Die, Replay, Repeat

As Fang Xiu finished introducing himself, stunned silence swept across Huaxia. Both the reporters at the venue and citizens glued to their screens were bewildered.

"What kind of ridiculous name is that?"

"Is this some kind of prank? Why would there be a department with such an absurdly long name?"

The reactions were expected. Fang Xiu's broadcast wasn't just aimed at the general public—it also included representatives from major media outlets and television networks, who had been invited to cover the event live.

After all, an announcement of this magnitude couldn't avoid media scrutiny. If anything, Fang Xiu needed the press to amplify the message.

"What was that department called? Unified Investigation Bureau?"

"Strategic Defense something? Logistics?"

"Specter? Did I hear that right?"

Viewers across the nation were perplexed. The bureau name Fang Xiu had mentioned was so lengthy and unfamiliar that most people couldn't remember it after hearing it once.

But before the confusion could spiral further, Fang Xiu's calm voice cut through the noise. "This nationwide broadcast has been arranged to deliver an important message."

The chatter ceased instantly.

The phrase "important message" silenced all questions about the department's peculiar name.

Everyone's focus sharpened—What could possibly warrant such a massive, coordinated broadcast?

Even the reporters at the venue leaned forward in anticipation, their microphones and cameras trained on Fang Xiu.

The grand hall, designed for moments of significance, had him positioned behind a tall podium, with a microphone and a draped tablecloth on the platform.

Unbeknownst to anyone but Fang Xiu, Xiao Chuxia was hidden beneath that very tablecloth.

Her role was to absorb the power of lies.

While Xiao Chuxia could project her Spiritual Energy onto Fang Xiu to collect the power of lies indirectly, this method wasn't sustainable. Her energy had a limited duration and required frequent reapplication.

Given that this event was planned to last over an hour, including Fang Xiu's speech and a Q&A session with reporters, repeated reapplications would have been disruptive and awkward.

Thus, Xiao Chuxia's hiding spot beneath the podium became the perfect solution.

Her petite frame allowed her to crouch within the hollow space of the podium, completely concealed from view.

Even with hundreds of reporters in attendance, no one would have guessed that beneath the Chief Commander's feet, a young woman was quietly crouched, ready to channel her powers.

Fang Xiu adjusted the microphone slightly, his composed gaze sweeping over the cameras. Then, with a voice steady and commanding, he declared:

"Yes, there are Specters in this world."

For a full three seconds, silence blanketed the nation.

No one moved. No one spoke.

Viewers—whether at home, at work, or on the streets—seemed frozen in time.

The weight of those words was almost too much to process.

Speculation about the reason for the broadcast had run rampant. Some had feared war, others an ecological catastrophe, and some had even whispered about the collapse of the economy.

But no one—absolutely no one—had anticipated this: The existence of Specters.

Although Specters had already begun invading certain areas, their appearances had been limited and localized. The majority of Huaxia's population had never seen or encountered one.

For those few who had, the outcomes were stark: They either became psychics, joining the Investigation Bureau, or they died—consumed by the Specters.

The Investigation Bureau had meticulously suppressed all knowledge of these events, ensuring that most citizens remained oblivious.

The comments exploded.

"I didn't mishear that, did I? Specters? Are they actually real?"

"How is that even possible!? I've lived over twenty years without ever seeing a single Specter, and now they're saying they exist?"

The announcement ignited widespread disbelief. Most citizens were skeptical, questioning whether the claim could possibly be true.

Yet there were others who felt compelled to believe.

After all, this was a nationwide broadcast—something organized by the government. No one would dare to fabricate such a monumental claim on such a scale.

Those who had seen whispers of strange events in online forums began to connect the dots. They knew maybe those growing rumors of Specter sightings weren't just baseless gossip.

"It has to be true. This is an official announcement. If they told me aliens existed or Earth was seconds away from exploding, I'd believe them at this point. So, Specters? Yeah, okay."

"When you think about it, it's not that unbelievable anymore. A lot of strange things have been happening lately."

Fang Xiu didn't give the audience much time to process their shock. His steady, commanding voice once again filled every screen.

"Specters come from a realm called the Other Side. Right now, the Other Side is actively invading our reality, allowing more and more Specters to enter our world.

"I know this news may feel overwhelming, even impossible, to believe. But belief is irrelevant—because I am going to prove it to you. Here and now, live before the entire nation, I will summon a Specter."

His bold declaration rippled through the air, leaving citizens stunned.

The notion of summoning a Specter on live television was so absurd that many dismissed it outright.

"Summon a Specter? What is he, some kind of magician? What's next, pulling rabbits out of hats?"

But Fang Xiu gave no room for further doubt. He raised his hand and snapped his fingers. The sound of the snap echoed sharply.

In full view of the nation, the air around Fang Xiu shimmered like heat waves rising from asphalt.

The ripples intensified until, with a sudden burst, a stunning woman in a pale moon-white dress materialized out of thin air.

BANG! CLATTER!

The noise of chairs and tables crashing to the ground echoed through the hall as startled reporters leaped from their seats.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Some stumbled, their sudden movements knocking over equipment in their panic.

"This… this can't be real!" one reporter stammered, his voice trembling with fear.

For the journalists in the room, the scene was undeniable. They saw everything with perfect clarity—Fang Xiu had conjured a person from nothing.

Across Huaxia, countless viewers leaned closer to their screens, squinting at the broadcast.

"This has to be fake, right? Maybe it's CGI or some kind of illusion?"

"Are you serious? This is live! There's no way they could fake something like this!"

"Could it be some kind of breakthrough in hologram tech?"

While some debated the technical possibilities, others were struck by the woman herself.

"She's gorgeous! So pale… like a porcelain doll!"

But soon, more observant viewers began to notice something strange.

On livestream platforms, comments flooded the screen:

"Look at her feet!"

"Yeah, her feet are so dainty. My fingers are itching."

"No, moron! Look again! Her feet aren't touching the ground. She's floating!"

"What the hell!?"

"She's not just floating—she's levitating like a ghost!"

As the audience grappled with their shock, the woman on screen began to change.

Cracks appeared on her flawless, porcelain-white skin, spreading rapidly across her body like shattered glass.

From within the fissures, a sinister red glow seeped out, resembling blood.

Her elegant features twisted into something monstrous.

Her delicate lips split apart, the corners of her mouth tearing all the way back to her ears.

Razor-sharp teeth emerged, glinting in the light, while a second set of jaws appeared faintly deep inside her gaping maw.

Her long, silky black hair writhed unnaturally, as if alive, the strands coiling and twisting like a nest of serpents.

The horrifying transformation left the reporters frozen in place.

Viewers across Huaxia recoiled, some screaming, others dropping their phones or clutching at their screens in terror.

THUD!

The sound of phones and tablets hitting the floor echoed in homes, cafes, and streets across the country.