Deviant: No Longer Human

Li Zhiming's mind exploded with questions, 'Damn! Anran again... How does he know about her? What does he want?' The mention of his daughter pierced through the fog of pain and confusion, sharpening his focus. 'I must remain calm, gather information. Who is this man really?

It's I who have walked into a trap! I am being targetted!'

As the oppressive force receded, Li Zhiming's breath came easier, but the weight on his chest was not just physical.

He looked up, meeting Wang Xiao's gaze. "I... understand," he managed, every word an effort.

Internally, he was another cunning thought. 'Anran is safe, for now. But I must uncover his motives, and who might be pulling his strings. Be calm... there would be an opportunity to strike back!'

Wang Xiao, observing the flickers of emotion across Li Zhiming's face, knew he'd struck the right chord. 'Fear for a loved one can tame even the wildest beast,' he laughed inwadly, reminding himself, 'But caution is necessary; desperate men are dangerous.'

As the atmosphere in the room shifted from deathly tension to a temprorary ceasefire, Wang Xiao casually took a seat on the bed, his posture relaxed but alert.

He gestured towards Li Zhiming, now slowly regaining his composure. "Okay, let's start now. Tell me about the Deviants first," he demanded, his tone indicating that this was not a request but an order.

Li Zhiming, still fighting with the lingering discomfort, straightened up as much as his recovering body would allow. He eyed Wang Xiao warily, weighing how much to reveal. 'He knows about my deepest secret. How deep does his knowledge go? What's his motive?' he thought cautiously.

"The Deviants," he began, his voice now steadier, "are not common knowledge. They're individuals with extraordinary abilities, a step above in human evolution. Some say they're the next step, others believe they're nature's anomalies." Li Zhiming paused, his eyes narrowing. "Why the interest? Shouldn't you already know of this?"

"Argh!" The pain was sharp and immediate, a cruel reminder of his place.

"Haha... Old man, don't try to be crafty and test me. Answer what I ask, and tell me everything from the beginning!" Wang Xiao's voice was stern, the pressure he exerted a tangible force pressing down on Li Zhiming.

Li Zhiming's mind raced. 'He's a Deviant too, there's no harm in sharing what I know.' He decided, nodding slightly despite the solemn expression etched on his face.

Relief washed over him as the pressure lifted. "Have you heard about the rumors of the Bermuda Triangle?" he asked, his voice a mix of resignation and mystery.

Wang Xiao's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "It's a region in the North Atlantic Ocean, isn't it? But I thought those myths were debunked. Sailors vanishing into thin air, ships disappearing mysteriously. Weren't they attributed to natural causes? High winds, magnetic variations, human error, even methane gas eruptions reducing water density."

Li Zhiming's smile was tinged with bitterness. "If only it were that simple." He sighed, a heavy sound filled with the weight of secrets. "Everything started in 1918, when USS Cyclops, a naval ship from country A, vanished into the Bermuda Triangle with over three hundred souls onboard."

He paused, the memory of the event seeming to haunt him. "After their disappearance, the Bermuda Triangle became an puzzle to be solved. But formal investigations were delayed by the World Wars. It wasn't until the infamous Flight 19 incident in 1945 that the military's attention was truly recaptured."

"Even a rescue plane sent after them disappeared. The navy sent numerous vessels secretly, straight into the gaping maw of the reaper—the Bermuda Triangle!"

Wang Xiao leaned in, listining intently, each word painting a clearer picture of the mystery and danger that lay in the heart of the ocean.

Li Zhiming, his voice now steady and imbued with a sense of deep, historical significance, continued his tale. "Ship after ship sent by the army kept disappearing for the next decade. However, in 1954, a breakthrough occurred. The Lockheed Constellation managed to communicate from within the Triangle!"

His eyes took on a faraway look, as if visualizing the events he narrated. "The Bermuda Triangle was merely a façade, a cover for the last existing piece of the eighth continent, Atlantia. This hidden landmass, a floating island, we named Pandora. It was a place of myths, harboring secrets beyond our wildest dreams."

Wang Xiao leaned forward, his interest piqued. 'Atlantia... A hidden continent?'

Li Zhiming's expression darkened slightly. "Communication with those inside was possible only via a secret wavelength. The people who had disappeared were embroiled in a war unlike any other. They faced unknown viruses, unprecedented beasts, and a dire scarcity of food and water. Yet, they managed to uncover many secrets and even captured a small portion of Pandora."

"The establishment of communication with Pandora was a turning point. Within two years, the military aggressively sent expeditions, ultimately seizing control of the entire island. They established a secret naval base and deployed teams of archaeologists and researchers."

Wang Xiao's mind was already working on the details, 'An entire hidden continent, a secret war, a struggle for survival and knowledge.' He pondered the implications, the potential power and danger Pandora held.

Li Zhiming's words painted a picture of a world far more complex and layered than what lay on the surface.

A hidden history, a secret battle, all shrouded in the veil of the Bermuda Triangle.

Li Zhiming chuckled, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. "You've probably heard tales of ships vanishing into the Triangle, only to return without their crews. Those crews were taken by the navy, held within Pandora. The existence of such a place is a tightly guarded secret.

It's the site of the world's most advanced biotech lab, Prometheus, and the most sophisticated international network, Oracle Network. These are funded by interest groups and nations worldwide, operating independently of any single country's control."

He caught himself, a brief look of embarrassment crossing his face. "Ahem, sorry, I got a bit carried away there."

Wang Xiao, picking up on Li Zhiming's enthusiasm, probed further. "Have you been to this eighth continent yourself?"

Li Zhiming fell silent, a myriad of memories flashing behind his eyes.

"Tch," Feeling the pressure mounting again, he clicked his tongue in resignation and admitted, "Yes, I've been there as the leader of the Pantheon network. Prometheus's lab might just be the most powerful in the world, second only to the Guardians. It was the most thrilling experience of my life."