Everything before her eyes was a sea of crimson.

Just from seeing the scene, this color flooded her mind.

It wasn’t cheap sauce or everyday ketchup. It was real—blood—flowing in every living thing.

That scene… Shen Yuan Yuhu had seen it before. She’d seen it…

Her father… She’d watched him die right before her eyes, powerless to act. The splattering blood bloomed like red spider lilies by the underworld river, scattering across the earth.

Blood stained her pupils, dripped onto her face, seeped into her skin. From that day, her reason for living changed.

“I have to… save him…”

Forcing her body upright, she ran toward Bai Ming, searching for gaps in Li Scar’s defense. She had to find a way. She had to save Bai Ming. When her attacks failed to harm Li Scar, she knew his true nature. Humans and werewolves… these races were never equal. The gap was immense.

Humans without “abilities” were like livestock before werewolves. If she didn’t act now, pulling Bai Ming from Li Scar’s range… Bai Ming… would die.

A simple, undeniable truth. A reality she couldn’t change or accept.

“I have to… ugh…”

Blood had turned her legs into rivers. After sending the boy away, weakened by blood loss, her mind relaxed. The strength holding her up vanished.

She stumbled and fell, unable to rise.

“Gurk…”

But she had to stand. To save Bai Ming…

She believed it deep down: humans couldn’t stand against werewolves. If her legs failed, she’d use her hands. If she couldn’t walk, she’d crawl. She had to stop this tragedy. She’d seen too many die before her. Too many…

The blood-soaked girl struggled on the ground, trying to push Bai Ming away with her weak strength.

Then, the man before her did something that froze her.

Casually, like on a stroll, he stepped forward. Unfazed, he walked toward charging Li Scar.

Naturally, he raised his hand. Naturally, he shifted his foot. Naturally, he straightened his chest. Naturally, he stopped.

Naturally, he drew his fist to his waist. Naturally, he took a punching stance.

“Ah, right. Earlier you asked my reason for fighting you. Call it a ‘reason’—it’s neither ‘intention’ nor ‘purpose’.”

He spoke without tension, without seriousness. Just naturally.

“First, your messing here delayed my home time. I couldn’t finish this morning’s game route.”

“Die.”

Before he finished, Li Scar was upon him. A fist carrying massive force slammed toward him.

Then, an explosion.

Inside the mall, darkness fell like pre-storm gloom. Where visible, the entire space shook. It sank, melted, trembling like an ocean. Before her, violent blast; behind, roaring winds. The mall filled with flying debris and choking dust.

“Ugh…”

The shockwave hit her, throwing her meters away.

“Ah… Aaaaaah!”

When she hit the ground again, she couldn’t lift her head. The explosion had shattered her resolve.

“Again… I failed again…”

That man… was dead.

“Why am I… so useless…”

She clenched her fists, nails digging into flesh, crushing tiny vessels.

But only for a moment of despair.

“Second.”

Hearing that furious voice, Shen Yuan Yuhu snapped her head up.

The man she’d sentenced to death stood naturally before her. With his bare hand, he caught Li Scar’s fist.

“Wha… No… Impossible… You…”

“Listen well. The second reason is crucial. Minutes ago, I saw the magical girl Lilum figure—that super limited edition I searched five districts for. You destroyed it just now.”

He spoke furiously, such inexplicable words. Shen Yuan Yuhu froze, staring deathly pale. Li Scar’s shock didn’t matter anymore. This man had captured her completely.

“That was… a hyper-realistic figure with removable clothes… even the underwear’s interior was perfect…”

Shen Yuan Yuhu saw it clearly: tears streamed slowly down his face, seeping into his mouth. Every word carried furious sorrow. He narrated hoarsely, pouring out heart-wrenching pain.

“Who cares about that! Who are you! Why such power!”

“…”

Then, Shen Yuan Yuhu saw the man’s body tremble. No mistake—he trembled.

He wavered.

“So, you still don’t grasp your mistake’s enormity?”

The man tightened his fist, bending slightly. His golden pupils locked onto stunned Li Scar. He bit his lip.

[Potential Unleashed 10%]

“Go to hell and reflect.”

Before Shen Yuan Yuhu’s eyes, another “explosion” erupted.