Night was deepening, and the weather suddenly turned strange — just moments ago the sky had been filled with stars, but now thick clouds had gathered… and snowflakes were drifting down.
At this moment, Yi (Yì,毅), the deputy general (fùjiàng,副将), and the strategist (cānmóu,参谋) were huddled together in a corner, squatting to keep warm while chatting idly.
"I say, Yi…"
The strategist glanced at Qing (Qīng,青), then leaned close to Yi's ear to gossip. "—Everyone's curious. How is it that our normally taciturn, tightlipped captain turns into a completely different person the moment she sees you? It's nothing like the image we have of her."
"Mm, right, I've wondered about that too," the deputy general chimed in, rubbing the bruises on his face and blurting out, "Does Big Sis (dàjiětóu,大姐头) have some misunderstanding about you? She's always hitting and scolding — hurts like crazy, like a tigress…"
"Shh… haven't you been beaten enough? Stop butting in…"
To keep the three of them safe, the strategist quickly clamped a hand over that unfiltered mouth, stole a glance at Qing, and whispered, "Don't take it to heart. He's just a rough fellow. I just can't figure out how such a dignified female general could have this side to her."
"Ahem—well, you know what they say: hitting means she cares, scolding means she loves you…"
Yi paused, then said seriously, "We grew up together. She wasn't like this before — but it's lonely at the top. Ever since she became captain of the Guardian Squad (shǒuhù duì,守护队), she's had to shoulder the safety and expectations of the entire town. With such pressure and responsibility, she naturally became this way. She's strict, even a bit cold, but don't take it personally."
"How could we! We'd never complain…" the deputy general called out, ice pack pressed to his face.
Startled, the strategist quickly covered his mouth again. "In truth, everyone knows our captain only looks stern on the outside. She's the classic 'cold exterior, warm heart' — sharp tongue, soft heart. She truly cares about us. I even voted for her in the election, despite my family's pressure. I wasn't happy at first — being led by such a young girl at my age — but it doesn't matter. I've no ambition for rank, and besides, she once saved my life at the risk of her own. I owe her."
The strategist, now past forty, came from a prestigious family and had a proud nature. Yet after years in the squad with little advancement, he'd seen much and lived by the saying: "Only with detachment can one find clarity."
The family he mentioned was one of the three great clans of Baihu County (Báihǔ Jùn,白虎郡) in the main city — the wealthiest. The Zhuge clan (Zhūgě jiāzú,诸葛家族) held the highest status, while the Dongfang clan (Dōngfāng jiā,东方家) wielded the most power, producing every city lord for generations and coveting both the captaincy of the Guardian Squad and the clan leadership.
The deputy nodded in admiration. "Big Sis may be young, but her martial arts are topnotch — one of the very best!"
"—It's just a pity the clan leader didn't let her attend the interview back then…" the strategist sighed.
As the clouds slowly dispersed, the silver moon once again lit the night sky, and the snowfall eased. Our little protagonist was about to make an entrance — the story was only just beginning.
Outside the city, a vast field the size of a football pitch lay blanketed in white, with only a single road leading toward a distant forest. This road was paved with composite stone bricks infused with hightech molecular polymers — retro, nonslip, durable, selfrepairing, and selfcleaning. While snow piled thick on the grass to either side, the road remained clear and visible.
The cold deepened. The three by Qing's side huddled closer in their corner, shivering as they chatted.
"Report!"
A scout shouted, "We've spotted numerous exotic beasts (Yìshòu,异兽) ahead! They seem to be heading this way, but their speed changes — as if they're waiting for something. And in front of them… there's a person, also coming this way."
These exotic beasts were a race with a long history and civilization, like the Guardians, but unlike ordinary animals. Most had unusual appearances and innate talents; some exceptional ones could evolve, gaining new abilities, changing forms, even taking human shape.
