As they stepped out of the car, there was nothing but the wind whispering through the silent streets, devoid of any human presence. The dim glow of the streetlights cast eerie shadows, and the rustling of branches echoed in the air.Robert pulled back the slide of his gun, flicked off the safety, and turned to Eric. "Mr. Johnson, are they really here?"Eric nodded. "They must be here. Our tire's been punctured, and besides, the atmosphere here..."Be cautious. Absolutely! Do not pursue the enemy!" He had learned his lesson in Catellon. Ruth, that fierce woman, had almost been ambushed when she chased after a few shadow warriors. If Ruth had died in Catellon, it would have caused quite a stir."It's a shame..." Robert sighed. "Our team lacks proper equipment. If only we had night vision goggles."In the midst of pitch darkness, Robert stood beneath the lamplight, vigilant against potential threats. However, no sign of danger emerged, just the silhouette of a figure stumbling along
Several sounds of breaking air echoed.It was Robert's turn to demonstrate. He raised the submachine gun in his hand and squeezed the trigger a few times in succession.The bullets hit several flying knives and fell to the ground."Robert, impressive!" Eric couldn't help but admire him.Robert's skill was quite remarkable—three flying knives, three bullets, each shot hitting its mark! Such precision was rare nationwide.Targeting a moving object wasn't difficult. The real challenge lay in hitting the mark and then swiftly moving on to the next, and the next after that!Graciously accepting Eric's praise, Robert smiled. "Just rapid aiming and shooting, basic training."Eric knew Robert was being modest. However, Robert also felt somewhat frustrated. "If it weren't for regulations, I'd empty these magazines into these trees to see where they're hiding!"He noticed the flying knives coming from the treetops, shrouded by dense foliage, making them difficult to spot. Although he car
Robert took a deep breath, sensing the danger lurking in the night.It seemed that the shadow warriors, aware of Eric's prowess, had halted their assault.Robert was about to call for backup when suddenly, the fog rolled in. It was peculiarly thick, and visibility dropped to just a few meters within moments."This fog..." Robert frowned. While fog in the mountains was common, such dense fog in Salt City was unusual."Back to back!" Eric knew this was the work of the shadow warriors. Their methods were even more diverse than he had imagined. While the fog didn't affect Eric, it greatly hindered Robert.Back to back, Robert primed the trigger!He took a deep breath. "Mr. Johnson... I saw a shadow pass by..."Faced with this situation, he felt a twinge of panic. Despite his military experience and rich investigative background, this was uncharted territory."Use your pistol!" Eric advised. "The fog obscures vision. Who knows if they'll bring your subordinates here? What if you acc
"I must admit, I'm a bit curious. With all the turmoil in Catellon, and you being a highly regarded shadow warrior, why leave the situation there to come here and attempt to kill me?" Silence ensued. Not even a whisper filled the air.But in the next moment—the sound of rattling iron chains echoed.Eric's ears perked up as he swiftly turned, simultaneously reaching out to grasp a dangling iron chain. Tethered to one end was a sickle, a classic weapon of the shadow warrior, though utterly futile against Eric.He seized the chain, looping it around his wrist before stepping back with force, yanking it harshly! As he reeled in the chain, Eric delivered a powerful punch!A resounding thud reverberated, hitting a soft mass. The force of his blow dispersed the fog ahead, revealing the female shadow warrior.His movements were lightning-fast. After retracting his fist, he plucked two silver needles from his garments and hurled them in her direction.The silver needles disappeared into
Robert's face paled entirely. He had been sitting in the car, on high alert. He had assumed that the guns would handle the female shadow warrior. Yet, before he could even draw the trigger, he was overtaken.Having weathered many storms, he shouted, "Mr. Johnson, don't mind me! Kill him!" Before he could finish speaking, blood trickled down his neck.Eric quickly raised his hand, eyeing the shadow warrior. "What do you want? Your leader is dead. Do you think you still stand a chance?"The shadow warrior glanced behind Eric, visibly startled.A transcendent shadow warrior had been slain in Salt City!His mind went blank.A transcendent shadow warrior was their legend—their heaven. Yet, she was now lying there, growing cold.It was in that moment of his stupor that a silver needle flew, piercing his forehead.The shadow warrior's eyes widened, and then he collapsed.Robert gasped for air. He didn't want to die.What he had said earlier was to deny the shadow warrior any chance.
