"An update? What is it?" Gu Qingshan asked in surprise.
"Please board the battleship. We'll return to the Temple Ship," Goddess of Justice said.
Gu Qingshan did as she asked. The battleship took off soon after, flying deep into the sky.
It was the same vast, empty, dark plaza as last time. A huge screen appeared before Gu Qingshan.
"Beginning classified briefing."
"Satellite surveillance shows that the Republic of the West Wind Islands has disappeared."
As Goddess of Justice spoke, images appeared on the screen.
The West Wind Islands—a resort made up of a cluster of islands—had vanished entirely from the map.
The ocean stretched to the horizon, not a trace of an island in sight.
Not even a breeze stirred the sea. Even through the screen, he could feel the oppressive stillness of death.
The islands had once been scattered across the sea like stars. Now, nothing remained.
"One hundred and sixty-seven underwater exploration robots were deployed. One hundred and sixty-six were destroyed after entering the sea. The last successfully transmitted footage from the seabed."
The image changed, showing a stretch of almost pitch-black deep sea.
Faint pinpricks of light flickered in the depths.
They were the lights of the one hundred and sixty-seven underwater exploration robots.
Suddenly—
A gigantic tentacle filled the entire screen.
It slid silently across the image. Its owner was moving away, beyond the camera's view.
The tentacle kept moving for a full four minutes before it finally passed out of frame.
Just looking at it was enough to understand how enormous its owner must be.
Then another tentacle appeared on-screen.
It drew closer and closer until it pressed against the camera.
The screen went black.
"The last underwater exploration robot has been destroyed."
"Unknown object is beginning to surface."
"Activating surveillance satellites."
The image