The silence after chaos was terrifying. Massive rubble formed a desolate wasteland, stripped of its former splendor, leaving only emptiness. Lives shattered, property destroyed—boundless sorrow festered wildly here. Panicked crowds filled the streets, scenes too heartbreaking to witness. Bodies lay arranged as if waiting for identification.

But such sights were nothing new to the boy.

Walking through the ruins, he stepped over corpses until he halted at a narrow alley’s entrance.

“N-no… please…”

“Hah! Never had a fox spirit girl before. Today’s my lucky day—I’ll enjoy this thoroughly!”

The voices from the alley caught the boy’s attention. He paused, glancing over.

A man in an expensive suit and his lackeys had cornered a girl. Her muffled cries escaped as they pinned her down. Unlike ordinary girls, she had fluffy ears atop her head and a tail swaying behind her.

Such beings were called monsters, facing deep prejudice—they’d only emerged as mutants a year ago.

The boy felt no interest. He’d seen many fox maidens; nothing novel here. Yet his indifferent gaze drew the man’s notice.

“Hey! Planning to play hero for this piece of trash?” the man snapped, irked by the boy’s aloof stare—it felt like utter contempt.

*Bullying? Or outright crime? After barely escaping life-and-death despair, they do this?*

*Whatever. Not my problem.*

The boy watched, unmoving, ignoring the man’s words.

“Tch!” The man clicked his tongue, signaling his thugs to release the fox maiden and surround the boy instead. He sauntered over to the trembling girl, relishing her fear. “Don’t be scared… I’m giving you a *special* chance—just for me.”

His meaning was clear: refuse, and she’d be shared among his men. Neither option was acceptable. She stayed silent, head bowed, body shaking, ears drooping like wilted petals.

The man’s laughter grew louder. He dragged her toward the boy. “Now, do as I say. Take off your stockings and stuff them in this punk’s mouth. You wanted to be the hero, right? I’ll grant that wish—let you *taste* beauty. Might be your only shot in life.”

As the man cackled, the terrified girl peeled off her stockings. But then—unexpectedly—she whipped them straight into his face. The sweaty fabric slapped against his skin. A pervert might’ve savored it, but her aim was pure defiance.

“Run! They’ll hurt you if you stay!” she cried, struggling against the man’s grip. She’d rebelled… for a stranger? The boy’s indifferent eyes flickered for the first time.

“You dare?!” The man roared, furious. The stockings’ reek and sliminess disgusted him—it felt like a slap. “Think this brat can escape? Fine! I’ll kill *you* first!”

He spat on the ground, yanking the girl close. His strength overpowered her effortlessly. His fist, charged with rage, swung down toward her head.

The girl squeezed her eyes shut. She knew the cost of her choice. She didn’t know if the boy had fled.

*But I don’t regret it. This man—cruel, vile—he mocked everyone’s grief while the city mourned. He shouldn’t exist.*

Seconds passed. No pain came. She opened her eyes.

The man’s fist hung frozen—clamped in the boy’s single hand. His face twisted in agony.

“Who did you say you’d kill?” The boy’s voice was deep, magnetic, laced with quiet menace. He pulled the girl into his arms with his free hand.

“Boss Xi!” The lackeys surged forward like rabid dogs. The boy smirked, flicking his unoccupied hand. In seconds, they collapsed, howling.

“It hurts!!”

“Who the hell *is* this guy?!”

They hadn’t seen his moves. But the fox maiden had—her enhanced vision caught every shift: a sidestep, a punch, bodies hitting concrete.

Before she could thank him, government troops encircled the alley. Armored police aimed rifles. Behind them loomed massive mechs, black cannons glowing with lethal heat. Superhumans lurked in the shadows, restless.

“Drop your weapon! No sudden moves, or—”

The boy scoffed at the scripted warning. He released the man’s wrist—*hard*—sending him sprawling.

The police tensed, fingers white on triggers. They knew bullets wouldn’t touch him. This was theater. A comfort.

For now, the threat seemed gone. Then Boss Xi staggered up, glaring at the boy. He sneered at the fox maiden trembling against the boy’s chest. “Tough guy, huh? Why not kill me? Oh wait—you’re just another criminal. Scum like this half-breed.” He spat. “You’ll see. Once you’re gone, I’ll make her suffer.”

The girl flinched, stepping back—and accidentally trod on the boy’s foot. He didn’t react. Leaning close, he whispered:

“Eyes… close.”

His palm covered her vision before she could blink. Then—*crunch*. His fist exploded the man’s skull. The body crumpled, lifeless.

Guns leveled. Cannons hummed. Pressure thickened the air. The boy didn’t flinch. Killing numbed you after a while. Especially vermin like this.

Behind him, the fox maiden clutched his shirt, trembling. He was her only anchor now.

A figure emerged from the police line—a slender girl with silver hair gleaming in sunlight. Her face was exquisitely sculpted, yet utterly blank, like porcelain.

Pain clenched the boy’s chest. He watched her approach, her voice cutting through the alley’s chill:

“Your defiance leaves us no choice. You’ll be chained and sent to the Abyssal Prison. For life. Any objections?”

*What’s the point?* He nodded, indifferent. The ice-cold girl snapped black cuffs onto his wrists.

Unseen by him, the dead man was an officer’s son—a spoiled predator shielded by power. Above the city, a colossal warship hovered, its vector bomb primed. The World Government spared no expense for threats like him. And commanding that ship? The grieving father.

“That bastard…! He killed my son!!!” The officer screamed at the screen in the ship’s cockpit. “Why didn’t they stop him?!”

“Stay calm, Commander Xi!”

“He surrendered! Abyssal Prison is the solution!”

Rage drowned reason. As fleet commander, he held launch authority. His son’s death erased all caution—civilians, comrades, the city itself meant nothing now.

He slammed the cold button. The warship roared. The vector bomb fell—a weapon surpassing nukes, capable of erasing nations.

“COMMANDER XI—!”

Too late. The bomb was already descending.

The boy looked up at the thunderous descent. Sunlight glared in his eyes.

*A bomb…?* He glanced at the fox maiden, then the corpse. A faint smile touched his lips.

“One last request,” he said, unmoved as the shadow swallowed them. The emotionless girl beside him didn’t stir.

Others either screamed and fled or quietly awaited death.

"Requirements?"

"I’ll enter the Abyssal Prison with you and defuse this bomb. In exchange, you protect this girl."

"That’s not my call—it must be reported upward..."

A cold voice cut in, but the boy ignored her.

"So, this is a demand. Fail it, and everyone dies."

"You failed my family back then. This time, don’t break your word."

His icy eyes radiated suffocating killing intent. Watching the bomb draw nearer, the boy grew tired of talking. With a slight flex, the handcuffs shattered into scrap. He leaped into the air, standing fearlessly before the blazing bomb.

Then, under every gaze, he smashed it with one punch.

The blast didn’t reach the ground, but its roar shook the entire city. Before the smoke cleared, he stood before the warship.

"Consider this a small punishment."

Brilliant light flared around him. A spear of pure radiance pierced the warship’s hull. The billion-dollar vessel crumpled into scrap.

As the boy landed, the warship crashed in the distance. The negotiating girl had received orders—she agreed. She re-cuffed him, surrounded by guards, ready to leave.

"Wait..."

The voice made him pause. He turned. Her face held firm resolve. Her ears, once trembling with fear, now flushed red.

The Fox Maiden he’d saved spoke.

"Can you tell me your name...?"

For once, the boy smiled—a clear, pure smile.

"Empty City."

Empty City was his name. But he was better known by another.

Emperor Heaven—White Chrysanthemum.