Several shadow warriors lay dead, their fate sealed within the confines of the scene.Robert would handle what he could, but if matters escalated beyond his purview, the Combat Department would assume control.Upon tallying the casualties, five Catellonians had fallen, including the esteemed female shadow warrior. Only one had survived, whisked away to the hospital.Swiftly, rescue teams arrived and commenced their search and recovery efforts.Recalling the ordeal, Robert couldn't help but break into a sweat. It was evident that their assailants had intended to intercept Eric at this precise location. While their endeavor had failed, the chilling intent lingered.Robert couldn't shake the thought that had an ordinary soul stumbled upon this scene, they would have likely met their demise this very night.Yet, Eric had managed to turn the tide, an unexpected twist in the tale.He had witnessed the lifeless bodies, two with needles piercing their necks, claiming them instantly, whi
Seeing Eric again, Lora was quite pleased.Robert didn't bother much either. Eric's actions last night made him realize that Eric was no ordinary person.After all, how many wealthy people, high-ranking officials, and affluent individuals didn't indulge in multiple relationships? Besides, even Sylvia didn't say much, so what could he say?"To shattering such a massive conspiracy!" Robert raised his glass. "Everyone deserves credit! Here's to us!"There would definitely be commendations and reports, and Robert was aiming to be recognized for his leadership. He had taken out all those shadow warriors. Solving such a huge espionage case and wiping out the enemy entirely was a significant achievement!There would certainly be follow-up cases involving others, like who approved the schools, who took bribes, and so on. It all required Robert and the relevant departments to investigate slowly. The burden on him was indeed heavy.After finishing his drink, Robert poured himself another.
Alvarez squinted. "I understand now. Eric established the Innova Group, bringing tremendous benefits to the local economy of Salt City. The authorities surely favor him!"Conventional methods won't work on him anymore. This is his home turf!"We're not investing in business anymore. It's too costly. The family has devised another plan.""W-What plan?" Roco swallowed hard.Thoughts raced through his mind. 'When will it end? If this continues, nobody will ever return to the family… We'll be stuck in Salt City forever!'Yet Alvarez didn't disclose the Hernandez family's plan to him. Apparently, Roco's status wasn't sufficient!Roco felt aggrieved!Just because he was imprisoned for the shortest time, they didn't trust him? What a joke!He couldn't be bothered to ask further.'If you don't tell me, I won't participate! When the time comes, it won't be me who gets caught.'You want me to join the action? Ha! I'll feign illness! Isn't a stomachache good enough?'Roco felt that no
In terms of innate talent, Eric was unparalleled, having reached the pinnacle of martial arts. With a single punch, he sent the 'God' flying."Good!" Stealthbane shouted with excitement.The ultimate enemy had finally been defeated, bringing peace to the world. Eric sighed in relief.However, in the next moment, the 'God' stood up again. Spitting out a mouthful of blood, he revealed a bloodthirsty smile. "You have successfully enraged me!"Everyone braced for a potential massacre, but instead, the enemy turned and fled.Could Eric let him escape?"Chase him!" Stealthbane commanded.Allowing this foe to escape would spell endless trouble.A group of people pursued the enemy, who soon reappeared clad in iron armor."Not seen this before, have you?" The 'God' seemed to have recovered somewhat. "Did you think I only research viruses? Wrong! I control global resources and global wealth!"This is our newly developed Doomforge Exosuit which amplifies a person's battle prowess tenfol
The sturdy floor lay in utter disarray.In desperation, Ruth shouted, "Eric, don't give him any more chances! Finish him off swiftly, or we'll face endless trouble!"Eric was well aware of this logic. As he fought, he said, "He's incredibly strong. Taking him down quickly isn't possible! We must fight to the death!"Eric had never feared battle. Besides, this might very well be his final fight.Their fists clashed fiercely.The 'God' also noticed that Eric was growing more formidable as the battle progressed."How do you have so much strength? Wouldn't it be better if we joined forces to control the world? We could have anything we desire!"All the world's wealth, women, and resources would be ours to enjoy. Why won't you listen to reason?" he roared.Eric's momentum didn't falter. "I don't share your grand ambitions. I just want a simple life with a job that pays 1,000 dollars a month and a warm home with my wife and kids. But you, you've disturbed my peace!"The 'God' was fu
The 'God' grew more courageous as the battle raged on, causing Stealthbane to worry incessantly.In another high-stakes clash, Eric and his opponent both retreated. Eric sensed his opponent's growing strength, finding it rather peculiar.The 'God' clenched his fist. "I must thank you! My techniques were slightly incomplete, but I've managed to fill the gaps through this battle!"Eric marveled at his opponent's genius. To mend something incomplete was indeed a rare talent.Despite Eric training with the complete manual, he could only match the 'God' blow for blow. This person was terrifying!The opponent's confidence soared. Although Eric had trained with the full manual, the 'God' felt his innate talent far surpassed Eric's. If he could match Eric with an incomplete manual, now that he had perfected it, wouldn't he be unbeatable?"I thought you had potential and considered inviting you to share this world with me," the 'God' said, his tone turning icy. "But now, I see it's unnece