Within the barrier near the city lived many exotic beasts, most gentle and reclusive. Occasionally, a few might slip out through a weak spot in the barrier or wander into human cities by accident, but they were harmless. Never before had so many emerged at once…
"They're here!"
Qing peered through her telescope, then called to the three, "What are you still crouching there for? Get over here!"
They shivered involuntarily, then scurried over to join her, crouching to observe.
"This is strange. I think we should proceed cautiously, Captain," the strategist advised.
"Cautious, my foot…" the deputy muttered, rolling up his sleeves. "Just charge!"
"Wait — look at their eyes…"
Yi took the telescope Qing handed him. What he saw shocked him: countless pairs of tiny red dots. But the enemy had retreated, and the barrier was repaired — how could this be? No… they look less like they're attacking, more like they're hunting… And that person… holding something… wait, is that—
The figure was an elder (Zhǎngzhě,长者), stooped and staggering through the snow, leaving uneven footprints. Her silver hair spilled over her robe, one hand wielding a blade, inner energy extending from her fingertips into silver swordqi. Blood stained her arm, faint lights flickering there. Her other hand clutched something to her chest, guarding it as if it were more precious than her life.
"Yes!"
Qing leapt onto the wall, her expression calm and resolute. "It's Master (Shīfu,师父)!"
She and Yi locked eyes and nodded. Yi replied firmly, "Don't worry — I've got this."
"Mm. Everyone, hold position and prepare for battle!"
Standing tall, Qing placed one hand over her chest and shouted, "Formation Squad!"
"Here!"
Five members stepped forward.
"Form up!"
"Yes!"
They began forming seals in sequence, chanting incantations as formation diagrams beneath their feet merged into points of light, transmitting to Qing.
She focused, a glow forming on her forehead. With a light push of her feet, she shot forward like an arrow toward the enemy, weaving through the night sky, one hand over her chest, murmuring the formation spell.
For Qing, formations were second nature. Compared to formation techniques (zhènshù,阵术), full formations (zhènfǎ,阵法) were more powerful and lasted longer — the best choice now. But this was her first time using such a complex restoration formation.
Unlike techniques, formations required perfect coordination and precise control — a challenge for someone as independent and impatient as Qing. In the past, to meet her master's standards, she had trained endlessly with her team. Now, though much improved, she still dared not slacken before her master, executing every step with care.
Given the situation, only with the Formation Squad's support could she unleash the formation's full power.
By now, the redeyed beasts had closed in, some with eyes so dark they were almost purple.
Meanwhile, the elder, nearly spent, had her own plan. From the bundle she guarded, a tiny hand emerged and waved. She glanced at it, exhaled, and smiled faintly. In an instant, she stopped wielding her blade, channeled her strength into her legs, and tried to widen the gap from her pursuers.
But the predators would not give up. A pack of canid beasts closed in, eager to strike. One lunged from behind, grinning grotesquely, claws outstretched — only to have the elder sidestep with a strange footwork, clutching her bundle tighter. The beast skimmed past, smiling at the bundle, but plunged headfirst into a snowdrift.
"Heehee…"
The elder frowned, but at the sound of laughter from the bundle, her lips curved upward.
Yet the danger was far from over. A larger, fiercer feline beast bared its fangs, eyes glowing crimson, leaping from above to attack. The canids circled warily, cheering it on and waiting to snatch the spoils.
In an instant, the elder was surrounded, with no gap left for retreat. The two razorsharp leopard claws were about to strike home. The pursuing beasts' faces lit with the joy of imminent victory.
At that moment, Qing (Qīng,青) was racing at full speed. Though she had closed the distance to the battlefield, she was still just a fraction too far. Seeing her master in danger, her filial heart clenched with urgency.
With glowing fingertips, she finished inscribing the EightTrigram Diagram (bā zhèn tú,八阵图), focusing her mind and steadying her breath, ready to unleash the formation.
