Chapter 5: Truth and Upheaval

Oboro successfully infiltrated the Truth Association.

Although the leader with dark circles under his eyes, known as "Justice," remained suspicious of Oboro, he hesitated to confront him outright, especially considering Oboro had previously revealed that a certain "master" was behind his actions.

Thus, Oboro got to know the other temporary members and learned the detailed circumstances surrounding their so-called "debut."

Zhou Yan, through his synchronized connection with Locust, naturally became aware of everything, including the abilities of several members of the Truth Association.

The president, "Justice," after being infected, gained the ability to manipulate machinery within a certain range and to a certain extent. He demonstrated this simply: objects like mobile phones linked by his black tendrils could be operated remotely. In combat, he connected over a dozen handguns with numerous black threads, causing them to hover and fire simultaneously.

Zhou Yan suspected that Justice was hiding something. If his ability were fully developed, its power would likely surpass what he had shown.

The female member "Ripple" could transform her entire body into a transparent black liquid, exhibiting the typical properties of water. As long as she remained in liquid form, she claimed to be immortal and indestructible. However, Zhou Yan observed that this so-called immortality was probably not as absolute as she professed.

The male member "Drunkard" possessed formidable physical strength and reflexes when intoxicated. The more inebriated he became, the stronger these enhancements grew. However, if he drank to the point of frenzy, he would lose all distinction between friend and foe, attacking indiscriminately while instinctively searching for more alcohol. Without intervention, he would spiral out of control, turning into a monstrous being driven purely by desire.

The new member "Archer" Qi Yu's ability Zhou Yan had already witnessed: he could materialize his own desires into bullets and fire them. These projectiles not only surpassed ordinary firearms in destructive power but also inflicted additional damage on desire-driven monsters. Justice regarded him as the lethal ace of their team—the trump card to seal the deal.

As a temporary recruit, Oboro demonstrated to them that after donning secondary life gear, his physical capabilities were greatly enhanced to the point of even surpassing Drunkard’s. In addition, he wielded the Lotus Calamity Sword, which could ignite black flames.

Such overwhelming combat power, despite lingering doubts, pleased Justice enough to grant Oboro a fitting title: "Swordmaster."

In this way, the group spent a full day discussing and completing their preparations.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yan stayed at a café on the ground floor of the same building, spending the day gathering all relevant details.

Time passed swiftly.

*

The following morning.

The early news broadcast for all households in Desire City suddenly switched to an unusual scene.

On screen appeared a young man with pronounced dark circles wearing a mask emblazoned with the word “Truth.” He raised his hand in greeting to the camera.

“Good morning, citizens.”

“I am ‘Justice,’ president and spokesperson of the new organization, the Truth Association.”

“Today, I take your time to reveal the truth behind the recent incidents of injury and death.”

Inside the television station building in Desire City.

From beneath Justice’s desk, several black tendrils extended from his pant legs, connecting to the station’s internal wiring. They streamed footage Justice had recently collected through various cameras—images showing desire-driven monsters rampaging and slaughtering civilians—broadcasting them simultaneously to every television set in every household throughout Desire City.

Moreover, facing him, Ripple operated a live-streaming setup, relaying his speech and related footage across numerous online platforms.

Justice’s gaze was calm as he narrated the truths the authorities had concealed, accompanying the horrifying scenes.

“Since countless black insect pupae descended over Desire City a month ago, many citizens have unknowingly been infected.”

“These black pupae develop by absorbing their host’s desires. When they mature and break out as butterflies, the human hosts lose control and rampage, becoming distorted monsters of desire—Desirefiends.”

“By controlling one’s own desires and not letting them dominate, one can suppress the growth of the pupae.”

“This is the truth behind the explosion at the Universal Mall. This is the truth behind the East Victory Elementary School attack. This is the truth behind the amusement park accident.”

As Justice played one piece of footage after another—images ordinary citizens would never have seen—on television and live streams, it stirred fervent reactions among both residents and netizens.

His live streams on major platforms were rapidly banned.

Yet the television station in Desire City had already been seized by the Truth Association, and with the covert aid of the mysterious group known as the “Pontiff,” Justice’s broadcasts and the terrifying, bloody images continued unfalteringly on the city’s news channel.

Finally, Justice called the other masked members to stand before the camera.

He snapped his fingers, and behind him rapidly unfolded a suit of technologically advanced metal armor that encased him like Iron Man.

Ripple transformed into a humanoid figure of black water, swirling numerous whirlpools with her hands.

Drunkard grabbed a bottle of liquor, shoved it into the open mask, and guzzled deeply. Suddenly, his upper body swelled violently, tearing his clothes to reveal blackened, steel-like muscles beneath.

Oboro drew the Lotus Calamity Sword, from which black miasmic flames surged.

Qi Yu’s right hand was enveloped in black matter; the palm, wide open, revealed a strange glowing void aimed directly at the camera.