Stealthbane even felt that Eric might not be a match for the "God."The power was overwhelming.The terrifying aura was enough to crush everything. To an ordinary person, this was a real deity—the strength possessed had already transcended human limits.Eric made his move with a burst of speed. The clash of their fists created a thunderous explosion, and the sound was so intense that Stealthbane felt his eardrums might shatter.This was a battle of the highest caliber, one that even a legend like Stealthbane could not hope to join.Seeing the two evenly matched, Stealthbane sighed in relief. At least there was a chance that the strongest combatants were neutralizing each other. The outcome was still uncertain.Eric shook his aching fist, his expression grave. The opponent's strength was as he had anticipated. If the ultimate boss of the Luminous did not possess such combat power, it would be absurd.Clearly, this "God" had also gauged Eric's strength.He extended a hand toward
Stealthbane knew that the figure facing them must be the ultimate leader of the Luminous.Suddenly, he no longer wanted to die. If he could hold on just a little longer, it would all be over."Mr. Johnson, these people don't seem ordinary. Could that leader be the ultimate figure of the Luminous? Are we about to complete the game?" he whispered.To him, this mission to the Ark felt like a game: defeat the final boss, and victory is achieved."If I'm not mistaken, it should be. This person gives me... a sense of danger," Eric said.Upon hearing this, Stealthbane felt reassured.Just a sense? That meant the problem wasn't too grave!The leader on the opposite side turned to Eric. "I didn't expect you to make it this far. I underestimated your strength, believing my Ark was impregnable, that no enemy could breach it. But why are you so persistent? Why such determination?"He suddenly screamed in a fit of hysteria, "I have so many people! Such a grand scheme! It has all succeeded!
Brent shouted desperately, "After you get on your knees, they'll kill you all, and we won't survive either! Kill them! Kill them all!"He understood the situation with stark clarity. Kneeling meant certain death. If they had to die anyway, fighting back would be their only chance of survival.Eric sighed. "Mr. Rogers, in the end, it was we who implicated you. But this place must be eradicated, and the Luminous must be destroyed as well! Everyone, attack!"As the battle commenced, the masked man immediately struck Brent with a punch.Eric charged in. "Die!"He knew that Brent was unlikely to survive. This punch was his way of avenging Brent.The masked man spun around, trying to block Eric's punch. But the speed of the blow was too much—the gust of wind from the punch arrived before the fist did.It was an instant kill.The masked man had no time to react before Eric's punch collided with his chest. The terrifying force shattered the mask on the man's face, revealing an unfamili
Stealthbane was blinded by rage. He was killing anyone in sight, his fury unrelenting. They had ventured deep into enemy territory, where every encounter seemed to be with an adversary.Eric and his team from the Combat Department showed no mercy.Yet even Stealthbane's resolve was wearing thin."I can't kill them all! It feels like every master in the world is concentrated here!" he shouted in frustration.He felt the number of people he had brought was insufficient. If he had brought a few thousand more, he might have been able to overrun the place.Stealthbane was overwhelmed by the sheer horror of their situation. Fortunately, they had arrived. If anyone else had come, they would have met their end here.The numbers of the masters seemed endless."Damn it!" Stealthbane cursed angrily. "There are too many of them, and they're all exceptionally powerful. What kind of game is this?"He was tempted to retreat, but where could he go?Eric sent an enemy flying, pushing forward
"I was opposed to coming in from the start, but as you all know, the Rogers family is extremely complex. If we hadn't entered, I might have ended up dead. At least if the virus isn't a threat, that's something!" Brent poured himself a cup of coffee and continued. "These people are ruthless! They want to kill everyone outside the Ark and establish a new order, managed by a select few. It's insane!"You don't need to tell me—I know you're here to kill them."He then pulled a small token from his pocket. "This is our Rogers family's privilege here. It allows us to move freely between different levels. With this, you can go anywhere!"Stealthbane grabbed it eagerly. "Why didn't you mention this earlier? Things will go much smoother with this!"Brent sighed. "Once you've handled everything, could you take me out with you? I really don't want to stay in this dreadful place any longer.""Sure!" Eric nodded. "We'll definitely call you when we leave. For now, we're heading out."Brent e
Everything was ready, but they couldn't just walk in.Ruth instructed the Combat Department to conduct a three-day intensive training for everyone, focusing on coordinated combat.-After three days, the forces led by Stealthbane moved out, first dismantling the outer defenses of the Ark. This was their specialty!A large group of several hundred arrived in front of the Ark's entrance. At first glance, it resembled a mountain.Jack scratched his head and said, "Is this the gate? I don't see any door."The Holy Templar's people arrived as well. St. Pius said, "Everyone, don't rush. Wait for two minutes. Once the gate opens, we need to get in quickly. I have other plans inside, but once we're in, it's going to be a life-or-death battle! No one should show any mercy!"Stealthbane flexed his fists and replied, "Do I look like a good guy to you? Just watch me deal with them!"No sooner had he spoken than there was a tremendous roar. The ground shook, and the door of the Ark swung