7. The Terrifying Abyss

“Lost for three days and finally found your way here?”

As Qi Ming stepped into the Victory Team’s command room, Yamanaka couldn’t help but sneer sarcastically.

Qi Ming responded with calm elegance, “If you’re tired of living, you could use a rope to test the tensile limit of your cervical spine on a beam. That would at least contribute to medical science.”

“What did you say!” Yamanaka and Kishida both stood up.

Seated around the round conference table, Saijo Nagi furrowed her brow, thinking this guy really was as troublesome as Yamanaka had said.

Emi looked completely overwhelmed, as if drowning—what was with this intense confrontation?

“Enough with the bickering. Emi, what’s going on?” Danzou Moroboshi asked.

Emi replied, “Residents near Mist-Spray Mountain reported hearing what sounded like monster roars and want us to investigate. At the same time, two college students have gone missing there.”

Danzou nodded. “Very well. Saijo, Yamanaka, Kishida, Qi Ming, you’re to head out and investigate Mist-Spray Mountain.”

“Do we really need to deploy the Victory Team for something so uncertain?” Yamanaka glanced at Qi Ming, clearly reluctant to be stuck with such an irritating fellow.

“If there are doubts, we must investigate thoroughly. That is our duty,” Saijo Nagi stood, commanding, “Prepare to depart.”

“Isn’t Emi going with us?” Qi Ming asked.

Being the only normal one seemed like a form of workplace bullying.

Emi, who had been quietly observing Qi Ming with sidelong glances, let out a surprised “Eh?”

Danzou Moroboshi explained, “Emi has excellent driving skills, but she usually stays at base for information analysis and supports frontline personnel.”

Kishida, who held a grudge against Qi Ming, didn’t miss the chance to mock him: “See? Even a girl has more ability than you.”

Emi hastily waved her hands. “No, no, Qi Ming just joined the team. Once he trains a bit more, he’ll catch up quickly.”

Fearing more quarrels, Danzou quickly said, “No time to waste. Let’s go.”

…

The yellow Swift One sliced through the stratosphere. Sitting in the back, Qi Ming listened to the sharp whine of the wings cutting the air, eyes fixed on Saijo Nagi’s hands pulling the control stick.

Noticing his gaze, Saijo asked, “Do you really think you can learn this just by watching?”

Qi Ming casually replied, “Just watching for fun, it doesn’t seem as hard as I imagined.”

From a young age, he had demonstrated extraordinary memory and insight, easily mastering complex concepts and learning by analogy, which earned him mentorship from many masters.

But Saijo only thought he was boasting and said coldly, “Stop being so conceited. Do you really believe the flattery from those girls who only want your looks?”

“Be grounded and train seriously. Don’t disappoint the captain’s expectations.”

Qi Ming countered, “You’ve only just met me. On what basis do you think I lack the ability?”

Saijo was speechless and ceased trying to “save” this stubborn, informal talker during the journey.

Soon, the Swift One piloted by Saijo Nagi landed on the flat foothills of Mist-Spray Mountain, with another Swift One driven by Kishida and Yamanaka following closely.

After leaving the cockpit, Qi Ming looked up at Mist-Spray Mountain. Thick fog blocked his view.

Pine winds swept over the mountain, mingling with eerie cries of unknown creatures, sounding like ghostly wails—deeply unsettling.

“There’s strong electromagnetic interference,” Kishida frowned, noting such conditions would severely disrupt instrument use.

The four shouldered their heavy climbing gear and began the ascent.

“Move quickly. This is a high-risk accident zone,” Saijo Nagi reminded. Despite disliking Qi Ming’s arrogance, as deputy leader, it was her duty to watch over newcomers.

“Understood.” Qi Ming climbed, recalling clues about Mist-Spray Mountain.

“High accident area… Is it true there’s a dragon living here that preys on hikers?”

At base, Emi had quickly checked records and replied over the comms, “Yes, that legend exists.”

Her voice crackled through the interference of the magnetic fog.

Qi Ming nodded, recognizing Mist-Spray Mountain as the habitat of the two fierce monsters Sadra and Taiton, featured in Jack’s third episode, “The Terrifying Monster Realm.”

These two aggressive beasts fought whenever they met and ruthlessly attacked intruders.

“Be careful. There really are monsters here; the missing hikers were likely killed by them,” Qi Ming cautioned.

Kishida retorted, “Don’t jump to conclusions. No signs of monster activity have been found. You’re an amateur when it comes to monsters.”

Qi Ming stopped. Suddenly, he heard a strange roar from beneath the earth.

“I heard it — a monster’s call.”

Kishida listened intently but said, “I hear nothing.”

Yamanaka also denied hearing anything. “You’re just being paranoid. That report must’ve been the same. There’s no monster here.”

Qi Ming said nothing more, ready to let facts speak later.

But after hours of searching, no monster traces appeared.

The magnetic fog rendered instruments useless, and even sight was blocked by thick mist, making the search inefficient.

The burden of the climb wore down all but Qi Ming, slowing their pace.

“Does this guy never get tired?” Yamanaka, at the rear, gasped, watching Qi Ming pause at the front, waiting for them.

“Looks like the captain had some reason to recruit him—at least he’s got some strength,” Kishida admitted, noting Qi Ming’s ease wasn’t an act.

“I’ll help carry your pack,” Qi Ming offered to Saijo Nagi.

“No need.” Proud, Saijo coldly declined and gritted her teeth to push forward.

Yamanaka laughed, “Wrong target for your kindness; the deputy leader’s not buying it.”

Qi Ming thought: even as a temporary team, helping each other isn’t just flattering. Only Yamanaka could twist things like that.

“Though we have locators, it’s no good if we get lost,” Kishida said. “I don’t want to go any further; this feels pointless.”

Qi Ming agreed. “Rather than searching for monsters, it’s better to make some noise here and let them come to us.”

Seeing the others near exhaustion, he suggested this.

Yamanaka, unaware of Qi Ming’s intention to spare their faces, shook his head, sighing, “Daydreaming again.”

At that moment, Emi’s voice crackled through the comms: “Everyone, villagers in the valley below have spotted a white-furred creature resembling a yeti. Please proceed quickly.”

White fur, like a yeti—these traits were far from Sadra and Taiton. Qi Ming believed these monsters were not the ones descending the mountain.

Kishida said, “Finally, no more wasting time here. Deputy leader, let’s retreat.”

Qi Ming asked, “What about the two missing students?”

Saijo replied, “A professional rescue team will be dispatched. Our job is to deal with monsters.”

Rescue teams going into such places often end up trapped themselves.

Qi Ming didn’t want to give up halfway. “Then we split up. You handle the monster in the valley; I’ll take care of the one in the mountains.”

Kishida was furious. “Stop being stubborn. There’s no monster here!”

Yamanaka suspected, “Are you just scared to face the real monster, so you’re making excuses to stay here?”

Saijo was blunt: “Follow orders!”

Qi Ming was even more direct: “I refuse.”

His blunt statement stunned everyone, including Emi and Danzou listening via comms.

Yamanaka shouted, “Disobeying orders on the battlefield, refusing commands—you bastard, do you want to take off the Victory Team uniform?”

Can one quit the team after insubordination? Qi Ming smiled brightly, “Deal. Double celebration!”