A Cocky and Arrogant Flying Bird

"Hm?"

Shen Yu, who had been pouring all his focus into letting Bai Zuo wrestle with that Ghost Domain, paused.

He diverted a sliver of attention and tapped open the newly unlocked Anomaly Artifact.

"Information Cocoon? A B-grade Anomaly Artifact."

This artifact's function was limited to blurring cognition and modifying perception. For example, take a universally accepted fact: the moon is round. You could alter it to the moon is square, and under the artifact's interference, everyone else would believe the moon was square.

However, since this artifact was B-grade, its restrictions were significant. First was the range—it could only alter the cognition of a small area. Second, the more facts you changed, the shorter the duration it could maintain.

Of course, despite its heavy limitations, when used properly, an artifact capable of altering cognition was no less than a divine tool.

Bai Zuo's role—his contracted anomaly was S-grade against humans. To actually unleash sufficient combat power, he still needed to mark more Adaptives like Zhang Lin.

He lacked direct attack methods.

His only function was to control the field after deploying his Ghost Domain. Containing anomalies still required a stronger Contract Anomalist to finish the damage.

If Xu Zhou grew up, he could serve as the blade in Bai Zuo's hand.

The strength of the anomaly discovered on Anyang Island exceeded Shen Yu's expectations.

Bai Zuo's power could suppress that anomaly, but he couldn't contain it.

Given enough time, borrowing the anomaly's power would cost Bai Zuo dearly—his stamina and spirit would drain completely—while the anomaly, using its own strength, wouldn't deplete as quickly.

Shen Yu glanced at his remaining Construction Points. "Forget it, you can't catch a wolf without risking a child."

"I'll spend five thousand Construction Points first and see if I can draw a good card."

Hopefully, a character card with powerful attacks!

"System! Do a five-pull!"

"Ding! 5000 Construction Points consumed. Drawing character cards."

"Character cards drawing..."

"Ding! Congratulations! You've drawn a C-grade Employee Card—obtained C-grade Employee (Talent: Business)."

Huh? An Employee Card?

This was the first time Shen Yu had drawn one. He tapped open the Employee Card's description and found it differed from a Character Card.

Once an Employee Card was drawn, he didn't need to roleplay them, but their abilities wouldn't be very high. Most were elites among humans with certain talents.

This kind of card was a consolation prize, so you wouldn't spend a thousand Construction Points and get nothing.

He never thought drawing cards would even have a consolation prize. Shen Yu's mind instantly went into a storm, flashing images of various exploitative, grind-heavy, pay-to-win gacha games.

Shen Yu's hand trembled as he had the system continue drawing. No way, right?

There was no way a five-pull couldn't yield even one Character Card, was there?

"Character cards drawing..."

"Ding! Congratulations! You've drawn an A-grade Employee Card—obtained A-grade Employee (Talent: Scientific Research)."

Shen Yu consoled himself—scientific researchers were very rare.

"Character cards drawing..."

"Ding! Congratulations! You've drawn an A-grade Employee Card—obtained A-grade Employee (Talent: Management)."

This... he was currently short on people to help him manage the Yi Gui Company. This card was pretty useful.

"Character cards drawing..."

"Ding! Congratulations! You've drawn an E-grade Employee Card—obtained E-grade Employee (Talent: Cleaning)."

Uh... Shen Yu clutched his heart.

Did he lack a cleaner?

He probably did, but a cleaner's monthly salary was at most a few thousand yuan. He'd rather pay cash to hire ten cleaners than draw this card!

Since he'd already drawn it, he couldn't make the system swallow it back up.

The last one. Shen Yu held his breath, waiting for the system to reveal it.

"Character cards drawing..."

"Ding! Congratulations! You've drawn an S-grade Character Card—Flying Bird A!"

"Yes!"

Shen Yu slammed the table and jumped up in excitement!

Another S-grade Character Card!

Was he unlucky? No way!

He was so lucky he was practically smoking!

As for the Employee Cards before? They were definitely just padding the draw!

Shen Yu excitedly tapped open the Character Card.

Still the platinum-gold border that represented an S card, but unlike Bai Zuo's dark background, this S card was overall very bright and dazzling.

A blue-white sky and floating clouds served as the backdrop's rendering and embellishment, plus the figure standing in the center—a young man with hair so white it dazzled the eyes, red irises, and a wild, unrestrained smile—made this card shine brilliantly.

Like a smug, free, proud bird!

"Character: Flying Bird A"

"Rank: S"

"Identity: Contract Anomalist (expandable)"

"Personality: Chaotic evil thrill-seeker, loves excitement and creating it, enjoys disguises and tricking people."

"Abilities: Magic (Outstanding), Animal Affinity (Perfect), Thievery (Outstanding), Disguise (Perfect), Unlockable!"

"Special Ability: Raging Wind (Perfect), Unlockable!"

"Anomaly Artifact: Unlockable!"

"Contract Anomaly: Nameless Bird (S) — A feathered crippled bird made of countless malformed, twisted white feathers. Though it possesses a broken body, it can command extraordinary storms. Every flap of its wings can trigger a massive tempest! Even with its twisted wings, it still lets out a crisp, proud chirp.

It is a small white bird with beautiful red gem-like eyes.

Devouring storms can enhance its strength; accumulating enough allows it to advance."

"Related Characters: 5"

"Character Completion: 0%"

"Use immediately?"

"Use immediately!"

The anomaly Flying Bird A contracted could even control storms!

This was an incredibly powerful output card!

It came just in time.

Shen Yu deployed him directly near Anyang Island.

The character card emitted a flash of light.

The white-haired young man, bearing a flamboyant smile, rode the wind and appeared above Anyang Island.

As he moved, one could almost hear a crisp, tender chirp like that of a fledgling.

The wind gently surrounded him, supporting his body, allowing him to hover in the sky.

It was as docile as a pet.

He looked down at the massive spider below and revealed a surprised expression: "Look what I found? A nasty spider full of tricks in its belly."

"Chirp~" Nameless Bird softly echoed him.

"Hehe~ Then let's do this. When that little spider can't hold on anymore and lowers its proud little head to beg me, I'll go give it a hand."

"Chirp~"

Flying Bird A was in position.

This tough battle now had a powerful reinforcement; at least Shen Yu no longer had to worry about Bai Zuo and Xu Zhou getting trapped inside.

On the ground.

Bai Zuo was still controlling the Ghost Domain, tearing and devouring the opponent.

Ji Wu checked the time again. "Why hasn't the Aberration Association's support arrived yet?"

Xu Zhou: "How long does support usually take to arrive?"

"Because anomaly abilities are too bizarre, even just a few minutes can mean the risk of death for a Contract Anomalist. To avoid that, support arrives within ten minutes of the report."