His body felt like it was sinking endlessly into the deep sea. Feng Qi struggled to escape this uncontrollable state, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't break free from the water's grip.
The light in his vision gradually faded as he sank deeper and deeper.
Just as he thought he was about to fall into an endless abyss, a familiar voice yanked him back from the illusion.
[Hey, little bro, get up and start working!]
His bloodshot eyes snapped open, and he nearly stumbled to the ground.
The oppressive feeling of negative emotions surged again.
Reaching out, he grabbed the mental soothing agent placed next to the metal container. Clearly, Wei Wei had anticipated his current condition and prepared it for him in advance.
Twisting off the metal cap, he was just about to gulp it down when the narrator's irritating voice chimed in again.
[Aren't you afraid it's expired? That bottle's been sitting here for probably hundreds of years.]
After a brief pause, Feng Qi ignored the remark and downed the liquid without hesitation.
Wei Wei must have accounted for that already.
He always trusted her.
If she had left the mental soothing agent here, there was no way it would harm him.
The cold liquid flowed down his throat into his stomach, and the refreshing sensation gradually suppressed the overwhelming negative emotions swirling in his mind.
Taking a deep breath, he felt alive again.
Lifting his head, he looked toward the open metal container and pressed the "self-destruct" button on it.
The brain's mission had ended. It was time for it to rest.
[You think this brain was forced into a rave for 1,500 years? After all, the brain activity needle essentially keeps it in a hyperactive state… A brain that's been partying non-stop for 1,500 years, what a tragedy.]
Feng Qi: …
Ignoring the narrator's nonsense, he picked up the metal container holding the brain, placed it into the pre-prepared slot, and turned toward the control panel.
The console, untouched for ages, was covered in a thick layer of dust.
Even the two split screens in front of it were coated in grime.
With practiced hands, he pressed the "start" button.
The long-dormant control panel trembled slightly as colorful lights flickered across its surface.
Finally, the screens lit up.
After the familiar startup sequence, a list of options appeared.
With a few clicks, Feng Qi opened the inbox Wei Wei had left for him.
This time, Star City had taken a completely different future path from its previous history.
Without interference from the Night Shadow Clan, Silver Moon Clan, or the Domain Weak Tribe Alliance, Star City's future under this sacrifice timeline was focused on nationwide development.
Perhaps it could still stand strong 1,500 years from now.
Feng Qi was filled with anticipation.
1. Before receiving your head, I thought this sacrifice timeline had failed.
Little Ke reported that he couldn't break through the domain barrier set up by the super lifeform, so he couldn't get anywhere near your location.
Then, six months later, the Mist Lord unexpectedly delivered your head to the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
Tsk tsk, I really didn't see that coming.
2. I read the letter the Mist Lord brought back, and I understand your intentions now.
Clearly, you've decided to recruit the Mist Lord. This move comes with risks, but attempting to do so in a sacrifice timeline is undoubtedly the best possible choice.
I've got a busy few days ahead—I need to extract and edit your memories. I've already prepared for two weeks of sleepless nights.
3. Done. I had Little Ke and his team send the memory extraction liquid and equipment to the Tiger Soul Research Institute. If all goes well, the Mist Lord will learn the truth through these memories.
I just don't know if Old Mist will agree to work with you.
6. The director of Tiger Soul Research Institute contacted me. He said that after reading your memories, Old Mist left immediately without leaving any contact information.
It seems like he doesn't want to cooperate with humanity.
I have no idea what's going on in his mind.
I won't focus on this matter anymore. From now on, I'll stick to my research and pave the way for your future.
They say that behind every successful man stands a hardworking mother.
Yep, that's me.
23. According to Little Ke's latest report, Star City's institutional reforms are in progress.
First, the city's lockdown level has been raised to the highest tier—leaving is difficult, and entering is even harder.
Anyone who isn't a Star City resident must undergo strict screening before being allowed inside.
All of this is to ensure that Star City doesn't repeat the same mistakes and fall under the influence of domain forces again.
