Chapter 1143. The Foundation

I, II, III, IV...

These individuals marked with Roman numerals were the upper echelons of the IMF, the decision makers, and the actual authority behind the international organization.

But for some unknown reason, they were different from the Foundation in the Subterranean Sea. They hadn't fused with any monstrous creatures. Neither do these surface dwellers bear any alien mutations. In addition, they didn't seem to have assimilated with any Anomaly.

Naturally, people like them were no match for Anna. Under the assault of Anna and her bloodied flesh army, the IMF management had more than half of their ranks either killed or injured.

The tide of the battlefield was moving exactly the way Anna had envisioned.

As she watched them fall one after another, a rush of vindictive satisfaction surged through her chest.

The death of the clown and the grievances and oppression she had endured all these years could finally be unleashed in full at this very moment.

"Die! All of you, die!" Anna roared.

Corrosive green flames danced in the air, reducing the fleeing enemies to ashes. Even the operation commander, Golia, was consumed by the searing tongue of fire.

Anna reveled in the taste of victory. She had always loved this feeling, and she had loved it since the moment of her creation.

Several round objects that resembled crystalline fruits were tossed into the chamber. Explosions rang out, causing a storm of arctic wind that swept through the battlefield and flash froze everyone in sight.

This was probably the IMF's contingency plan, but it did nothing to stop Anna.

Her form vibrated at a high frequency, and she easily emerged from the solid ice. She then approached an old man who had the numeral VII tattooed just below his right eye.

"So now what? Where's the almighty Foundation that is supposed to protect the IMF? Where're they? Are they not coming to save you? And to think I actually wasted time preparing for them."

"I've no idea what you're talking about. Monster, do you think killing us will—"

Blood sprayed. The old man's eyes were wide with overflowing defiance. His head spun in the air and hit the ground with a dull

thud.

Anna moved toward her next victim. He was a middle-aged man. Despite Anna's approach, his eyes bore no fear. Instead, he tried to reason with the enemy before him.

"Anna, look outside! Look at those victims! Is this really what you wanted? We've analyzed you. You once gave up summoning Fhtagnists for that child's sake. Deep in your heart, there must be—"

Before he could complete his sentence, Anna's corrosive fire had burned him down into ashes.

A cold, mocking chuckle escaped Anna's lips. "What did all of you do when I first came to the surface? Let's put it straight out there. You only want to reason when you've lost.

"I'm so sorry, but since I'm the one with the power now, I'm not going to listen to your pathetic excuses. You guys taught me that. Moreover..."

Anna's lips twisted with fury. Her red gums bared as she let out a roar of fury. The malice in her expression shattered her beautiful face into a mask of wrath.

"Not only did you kill my people, but you even killed

me!

How dare you try to reconcile with me now!"

Another head hit the floor. His face was marred with the same unwillingness. A fine line of blood arced through the air and landed on Anna's cheek.

Now, only three remained...

Anna disregarded all words that came from their mouths. Her twisted smile widened as she walked toward them.

"Anna, maybe... that's enough."

All of a sudden, a familiar voice rang out from behind her.

Anna turned around. It was Tobba, clad in child's clothes, and his tiny shoes squeaked with each step as he entered the room.

She wasn't the least fazed by Tobba's sudden appearance. If anything, she was curious why Tobba had been playing dumb for so long, only for him to drop the pretence now.

"Enough?" Anna questioned. "Look at the monitor. Look at whose body is that! That's your father!

Your father

died in their hands. And you're telling me to let them go?"

Tobba looked up at the monitor screen. It depicted a lifeless Roy and Li Lu weeping uncontrollably as she held him in her arms. A bitter smile surfaced upon Tobba's innocent face.

"What can I do about it? People die... That's life."

Anna moved toward her next target. A razor-sharp crystal blade emerged from her palm. Just as she raised it and was ready to swing it down, a single empty shell casing soared through the air and struck Anna's wrist with perfect precision.

It was just a casing, but it hit the right spot. Anna's hand instantly went numb, and her attack was forcefully halted.

Anna slowly turned to look at Tobba. Her voice was laced with hints of threat. "Are you trying to stop me?"

As soon as her words fell, the crystal-flesh, four-foot monsters around them snapped their jaws toward Tobba and bared their sharp, ivory fangs.

"They are the order. The surface can't survive without them. If they cease to exist, many people will die. And what do you think Gao Zhiming will feel if he sees that scene?"

Anna suddenly froze upon hearing Tobba's words. She stared at the cartoon print on Tobba's shirt and asked, "What did you see in the future?"

"I saw death," Tobba whispered with his head bowed low. His eyes were locked on the shoes with flashing soles that his father had bought for him. "Also, I saw something far more terrifying than death. Too much of it."

"I can forget about my death. Then what about the Mask's death? Was his sacrifice for nothing?!" Anna questioned with restrained rage.

"Sometimes, death is inevitable. This world was never meant to be perfect. If everything were perfect, this wouldn't be reality—it'd be heaven. But heaven... doesn't exist."

"And if I still plan to kill them anyway?" Anna's voice sharpened. "Are you planning to step in to protect them?"

"No, I won't," Tobba answered. "That's your choice, and you have to bear the equivalent consequences of making that choice."

Silence gradually took over the command center. No one uttered a single word. Everyone simply waited quietly for Anna to make her decision.

Anna pondered for a very long time. Time ticked by, and the forces from the city began to arrive before she finally raised her head.

Her eyes glimmered with determination, and she was just about to speak when a deep rumble shook the place.

The wall to the right of the command center suddenly split open to reveal a glowing, triangular portal.

Anna was immediately on her guard.

She recognized this portal. It was the same portal that had appeared when the IMF attempted to assassinate her. This portal belonged to the Foundation!

So these guys finally decided to show their hand at this very last moment?

The thought ran through Anna's mind.

She then swiftly sifted through all the contingency plans she had prepared and wondered if she had overlooked anything.

The first to step out of the portal was a Foundation soldier clad in sleek, pitch-black armor with seamless curves.

With her keen senses, Anna realized that the soldier had at least eight Anomalies that complemented each other.

This guy is difficult to deal with.

A conclusion immediately settled in Anna's heart.

Dozens of pupils squeezed into Anna's eyes. Emerald flames surrounded her. Just as she was about to strike first, the armored man staggered and, without warning, crashed to the ground.

What's going on? What's happening?

The same thought echoed in every mind present.

But that wasn't the end of it all.

𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Another fell out of the portal.

And another.

And another.

More and more bodies squeezed out of the portal.

It was not one, nor ten bodies. Rather, a flood of corpses spilled from the triangular portal!

Anna recognized their uniform all too well. These soldiers belonged to the Foundation.

The very organization that was supposed to protect the IMF was massacred by some existence.