When Lin Chuan drove up to the attack site with the two others, long police tape cordoned off the area. Curious onlookers crowded beyond the yellow line. Security personnel had cleared a path though. After Lin Chuan flashed his Awakened ID, their vehicle was quickly waved through.
But he stopped after driving only a short distance.
"Damn, the road ahead’s wrecked," Lin Chuan said with a hint of helplessness, eyeing the distance. "Even my god-tier driving skills can’t handle this." Potholes of all sizes pocked the road ahead. Forcing the car through would either trap the wheels or send it bouncing wildly.
He definitely didn’t want headlines like "Shocking: Awakened Caught Having Car Sex During Mission" tomorrow. His dad would beat his brains out without asking questions—especially with his sister in the car.
"Was this from a battle?" Lin Tang asked in surprise after stepping out, taking in the devastation.
Strangely, no one was around. But a block ahead, explosions boomed constantly. Tiny dots hovered in the sky—Awakened with flight abilities.
"They must’ve fought from here to there," Lin Chuan said. He scanned the ruined buildings, shocked by the battle’s ferocity.
"This isn’t too bad," Feng Ye remarked. "I recall a fight once that erased half a city. Afterward, the Awakened Association banned S-Class and above from urban combat. Even then, they must cap their power below S-Class."
"When was that? I never heard of it," Lin Tang asked skeptically. "Brother Feng Ye, were you in that battle?"
Lin Chuan turned curiously too. Under their stares, Feng Ye realized he’d misspoken.
"Uh, that battle was in the Other World. I was just a spectator," he quickly added.
"Really?" Lin Tang eyed him doubtfully.
"Y-yes," Feng Ye said, rubbing his temples. Her gaze was razor-sharp.
Luckily, a distant explosion saved him. Towering flames instantly drew the siblings’ attention.
"We should hurry," Lin Chuan said. "Delay much longer, and we’ll miss the monster entirely." Many Awakened had already joined the fight before their arrival.
Feng Ye disagreed. Though he couldn’t see the battle, he sensed a powerful presence and robust vitality there. The monster hadn’t taken real damage yet.
The combat zone wasn’t far. After circling the obstructing buildings, they spotted the monster rampaging through the next block.
It stood over ten meters tall, massive with three mismatched heads—like a stitched-together bio-engineered beast. One head spewed a pillar of flame, scorching the sky.
An Awakened strained under an enlarged shield, blocking the fire. His pale face and sweat-drenched brow showed he was near his limit.
Elsewhere, Awakened attacked fiercely. Some swung heavy swords with grand slashes; others swept long staves in wide arcs. All channeled their Spirit Energy, giving their all.
But they weren’t strong fighters. The monster’s tail swept, sending many flying. One head roared, spitting green slime projectiles. Where they landed, charred craters melted into the ground.
"So that’s how those potholes formed," Lin Chuan muttered, finally understanding.
"This monster must be at least B-Rank," Lin Tang said worriedly.
"Don’t sweat it," Lin Chuan boasted. "Yesterday, we took down an A-Rank War Spirit." After his dad’s beating, he’d grasped how terrifying A-Rank was. Remembering he’d killed it with one slash, his confidence swelled. "This B-Rank thing? Even without my Divine Artifact, I’ll crush it." He summoned his War Spirit katana. "Just watch and record my heroic moment."
"Hey, don’t go seeking death! I killed that War Spirit yesterday," Feng Ye almost shouted but held back. Revealing too much would expose his identity faster. Knocking out Shadowblade with a brick yesterday had already made him seem nearly A-Rank.
"Sigh, this idiot’s at it again," Lin Tang thought, having zero faith. She knew how terrifying his Divine Artifact’s boost was. Even if he’d slain the A-Rank War Spirit with it yesterday, that didn’t mean he could match this monster bare-handed.
Just as she expected, Lin Chuan soon sprinted back, katana in hand, yelling for help. Acid projectiles chased him relentlessly.
Lin Tang swept her Crescent Moon Saber. A crescent-shaped energy slash intercepted the acid globs, letting Lin Chuan retreat safely.
"Now see the strength gap?" Lin Tang teased. "Still think you can kill it?"
"It’s ’cause I lack my Divine Artifact! This ugly freak’s no match for me otherwise," Lin Chuan panted stubbornly.
"Hah? Didn’t you just claim you’d kill it without your Artifact?" Lin Tang sneered.
"Did I say that?" Lin Chuan played dumb. "You misheard. I’m one with my Artifact. Only with it am I complete."
"Dad said he’d pass it when you survive his punch. Guess you’ll stay incomplete forever," Lin Tang shot back mercilessly.
"Hey, kids!" A giant shield-bearing man shouted just as Lin Chuan nearly had a heart attack from his sister’s sharp tongue. "Can you hold one head for a minute? Others will handle the rest."
"Just one minute? Easy! Fenglin Squad accepts," Lin Chuan declared before the others spoke. "Half an hour? No problem with us three!"
The man stared at him like he was an idiot—he’d just seen Lin Chuan chased by one head. Only the girl’s sharp blade aura and their trio made him ask. He even thought it too much.
"Mister, ignore this fool," Lin Tang said. "One minute? We’ll try."
"Then I’ll leave it to you," the man replied, relieved. He keyed his chest communicator: "Cold Shot, prep your attack. We’ll hold the monster."
He roared, slamming his shield down. Spirit Energy surged—the ground trembled, then earth spikes erupted toward the beast.
"Now! Attack!" he bellowed as the spikes pinned the monster.
Other squads struck two heads as planned. Feng Ye’s trio moved too.
"Hmph, time to show my real power," Lin Chuan said. Spirit Energy flooded his katana, transforming it into a broad-bladed greatsword—his ultra-rare skill, Explosive Spirit Blade, first stage activated.
He leaped high on a Spirit Energy burst, slashing at a head. Ten meters would be impossible for normals, but not for Awakened.
His greatsword pressured the monster. Its claws were tied up, so only the giant head countered—mouth gaping, spewing a huge acid glob.
"This idiot, must he show off?" Lin Tang sighed. But she flicked her Crescent Moon Saber. In Feng Ye’s shocked gaze, her body materialized beside the monster. Her slash unleashed a massive crescent-shaped blade aura.