On the city wall, the soldiers, though weary, stood at full alert. But the three — Yi (Yì,毅), the deputy general (fùjiàng,副将), and the strategist (cānmóu,参谋) — still huddled together, eyes fixed ahead, holding their own little conference.
"Hey, Xiao Yi, what's with our captain today? She's never fought like this before. Even using your Zhuge clan's (Zhūgě yīzú,诸葛一族) secret art, the EightTrigram Sky Engraving (bā zhèn kè kōng,八阵刻空)… These enemies don't seem like they'd trouble her much. Honestly, we could all go home and sleep…"
The strategist yawned, puzzled. Age had made him an early sleeper, and after days without rest, he was barely keeping his eyes open.
"Because she's someone important — I can't afford even the slightest mistake…"
Yi kept his eyes fixed on his family in the distance, his gaze unusually serious. Almost unconsciously, he stroked the stubble on his chin, anxiety gnawing at him inside.
Yi was an orphan. From a very young age, he had wandered alone, until he came here — discovered and adopted by the elder (Zhǎngzhě,长者), who also took him as her disciple. He had been about six years old then. As for Qing, she had arrived here as an infant. The elder had raised her, taught her martial arts. To Qing, the elder was both master and family — as dear as a parent — and thus someone of utmost importance in her heart.
The strategist and the deputy general followed Yi's gaze, all three of them stroking their chins in unison.
"Hey — Yi, what happened to that beard you worked so hard to grow?" The strategist glanced at him, puzzled, and asked with concern.
"Oh… that — I, uh, cut it off!"
Yi, who had been fully focused, suddenly realized what was being asked. He shifted his posture, covering awkwardly, his eyes darting away. The strategist, being a perceptive man, saw his reaction and let the matter drop.
"Heh heh… come on! Big Sis (dàjiětóu,大姐头) cut it, didn't she? I saw it!" the deputy general blurted out, grinning foolishly, his voice booming.
"Pfft… hahaha…"
The nearby soldiers, drawn by the sudden comedy, couldn't help but chuckle. Yi and the strategist could only exchange a speechless glance, then turn away as if they didn't know him, looking back toward the distance.
That figure wreathed in green aura in the night sky was being battered by cold currents as sharp as blades. Yet the female general seemed unfazed, focused only on the battlefield and the people she wished to protect.
Suddenly, her brows twitched, and calm resolve shone in her eyes — the counterattack began.
"Heh heh…"
The laughter rang out again, sounding like a child's voice. Then, a beam of light fell from the heavens — thunder flashing with dazzling brilliance struck the redeyed leopard deadon. The force was overwhelming; in an instant, the leopard was blasted into a charred ball of fur, teeth and claws scattered, smoke curling from its body. It could only stare wideeyed, give an awkward grin, then collapse into the snow.
— Yet despite its ferocity, the natural force had been controlled with precision, harming no one else.
But though the redeyed leopard had fallen, reinforcements were fast approaching. And the three jackals lurking nearby seized the moment to attack — swift and wellcoordinated: one from above, one from below, one from behind.
"Awoo… awoo… awoo—"
Three cries of pain later, the elder and her bundle were unharmed — but the jackals themselves lay defeated.
As they had lunged, the snow on the ground suddenly gathered into two massive hands. The lower jackal was seized in a crushing grip, tongue lolling as it stared at the bundle in helpless frustration. The one attacking from behind was swatted into a snowbank, twitching all over. The last, untouched, grinned wide in premature triumph — only to be swept away moments later by a sudden gust of wind.
The battle eased, but from within the elder's bundle came no more laughter — only the faint sound of gentle breathing.
On the battlefield, Qing's brows finally relaxed. She had just reached the range to deploy her formation. Her hands flew through seals…
"Heaven, Earth, Man, Time, Sound, Rhythm, Star — Formation★Pole Star Big Dipper (jíxīng běidǒu,极星北斗)!"