The Supreme Council of Star City also held a discussion on the city's future development.
They've decided to gradually introduce the super virtual game.
But having learned from past mistakes, this time, the launch will be a stripped-down version, with additional features added over time.
It's like boiling a frog slowly, letting the outside world gradually adapt to the development of the super virtual game.
Star City's reforms aren't drastic. Everything is focused on stability—after all, this isn't a war timeline, but a setup for Star City's long-term survival 1,500 years into the future.
As I write this email, I can't help but wonder…
What will Star City look like 1,500 years from now?
Will it have forged a brand-new path through internal reforms?
Could it have become one of the strongest powers in the future?
Feng Qi, go and witness that future for yourself.
33. Spatial technology research has begun.
The space technology you brought back from the war timeline only contained structural concepts without detailed technical data, so we have to figure it all out ourselves.
If we can successfully develop it, humanity's progress will accelerate dramatically.
First and foremost—resource transportation.
If every city is equipped with interconnected teleportation arrays, resources could be transferred instantly.
That's way faster than cargo planes, significantly reducing transport time, costs, and risks.
The only downside is…
Right now, this technology is still in the conceptual stage.
We have no idea where to even start.
But that just makes it even more exciting!
I'll reward myself with three all-nighters just to get the ball rolling.
48. You're really thoughtful. I heard from Little Ke that before you left Star City, you ordered 100 servings of spicy lobster from an old restaurant for me, scheduled to be delivered to the Tiger Soul Research Institute every year on my birthday. If Little Ke happened to be there, he'd pass them to me.
Unfortunately, I never got to eat a single one.
Little Ke's always busy, and every time he visited the Tiger Soul Research Institute, he perfectly missed my birthday.
But… he still brought me some spicy lobster.
As I write this email, I'm eating some now. It's delicious as hell.
By the way, why did you only order 100 servings? You should know I have a long lifespan—100 years is nothing to me… Oh, I see, you were broke. No wonder.
…
Through the words, Feng Qi could practically see Wei Wei's smug, teasing expression in his mind.
The mockery was palpable.
Ordering 100 servings of spicy lobster was something he had done before leaving Star City.
He had always been grateful to Wei Wei, especially knowing how she had to survive on nothing but nutritional paste while hiding in the secret base. The thought had pained him.
Ordering 100 servings of spicy lobster was his way of showing appreciation.
As for why 100?
Just as Wei Wei pointed out—it was simply because he was poor.
For essential expenses, he could always use the accounts of the Tiger Soul Research Institute or the Crimson Research Institute, but for personal gestures, he couldn't justify it.
So, he used the little money he had left to order 100 servings, scheduled for delivery on Wei Wei's birthday every year.
Mu Qing had also received 100 servings.
That single expense had drained his savings.
With a sigh, Feng Qi continued reading the emails.
55. Following your plan, Mu Qing has begun forming the Dawn Battle Corps in Star City.
This time, she has a clear goal—her sole mission is to protect Star City's development.
I can already imagine it.
In this sacrifice timeline, Mu Qing will likely have a long lifespan.
She will be like Star City's guardian deity, ensuring its quiet and steady progress.
But just in case, we at the Crimson Research Institute will remain underground.
After all, the world is unpredictable.
Protecting your brain is the top priority.
139. Star City's development is progressing rapidly.
We need to subtly guide its residents toward understanding the truth about this world, but we can't rush it.
We have to start with the younger generations.
Just like what you saw in your memories of Ling Zhan.
The path he walked is something we can learn from.
Revealing the truth outright would cause too many unexpected consequences.
It's better to start with the younger generations, letting them gradually uncover the truth themselves and dedicate themselves to building Star City.
The Supreme Council of Star City has made its stance clear—they want to turn Star City into humanity's final stronghold, a force that will endure 1,500 years into the future.
Every effort being made now is preparation for the brutal racial wars that await in the next millennium.
But one thing remains unchanged.
