They traveled through time at the same time, but the villainous scientist

Chapter 266 Disaster
Space Development Agency, Research Laboratory 7.

"Dr. Masaki, quick! Come and see these photos!"

Upon seeing Masaki Keigo's arrival, a middle-aged man wearing thick glasses warmly greeted him.

He practically rushed up to Masaki Keigo, who had just walked in, clutching a stack of high-resolution satellite photos tightly in his hand.

He was Dr. Mizuno, who sent that email to Masaki Keigo, a scholar who devoted his life to the theoretical biological research of "Lightning Man".

Within the TPC, his research was long considered a pipe dream and did not receive sufficient support.

It wasn't until Masaki Keigo appeared that he provided him with funding and various forms of support.

Therefore, when the research made a breakthrough, the first person Dr. Mizuno thought of was this insightful funder.

Masaki Keigo nodded and took the stack of photos to look at them.

The main subject of the photo is an extremely large cloud cluster rolling over the Pacific Ocean.

Unlike any known type of cyclone, the outer part of the cloud layer appeared very dark, with faint flashes of lightning visible within.

"These images were captured by the Space Development Agency's weather satellites over the past seven days."

"Look, Dr. Masaki!"

Its speed of movement was astonishing; it circled the entire Pacific Ocean in just seven days!
This is completely inconsistent with any normal weather phenomenon!

Dr. Mizuno explained somewhat excitedly.

"Based on my model analysis and the unique energy waveform it releases, I can be fairly certain that this cloud... is the lair of the Lightning Man!"

Dr. Mizuno adjusted his glasses and continued,

"Therefore, I plan to immediately apply to headquarters to establish a special investigation team to conduct a close-up, on-site investigation of this cloud formation!"
This is the first time humanity has had the opportunity to come into contact with intelligent life forms in their pure energy form!

"Dr. Mizuno, the risk of conducting an on-site investigation is too high."

"We are facing a completely unknown territory. Any manned exploration without sufficient information is tantamount to gambling."

Masaki Keigo put the photo back on the table and shook his head.

He paused, then, meeting Dr. Mizuno's slightly disappointed gaze, continued:

"To be on the safe side, I suggest that we first send out a specially modified unmanned reconnaissance aircraft to conduct preliminary reconnaissance."

The Victory Team can provide escort and technical support.

"You...you're right."

Dr. Mizuno finally nodded.

Masaki Keigo's proposal was quickly approved by TPC's senior management.

TPC Far East Headquarters, Command Center.

On the huge main screen, a real-time briefing on "Investigating Special Cloud Clusters" is being displayed.

"According to Dr. Mizuno's speculation, the Lightning Man is an energy creature that feeds on electromagnetic waves."

Therefore, the 'Seagull' drone we used this time is equipped with a three-layer composite electromagnetic shielding system, which can theoretically completely isolate external electromagnetic interference.

Horii explained to everyone while operating the control panel.

Hopefully your little toy will actually be useful!

Meanwhile, over the Pacific Ocean, looking at the clouds flashing with lightning in the distance, Shinjo couldn't help but tease.

"Hmph~ You can rest assured!"

Horii replied.

"Alright, Daigo, launch the Seagull drone!"

Seeing this, Zongfang interrupted their conversation and then gave the order directly.

"Understood! Prepare to deploy the 'Seagull' drone."

Daigo responded that he would hover the Flying Swallow No. 1 at a safe position five kilometers from the edge of the cloud.

With a soft mechanical unlocking sound, a small, seagull-shaped drone detached from the belly of the Flying Swallow-1 and silently slid into the lightning-streaked chaos.

Inside the command center, everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed on the main screen.

That was live footage transmitted back by "Seagull".

The camera shook violently as it passed through thick, almost tangible clouds.

Every flash of lightning that pierces the darkness briefly illuminates the world.

Countless points of light, like fireflies on a summer night, floated and wandered in this dark kingdom.

They emit a soft, faint light and appear beautiful and harmless.

"It's so beautiful..."

Seeing this, Lina couldn't help but sigh.

"Um……"

Dr. Mizuno nodded in deep agreement.

However, the tranquil scene was shattered in the next second.

A slightly larger spot of light collided violently with a smaller one, which was completely engulfed by the larger one the instant it made contact, before it could even react. The larger spot of light visibly brightened.