She brought her palms together, unleashing the great array she had been charging. Beneath the elder's feet, a formation core flared to life, radiant light spreading outward into the pattern of the Eight Trigrams.
Landing, Qing pressed her hands down, then thrust upward. A green barrier sprang into being. Two or three beasts rushing in slammed into it with a resounding thud — and were instantly flung back in a burst of light.
Around the barrier, countless energy spheres crackled like starlight, orbiting in the pattern of the Big Dipper. Bolts of lightning and cries of pain mingled; most of the enemy fell where they stood.
"All units, hear my order!"
From the city wall, Yi's shout rang out. He knew — the counterattack had come.
"Formation Squad, hold on a bit longer! Archers, draw to full, be ready to support at any moment! Scouts, keep probing ahead — report any anomaly at once! Deputy, ready the carriage at the main gate and await my command to open it…"
At his command, the wall's defenders straightened, ready for action.
"Lock… and… present!"
In the soldiers' hands, their specialized weapons gleamed with arcs of light, arrows nocked and drawn. "—Dubhe, Merak, Alioth…"
Beams of formation light, now reinforced, streamed back into the distant EightTrigram array.
"Yes!"
"Yes!"
The deputy clapped his fists together with a shout, then dashed off, startling the man beside him. Yi turned — and shivered three times over. Standing there was the strategist, staring at him, awaiting orders.
"Uh… old brother, how about you go buy us some latenight snacks?"
"I… go buy… snacks?"
The strategist blinked, baffled. Inside, his feelings were mixed — he was a veteran of the Guardian Squad, after all.
"Yi, I may be weak — well, yes, very weak — but I'm not about to desert. I know you mean well, but isn't this a bit obvious?"
"Oh, don't misunderstand. This is a very important mission!" Yi said earnestly. "Everyone probably hasn't eaten enough. They've worked hard all day — after the battle, we should reward them. For logistics, you're the one I trust most. Would you do us the honor? This is vital for morale!"
"…I see. Alright!" The strategist thought it over, then agreed readily.
"Oh, and put it on my tab."
"Got it! On credit… I know!"
Halfway there, the strategist suddenly muttered, "Hah, he's out of money, that's why he sent me. Well, I am rich — tonight's on me!"
Back on the wall, with the strategist gone, Yi exhaled in relief. This wasn't just about treating the troops — Qing had told him to look after the old fellow. Knowing what to do and when was part of their years of teamwork.
Still, Yi knew in his heart: with only their squad's strength, victory wouldn't be easy. Even calling for allied help might not bring aid in time. And this enemy was no simple foe — especially with Master…
"Ahem!"
Just as Qing arrived, the elder (Zhǎngzhě,长者), drained of strength, was barely able to stand — yet still maintained her stance, tightly shielding the treasure in her hands.
"Master (Shīfu,师父)!"
Seeing this, Qing quickly withdrew one hand to support the elder into a seated position, then asked anxiously, "—Are you alright?"
"No problem…"
The elder let out a long breath, forcing out the words in a weak voice, then, after a pause, reminded her, "Be careful!"
Qing scanned the surroundings. Clearly, the battle had only been temporarily eased — countless exotic beasts (Yìshòu,异兽) were still surging in from the perimeter.
"What should we do?"
The female general's heart grew restless — she feared for her master's safety, and for most people, this sudden appearance of such a large number of opponents would be a thorny problem. Obviously, relying on the formation alone could only hold the current situation; to win was far from enough.
Meanwhile, on the city wall, Yi was staring intently at the situation, but gave no orders. The leader of the archery unit, having waited a long time without seeing any action, was puzzled and couldn't help asking, "Brotherinlaw (dàjiěfū,大姐夫), do you think we can fire now? Big Sis's (dàjiětóu,大姐头) formation is already active — this is the perfect time for us to act!"