Humanity's foundation is still too weak.
We lack the genetic modifications of the Psionic Race.
Our cultivation techniques can't compare to those of the stronger species.
This Star City revival plan is an experiment.
We all want to see how far a weak civilization like ours can go.
Even if it fails, it will serve as an important reference for you when you eventually initiate humanity's rise.
159. If Star City wants to remain impervious to infiltration, it needs a relatively closed environment.
But the downside of this is a shortage of resources.
Food isn't a problem.
Star City has a well-established food supply system.
The city and its surroundings have cultivated farmland, livestock pastures, and all the essential facilities for sustaining the population.
The real issue is that frontline resources for Star City have started dwindling.
To address this, Star City has decided to establish a frontline supply zone 200 kilometers to the west.
That area is surrounded by mountains, with domain fields all around.
Developing a supply base there will ensure a steady stream of spiritual resources for Star City.
Mu Qing will be the first official commander of this supply base.
Looking forward to what comes next.
189. Star City's isolationist policies have already sparked dissatisfaction among residents of other cities online.
The reduction in resource exchanges and trade is one factor.
But more importantly, the hidden forces within other cities are likely growing wary of Star City's changes.
That said, infiltrating Star City to uncover the truth won't be easy.
To prevent spies, we've upgraded the city's security systems multiple times.
One of these upgrades includes a life-detection system.
Over the years, the city's defense forces have eliminated countless domain creatures that disguised themselves as humans in an attempt to sneak in.
Star City may not be impenetrable, but it can now develop safely without major threats.
Still waiting to see what the future holds.
214. Recently, Little Ke sent word that Mu Qing was ambushed by the Blue-Skinned Tribe.
This time, the Blue-Skinned attackers were exceptionally strong.
Their target was clearly the Crimson Rune Crystal on Mu Qing's body.
History's changes have caused Mu Qing's trajectory to shift, leading to entirely new encounters.
During that battle, Mu Qing was surrounded and outnumbered.
In the end, she only suffered minor injuries, while all the Blue-Skinned attackers perished.
But this isn't good news.
Now that she's on their radar, the Blue-Skinned Tribe will continue sending more assassins after her.
Which raises a worrying question—will there eventually be Blue-Skinned beings even Mu Qing can't defeat?
Based on available intelligence, the Blue-Skinned Tribe is extremely powerful.
They possess numerous Miracle items and are feared even by the Psionic Race.
Being targeted by them is a serious problem.
The longer this drags on, the greater the risk.
The timing of their attacks seems random.
But each time, the Blue-Skinned warriors they send are stronger than the last.
It's like a bounty system—when one assassin fails, a stronger one takes over.
I initially thought that in this timeline, Mu Qing might live long enough to reunite with you in the future.
But now, things aren't looking good.
In future timelines, you should try to obtain a device similar to the Psionic Race's shielding technology against the Blue-Skinned Tribe.
That way, at least our key personnel won't be constantly hunted by them.
378. The development of the virtual game has expanded to 18 game dungeons. Maybe this technology will become a powerful weapon for humanity's rise, but the only downside is that it can't be fully released until you've completely eliminated all internal threats to humanity.
478. Gu Ke sent word that the Psionic Race has also made a move against Mu Qing.
Their target is obviously the Crimson Rune Crystal on Mu Qing's body, and the attackers clearly belong to the faction from the Psionic Race's homeland.
But what puzzles me is—how did the Psionic Race find out that Mu Qing was carrying a Miracle item?
This wasn't something that should have happened in a normal timeline.
There are two possible explanations.
First, when the Psionic Race's homeland faction was studying the Blue-Skinned Tribe's creatures, they might have discovered that small tracking bead capable of locating Mu Qing. Through that, they learned about the Miracle item and decided to seize it.
Second, something went wrong on the Mist Lord's side. He clearly understands Star City's current situation, and to weaken the homeland faction of the Psionic Race, he might have leaked Mu Qing's information to them.
