for this mission, right?"

"That's not necessarily true," Yang Qi shook her head. "It's getting dark soon, and there are wild beasts in the South City Cemetery at night..."

The SUV hadn't traveled far when a dull thud was heard from the roof, as if something had landed on it.

Yang Qi's expression faltered slightly, and then she opened the sunroof.

A nimble figure slid into the car through the sunroof.

"Night Fiend, you weren't on the mission roster," Yang Qi said calmly.

"I know," Wang Xiyi said, glancing at Sun Hang and nodding.

"Then what's your intention?"

"Do you really think this rookie Hunter can complete this mission?"

"He's developed Resonance with that Anomaly. He saw those missing people on his TV screen," Yang Qi said. "Based on my analysis, the Anomaly causing this abnormal event should be Class A or B, not an enemy you're accustomed to dealing with."

"So you're planning to send him to his death?" Wang Xiyi added.

"We're only responsible for the initial investigation. The risk won't be too high," Yang Qi said while driving. "We need to gather as much information as possible before the Federation's reinforcements arrive, saving time for subsequent actions... Honestly, I don't think Tianfu City can find those missing people on its own."

"Then adding me won't make much of a difference, and removing me won't either," Wang Xiyi said, leaning back comfortably in her seat and crossing one long leg. "If there's a situation this rookie can't handle, I can act as your last trump card."

"But you can't enter Beast Transformation anymore," Yang Qi frowned. "You might not come back."

"If I can trade one-for-one with an Anomaly, it wouldn't be a loss," Wang Xiyi said nonchalantly. "It's better than watching those things cause more damage."

"You... Fine, do as you please!" Yang Qi said with some helplessness. "But I'll report this to my teacher. If he..."

"I'll take full responsibility," Wang Xiyi said.

After speaking, she extended her hand to Sun Hang. "Give me the things."

"What things?" Sun Hang asked.

"Those three red syringes," Wang Xiyi said.

Sun Hang pondered for a moment and took out two.

"I need to keep one for myself, in case I can use it," Sun Hang explained.

Wang Xiyi looked at him with some surprise and said sternly, "Do you know the consequences of injecting this thing?"

"No, but the worst that can happen is death," Sun Hang smiled. "If I'm truly cornered, it's death anyway. Having a chance to gamble is better than doing nothing."

"Interesting," Wang Xiyi said, taking the syringes. "You're tougher than those cowards from the last batch."

Yang Qi drove the SUV at breakneck speed, running through more than a dozen red lights and scraping countless private cars before finally reaching the incident site – the South City Cemetery – half an hour later.

Although the South City Cemetery was located in the southern suburbs of Tianfu City, it was still some distance from the South City Development Zone destroyed by Bloody Mary. The South City Development Zone, despite being called "South City," was actually in the southwest direction of Tianfu City. The South City Cemetery was further east.

Sun Hang had seen photos of the South City Cemetery on the way. The main part of the cemetery was built on a hillside with an incline of about thirty degrees. Amidst the lush green vegetation were rows of white marble tombstones, and at the highest point of the slope was a considerable area of coniferous forest.

But now, outside the car window, there was only a desolate expanse of rolling hills.