Zixuan and Claire soared high above the city, searching endlessly for Yichen and Shiyue.

"Sister, just now..."

Shiyue's severed arm in the room had suddenly dissolved into green photons.

Zixuan's face was etched with confusion too.

"I sensed Soul Power on her long ago, but flesh dissolving into Soul Power... She's definitely no ordinary Soul Force Wielder."

"Could she be like you, Sister?"

Zixuan shook her head.

"No. Her Soul Power aura is completely different."

Zixuan and Claire had been searching for Yichen and Shiyue for a while. When Zixuan returned, the two Soul Force Wielders assigned to protect Yichen would leave. So no one guarded him now, and Zixuan didn't know his location.

She guessed Yichen would take Shiyue to the nearest hospital first. Zixuan scoured the routes to nearby hospitals while having Claire contact them through the Soul Force Administration branch. But every hospital reported no sign of the pair.

Zixuan furrowed her brows tightly. The longer she couldn't find Yichen, the more worried she grew. Yet she had no choice but to keep searching.

For Yichen and Shiyue, every second stretched endlessly. Outside, the Monsters kept hunting relentlessly, now starting to invade houses.

Then, one Monster entered the yard of the house where Yichen and Shiyue hid.

Snuffle.

The Monster sniffed the air for scents.

Snap!

The sound of a snapped branch in the yard was unnaturally clear. Yichen and Shiyue pressed against opposite sides of the door, gripping their weapons tightly.

The Monster slowly stepped inside.

"Raaahhh!" "Yah!"

Yichen and Shiyue lunged with all their might at the Monster's head as it entered.

Yichen's knife slashed across the Monster's eye, drawing thick blood. Shiyue smashed its skull hard too.

But the Monster only staggered, not falling.

ROAR!!!

It roared and pounced at Shiyue.

Shiyue leaped aside. Yichen grabbed a chair in desperation and slammed it into the Monster. The chair shattered on impact. The Monster shook its body—the blow did nothing.

It turned on Yichen. He darted behind a table, but the Monster's claw smashed it to splinters.

Now unarmed, Yichen was pinned against the wall. He'd dropped the kitchen knife when grabbing the chair. Fear spread through his body. He fought his trembling, scanning the room for ideas.

"Yichen!"

Shiyue suddenly swung an iron rod at the Monster from the side.

ROAR!

The blow hit its head, but the Monster just shook off the daze. Its claw swept down, easily knocking Shiyue and the rod aside. It leaped onto the fallen Shiyue, pinning her arms with its forelimbs.

"Shiyue!!!"

Yichen snatched the knife and charged, but the Monster's claw sent him flying into the wall.

"D-Damn it! Let her go!!!"

Yichen staggered up immediately, rushing back. He feared the Monster would bite Shiyue's head any second.

ROAR!

Another Monster burst through the door, slamming Yichen aside.

Yichen lay face-down, lifting his head with effort. Pain wracked his body. The Monsters blurred before his eyes. Faintly, he saw Shiyue's wide, trembling pupils fixed on him.

At this rate, Shiyue would be devoured.

(Get up! Get up now!!!!!!)

Yichen forced his body to rise—stand, fall, stand, fall.

If only he had power.

He recalled Zixuan shattering a wall with one strike.

If only he had a weapon like his sister's!

"RAAAAGH!!!!!!"

Strength surged from nowhere. Yichen roared, charging at the Monster pinning Shiyue.

Another Monster lunged at him from the side.

"Get the hell out of my way!!!"

Yichen planted his feet in a horse stance, crouched low, and clenched his fist. As the Monster's jaws opened, he drove an uppercut straight into its chin.

His movements flowed seamlessly.

The ton-heavy Monster flew backward three meters.

"RAAAAGH!!!!!!"

Yichen roared again, charging the fallen Monster.

(If I had a weapon!)

Zixuan's sword filled his mind.

A strange sensation spread through Yichen's body.

He felt power surging within him.

A deep blue longsword materialized in his hand. Without thinking, he thrust it into the Monster's head and ripped upward.

Blood sprayed everywhere, drenching Yichen. The Monster dropped dead.

Yichen didn't pause. He pushed off the ground, lunging at the Monster on Shiyue. Sensing danger, it released Shiyue and roared at Yichen.

ROAR!!! "RAAAAGH!!!!!!"

They charged. At the clash, Yichen leaped high, dodging its claws. His sword traced a blue arc—severing the Monster's head clean off.

"Huff... huff..."

Yichen panted heavily, leaning on the sword stuck in the ground.

"Yichen, you..."

Shiyue stood and supported him.

Yichen shook his head, straightening up.

"I'm fine."

ROAR! ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!

Overlapping roars echoed outside. Countless Monsters surrounded the house.

Yichen gritted his teeth, dragging the sword toward the door.

"Yichen, where are you going?"

"Stay in the room. Don't come out."

Shiyue realized his intent and grabbed his hand.

"Yichen, no..."

Yichen yanked his hand free, glaring fiercely at her.

"Stay here!"

Shiyue had never seen such a harsh expression on him. She fell silent, staring blankly as he walked out.

Yichen stepped into the yard, guarding the door. He locked eyes on the first Monster entering.

(I will protect her—no matter what!)