Immediately afterwards, as if a bloody signal had been given, the entire space descended into a frenzied killing spree.

The points of light began to chase, collide, and devour each other. The weaker lights were annihilated the moment they came into contact with the stronger lights, while the victors became brighter and larger.

"They...they're eating each other? They're eating their own kind?"

Horii said with an incredulous look that cannibalism only occurs in certain extreme environments.

After all, the primary goal of living organisms is reproduction, to increase the number of their population.

"This……"

Dr. Mizuno, who was standing to the side, was also completely stunned. According to his guess, the Lightning People should be an intelligent race, right?

On the screen, this feast of light is coming to an end.

Finally, all the points of light converged and were devoured by the last ferocious monster.

Then, as if sensing something, the monster suddenly turned towards the camera of the "Seagull" drone.

Then, a powerful electric current instantly tore through the darkness, striking the drone with pinpoint accuracy!

Zila——!
The composite electromagnetic shielding layer is as fragile as paper in the face of a powerful electric current, and is instantly penetrated and melted.

The image distorted and flickered violently before finally turning into a blinding snowflake and abruptly stopping.

"Oh no! Daigo! Shinjo! Get out of there quickly!!"

Zongfang was the first to react and hurriedly spoke to the two people present.

That last burst was definitely not an unconscious discharge, but a clear act of attack!
If that's the case, then the Flying Swallow-1 satellite on site could very well become a target...

"Huh?...What...did the vice-captain...say?"

On the communication channel, Zongfang's voice was interrupted by strong electromagnetic noise, and Xincheng tapped his helmet in confusion.

However, before he could finish speaking, the entire fuselage of the Flying Swallow No. 1 suddenly began to tremble violently, as if it were being sieved.

Inside the cockpit, all the indicator lights were flashing wildly, and piercing alarms were blaring everywhere!
"Oh no! It's strong electromagnetic interference! I can't control the plane!!"

Daigo gripped the control stick tightly, but no matter how hard he tried, he could only barely maintain the aircraft's attitude.

"What? Let me try!"

Xincheng was taken aback, then quickly said that he had taken control of Feiyan-1.

The Flying Swallow No. 1 was like a leaf in a storm, completely out of control.

The next moment, the Flying Swallow-1's power system completely failed.

A tremendous feeling of weightlessness washed over them as the Flying Swallow No. 1 plummeted straight down into the turbulent sea below.

"Dispatch the Dolphin rescue team immediately! Nori, Horii, keep tracking that cloud! Find out its purpose!"

Hearing the static coming from the other end of the communicator, Zongfang took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and gave orders to the others.

"learn!"

Ye Rui nodded, his fingers flying across the keyboard, immediately calling in TPC's global surveillance satellites to lock onto and track the strange cloud formation.

"Relying on ourselves, the data analysis might be biased. In that case, it would be best to have the assistance of experts!"

While processing the complex data stream, Horii glanced at the distraught Dr. Mizuno beside him.

"No...it shouldn't be like this...my theory..."

At this moment, Dr. Mizuno's face was as pale as paper, and his eyes were lifeless.

"Dr. Mizuno!"

"Now is not the time to debate whether a theory is right or wrong! We need your knowledge to predict its next move!"

Horii's voice pulled him back from the brink of collapse.

Dr. Mizuno shuddered. He looked at the huge red dot on the screen that represented the monster, then at the solemn-looking members of the Victory team around him, and finally a glimmer of life returned to his eyes.

"Its goal...its goal is..."

Ye Rui's voice suddenly became tense.
"According to satellite trajectory predictions, it's moving towards the K4 region! There... there's our largest radio tower!"

This information struck Dr. Mizuno like a bolt of lightning.

Radio tower... absorbs electromagnetic waves... goes berserk...

All the fragments were instantly pieced together in his mind.

He suddenly raised his head, his face displaying a complex expression of fear, regret, and profound realization.

"I understand... I understand everything..."

"It's not that the Lightning Men have changed...it's us! We've changed them!"

"Those electromagnetic waves we send into the air, those television signals, radio broadcasts, mobile communications, the internet..."

To them, it's like indigestible junk food, or even poison!
They absorbed this impure energy, which is why they became so violent and aggressive!

"This is... the bitter fruit of humanity's own actions..."

(End of this chapter)