Fifteen minutes later, the Mi-Xia naval fleet formed an attack formation on the ocean surface. Following their prearranged plan, they launched their assault on the Flesh Bloom several kilometers away.
Torpedoes fired from submarines streaked through the water, heading straight for the target. Moments later, they struck true—deafening explosions erupted, sending towering plumes of seawater into the air.
Though the torpedoes hit, the Flesh Bloom suffered little damage. Instead, it let out a piercing shriek. Instantly, the abyssal monsters guarding it surged toward the naval fleet a few kilometers away.
“They’re coming.”
Peering through binoculars at the dark shadows rapidly approaching underwater, a seasoned officer immediately reported to Admiral Allen Poe.
“Good. Their reaction is exactly as predicted,” Poe replied calmly. “Let them get closer, then wipe them out with the CIWS. And don’t let up on the main target—keep firing at full intensity. No breathing room for that thing.”
The officer acknowledged the order and efficiently relayed it across the fleet.
Following the command, every ship unleashed a saturation attack on the Flesh Bloom rooted in the shallow seabed. As the abyssal monsters entered range, the fleet’s close-in weapon systems (CIWS)—firing tens of thousands of rounds per minute—shredded the creatures, which lacked any supernatural defenses against heavy artillery.
Enraged by the loss of its minions and the relentless bombardment slowly eroding its barrier, the Flesh Bloom acted. It channeled abyssal energy through the blackened flesh beneath it, injecting the power into dozens of still-growing cocoons nearby.
Fueled by the dark energy, the cocoons rapidly expanded. With a series of tearing sounds, five shark-like abyssal monsters—stitched together from flesh and armored with grotesque bone plates—emerged, alongside dozens of winged, human-faced flying monsters, their jaws permanently agape.
The shark-like creatures circled briefly before darting toward the fleet at terrifying speed. Meanwhile, the flying monsters flapped their wings, riding the sea breeze as they soared into the sky, charging the human ships.
“Admiral, unidentified abyssal monsters incoming!”
The officer, seeing the new threats for the first time, couldn’t hide his unease.
“Colonel James, are you afraid?” Poe asked, noting his subordinate’s expression but remaining unfazed.
James answered truthfully, “Yes, sir. Every time new abyssal monsters appear, our men pay a heavy price before we learn how to counter their abilities.”
Poe turned to him with a reassuring smile. “Don’t be. In the past, we would’ve suffered casualties, but now? We have the Superhuman Squad. They’ll handle this.”
“Sir, why are you so confident in them?” James asked, baffled by his superior’s faith in a squad with such an… eccentric name.
Poe only grinned cryptically. “You’ll see soon enough. Relay my order: deploy the Superhuman Squad.”
“Yes, Admiral.” Suppressing his curiosity, James transmitted the command.
Meanwhile, aboard the flagship…
“Finally! Time to shove these monsters’ heads back up their moms’ asses!” A boisterous Black man in hip-hop attire and a gold chain cracked his knuckles, grinning.
“Enough trash talk. Move out.” A stoic white knight in full plate armor ignored him, donning his helmet and leading the way. The rest of the squad followed without hesitation.
“Hey, wait for me!” The hip-hop enthusiast scrambled after them.
…
Above the fleet…
The flying abyssal monsters, enduring heavy anti-air fire, reached the ships. Their bloated bellies pulsed before ejecting massive black fireballs from their gaping maws toward the decks below.
“Incoming!” A captain shouted, realizing evasion was impossible—
Then, a blinding white beam erupted from the ship’s deck, intercepting the fireball mid-air. The explosion that followed vaporized the attack, but the beam continued upward, obliterating the flying monster in a flash of light.