Sinan Ying supported me as we stumbled out of the warehouse. The thought that this icy storage room nearly became our grave sent shivers down my spine. Had Sinan Ying not unleashed her power at the last second, I’d have been torn apart by those insects.

But that no longer mattered. The real threat loomed before us.

“Beast tide…”

Sinan Ying whispered the words. I stood frozen, awestruck despite the danger. This was the most spectacular sight of my life.

Countless mutated beasts surged together like a colossal wave. Wherever it rolled, chaos erupted—more devastating than any flood or tsunami!

And this unstoppable tide was rushing straight at us!

“Find another place to hide!” Sinan Ying grabbed my arm, but after two steps—

“Huh?”

Her legs buckled. She slumped against me, turning the supported into the supporter.

“Damn it… First time controlling my Anomaly Power… Drained my mind completely…” Her voice grew faint. “I can’t run anymore. Go on without me, Xiao Ye… Xiao Ye?”

I couldn’t answer.

A guttural groan escaped me. I clutched the spot between my lower abdomen and chest—where my Blood Core pulsed. Earlier, forcing blood to expel poison had felt wrong. Now the Core vibrated violently, sending waves of agony through my body. It felt like I was being ripped apart!

“Xiao Ye! Xiao—”

Sinan Ying’s voice faded in and out. As pain consumed me, strange currents seeped from the Blood Core, flooding my veins. My blood boiled like water on fire!

My mind dissolved into static. Flashes tore through my thoughts—endless crimson seas, rotting mountains of corpses, shadowy halls, icy ocean depths, glittering Crystal Islands, majestic palaces… and a slender, eerie man with unnerving grace—

“AAAAAAAGH—!!!!!!!”

I screamed until my throat shredded. Savage energy erupted from every cell, tearing through my insides. If it stayed, I’d die!

*Release it!*

The beast tide crashed within meters. I could smell their rancid breath. *Perfect. You’ll be my first targets.*

“Go!”

Blood geysered from my body, forming a crimson arc that swept toward the horde.

The blood-ribbon held no blade’s edge, no whip’s crack. Yet the moment it touched the beasts—

*Crack-shink!*

“C-Crystals?!” Sinan Ying gasped.

Where blood met beast, crimson crystals erupted—not hardened clumps, but frozen blooms. They spread like vines, engulfing hundreds of creatures. Then—

*They bloomed.*

Crystal flowers unfurled in dazzling bursts. Razor-sharp petals speared outward, shredding flesh into crimson mist. The Blood Crystals gleamed like stained glass—beautiful, lethal. Massive crystalline spikes, shaped like Greatswords, crushed, shredded, and impaled beasts as easily as tearing cotton. No resistance. None.

The trailing beasts recoiled, instinctively fleeing the crystals. They wouldn’t dare approach.

“Incredible…” Sinan Ying stared, dumbstruck.

The violent energy spent, relief washed over me. The Blood Core stilled. Pain vanished. Only exhaustion remained—a deep, bone-crushing need to sleep.

“Secoooonnnndddd Liiiiittttlllleee Siiiiisssstttteeeerrrr! Yeeee!”

A voice boomed from above. That ridiculous drawl—only Li Cha. *Finally.*

He hoisted us both onto his back. With impossible speed, he dodged screeching birds and vaulted over the beast tide.

The violent night finally drew to a close.

---

Next day.

The beast tide had killed or injured over a thousand. Winteredge City’s hospitals overflowed. The Sinan Family deployed Anomaly Power healers onto the streets to ease the burden.

Buildings lay shattered across the city. Rubble and broken glass choked the roads, blocking rescue vehicles. The city drafted shell-shocked citizens to clear debris. Repair costs, rebuilding expenses, victim compensation… the total had reached astronomical figures. City officials looked ready to jump off roofs.

Sinan Yuan was drowning in crises. With Elder Hong down, command fell to her. Coordinating manpower alone was exhausting—let alone tending to Elder Hong, filing reports… Most critically, this beast tide had targeted *them*. The mastermind still lurked in shadows. Security had to tighten. No room for error.

As for the second young miss… Ye’s suspicion was fading. Sinan Yuan knew her sister’s power was too volatile for manipulation. If Ye were the traitor, she’d never risk being saved by that very power—she’d have died alongside her.

But her sister…

Sinan Yuan felt a flicker of warmth thinking of Sinan Ying. She’d awakened her Anomaly Power before age ten. For nearly a decade, her explosions had destroyed enough property to buy half of Winteredge City. High society’s youth branded her “Human Walking Bomb,” “Bomb Princess,” “Demolition Prodigy.” No one welcomed her.

Now she’d finally mastered her power. That once-wild force, tamed, would make Sinan Ying shine among Imperial Capital’s youth. She’d gain real influence in the family. No longer just a tool…

*Knock knock.*

“Enter.”

“Captain, the return ship is ready. The Family sent word—they’ve dispatched personnel to handle aftermath. We’re ordered back to the Imperial Capital for rest.”

“Personnel? With the four young masters fighting for power, manpower is tight.”

“They pulled people from the Imperial Palace.”

*Ah.* Sinan Yuan understood. The Palace was a hollow symbol—no real power. No major clan bothered with it.

“One more thing… It wasn’t just Winteredge City. Massive riots erupted across all Sinan territories recently. The main family is on high alert.”

“I see… Could the Cleone Clan be behind this? Striking while the Family’s divided?”

“Unclear. But Cleone’s the prime suspect.”

“Beyond our paygrade.” Sinan Yuan stretched, fatigue lining her voice. “This mission… is finally over.”