"—Wait…"
Not long after answering his subordinate, Yi unexpectedly overruled his own order, drew his bow, and fired an arrow himself. This surprised everyone — the arrow flew as fast as Qing's racing heart, streaking to the battlefield, passing precisely between the barrier and a bear's paw, and burying itself deep in the ground.
"Wuu—"
The struck beast, a beartype with immense strength, had been about to attack. Yi's sneak shot startled it badly — it licked its wound, tears welling in its eyes, and roared loudly…
Then, with a whoosh, the arrow in the ground glowed, suddenly shot up, skimmed past the beast's eyes, and flew back to the city wall into Yi's hand.
Startled again, the bear followed the arrow's light back with tearfilled eyes, then glared fiercely toward the wall…
"—Bows down! Stand by!"
Yi ignored it completely, still wearing that domineering look. At his men's prompting, he picked up the telescope to check again… and suddenly froze.
Hey, what are you staring at me for? Keep it up and I'll take you down!
The bear's gaze made Yi's heart race, but he forced himself to appear calm. After a moment's hesitation, he gave an unusual order, leaving the soldiers baffled.
"Yes!"
The archery leader, wearing a deeply puzzled expression, signaled his men to lower their weapons.
"—Your captain… she's going to add a secret art (mìshù,秘术)!"
After giving the order, Yi looked at the enemy's figure ahead and said with certainty, "—If she does, her stamina will be drained, which will affect the maintenance of the formation. If we attack rashly now, we might only injure our own."
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Yi reviewed the situation — the arrow's energy diminished with distance. For ordinary beasts, this level of power was enough, but for those few giantlike beasts, the effect would be minimal.
"Everyone, conserve your strength and wait for the next move!"
"Yes!"
"Here comes the old man!"
Soon after Yi's order, the strategist came trotting up the wall, humming a tune, and asked lightly, "—We've won?"
"No— hey… why are you back so soon?" Yi was surprised, blurting it out.
"—The latenight snacks are ordered. I told them to deliver later, so I came back first," the strategist replied with a grin.
"But…"
"—Come on, you think I'm a threeyearold?"
The strategist chuckled. "I know you mean well, but with the enemy at the gates, how could I hide away? I may be weak… but I'm still of some use. I've eaten more salt than you've eaten rice. Besides, even if it's to the last moment, I'll stand with everyone to defend our home and our people!"
He looked seriously at the starry sky, stroking his beard. Seeing this usually idle, selfpreserving elder so reliable at a critical moment, the younger ones couldn't help but feel respect — this was the resolve a Guardian should have.
"—That's…?"
Suddenly, the strategist seemed to notice something. "Isn't that our captain's secret art?"
"Mm! That's right."
Yi nodded, sighing. "She's decided to take a risk. It's been a long time since I've seen Qing'er so impulsive… I hope she can buy us some time."
"Time?"
The strategist glanced at Yi, puzzled. "—Didn't we not report to the Alliance for reinforcements? What are we waiting for?"
"Mm… well — I don't know!"
Yi shrugged, meeting the strategist's eyes with a mix of confusion and resolve. "Qing told me so — I think it's Master's will. Let's wait a bit longer!"
The two stroked their chins, gazing into the distance, hoping for a miracle…
"Secret Art — Thunder Fang (léiyá,雷牙)!"
On the battlefield, the enemy army had arrived and was preparing to encircle — though most hung back, hesitant.
But the bear was already turning, ready to vent its rage. Its face twisted, it slammed both paws against the barrier, light and sound flashing — danger was here!
Qing's eyes were full of killing intent, yet she stayed calm, one hand pressed to the barrier, unmoving. The light at her brow flashed faster; she placed her other hand at the glowing point, drew it to her chest, and chanted — the stance for preparing a secret art.
Green currents of electricity flared over her body, growing brighter and stronger with the rhythm of the light.
"Wait…" A weak but familiar voice interrupted her — Master!
"—No, can't wait!"
