The Fortress: Command Center.
After finalizing his breakthrough, Steve entered the command hub and gave Randy a brief nod.
"Randy, I've stabilized at the Fourth-Order. I'll leave the logistics here and in the Zombie World to you for now. The search for the new anchors should be complete in twenty-four hours. Once the gates are live, I'll return."
Randy looked at Steve, whose presence now felt as vast and unfathomable as the deep ocean, and felt a surge of pride. "Go on, then. Get some rest. We have the watch."
"I'm off." Steve waved, then joined Fred—who had been waiting faithfully—to head back to his family home.
Randy was about to speak with Sovereign Wu when an intelligence officer hurried over, his face pale with tension. "Report, sir! Urgent intel: Sleeper agents from every major agency on the planet are flooding into the capital. Their satellite arrays and ground assets are all locked onto the Fortress."
"Oh? It seems the sharks have scented blood," Randy sneered, a murderous glint flickering in his eyes. "If they want to see what's inside so badly, let them come. We'll make sure they never leave."
He turned to his adjutant. "Set the base to Level 1 Alert. Full-spectrum radar sweeps and life-sign detectors active at all times. Any unauthorized personnel attempting to breach the three-kilometer perimeter are to be neutralized on sight. No warnings. No exceptions."
"Yes, sir!"
After setting the defenses, Randy hesitated, then sent a secure message to Steve. Steve, there are too many flies buzzing around the perimeter lately. For safety, bring your parents and Stefanie to the base dorms. I'd sleep better knowing they're behind our walls.
The Villa.
Steve read the message and gave a slow, deliberate nod. Although the bodyguards protecting his family were elites enhanced by the serum, they were still human. Against the world's top-tier shadow operatives, even a one-percent margin of error was too high.
"Dad, Mom." Steve set his phone down, his expression grave. "The situation outside is getting complicated. My work has attracted some international... attention. For your safety, I want you to stay at a base with me for a while. Once we've swatted these flies, we'll come home."
Stephen and Nicole exchanged a worried glance, but their trust in their son was absolute.
"We understand," Stephen said firmly. "We won't be a burden. Lead the way."
"What about Stefanie?" Nicole asked.
"I'll pick her up from school myself," Steve said. "Fred is waiting outside to escort you. Go ahead."
Soon, a reinforced, black-tinted sedan arrived and whisked the elders straight to the heart of the military zone.
High School
School had just let out, and students were pouring through the gates like a tide. Stefanie, her backpack slung over one shoulder, spotted a familiar car idling at the curb. The window slid down, revealing Steve's face.
"Big bro? You're picking me up?" Stefanie ran over, eyes bright, and slid into the passenger seat.
"Things are a bit messy right now," Steve explained as he pulled into traffic. "Our neighborhood is likely under surveillance. Going to school every day is too high a risk, so I've arranged for an indefinite leave. You'll be staying with us at the base."
"Really?!" Instead of being scared, Stefanie's eyes danced with excitement. "I actually get to see the inside of the Fortress you told me about?"
"You little troublemaker," Steve chuckled, ruffling her hair.
The car passed through three layers of heavy security, including biometric scans and undercarriage sweeps, before entering the base. Stefanie pressed her face to the glass, mesmerized by the rows of power-armored soldiers and the futuristic architecture. When she reached the family dormitory and saw her parents safe, she finally relaxed.
That evening, as they walked to the cafeteria, every soldier and scientist they passed stopped to salute Steve with profound respect. "Director Steve, sir!"
The sight filled Stephen and Nicole with a quiet, overwhelming pride. Their son wasn't just a soldier; he was a big shot.
Late Night.
Steve lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Just as he began to drift off, the mechanical voice of the system chimed in his mind.
[Ding! Planar Search Completed.]
[Would you like to view the world data?]
Steve sat up instantly. "Display."
Two holographic panes unfolded across his vision.
[World One: The High Fantasy Plane] A fractured world ruled by supernatural predators. Werewolves howl under the moon, vampires feast on human cattle, and ancient dragons plunder with impunity. While the 'Church of Light' and 'Church of Darkness' manipulate the masses in the name of false gods, humanity sits at the bottom of the food chain—sheep for the slaughter, living in a cycle of endless terror.
[Final Quest: Unify the Plane.] Overthrow the non-human regimes and the corrupt churches. Establish a new order under the banner of the Fortress until the human population follows you unto death.
"Unification and faith-gathering," Steve mused. "In a world like that, whoever brings bread and slays the monsters is a god. Faith is the cheapest currency there—if you have the steel to back it up."
He turned to the second pane.
[World Two: The Anomalous Plane] A world of despair shrouded by twisted, illogical rules. Eldritch entities have descended, caring nothing for morality—only their own warped taboos. Humanity survives on the brink; one misstep, like entering a room with the wrong foot, triggers a gruesome, inevitable death. There is no hope here, only madness. Someone must become the dawn that tears through the fog.
[Final Quest: Unify the Plane.] End the Age of Anomalies and reconstruct a logical world order.
[SPECIAL WARNING: This world involves severe mental contamination. Personnel below Fourth-Order mental strength are advised to limit their exposure.]
"Rule-based horror..." Steve's brow furrowed.
This would be far more difficult than the mindless zombies. With zombies, you speak the language of physics. With anomalies, you have to navigate a labyrinth of lethal logic. The mental-strength warning meant his rank-and-file soldiers couldn't even set foot there. This was a mission for the elites.