"How can I be sure that you'll really let my parents go if I go with you?"
The black-robed man's tone showed some anger.
"You may not have figured out the current situation. We are the ones in the active position. You have no right to bargain with me!"
Then, suddenly, his tone became gentle again.
"However, as a gentleman, I will likely keep my promise. As long as you behave, your parents won't be harmed at all. In fact, they'll have good dreams tonight. After all, we don't want to cause any deaths—that would escalate things too much. Don't you think?"
[You dare to trigger a beast tide, and you still care about this level of escalation?]
Hearing the other's words, Su Ke couldn't help but mock inwardly, but he also knew that now wasn't the time for him to play clever. So he lowered his claws and transformed back.
The black-robed man smiled with satisfaction.
"Good boy."
Then he placed his hand to his ear and activated his walkie-talkie: "You all come back now. We're preparing to retreat."
"Yes!" ×2
Then he came in front of Su Ke, took out a thin needle, and jabbed it into his neck.
"Hiss~~ What did you inject me with? Anesthetic?"
"If it were anesthetic, you would have passed out by now. Besides, I'm a psychic-type spirit user. If I wanted to make you sleep, I wouldn't need such things."
"Then what on earth is th... AHHH!!!"
Before Su Ke could finish asking, intense pain suddenly transmitted through his body, as if someone was using a knife to slash around inside him.
"What's... happening... ah!"
"It seems the wolf-form mutation serum is taking effect. Now I can take you back for the Doctor to study properly."
Then he removed his hood, revealing a pair of deep eyes, staring tightly at Su Ke.
Immediately after, circles of ripples suddenly emanated from his eyes, striking Su Ke. Gradually, Su Ke closed his eyes.
He was that Second-Tier Fifth Layer squad leader who had infiltrated earlier.
He was an extremely rare psychic-type spirit user.
Looking at the sleeping Su Ke, he smiled with satisfaction, scooped up the net, and ran toward the assembly point.
After meeting up with his two subordinates, they left the city through a secret passage.
Meanwhile, at the outermost military base, large numbers of demon beasts continuously attacked. Soldiers and spirit users on the city walls resisted with all their might.
Gao Zhen: "What the hell is going on? Have these motherfucking beasts gone crazy? Did they get rabies or mad cow disease? Why are they suddenly attacking the city out of nowhere!"
A subordinate beside him said anxiously: "Commander, this beast tide was suddenly initiated by a C-grade mutant beast, the Crimson-Feathered Eagle. It had always been in its nest on the distant mountains. Usually, it only came out to hunt, then stayed at home. It had always been quite well-behaved. But today, it suddenly went crazy, gathered the demon beasts, and started attacking us."
Gao Zhen slammed his fist hard on the command table.
"That mangy bird? Does that guy have a death wish? Usually, it stays in its nest. That place is deep in the forest with other C-grade demon beasts around, so we didn't dare touch it. Now it dares to come attack the city? There are no other C-grade demon beasts around. If we get two or more Fourth-Tier fighters, we can keep it here. A beast is just a beast—so fucking stupid!"
Gao Zhen couldn't help but curse loudly as he looked at the familiar mangy bird before him.
They usually dealt with these demon beasts in the forest and knew their habits and strength well.
This mangy bird normally hid in its own nest. Because there were other powerful C-grade demon beasts there, they didn't dare provoke it easily.
However, they didn't expect this mangy bird to suddenly attack on its own initiative and come to siege the city.
Just then, a voice suddenly came from outside: "Old Gao, stop complaining for now. Although this demon beast attack on the city happened suddenly, it's also a good opportunity. Not only can we clean up the demon beasts outside in advance to prepare for next year's college entrance exams, but we can also kill a C-grade demon beast, greatly weakening the threat near Yan City. This way, the area around Yan City will be safer in the future. Moreover, the number of beasts in this wave couldn't possibly breach our city walls—at most, it'll just waste some supplies."
Gao Zhen raised his head to look in the direction of the voice.
The person who came was Yan City's mayor, Ye Tian.
He frowned, silently considering the other's words.
Indeed, while this demon beast attack on the city had brought them some trouble, it also provided a rare opportunity.
If they could successfully repel this attack, not only could they make full preparations for next year's college entrance exams, but they could also reduce future dangers.
And judging by the current situation, the city walls should be able to withstand the demon beasts' attack—it would just cost them some resources.
"Old Ye, you're finally here. Well, no time to waste. Let's go deal with that mangy bird and roast it. I'm treating the entire camp to bird meat!"
Then he turned to his subordinate beside him.
"You, go notify the cooking squad. Prepare the seasonings, large pots, grills, and everything else. We're going to eat meat!"
The subordinate quickly responded: "Yes, sir!"
Gao Zhen: "Let's go, Old Ye. We're heading up!"
He went out first, bent his legs, and jumped!
His whole body was like a cannonball being fired, suddenly flying toward the distance.
He was a Fourth-Tier Fourth-Degree strength-type spirit user with extremely high physical toughness.
Ye Tian looked at his friend who had already flown far away and shook his head helplessly.
"Still so impulsive."
Then, his entire body merged into the shadows underground, transforming into a dark shadow on the ground surface, moving in that direction.
He was a Fourth-Tier Fourth-Degree darkness-attribute spirit user who could transform himself into shadow and move through darkness.
Now it was midnight, the time when dark-attribute energy was strongest throughout the day.
The two arrived at the Crimson-Feathered Eagle's location.
It was flying in the sky, calling out loudly.
"SCREECH!!!"
"Screech your grandpa!"
Flying... or rather, launching himself over, Gao Zhen raised his fist, wanting to strike it.
The Crimson-Feathered Eagle just flapped its wings a few times, causing a hurricane. Because Gao Zhen had nowhere to gain leverage in the air, he could only watch helplessly as he was blown back by the hurricane.
Behind him, a pitch-black cloth caught him.
On the ground, Ye Tian emerged directly from the shadows, having released his Shadow Escape.
Gao Zhen: "Hahaha! Come on, Old Ye. Let's us brothers play with it properly!"
Gao Zhen took a deep breath, gathering all his strength, and threw a punch.
Suddenly, the wind seemed to howl through the air. A fist shadow streaked like lightning, carrying fierce wind force, heading straight for the enemy.
That fist shadow seemed almost tangible, as if containing endless power.
The Crimson-Feathered Eagle knew the power of this punch and wanted to dodge to the side.
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