After all, based on his contract with Hei Xuan, as long as the homeland faction of the Psionic Race is destroyed, the Mist Lord will regain his freedom.
So for him, weakening them is a necessary move.
Of course, there could be other reasons as well.
But the reality is that Mu Qing is in serious danger—her Crimson Rune Crystal has now caught the attention of the Psionic Race's homeland faction.
Mu Qing is certainly strong, but she hasn't fully matured yet. Facing the Psionic Race's homeland faction, which possesses numerous Miracle items, is too much for her at this stage.
The situation isn't developing as we had hoped.
498. Mu Qing was attacked again by the Psionic Race's homeland faction and suffered serious injuries.
She reached out to me through Gu Ke, asking if I could remove the Crimson Rune Crystal from her body—she didn't want it to fall into the hands of the Psionic Race.
Before she left, she asked me to pass on a message to you.
(Audio file attached.)
…
Feng Qi clicked on the audio file.
A familiar voice came through.
"Qi-ge, I don't think I can hold on much longer. I've been hit by the Psionic Race's death countdown, and I don't have much time left… Sorry, I didn't turn on the video. I don't have the courage to let you see what I look like right now..."
Listening to Mu Qing's words, Feng Qi felt his heart tighten.
He could imagine the immense pain she was enduring.
It was a pain he had experienced before.
When the death countdown took hold, life felt like a flickering candle in the wind, slowly burning out with every passing second.
At the end of the audio, Mu Qing suddenly spoke in a lighter tone.
"I thought that in this timeline, I could meet you 1,500 years in the future, walk by your side again, maybe even fight alongside you against Hei Xuan… But I guess I was being too optimistic. Even though I won't be there in 1,500 years, Little Suction Cup will take my place in protecting your path forward… Qi-ge, keep going."
The audio abruptly cut off.
Feng Qi clenched his fist and slammed it against the console.
He had believed that in this timeline, Mu Qing would grow safely, but history's changes had led to unexpected consequences.
Once again, events had spiraled out of his control.
In this sacrifice timeline, the Psionic Race had targeted Mu Qing early, seeking to seize the Crimson Rune Crystal.
If Mu Qing had reached her peak, she might have had a chance to fight back.
But at this moment, she clearly wasn't strong enough.
His emotions churned, but he forced himself to keep reading Wei Wei's messages.
513. Mu Qing is gone. I've sealed her body in Laboratory Room 3, and I will use her rune crystal to create Little Suction Cup.
539. External forces have resumed their infiltration of Star City.
This time, instead of using brute force, they are attempting a "color revolution" strategy.
They aim to divide Star City, supporting internal factions that oppose the Supreme Council, trying to plunge the city into chaos from within.
I don't know where this force is coming from.
It could be the Psionic Race, or another external power entirely.
I'm not sure if this group existed in the normal timeline.
After all, in previous timelines, we had already gone underground, and Star City was in constant turmoil.
Unlike now, we didn't have the means to actively investigate external threats.
It's also possible that in the original timeline, this foreign force had appeared but was driven out by the Mist Lord, who was secretly controlling Star City at the time.
Right now, Star City is facing an external crisis.
Let's hope things go in the right direction.
759. Qi-ge, you should keep an eye on your former classmate, Xiaoxin.
Old Wang has been struggling across multiple timelines to crack the Flesh Sacrifice problem, but no matter what he does, there are a few unsolvable issues.
To find a breakthrough, we leaked part of the Flesh Sacrifice data to the outside world, hoping to get external help.
And surprisingly, Xiaoxin provided a crucial clue.
After reviewing her records, we found out that she was once your classmate.
She has enormous potential.
If possible, consider recruiting her into the Crimson Research Institute.
769. Hundreds of years have passed, and now, Star City is divided into multiple factions.
Many new ideologies have emerged, leading to the birth of various organizations.
But overall, they can be split into two main factions—the Progressive Faction and the Dawn Faction.
