Commander Walter Mai of the United States Seventh Fleet.
At this time, he would usually be in his comfortable room, cuddled up with a twenty-something Japanese girl, discussing the philosophy of life.
Today, a phone call had him hastily leave the beauty by his side and rush to the command center at headquarters.
Fortunately, to ensure that his pleasures didn't interfere with his work, he didn't entertain women outside but had set up his pleasure quarters within the office area.
Should anything arise, Walter could reach the command center in the shortest possible time.
Apart from him, the senior officers of the Seventh Fleet had gathered around the large rectangular table.
"Commander Walter."
"Skip the formalities. Get the satellite feed up."
"Yes, sir."
The previously dark screen quickly lit up, displaying images captured by a military satellite and transmitted directly here.
It was the area outside Biological Research Lab 47.
"FARK."
A rare expression of shock crossed Walter's face. He knew about the existence of Superpower Users from reports and was also aware of Dio.
But all that knowledge had come from paper; witnessing it firsthand was far more impactful.
He gazed at the enormous figure on the screen, feeling as if he were in a movie theater watching a disaster film featuring a colossal monster like Godzilla.
Is this a Superpower User? It's practically a monster!
Walter silently commented, his eyes glued to the screen. The military satellite was far from the ground, yet it provided crystal-clear images.
Its surface shimmered with a glossy sheen, unmistakably diamond.
Its arms and facial contours still vaguely hinted at its former human appearance.
Truth be told, while many man-made structures were taller, none could inspire such awe as the giant before them.
Because this was a human—no, a Superpower User.
Suddenly, Walter understood his superiors. Setting aside immortality, the military combat capabilities of a Superpower User were incredibly formidable.
Simply by tearing a rock from a mountainside, they could unleash destruction more terrifying than an artillery shell, at speeds exceeding sound.
If they could be the first to control Superpower Users, they would have the strength to initiate a third world war and obliterate the two great powers that could oppose them.
Walter wanted to make his mark in history.
"Commander Walter, shall we send fighters to probe its capabilities?"
"We have no orders from above. We'll observe and wait."
Walter was curious whether their target could withstand aerial bombardment, but what distinguished him from his predecessor was his strict adherence to orders from The White House.
Without an order from above, Walter would not act unilaterally.
As for the people at Biological Research Lab 47, it seemed they were beyond saving.
Watching the Godzilla-like colossal figure approach Biological Research Lab 47, all he could do was offer a mental apology.
「...」
Aozawa took a step forward.
A single, light step carried him tens of meters to the gate, the impact of his footfall causing the previously intact road to collapse.
The surrounding wall, as fragile as a sandcastle, crumbled under the impact. Rings of shockwaves rippled outward, whipping up dust that threatened to snap the trees.
Aozawa carefully moved a bit further inside. All the ornamental trees snapped. The fierce wind, like a tangible slash, shattered the windows of Biological Research Lab 47, eliciting cries of alarm from the researchers within.
"Ah!"
"God, please save me!"
The religious among them began to pray devoutly, hoping for salvation from the Almighty Father.
Aozawa crouched down. A deafening sonic BOOM erupted. The remaining windowpanes instantly shattered, and the frames groaned and twisted.
BOOM! The gale blasted through the glassless windows into the room, scattering everything on the lab tables.
Many items fell to the floor; some broke, while others, more robust, remained intact.
Scream after scream echoed, brief and terrifying, frightening the lab personnel into clinging to each other, hoping this act might offer some small measure of safety.
"I can't take it anymore, Louise! We're all going to die! Please, let me have a go! I don't want to die a virgin!"
A man from Research Lab 16 pleaded with the only woman present, hoping she would fulfill his dying wish.
Normally, Louise would have given him a swift slap for such a request, but on the brink of death, she chose to comply.
"Wet it with your own saliva."
"Thank you!"
The middle-aged man was overjoyed and quickly unfastened his pants; he did not want to die a virgin.
"Ah, this is what a woman is!"
In less than ten seconds, he found release and immediately wanted more.
At that moment, BANG! The laboratory door was blown open, and a monstrous torrent of blood poured in. Louise recognized one of the heads bobbing in the gruesome tide, but in the next second, the wind shredded it.
The raging winds swiftly swept up the three researchers present, sparing only the person tied up on the platform.
The roaring sound of the wind buffeted the person bound on the platform. He shivered, then discovered the wind did not harm him. Instead, it sliced through his ropes, freeing him, before moving on.
Tears of joy streamed from his eyes.
