Every trace of metal had been stripped away, down to the metallic particles in the rocks.
"We detected extensive signs of destruction, along with barren zones left behind after massive amounts of metal disappeared."
Qin Zheng kept his voice low. "The affected area is far larger than we expected. It isn't just one or two sites. It's the entire region."
Chen Siyao and Yang Wanqing realized what he meant at the same time.
Yang Wanqing spoke first. "Extraterrestrial Demons?"
Qin Zheng nodded. "The experts' preliminary assessments all agree. This pattern of devouring every last bit of metal is an exact match for what happened on the moon back then."
Chen Siyao tapped the armrest twice. "Have you found any living specimens yet?"
"Not yet. The vanguard troops are still searching deeper. But..." Qin Zheng paused. "Judging by how quickly the barren zones are spreading, there must be quite a few Heavenly Demons."
Chen Hao had remained silent.
He stared for several seconds at the mountain in the projection, gnawed clean.
He knew those feeding marks all too well. The Heavenly Demons back then had eaten exactly like this. They weren't picky. As long as it was metal, from refined iron to mithril, they devoured it without leaving a crumb.
He had personally wiped out a nest on the moon back then. Later, he had cleared them out on Pluto as well.
He hadn't expected them to return.
"They're Extraterrestrial Demons," Chen Hao said.
Qin Zheng leaned forward an inch.
"I'll go take a look."
Chen Siyao turned toward him. "Be careful, big brother."
Chen Hao stood and swept his right hand forward.
The air split open. A black archway spread open in the middle of the lounge... on the other side lay a cluster of gray-blue metal buildings.
Ganymede.
In