Lin Xiao got into the car. The soldier, without another word, started driving. As they sped towards the military base, Lin Xiao couldn't help but feel a growing sense of unease.
The red glow seemed to intensify, and he could see it reflected in the rearview mirror, giving the whole world a surreal, almost apocalyptic hue.
"Do you know what's going on?" Lin Xiao asked the soldier.
"I'm just following orders," the soldier replied, his face stoic and unreadable.
The rest of the ride was silent. When they arrived at the base, Lin Xiao saw that it was a flurry of activity.
Soldiers and scientists moved with purpose, and the air was thick with tension.
Li Jing met him at the entrance. She asked, "Do you see it too?"
Lin Xiao looked at the moon and said, "Yes."
Li Jing sighed in relief. "It seems only superpower users can see this phenomenon. We've been monitoring this since the sun started to go down."
She looked worried and whispered to Lin Xiao, "The energy coming out of it is just like that red crystal. I don't know what is happening. We called you here just in case we need to wipe the general populace's memories, because you are stronger than me in that field now."
Lin Xiao was worried as he looked at the hectic scene in the military base. Scientists were talking to other scientists in other cities, trying to determine the cause.
Li Jing said, "Follow me. There's going to be a conference from the capital city soon. I have to attend it, and you can come with me too."
They walked briskly through the base, passing rooms filled with people working frantically. Computers beeped, and screens displayed graphs and data that Lin Xiao couldn't make sense of. The atmosphere was thick with tension.
In the conference room, several high-ranking officials and scientists were already gathered. Wang Yong was there too.
A large screen on the wall showed a live feed from the capital city, where more officials were preparing for the conference.
Li Jing took her seat and motioned for Lin Xiao to sit beside her. The room quieted down as the feed from the capital came to life.
The room quieted down as the feed from the capital came to life. Five authoritative figures appeared on the screen, though their videos were off; only their voices could be heard. Li Jing whispered, "It's the heads of the four great families and the president of the Supernatural Association."
Lin Xiao quieted down, not wanting to draw the attention of these great figures just yet. Li Jing continued, "They are the heads of the Fang Family, Wang Family, Jiang Family, and Chen Family."
Lin Xiao listened attentively. Suddenly, everything quieted down, and the president of the Supernatural Association spoke.
"Good evening, everyone," the president began, his voice resonating with authority and gravity. "We are facing an unprecedented crisis. The red energy emanating from the moon is a phenomenon we have never encountered before. Our initial analyses suggest a link to the red crystals discovered recently. This energy is only visible to individuals with enhanced abilities, which raises significant concerns about its origin and purpose."
There was a brief pause before the head of the Fang Family spoke, "Our scientists have been monitoring the energy levels. The readings are increasing at an alarming rate. We need to determine the source and find a way to neutralize it."
The head of the Wang Family added, "We've identified several hotspots around the globe where the energy is most concentrated. These areas correspond with the locations of known red crystal deposits. It's clear that these crystals are somehow connected to the current phenomenon."
The head of the Jiang Family chimed in, "Our primary concern is the safety of the populace. If this energy continues to spread unchecked, it could have catastrophic effects. We need to mobilize our resources and coordinate our efforts to contain this threat."
The head of the Chen Family spoke next, "We must also consider the possibility that this is not a natural occurrence. There could be external forces at play here, and we need to be prepared for any eventuality."
Finally, the president of the Supernatural Association concluded, "We are calling on all members of the supernatural community to assist in this crisis. Our top priority is to protect the world and uncover the truth behind this red energy. We will provide updates as more information becomes available. In the meantime, continue your efforts to gather data and report any significant developments immediately."
The feed ended, and the room buzzed with conversation.
Li Jing turned to Lin Xiao, her expression serious. "I don't think you have anything to do here right now. i think the capital city will handle it, so don't worry"
Lin Xiao was spacing out because a system prompt had appeared, shocking him to his core:
[Main Quest Unlocked - Part 1 - Solve the mystery of the Red Moon - Rewards - ???]
He was startled, and when Li Jing repeated his name, he snapped out of his trance and said, "Yeah, I will go back."
He didn't mention the system prompt to Li Jing and decided to head home before his mother started worrying. As he was heading out, he saw Wang Yong approaching Li Jing with a serious expression, engaging her in a hushed conversation.
Lin Xiao left the base, his mind racing with thoughts about the quest. He boarded the bus and stared out the window, the red glow of the moon casting an eerie light on the streets. People around him seemed oblivious to the phenomenon, going about their daily lives as if nothing was amiss.
When Lin Xiao finally reached home, he found his mother in the kitchen, preparing dinner. She glanced at him and said, "You're back. Did everything go okay with your friends?"
Lin Xiao nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah, everything's fine. Just some school stuff we had to discuss."
His mother seemed satisfied with the answer and returned to her cooking. Lin Xiao headed to his room, his thoughts still preoccupied with the quest. He needed to find a way to solve the mystery of the red moon, but where to start?
Sitting on his bed, he glanced out the window at the moon, its red glow now a constant reminder of the task ahead. He took a deep breath and decided to start researching the red crystals and any known connections to supernatural phenomena.
He grabbed his laptop and went to S.A.P.I, to see what other superpower users were thinking.