Deep in the East Sea.
Ever since that Abyssal Rift had spiraled completely out of control, these waters had never truly been calm again.
At first, only the eerie aura in the surrounding waters had grown increasingly dense.
Later, as the ancient seals continued to fracture, one high-level Eerie after another began breaking free of the rift.
The many marine creatures that had originally lived deep in the East Sea also underwent varying degrees of mutation after prolonged exposure to the abyssal aura.
Half a year passed, and the East Sea was now completely different from what it had once been.
Hundreds of kilometers offshore, vast stretches of seawater had turned a murky, inky black.
Thick storm clouds shrouded the sky year-round, and a persistent gray-black mist floated over the sea.
In some of the most severely contaminated areas, even ordinary Psychic Energy detection equipment suffered interference.
Deep in the East Sea, a fleet jointly assembled by Huaxia's Demon Suppression Bureau and Paranormal Bureau was retreating rapidly across the water.
The decks of several warships were already covered in cracks. One ship even had a gash more than ten meters long torn through its port side, allowing seawater to pour into its compartments.
The Awakened responsible for repairs could only use their abilities to temporarily plug the breach while retreating with the fleet.
Behind the fleet, a dense bank of black fog was rapidly closing in.
Strange roars kept coming from within it.
"New energy signatures have appeared to the southwest!"
In the command room, a monitoring officer stared at the constantly fluctuating readings, his expression growing increasingly grim.
"The numbers are still rising. We've confirmed thirteen A-Ranks, four S-Ranks, and one SS-Rank!"
The middle-aged man standing at the front asked gravely, "What about that contaminated sea beast from earlier?"