Although he had given up hope of surviving when captured, if there was a chance to live, he desperately wanted it.
He quickly scrambled to his feet and ran outside.
Aozawa caught all the researchers on the lower levels in the monstrous wind. Amidst the howling gale, human bodies were no more resilient than paper, twisted into various grotesque shapes.
Reaching the back door, he squeezed out through the shattered windows, splattering flesh and blood everywhere, laying a vast crimson carpet across the backyard area.
Once stripped of the blood's stain, the wind became invisible and colorless. Aozawa slowly dissipated his massive form, returning to the semblance of a light breeze.
「...」
"Quick, let's hurry up there!" Morimoto Chiyoda shouted. It was a race against time, she knew.
Kitanotake didn't hesitate, immediately starting the van and speeding down the side road.
Before long, their vehicle could no longer proceed.
The road ahead was torn apart and debris-strewn, resembling a rugged, unrepaired mountain path.
Morimoto Chiyoda quickly opened the car door and jumped out.
Everyone else followed suit. Kitanotake even abandoned the van to run. They were racing against the U.S. Forces Japan, needing to copy the Z Drug data to a USB drive under the guise of investigating Dio before the American troops arrived.
Aozawa had covered this distance in just two strides.
But for Morimoto Chiyoda, of normal human stature, this path was by no means short, nor was it easy to traverse.
Upturned concrete fragments littered the way, among them sharp shards and smooth stones; the slightest misstep could easily lead to a twisted ankle.
Luckily, she was as agile as a monkey and had no trouble.
Iwaki Kususuke, however, couldn't keep up. His physical fitness was below average. After falling once, he dared not continue running and slowed to a walk.
Watching Morimoto Chiyoda and the others recede into the distance, Everyone has their specialty, he could only reassure himself.
「...」
Morimoto Chiyoda was the first to burst into the research facility, quickly running to the room designated Biology Research Lab 8.
The door, buckled and lying on the ground, bore fine, fragmented cracks. There were no bodies at the scene—only shattered window glass and some test tubes on the floor that hadn't broken.
The equipment seemed to be running normally. Morimoto Chiyoda eyed the lit computer screen and immediately plugged in the USB drive. A series of images flashed across the screen before it settled on the data download interface.
Ten percent, twenty percent... When it reached eighty percent, she heard a loud RUMBLE from above.
A bead of cold sweat appeared on Morimoto Chiyoda's forehead. Come on, faster! she silently urged in her mind.
BEEP. The USB drive's green light illuminated, and the computer screen returned to its previous state.
Morimoto Chiyoda quickly unplugged it and tucked it into her ponytail.
She exhaled and walked out composedly. How would she handle the imminent questioning from U.S. Forces Japan? she wondered.
Those brash fellows weren't as easy to fool as the Metropolitan Police Department officers; not even the prestige of the CIA was necessarily enough to intimidate them.
The thunderous sound ceased.
The U.S. Army was approaching; she didn't need to go outside to know that.
She pretended to continue searching for Dio's whereabouts, though there wasn't much to find; not a drop of blood remained at the scene.
The bodies seemed to have vanished into thin air, likely obliterated in an explosion, she mused, just as she heard Kitanotake shout.
Morimoto Chiyoda hurriedly ran over. "What happened?"
"Look at this!" Kitanotake gestured outside.
Morimoto Chiyoda directed her gaze through the shattered window and saw a sea of blood. Floating on its surface were human organs—hearts, livers, kidneys, and more.
The organs with distinct features hadn't been shredded.
"It truly is a scene from Hell," Morimoto Chiyoda murmured, the air still thick with the sickeningly sweet smell of blood.
The heavy THUD-THUD-THUD of footsteps sounded as a column of U.S. Army soldiers, deployed from transport aircraft, quickly stormed in.
They shouted loudly, began fanning out in teams to search the scene, while one group swiftly advanced, surrounding the four people at the end of the corridor, their guns aimed.
"Don't move! Who are you?"
Morimoto Chiyoda tilted her head. "We're a special CIA unit assigned to monitor Dio."
"We don't care if you're CIA. This base is under our jurisdiction. I suspect you of illegally stealing confidential information from this facility. You'll all be searched!"
The man's face was cold. If he didn't search them and some secret was leaked, he would be the one responsible, he knew.
"Isn't that a bit rude, especially towards a lady?"
"This is an emergency. It can't be helped," the man answered indifferently. He wasn't one to start trouble, but he also wouldn't back down. He wouldn't offer any special treatment to a lady.