Murmuring to herself, Qing held her stance, defying the voice. "Forgive me, Master! This time your disciple must be rude…"
Since childhood, Qing had obeyed the elder's every word. This defiance was perhaps unavoidable — for nearby was a beast even she could barely handle: the Giant Monster (jùguài,巨怪). The timid bear could be ignored.
The Giant Monster was a beast that should not have appeared here. There was no retreat — only allout attack, for the best defense was offense!
With glowing fingers, Qing traced an elegant curve in the air. The green aura from her body merged into the current, surging in two directions — one linking with the thunderclouds above to strike down, the other plunging into the earth to erupt like bamboo shoots after rain. The twin currents bit into the enemy like rows of teeth…
In an instant, beasts large and small fell in droves, including the gleefully pawing bear. The situation suddenly looked brighter.
"Beautiful!"
On the wall, Yi clapped in delight.
"I say, Yi…"
The strategist, oblivious to the mood, asked a question even he found silly. "—I've never understood: why have I never seen our captain use a special skill (juéjì,绝技)?"
Special skills were abilities Guardians could use only with their exclusive weapons — like the archers' earlier. Easier to learn than secret arts, they grew stronger as the Guardian advanced, and at third stage could rival a secret art of the same level.
"I'm… not too sure!"
"What? You two grew up together — and you don't know? Aren't you curious?"
"Maybe it's because of her saber. Qing has loved swordsmanship since childhood, so she's hardly touched a bow, even though we're famous for it. Master never forced her, and passed all the martial arts manuals to her…"
"—Awoo!"
A massive roar shook the area, cutting off their chat. Yi and the strategist looked toward the sound.
A huge, grayfurred, silverbacked beast stood on the battlefield, seemingly the leader. Far from weakened by the earlier attack, it looked fiercer, its silver back gleaming in the moonlight, eyes glowing an unnatural purple. It pounded its chest and roared, shattering the night's stillness.
"That's—!"
Their pupils dilated in shock. Why was such a beast among the enemy?
In Guardian (shǒuhùzhě,守护者) territory lived many exotic beasts (Yìshòu,异兽). Occasionally, attacks occurred — usually from provoked "false corruption" or rare mutations during evolution. But largescale, sustained, proactive assaults like this were almost unheard of — let alone a Giant Monster (jùguài,巨怪) that existed only in enemy ranks and could match a grandmasterlevel Guardian.
"Old brother, do you think this could be a conspiracy?"
"—Giant Monster!"
Yi (Yì,毅) was still mulling it over when he turned to consult the strategist (cānmóu,参谋). But the older man suddenly trembled, leaning against the wall, blurting the name in alarm.
A moment later, the strategist regained his composure, straightened his posture, and said, "Mm! What you said is very possible — by normal reasoning, this can't be explained!"
"Oh… the enemy pretended to retreat, then slipped these beasts in during the chaos, hoping to infiltrate our ranks and strike back. Classic diversionary tactics!"
A chilling thought struck Yi, worry rising until it felt like smoke was coming out of his head.
The "enemy" here referred to an ancient race that had been at odds with the Guardians for thousands of years — the Lich Clan (Wūyāo Zú,巫妖族). In recent decades, the two sides had maintained a fragile truce, but just days ago, the Liches had suddenly broken faith and launched a war.
"You've got a head for strategy, kid. It's not impossible — after all, their ties to exotic beasts are very close."
Though the strategist could no longer remain entirely calm, he still agreed, then lowered his head in thought. "But according to earlier battle reports, the frontline army really did repel the enemy. That guy was defeated — they lost their trump card. Just pulling tricks like this won't make much of a splash! I think even if they've set things up in multiple places, it may not amount to much — and besides, that might not even be a Giant Monster. Maybe it's just a local beast that's lived too well and grown too big."
"No, strategist — come look at this!"
Yi, peering through the telescope at the battlefield, cut him off urgently. "Something's definitely wrong!"
"Hm?"
