Half of the hundred or so underlings were hulking brutes, their fists larger than sandbags, clearly the kind of men who treated muscle training as their first and only creed.
No doubt about it—these guys could really punch through a sandbag with a single blow.
As for the other half, smaller in build, they hid in the corners clutching electric guns, shotguns, and full-power rifles, firing wildly. They were, in their own right, quite dangerous.
Unfortunately for them, the ones walking toward them were—
A veteran Proxy team that had been active across the Inter-Knot for years, masters of the smash-grab-loot trade, so fierce that even loan sharks cried for mercy when they appeared: the Cunning Hares. After being enhanced with mysterious liquid, they were practically superhuman.
On the other side stood the Sons of Calydon—composed of a pyromaniac with an attitude, a violent young lady, a mechanical-armed matriarch, and a giant-axe-wielding loli.
And then there was the New Eridu Public Security duo—an investigative team that had solved multiple major cases, feared by countless criminals across the city.
As for the brother-sister duo who ruled the Inter-Knot through their... special media trade, under Sol's protection, even they could unleash extraordinary levels of support.
Now, on this stretch of highway-turned-battlefield—
It was supposed to be over a hundred armed thugs versus barely a dozen elite fighters, yet the outcome was a one-sided massacre.
Caesar, Nicole, Zhu Yuan, and the others all fought like war gods. The muscle-bound underlings of the Vanquishers rushed in groups of ten or more, only to be sent sprawling to the ground before even getting close.
The Vanquishers, once so infamous throughout the Outer Ring, now looked like raw recruits before Sol's group.
Forget victory—they could barely even touch a sleeve hem.
"Holy shit, monsters!"
One of the musclemen was sent flying more than ten meters by Nekomata's kick, eyes bulging wide in disbelief.
"That silver-haired girl just caught a bullet with her bare hand—did you see that?!"
A rifleman gaped in shock as Anby casually snatched the bullet he'd fired and tossed it aside like lint.
The thug beside him looked even more hopeless, staring down at his 7.62 caliber rifle as if questioning reality. "Holy shit, that pink-haired chick—my bullets can't pierce her skin! Is she an android?!"
What was worse than dodging bullets was when the bullets actually hit but dealt no damage.
He tried aiming at one of his own muscle-bound comrades and fired. When blood sprayed from the man's shoulder, he finally confirmed that his bullets weren't expired.
Meaning—that pink-haired, fox-faced woman could actually tank bullets.
Anyone who saw this lost all faith in humanity. This group was scarier than a pack of elite Ethereals charging together!
Meanwhile, the real android, Qingyi, bit down on a bullet flying toward her from the side—and casually spat it out.
That alone shattered yet more minds on the battlefield.
"Nicole, your teammates are so strong!"
Caesar blocked a hail of gunfire with his sword and shield, exclaiming to Nicole in shock.
It was like watching superheroes—super strength, sparks flying when bullets hit their skin.
Even Zhu Yuan and Qingyi looked on in astonishment. So many hidden masters in the streets—if only they'd join Public Security.
"Oh-ho-ho! Thanks for the compliment! With my wise leadership, of course the Cunning Hares are powerful!"
Nicole's grin never faded. The sheer thrill of battle made her seriously consider giving up her briefcase cannon to learn melee swordplay.
No, no—she'd been with her briefcase cannon for years; she couldn't bear to part with it.
Besides, the crate was sturdy—perfect for smashing heads.
Though its ether energy rounds were rather weak, the physical impact was amazing!
No, she decided, she'd train with Sol again tonight—she had to grow stronger alongside Anby!
"Targets are too tough—find someone we can actually handle!"
Some of the thugs shifted focus, eyeing the two men and one woman watching from the sidelines.
Yeah, that silver-haired guy and blue-haired girl looked weak. The black-haired one hiding behind them? Probably useless.
So, a team of musclemen charged toward Sol's group, grinning viciously as if seeing their first blood bonus.
"Step aside."
Sol calmly raised a leg and kicked. His foot struck the leading brute square in the gut.
Boom!
The man shot into the air, dragging his comrades behind him, all of them flying more than ten meters before hitting the ground in a heap.
None of them got back up.
Huh~ another monster.
The remaining thugs froze, then immediately changed direction, putting as much distance as possible between themselves and the trio.
"Sol, you're amazing~"
Belle cooed sweetly, wrapping herself around Sol's arm.
"..."
Sol glanced at her, unable to help thinking how unpredictable this little fox was—always finding new ways to make him itch.
Belle ignored her brother's darkened expression and spoke playfully, her voice lilting: "Aren't we gonna help Nicole? Just standing here feels kinda wrong~ I mean, I'm not as strong as her, I'm just a gentle girl~"
Watching Nicole fight so joyfully, she probably wouldn't mind if Belle played around with Sol for a bit.
Listening to that teasing, honeyed tone, Sol patted the back of her hand and said, "It's daytime. Behave."
"..."
Wise sighed toward the sky, overcome by a crushing sense of powerlessness.
He was too weak. All he could do was watch as Sol flirted with his sister, unable to stop him.
In a daze, he thought he saw a silver-haired male angel with a platinum halo appearing behind his mind, teaching him strength.
On the first day, He granted the calendar…
In the beginning, there was will!
Wise shook his head, snapping out of his nonsense.
…
Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield—
Behind several massive trucks parked sideways as roadblocks, Lucius poked his head out like a startled rat.
"Hiss!"
Lucius sucked in a sharp breath, heart pounding as he watched the chaos unfold among the Vanquishers' ranks.
These can't be humans—they're walking tanks, super freaks!
Even the delicate-looking girls could casually twist a man's skull off. Terrifying didn't begin to describe it.
What the hell had Perlman done?!
The Organization wouldn't have sent these kinds of people just to retrieve Perlman, right?
Was this… a warning?
"Nope, I'm outta here."
Lucius glanced again at the crumbling battlefield and decided to bolt.
Already at the edge of the fight, he quietly backed away before turning and sprinting toward camp.
He needed to rally the rest of the Vanquishers—safety in numbers, or at least enough chaos to cover his retreat.
As for Perlman… he'd let him loose to draw the heat away.
Sorry, brothers, can't handle this one. Call me later.
No way he could stay—these people were way too brutal.
Qingyi's eyes flicked toward him. Leaving the small fry behind, she silently followed after.