A few kilometers away from Carnival Island, a joint advance team is advancing at full speed.
The aircraft carrier cleaved through the surging sea, and F-35 fighter jets lined up one after another on the deck, while the rotors of the attack helicopters were already in preheating mode.
The destroyers and cruisers on both sides spread out in battle formation, their radar antennas spinning wildly, and the warning lights on the bridge flashing incessantly.
The commander stood in front of the control console, his eyes fixed on the main screen.
On the screen, the original location of Carnival Island is now just a huge, torn-open crater, with seawater constantly pouring in, and mist and black smoke mixed together, reminiscent of the legend of the entrance to hell.
How far are we from the target location?
"Only 3 nautical miles left, sir."
The technician stared at the radar, his voice strained, " The Stormfront has stopped, and the previously recorded energy readings are decreasing, but the readings in the central area are still outside the identification limit."
The commander did not answer; he looked up at the constantly flashing red alert symbol on the screen, his face long.
Their original orders were to go to Carnival Island to check for any unusual situation and, if necessary, to blockade the sea area.
The problem now is that Carnival Island no longer needs to be locked down.
Carnival Island doesn't even exist anymore, so what are we supposed to lock down?
"Where is the drone flying? Bring in the footage."
"Yes."
A few seconds later, the main screen suddenly jumped.
In the scene, a large white fog rolls in the middle of the sea, and the remaining fragments of the islands float in the water. Seawater keeps pouring into a deep pit, stirring up a cloud of water mist.
A man covered in dark red armor hovered in mid-air.
He unfurled menacing metallic wings behind him, and countless black and red tentacles extended from the gaps in his armor, wrapping around another blond man.
The blond man was no longer the dashing figure he once was, but no one in the command room would mistake him for someone else.
Tentacles pierced his body one after another, devouring him.
"Wow, is that... Homelander?"
Someone spoke in a low voice, but no one answered.
The answer is already on the screen.
The commander stared at the screen, his fingers slowly clenching.
"Are you kidding me? That's Homelander!"
The eye of the Stormfront.
Chen Mo looked down at the Homelander, who had completely lost the ability to resist, and the smile on his face gradually faded.
"Seriously, Homelander."
He raised his hand and placed it on Homelander's forehead, his palm shimmering with Blacklight. "You may be a chatterbox, but your mental state is rather worrying."
Chen Mo paused.
"But as an ingredient, no, as my final opponent, you certainly didn't disappoint me."
The Homelander's eyelids twitched, and he forced a smile.
The next second, the Blacklight tendrils tightened abruptly.
A flood of memories poured into Chen Mo's mind along the viral network.
A cold laboratory, glaring white lights.
Behind the transparent observation window, rows of expressionless faces.
The young boy stood in the center of the room, his body covered in testing lines, with no toys and no hugs.
"Testing strength."
"Test heat resistance."
"Record emotional fluctuations."
"Continue."
Time and time again.
Data, reports, injections, observations.
The scene before Chen Mo's eyes flashed, and he saw the Homelander standing in front of the camera, smiling.
Applause erupted like a tidal wave.
He stood under the lights, shouted by thousands, and followed by countless cameras, but deep inside, there was always a huge void that could not be filled.
Chen Mo was silent for two seconds, then clicked his tongue.
" Homelander, don't worry, they'll all come down to keep you company."
I didn't look at those fragments of memory any further.
The Blacklight tendrils continued to work.
Homelander's body disappeared bit by bit, and terrifying, indescribable energy exploded throughout Chen Mo's body along the tentacles.
In the command center, everyone watched this scene without daring to blink.
A young officer's lips moved.
"He... he ate Homelander?"
The other person gave him a look as if he were an idiot.
"Do we really need to confirm this for you? Damn it, just issue the command already!"
On the main screen, Homelander's image completely disappeared.
Chen Mo hovered above the sea pit, his figure pausing for two seconds.
The dark red reactor on Chen Mo's chest suddenly became blindingly bright.
A violent buzzing sound emanated from his body, as if a giant engine was starting up within his flesh and blood.
Golden patterns quickly appeared on the surface of the black and red armor.
Those lines spread wildly along the shoulders, arms, and wings.
But soon, a deeper, darker red color surged from deep within the armor.
They surged up like a tide, swallowing the golden patterns inch by inch and pressing them back into Chen Mo's own power system.
Chen Mo tilted his head back, slowly exhaled, and let out a satisfied sigh.
"This was an absolutely perfect meal, I'm full."
He could clearly feel that there was always an invisible membrane separating him from the world.
No matter how much he evolved before, he was only getting closer to that membrane.
And now.
The membrane broke.