The strategist followed, taking his time to look — then his hand shook, and the telescope slipped from his grasp, clattering to the ground. Fortunately, it was specially made and didn't break. This scope worked equally well by night or day, with ultrahighdefinition, longrange zoom, and multiaxis stabilization.
Looking flustered, the old man froze for a moment, then picked it up again, glanced through it, and said, "Mm, there's definitely something fishy…"
"Communications team! Report this to the Alliance immediately, and alert all city Guardian Squads to be on guard!"
With the strategist's agreement, Yi didn't hesitate — he issued the order at once.
"—But I still feel… something's off — no, the color's wrong…"
At that moment, the strategist steadied himself, rubbed his eyes, and stared again and again.
"How so?"
"Think about it — this Giant Monster is the enemy's main force, and with such a massive body, how could it possibly slip past our checkpoints without a sound? Besides, the one that nearly cost me my life before was this very Giant Monster, so I remember it well. Its eyes don't look quite the same as this one's — especially the color. Could it be that the creature from the Exotic Beast Research Institute (yìshòu yánjiūyuàn,异兽研究院) escaped and just happened to pass through here? That one's from the Exotic Beast King Kong family (jīngāng kē,金刚科), right?"
The Research Institute was a department under the Exotic Beast Administration (yìshòu guǎnlǐjú,异兽管理局), specializing in all kinds of studies on exotic beasts — including, but not limited to, improving training efficiency, enhancing abilities, shortening evolution time… and, in recent years, the increasingly frequent phenomenon of abnormal evolution.
As mentioned before, the exotic beasts living within the Guardians' barrier were mostly in a normal state, and were called "wonder beasts" (qíshòu,奇兽). Among them, some with outstanding abilities could evolve under the Guardians' training — or on their own — into a stage known as "spirit beasts" (língshòu,灵兽).
Spirit beasts not only understood human nature but were also brave and skilled in battle, fighting alongside the Guardians to repel enemies and providing great help.
By contrast, when the enemy's exotic beasts evolved to this stage, the Guardians called them "monsters" (guàishòu,怪兽) — those with eyes glowing red, or even purplishred, bore the mark of a monster.
The Giant Monster was the highest rank among them — manic, ferocious, violent — the main force in war. The process of an exotic beast evolving into a monster, this abnormal evolution, was also called "corruption" (hēihuà,黑化).
"Old brother, you're overthinking it — impossible!"
Yi smiled confidently, the corners of his mouth lifting, and replied firmly, "On my way back just now, I happened to run into two old acquaintances from the Administration. We chatted about the Institute's situation — they didn't mention any anomalies. Besides, the Institute has only one Giant Monster, pitiful as it is, treated like a treasure and under strict surveillance. And the Institute's monsters all have specific markings — this one doesn't seem to have any!"
"But the look in this Giant Monster's eyes really isn't quite the same as the one I encountered. Something feels off about it now — especially the eye color, it's a bit…"
"—Bah! With your weak eyesight, you'll always find fault with the color… To me, it looks just like those other monsters. How could they all be exactly the same?"
Yi knew most of the strategist's secrets, so he spoke with easy confidence, grinning as he teased. But reality could be cruel.
"@#￥%...&*"
The two on the wall started bickering again — one rambling on with theories, the other interrupting and refuting.
From afar, Qing cast them a glance, shook her head helplessly, and continued to press both hands upward, fully supporting the formation — for at that moment, the Giant Monster was pounding the barrier with all its might…
"Not good…"
Suddenly, Yi felt a chill down his spine, as if he'd received some signal. Almost instinctively, he looked at his girlfriend on the battlefield, lips trembling, and gave her a smiling nod.
"—Ah, old brother, thinking too much about these things is a headache. Let's talk later!"
"But this…"
The strategist kept his head down, still mulling over the puzzle he couldn't solve. At that moment, Yi suddenly waved to him, face full of thoughts, and ran off on his own…