The Progressive Faction believes in opening Star City to reintegrate it into the Five Major Cities, making it part of humanity rather than an isolated stronghold.
They argue that keeping Star City closed for the sake of security will only slow down its development.
The Dawn Faction follows your ideology.
Although its internal factions have different visions for the future, they all broadly support the path you set for Star City.
They believe in waiting for your return and witnessing the future alongside you.
The old generation that once followed you has mostly passed away.
Now, the younger generation is rapidly rising, taking control of Star City's power structure.
898. According to Xiao Yan's latest report, Star City's internal situation has become incredibly unstable.
External infiltration efforts are intensifying, and the city's internal factional conflicts are reaching a breaking point.
For security reasons, we can't continue frequent contact with the outside world.
After discussions, we've decided to completely seal off the Crimson Research Institute's secret lab.
From now on, we will no longer monitor external events.
Star City's situation has completely deviated from our expectations.
Which ideology will ultimately triumph?
We can't predict that anymore.
The rest of the emails were all related to research projects.
Closing the email inbox, Feng Qi's expression was complicated.
Star City's development had gradually slipped beyond his control, reminding him of something Hei Xuan once said.
He had claimed that Ling Zhan, the forefather of the Psionic Race, had laid a solid foundation for their rise. If he were still alive, the Psionic Race would never have strayed from its path. However, with his death, the symbolic banner had fallen, and no one could ensure that future generations would remain united forever. Factions that hindered the race's progress were inevitable.
Looking at it now, Hei Xuan had been right.
The forces inside Star City that had been swayed were precisely the kind of internal threats he had mentioned.
Throughout history, human traitors had always existed. The idea of perfect unity was nothing but a fantasy.
He had no idea what state Star City was in now.
He decided that he would depart for Star City immediately to see for himself.
Leaving the control panel, he walked toward the room where Little Suction Cup was frozen.
Arriving at the metal containment unit, he went through a series of verifications before the container slowly opened.
Through the spreading mist, he saw Little Suction Cup curled up with her eyes closed.
A green light lit up on the metal box, followed by a puff of green mist that sprayed onto her body.
Slowly, her eyelids fluttered, showing signs of waking up.
After a brief moment, she finally opened her eyes, though her expression was filled with confusion.
She crawled out of the metal container on all fours, scanning her surroundings in a daze.
"(T＿T)… Hungry…"
She let out a soft whimper, then suddenly turned to look at Feng Qi standing beside her.
Her confused eyes widened, as if she had seen something unbelievable. Her expression changed to one of sheer joy.
"Qi-ge!"
She moved as fast as a lightning bolt.
In the blink of an eye, she crashed into his chest, then climbed up onto his head, pressing her forehead against his, letting out a delighted hum:
"(=￣ω￣=) Qi-ge~ Qi-ge~"
"Suction Cup, get down."
Hearing Feng Qi's voice, she obediently slid onto his shoulder. Carefully, she leaned her head against his left cheek, tilting her head in curiosity.
"Qi-ge?"
Feng Qi reached out and ruffled her small head, smiling as he asked,
"Are you hungry?"
"Mm-hmm! Hungry! (〃'▽'〃)"
"Alright, let's go find you something to eat."
With that, Feng Qi stepped toward the elevator.
Moments later, he arrived at the first-floor lobby of the Crimson Secret Base, then exited through a hidden passageway at the far end of the hall.
Walking out of the ruined building, the outside world remained unchanged.
The crimson moon still hung in the sky, making the entire world look like a barren wasteland. The distant roars of monsters echoed in the night.
"Hey, Narrator, scan the area and find some spiritual plants nearby."
Before checking on Star City's current situation, Feng Qi decided to take care of Little Suction Cup's hunger first.
[Friendly reminder: At your three o'clock, there is a green plant…]
Following the Narrator's instructions, he walked toward the area where the plant was growing.
…
Eastern District of Star City.
In a ruined cluster of buildings overgrown with vines and moss, a group of people wearing tattered armor peered through the cracks in the walls, watching the world outside.
