The Frenzied Savior - Chapter 10

That was a “Lurker Mine,” a time bomb developed by the mechanical lifeforms of the A48 galaxy! It utilized high-end biometric and tracking systems. Once it locked onto a lifeform, that target could never escape its tracking range until they were blown to bits.

Fu Qingya stared at the purple light on the black pillar, confirming it had been activated. The targets were clearly the hundred or so teachers and students surrounding him.

Looking at the oblivious crowd and the glowing purple light, Fu Qingya suddenly remembered a catastrophic tragedy from the past.

In the first year of the Star Calendar, the A48 galaxy had quietly dropped several Lurker Mines onto Earth. These mines landed all over the world, disguised as ordinary buildings. They locked onto countless humans passing by, waiting until a target was in the middle of a large crowd before quietly infiltrating the area and initiating their self-detonation protocols.

Millions of humans died in those blasts. It sent shockwaves through a world that had only just discovered the alien invasion, sparking widespread panic and chaos.

Once the details of the massacre went public, people on Earth became terrified of even looking at a black pillar, living in constant fear that they would be the next victims.

According to the normal timeline of history, these things weren’t supposed to arrive on Earth for another year and a half. But now, one had appeared silently right before Fu Qingya’s eyes.

Changes in history always brought a ripple effect, and Fu Qingya wasn’t surprised. What troubled him now was how to dispose of this Lurker Mine without causing a mass panic, and how to find the other mines that were likely lurking elsewhere.

“Student Fu, why aren’t you coming inside to sit down?”

The principal, who had been happily watching the exchange students mingle with the Student Council, noticed the young man the “Old Fox” had praised wasn’t in the thick of it. He looked around and finally spotted Fu Qingya standing at the very back of the classroom, staring at a strange black stump.

“Everyone is eating and drinking, you should go join the fun. The whole point of this event was to welcome you, so don’t be shy,” the principal said.

“I’m thinking about how to dismantle this bomb,” Fu Qingya interrupted his warm, friendly chatter. He unbuttoned his cuffs and rolled up his sleeves.

With a flash of silver, a sharp, translucent scalpel appeared between Fu Qingya’s fingers. He quickly adjusted his grip, letting it rest in his palm.

The smile on the principal’s face froze instantly.

Why is Fu Qingya carrying a weapon? Doesn’t his school have rules against this? And why is he pulling it out now? Is he planning to bully someone?

Wait! What did he just say? A bomb? This is a school! A strictly guarded school! We don’t even have a knife in here, where would a bomb come from?

Is there something wrong with this kid’s head?

The principal’s anger over the weapon wavered, replaced by a look of suspicion and confusion.

Realizing there was no way to handle this without drawing some attention, Fu Qingya began sizing up the black pillar with his scalpel. Simultaneously, he reached into his pocket with his left hand and pulled out a phone.

A… a phone?

Fu Qingya even brought a phone to school! Not only does he have a weapon, he has a phone! He’s completely neglecting his studies!

The principal struggled to maintain his composure, unable to stop the feeling of disappointment from welling up.

Fu Qingya dialed a number from memory. After a short ringtone, a deep voice answered.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Fu. How can I help you?”

Fu Qingya’s scalpel didn’t descend immediately. Instead, he wedged it at a precise angle into the seam of a dark mechanical hatch on the pillar’s surface.

“Director Luo, a state-of-the-art tracking bomb has appeared on the first floor of the No. 2 High School Science Building. If this bomb goes off, it could level the entire building.”

The principal’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.

Who is Fu Qingya talking to? Director Luo? Director of what? Where did he get a Director’s phone number?

And is there really a bomb here? A bomb that powerful? How does he know?

Despite his mountain of questions, the principal didn’t dare interrupt. Having spent many years navigating society, he sensed that something was very wrong.

His gaze darted back and forth between Fu Qingya and the black pillar, eventually locking onto the object itself.

Only then did the principal realize the thing in front of Fu Qingya wasn’t the black pillar he remembered.

The object was cylindrical, shaped like a tree stump. From a distance, it looked like painted wood, but up close, it was clearly a metallic construction. A seamless iron plate was embedded into the side of the rounded body, and strange lines were faintly visible around the edges.

The silver scalpel was wedged halfway in at a bizarre angle, exposing a complex internal network of wires that looked like a mix of human veins and explosive components. The principal even saw a set of numbers rapidly counting down.

This thing…

Could it really be a bomb?

The principal’s logic began to crumble. He was shocked that this object might actually be an explosive, and he was terrified that if what Fu Qingya said was true, they were all about to die.

His breath hitched, the realization leaving him dazed with fear. He looked up sharply at Fu Qingya.

Fu Qingya spoke into the phone, “I need you to come and help.”

He needed them to calm the crowd when the Lurker Mine started making noise, preventing a stampede.

After all, if these people started jumping around in a panic, the Lurker Mine would split apart and begin tracking them individually. If the mine scattered in all directions, it would be a nightmare to handle and could lead to a massive catastrophe.

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps and muffled shouting.

About half a minute later, the familiar voice returned.

“Please ensure your own safety, Mr. Fu. We are on our way.”

Fu Qingya acknowledged him and hung up. His eyes returned to the Lurker Mine. Without looking up, he gave the scalpel a slight pry.

Wail—

A piercing siren suddenly erupted, shocking everyone into a momentary silence. A split second later, they all whipped their heads toward the back of the classroom.

“Unless you want to die along with the rest of the school, stop them from leaving,” the principal heard Fu Qingya say in a cold voice.

The youth didn’t turn around. The translucent scalpel in his hand became a blur, sending fragments of mechanical and fleshy material scattering to the floor. Red liquid began to drip onto the ground, leaving the principal in a state of bone-chilling shock.

Realizing the weight of Fu Qingya’s words, the principal shuddered as his reason finally returned. He turned to face the bewildered teachers and students.

“Close the doors! Form a circle at the entrance! No one is allowed to leave!”

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