Justice’s final words sounded:

“Given the federal government’s deliberate concealment of the truth, allowing Desirefiend rampages to erupt unchecked—”

“The Truth Association pledges to become the first public emergency response organization dedicated to Desirefiend hazard incidents, providing timely aid to citizens and reducing harm caused by Desirefiend outbreaks.”

“Today at noon, the Truth Association will officially debut in the Civic Plaza. Those wishing to join or learn the truth, I await your support.”

Before his speech concluded, Qi Yu’s right palm burst with dazzling light.

With a thunderous explosion, the camera shattered.

The broadcast immediately went black.

Two seconds later, two lines of text appeared on the dark screen:

{Today at 12:00 noon sharp, be there or be square}

{Debut location: Desire City Civic Plaza}

This message lingered for nearly half an hour until the belated federal police arrived and cut the transmission.

By then, the Truth Association had already withdrawn.

And the entire citizenry of Desire City was thrown into an uproar.

*

Zhou Yan withdrew his gaze from the television, shaking his head gently.

These people certainly had guts.

From this, he deduced that although the country where Desire City lay had many inhabitants resembling East Asian peoples of Earth, it was unlikely to be a nation like his homeland.

It seemed more akin to a Western or Japanese-like country.

Turning to observe the other citizens in the store, all agitated and riled up, he stood up and stepped outside.

The streets outside were filled with emotionally charged individuals running about, spreading word.

A faint smile tugged at his lips.

Thanks to “Justice” and his stunt, the midday event at the Civic Plaza would probably qualify as the “major incident” his mission required.

At the same time, countless people around Desire City watched the television thoughtfully.

In a certain skyscraper, the Pontiff chuckled softly, tapping his fingers on the desk.

“How shallow their understanding is... Justice, desire cannot be controlled. The more you suppress it, the more it will recoil like a compressed spring.”

“Only by accepting and satisfying desire can one find peace.”

“I eagerly await the forthcoming grand spectacle. By then, I wonder if ‘Justice’ you will remain as composed as you claim.”

Before him stood four subordinates, each having lost their full human form, bearing varying degrees of visible mutation.

*

Hours passed swiftly.

Before noon, the Civic Plaza in Desire City was already packed with tens of thousands of citizens.

Most had come merely to witness the spectacle.

Yet there was no shortage of those inflamed by “Truth,” displaying fierce indignation.

Among the crowd, some held banners and flags inscribed with slogans like “Return Our Truth,” “Protest,” and “We Demand Answers.”

Younger groups waved flags, chanting “Long Live the Truth Association,” “The Hero Team is Our Savior,” and similar cries.

The scene was chaotic.

Surrounding the plaza were police cars and uniformed officers equipped with riot gear.

Plainclothes officers blended into the crowd vigilantly, ready to apprehend the terrorists responsible for this mass incident.

Federal officials, guarded by police, used megaphones to urge calm among the agitated masses, promising swift explanations from the government.

Amid this intense atmosphere, the high-pitched whir of helicopter blades sounded.

A uniquely designed helicopter swiftly approached and hovered over the plaza.

Someone opened the door and leaned out.

The plaza’s giant screen abruptly switched from advertisements to the live helicopter feed, showing Justice’s face.

His hair whipped wildly in the strong wind; after removing his mask, his somewhat handsome face remained calm as he spoke softly to the camera.

“Citizens, thank you for your arrival and support.”

The tens of thousands below erupted into loud roars—some enthusiastic cheers, others harsh jeers accusing them of spectacle-seeking, and some demanding the truth.

Justice listened calmly, then reached into the helicopter and pulled out a massive, terrifying Desirefiend bound in steel chains.

He tossed the monstrous figure out.

Gasps echoed as the huge Desirefiend, seemingly about to crash down, suddenly halted midair, suspended by chains from the helicopter.

Cameras focused on it, broadcasting its grotesque form on the plaza’s giant screen, stirring a loud uproar.

“This is a Desirefiend in a rampage state! One of the truths the federal government has long concealed from us!”

Justice’s voice rang out confidently:

“Observe carefully, then judge for yourselves what is the real truth.”

No sooner had he finished than chaos erupted.

The suspended Desirefiend, wailing, rapidly swelled in size.

Then, before the horrified crowd, it exploded into a cloud of dust!

Boom!

Black powder scattered with the wind, quickly descending upon the entire plaza.

In the next moment, at least one-third of the tens of thousands of citizens screamed sharply, collapsed in agony, writhing on the ground.

Within seconds, they transformed into horrific monsters of various forms.

They lunged violently amidst screams.

The entire plaza instantly turned into a hellscape.

Above in the helicopter, Justice’s expression became blank.

Somewhere in a skyscraper, the Pontiff, wearing a bowler hat, watched the video with delight, tapping his fingers on the desk, laughing more merrily.

*

Meanwhile, Zhou Yan stood atop a tall building overlooking the plaza.

“This is just the appetizer.”

“The ones hiding behind the scenes should reveal themselves in this incident.”

He thought silently, shifting his gaze beyond the chaos toward the surrounding areas.

***

Chapter Two delivered, today’s 8,000-character update goal achieved!