"Father, have we lost?"
A young girl, around 17 or 18 years old, suddenly spoke.
Hearing this, Jiang Ming, his face covered in dirt, turned away from his observation post and replied firmly,
"We haven't lost."
The girl pursed her lips, her eyes flickering with uncertainty.
Finally, she mustered her courage and asked,
"Is he really coming back? Maybe he's just a myth, a story our ancestors made up to deceive us."
"He will come back. Our duty is to hold the banner of Dawn high until he does."
Hearing her father's answer, the girl nodded obediently.
Jiang Ming reached out and gently ruffled her hair before turning back to observe the outside once more.
However, his once unshakable faith wavered slightly because of her words.
Ever since the older generation had passed away, the younger generation in Star City had split into two paths for the future.
One was the Progressive Faction, and the other was the Dawn Faction.
The Dawn Faction remained steadfast in following Feng Qi's ideology, working to turn Star City into an impenetrable fortress while waiting for his return.
The Progressive Faction, on the other hand, chose to open Star City to the outside world, actively engaging with other forces.
In the end, the Progressive Faction won.
But things quickly took a turn that no one had expected.
Opening up the city led to another wave of infiltration by domain forces. Even within the Progressive Faction, external forces began influencing their decisions.
What started as leading Star City to prosperity soon became a gradual shift toward submission.
Without Feng Qi.
Without the Mist Lord controlling the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
This version of Star City, after its internal instability, had no real power to resist external threats.
The so-called "New Humans" of the Progressive Faction ultimately pledged loyalty to a powerful domain race, becoming their vassals.
From then on, Star City's forces were completely divided for the next several centuries.
The Progressive Faction rose to power quickly, launching purges against the Dawn Faction.
One by one, the different factions within the Dawn Faction fell under their persecution.
Now, only Jiang Ming's group remained.
Jiang Ming no longer knew if their struggle had any meaning.
He turned to look at the Dawn Banner hanging on the left wall.
Beneath it, three aged portraits were pinned to the wall, with four words inscribed below them:
Destiny Organization!
It was said that 1,500 years ago, the Destiny Organization had been born from an encounter between its three founders and Feng Qi.
At first, they had mocked him.
But after learning the truth about Feng Qi, they became his unwavering followers.
The three founders of Destiny Organization had undergone a transformation in their beliefs.
They swore to carry on the ideology of Dawn.
Perhaps they wouldn't live to see the future where Feng Qi reappeared, but they could ensure that Destiny Organization continued their ideology, waiting for that moment when they could communicate with the Feng Qi of that time.
For this future, Destiny Organization allied with various factions that supported Dawn, forming a resistance against the Progressive Faction.
Now, all the other groups within the Dawn Faction had fallen.
Only Destiny Organization remained standing.
But even they had failed to wait for Feng Qi's return.
Everyone had once questioned whether Feng Qi's appearance was merely a fabricated myth created by their ancestors to strengthen their conviction. But in the end, those who remained chose to keep moving forward, believing that a miracle would eventually happen.
Even if they were wrong, there was no turning back now.
With this thought, Jiang Ming's gaze became firm.
At that moment, a loud explosion echoed outside, followed by a squad clad in heavy black armor stepping over the ruins and approaching their hideout.
Seeing this, Jiang Ming tensed up instantly and gestured for everyone to activate Turtle Breath Technique to conceal their presence.
However, the approaching squad had already locked onto their location.
Several steel cables shot out, embedding into the walls, and with a sharp pull, the thick walls came crashing down.
As the dust settled, the Destiny Organization members who had been hiding behind the walls were exposed.
The leader of the squad removed his helmet, revealing a bizarre face.
The left half of his face appeared normal, but the right half looked as if it had been parasitized by a centipede-like creature, with its flesh visibly wriggling.
He slowly stepped in front of Jiang Ming, looking down at him as he spoke:
"You have two choices: tell me where the other branches of Destiny Organization are hiding, or die."
