Bai Ming had only felt true fear once in his life—when his sister, Bai Ruoshui, was on the brink of death. His hair stood on end. His brain crackled like it had been struck by high-voltage current. Sweat poured down his face. Every muscle in his body turned weak as if drenched in acid…

He still remembered that feeling. It hadn’t vanished even after gaining "power."

"*Ah, yes, yes—that’s the look!*"

Veins bulged on Li Scar’s neck as he glared, teeth clenched, at Shen Yuan Yuhu’s feigned calm. "*Disgusting.*"

He’d seen that defiant expression before. Vividly. It was etched into his memory alongside the most thrilling thing he’d ever done.

His facial muscles twitched. His grip tightened. Li Scar’s right hand—clamped around Shen Yuan Yuhu’s throat—suddenly jerked upward, hoisting her into the air.

"*That maddening look… just seeing it makes me want to vomit.*"

Killing intent surged in his mind before he even realized it. He hadn’t expected this little girl’s laughter to ignite such fury.

"*Heh heh heh… Are you… afraid, Li Scar?*"

Her voice stayed calm, but its rasp was unmistakable now. Blood flooded her throat. In minutes, suffocation would claim her.

"*Afraid?*"

Of course not. He had no use for such weakness. How could this dying girl even think to say such things?

"*The one cornered… is you… The arrest order outside… must’ve changed to shoot-on-sight… after that commotion…*"

"*So what? You saying I fear death, little girl?*"

"*No. I wouldn’t waste words on that. If you feared death, the Hero Association wouldn’t have branded you a criminal.*"

Still, Shen Yuan Yuhu kept her smug smile. Knowing death was near, she had things to do. So many things…

"*But… if you’d just focus entirely on me… and listen to my rambling…*"

"*Wha—*"

Li Scar whirled around. Too late.

Only his unconscious comrades remained on the floor. Everyone else was gone.

"*You… you bastard…*"

Now he understood why Shen Yuan Yuhu had laughed so boldly.

She’d only wanted his attention… to let the others escape safely. Such a simple, direct trick.

And now, the shoot-on-sight order could be carried out. Only Shen Yuan Yuhu, Li Scar, and his gang remained in the mall.

Bai Ming finally grasped it too. The Hero Association’s "Hero" outside likely had an ability too vast and uncontrollable—too dangerous for civilians trapped inside.

But in that sliver of time, Shen Yuan Yuhu had achieved her goal. Everyone had evacuated.

Yes. Her purpose was fulfilled.

A ring of silvery-white light flared around the mall, slowly engulfing the entire building.

"*Ah… it begins?*"

Bai Ming had been hiding in the shadows long before the light appeared. He’d felt that pure, heavy power swelling—now sharpening into a threat.

Time to leave. Or Ruoshui’s carefully bought clothes would be ruined for nothing.

All he could do was sigh softly… and slip away.

The show was over. Time to disperse.

He despised "Heroes." Especially those who called themselves that. In the end, they were always abandoned. Forgotten.

He wasn’t like Shen Yuan Yuhu—someone who tossed away life so easily. That wasn’t human. Just a lab rat. Dying for others.

A life both tragic and bitterly ironic.

"*Sis! You gotta come too!*"

Bai Ming had turned to leave countless times. Yet something always pulled him back.

A boy in a baseball cap burst from the crowd, jumping and waving toward Shen Yuan Yuhu.

"*Yuta!*"

His mother’s grip had slipped. The boy had followed his own will here.

Ah… Shen Yuan Yuhu wasn’t abandoned. A child still remembered her.

"*Wh… why…*"

"*HAHAHAHA! A stroke of luck, little girl! My life’s always been blessed—I believe in fate!*"

Li Scar released Shen Yuan Yuhu. He charged toward the boy, fury still burning from her trick.

He deliberately slowed his pace. Waiting.

Predictably, another figure shot past him before he’d taken three steps.

Shen Yuan Yuhu reached the boy first.

Just that short sprint—barely a hundred meters—had drained her completely.

"*Ghk—*"

She threw herself forward, clutching the trembling boy.

"*Huh?*"

They tumbled to the floor. The boy looked up at Shen Yuan Yuhu’s terrified face, clueless.

Outside, the white light blazed brighter. The Hero’s attack was imminent.

Whatever it was, everything alive inside the mall would be erased.

Li Scar was already upon them. His fist clenched, knuckles cracking. An unnatural gust swirled around him. When he stopped, aiming squarely at Shen Yuan Yuhu’s head, the floor cracked beneath his feet.

This punch carried killing intent.

He wouldn’t have thrown it if she hadn’t run. He’d counted on her "heroic" instinct to protect the boy.

"*Cling to your meaningless ‘justice’… and die with that brat.*"

No mercy. His fist slammed down like a sledgehammer forged from ten thousand tons of steel—straight for her skull.

*Fool. Sacrificing yourself to protect others. Who taught you that? Who made you do it?*

*No one.*

*So all this… is just self-delusion.*

"*That’s why I loathe ‘heroes’…*"

***BOOM!***

The floor shattered. Dust and debris filled the air. The shockwave punched a hole through the nearby wall…

"*Huh?*"

Li Scar blinked.

A black-haired man now stood before him. Unharmed. Unmoving.

His bare hand had caught Li Scar’s fist mid-swing.

Shielding Shen Yuan Yuhu and the boy.