Power surged from the deepest part of his body; bones, flesh, armor, and energy were all recombining at an absurdly rapid pace.
"Uh, sir, that energy reading is rising again!"
The technician stared at the screen as the energy readings surged wildly again, then, after jumping several times, turned into a jumble of red text.
The commander watched the figure slowly rising into the air on the screen, his Adam's apple bobbing.
Even though they were dozens of nautical miles apart, and even through drone footage, he still had an absurd illusion.
That thing seemed to be watching them.
In the drone footage, the metal wings on Chen Mo's back were fully deployed.
"All units are on Level 1 combat readiness."
The commander finally spoke, his voice low, "Air formations, do not approach the target's center. Maintain distance and await further orders."
The adjutant was taken aback.
"Sir, what if he heads towards the fleet?"
The commander glanced at him.
"Then you'd better pray he's just passing by."
These words silenced the command room even more.
But by the time the order was sent out, it was already a little too late.
Several armed helicopters were circling at low altitude on the outskirts, and the pilots had obviously also seen that godlike and demonic figure.
"Target launched."
"Repeat, target is taking off."
"My God, he's looking over here."
Chen Mo did indeed look over there.
His senses were heightened once again after devouring the Homelander; the sound of helicopter rotors cutting through the air several kilometers away was as clear to him as someone drilling right next to his ear.
It's a bit noisy.
Chen Mo frowned slightly, and the reactor in his chest vibrated gently.
The next second, a dark red energy Shockwave spread out from him.
The sea surface was pressed into a huge circular depression, and the airflow, carrying seawater, rolled outwards. Several armed helicopters at the forefront were hit by the Shockwave, and their fuselages instantly went out of control.
"Holy crap! Push it up, quick! Push it up!"
"The aircraft is out of control, I've lost control."
"Then jump quickly!"
Several dark shapes crashed erratically into the sea, creating large splashes of water, while several parachutes appeared in the air.
Chen Mo didn't even glance at it, he just stretched his shoulders.
"It's much quieter now."
In the command center, everyone watched as the helicopter signals disappeared one by one, a cold sweat breaking out on their backs.
It's not that we didn't try, but the enemy is a Gundam!
The commander paused for a few seconds, then picked up the communicator.
"All units prepare to evacuate. Repeat, prepare to evacuate."
"Sir, orders from above are to confirm Homelander's fate."
The commander stared at the dark red figure on the screen, a twitch at the corner of his mouth.
"Then tell them that Homelander is dead, and confirmation is no longer needed."
The adjutant opened his mouth, then finally nodded.
Above the ruins of Carnival Island, Chen Mo slowly closed his eyes.
Homelander's flight, Heat Vision, super senses, and enhanced physical structure are being dismantled piece by piece by the Blacklight Virus, and then stuffed into its mouth one by one.
Chen Mo licked his lips, a hint of lingering satisfaction on his face.
"What a pity, there's only one. Oh, and there's a small one too? Never mind, people can't, and shouldn't."
He looked down at the churning seawater.
The once bustling Carnival Island is gone, and so are the Homelander. All that remains are wreckage pulverized by energy and a few warships in the process of evacuation.
To be honest, after a proper meal, one should take a break.
Chen Mo reached out and took out his phone.
When the screen lit up, the signal was intermittent, and it took several seconds to reconnect.
He dialed Edgar's number.
The call was answered quickly.
"Gentlemen."
Edgar's voice remained as calm as ever, as if he hadn't just been targeted by the military.
Chen Mo looked at the fleet in the distance, his tone languid.
" The Homelander have finished eating. It tasted good, but the aftereffects were a bit strong."
There was a pause on the other end of the phone.
"Congratulations on completing your evolution, sir. Vought has prepared a follow-up public relations plan. Shall we activate it immediately?"
"Nobody knows we're in cahoots, so why are you in such a hurry to come out?"
Edgar continued, "Sir, they'll find out sooner or later."
Chen Mo twisted his neck.
"So you think you can twist the thigh of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council with your little arms? Never mind that, I'm going to find a place to sleep and digest."
Edgar immediately responded.
"Understood. I will arrange the safe zone and do my best to handle the Carnival Island incident."
"Safe zone? Uh, never mind, whatever you want. And one more thing."
Chen Mo looked up at the higher clouds, his wings fluttered slightly, and he instantly took off.
"Prepare some new ingredients for me."
Edgar's tone remained completely unchanged.
Do you have any new requirements regarding food ingredient standards?
Chen Mo thought for a moment, then chuckled.
" Homelander's caliber are definitely hard to find."
As he spoke, his figure disappeared into the clouds, leaving a faint afterimage in the dark red light on the horizon.
"But you should prepare the large set meals and the novelties first."