Jiang Ming slowly raised his head, his expression indifferent as he asked in return:
"How does it feel to be a dog for the domain races?"
"At least we've ensured the survival of the last of humanity's bloodline."
"Human bloodline? Look at yourself carefully. Do you still look human?"
The leader of the squad did not get angry at this remark. Instead, he sighed as if speaking earnestly:
"This is simply a means to become stronger. What's wrong with serving a powerful race? At least we get to survive."
"How pathetic. If our ancestors could see what you've become, they would be heartbroken. The future they envisioned for Star City has been completely destroyed by traitors like you."
Hearing this, the squad leader let out a mocking laugh.
"Jiang Ming, was it? You think we're pathetic? I think it's you who are pathetic. Clinging to a ridiculous myth, wasting your lives on a baseless dream. Do you truly believe in this so-called prophecy?"
"We have doubted before. But so what? At least we're still human. Only we have the right to call ourselves the last of humanity's bloodline."
With that, Jiang Ming took the initiative and attacked.
His fist ignited in flames as he struck the squad leader's chest.
The burst of flames sent a powerful shockwave rippling outward, forcing the squad leader back several steps.
But as he steadied himself, a sinister smile appeared on his face.
"Do you see now? Humanity's foundations are too weak. We can never match the powerful domain races. Only by taking a different path, as we have, can we gain true power in a short time... Since you've chosen death, I'll grant your wish."
As soon as he finished speaking, the squad leader launched an attack.
With a single punch, he sent Jiang Ming flying, blood spraying from his mouth.
Seeing Jiang Ming injured, dozens of Destiny Organization members quickly chanted incantations, casting various spells.
However, their attacks barely fazed the squad leader and his heavily armored squad.
What followed was a massacre.
In the blink of an eye, several members of Destiny Organization lay dead in pools of blood.
Meanwhile, the squad leader walked past the chaos, stopping before the left wall.
There, he gazed at the Dawn Banner and the portraits of the three founders of Destiny Organization.
Disdain flashed in his eyes.
Tearing the Dawn Banner from the wall, he turned to the captured Destiny Organization members and spoke in a low voice:
"A legend is just a legend. If Feng Qi were truly coming, he would have appeared when Star City fell into chaos and led it to a brighter future. The fact that he never came proves that this was nothing more than a delusion, a fairy tale our ancestors fed us to keep us clinging to hope."
"And the saddest part? Some fools actually believed in this nonsense."
Just as the squad leader was about to tear the Dawn Banner apart, the wall behind him suddenly collapsed with a deafening roar.
A powerful force sent him flying backward.
He twisted mid-air, barely managing to land on his feet, though the impact still sent him sliding several meters before he could steady himself.
When he looked up, his pupils contracted.
Standing in the rubble where the wall had once been was a young man around 18 years old.
On his shoulder perched a small, innocent-looking figure.
The young man turned his head, glancing at the wall where the banner had once hung. A bright smile appeared on his face.
"Destiny Organization? Looks like my past efforts weren't wasted!"
As he finished speaking, he turned his gaze toward the squad leader.
His expression was indifferent, but for some reason, the squad leader felt an overwhelming sense of danger.
"Destiny Organization member?" The squad leader asked instinctively.
"No. My name is... Feng Qi!"
With a low growl, Feng Qi's entire body was engulfed in blood energy, transforming in the blink of an eye into a six-meter-tall crimson monster.
A dark green flame burned around him, making him look like a demon that had crawled out of hell.
An immense life-force suppression radiated from his body, making it hard for the squad leader to breathe.
The deep, rhythmic thumping of a powerful heartbeat resounded through the air, each pulse slamming against the squad leader's chest, making his heart ache violently.
Terror flickered across his face as he instinctively took a few steps back.
And then, a terrifying realization dawned upon him.
He recalled a specific description from the legend.
A being who could transform into a blood-colored demon.
He... had really come!