That sensation was magical yet hard to pin down—like the sudden clarity after solving a complex math problem through tedious calculations.
As if something new had settled in his mind, though he couldn’t say what.
At that same moment, Senior Yu stood frozen too.
"ROAR!!!!"
The monster gave them no time to linger. With a furious bellow, it raised its claw and swiped toward Ming Yi.
The monstrous, fleshy claw loomed larger in Ming Yi’s pupils. Instinctively, he threw his arms up.
No searing pain came. Instead—a sharp *clang*, like metal striking metal.
Then, a colossal force slammed into him, hurling Ming Yi backward.
*Thud!* His back crashed hard against the rubble wall. Bones felt shattered. Blood sprayed from his mouth.
"Xiao Yi!!" Senior Yu’s shout echoed from afar.
After coughing blood, that strange sensation sharpened. His blood felt alive—responsive as his own limbs. A single thought, and it might move.
But agony fogged his mind. He couldn’t focus.
The beast advanced. Vision darkened. Consciousness faded. Even Senior Yu’s cries grew distant.
*This is it.* Ming Yi’s last thought before blacking out.
---
---
Watching the monster about to pulp Ming Yi, Yu Chen snatched a stone and hurled it without thinking.
It bounced off the beast’s hide, rolled weakly, and dropped.
The monster turned, glaring at the audacious ant. Another roar—and it charged Senior Yu.
*Damn.* His heart sank.
But before it took two steps—a dark crimson blur shot from afar.
*Thwip!* It pierced the skull clean through.
Unstoppable force sent the three-story-tall body flying backward, slamming deep into the rubble pile.
"SKREEE!!!!" The monster thrashed wildly—then stilled.
A man in black combat gear and a hooded cloak leaped down from nearby ruins. Under Senior Yu’s stunned gaze, he strode to the corpse, yanked out the crimson object—a strangely ornate, eerie spear—sliced the throat, and retrieved a red stone the size of a small apple.
He approached Senior Yu, studying him closely.
Senior Yu sized him up too: same height, lean yet powerfully built limbs, sharp East Asian features half-hidden by the hood.
"Not a ‘Resident’?" The man’s voice was low, cold—and perfectly clear Mandarin.
*Resident?* Senior Yu froze.
The man frowned. "As expected. So the Third Generation rumors are true."
*Third Generation?* Senior Yu’s guard shot up. *Native? Hostile? How does he survive here?*
"Um—"
The man cut him off with a dismissive wave. "Save your questions. Take your friend. Follow me. Answers will come."
"My friend’s hurt! Can you—"
Without waiting, the man placed the red stone in Ming Yi’s palm and crushed it.
Crimson threads bloomed, swirling gently. Wounds sealed before their eyes. Ming Yi’s pale face flushed with color.
*What…* Senior Yu stood dumbfounded. *Here, even common sense gets rewritten.*
The man’s eyes flickered—almost imperceptibly.
He’d seen it clearly: moments ago, Ming Yi’s spilled blood had spread like a shield, blocking the fatal blow.
"Instinct? But that shape… not like any artifact…" he murmured.
He hoisted Ming Yi onto his shoulder, shot Senior Yu a cool glance. "Lead me to your others—if they’re still alive."
---
---
"Mmm—" Ming Yi opened his eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling.
"Hey! He’s awake! Seriously awake!" A familiar, mischievous voice chirped. *Xiao Chengcheng, that scoundrel.*
"Xiao Yi, you’re awake," said Senior Sister, her gaze warm with concern. "Any discomfort?"
Ming Yi turned. Old Lei and Dandan beamed beside the bed. He shook his head. "None. Actually… weirdly energized. Zero fatigue."
He touched his chest—no pain, no scar.
"What happened? How did I escape?"
"If you want answers, follow me," a flippant voice called. At the door leaned a short orange-haired boy in odd camo-like gear. "Captain and Vice-Captain’ve been waiting."
He turned and walked off.
Ming Yi finally noticed: this was no ruined hovel. A clean dorm-style room.
He rose and followed. Down the hall, they entered a cafeteria-like hall.
Four others in matching outfits milled about—chatting, fiddling with retro military-style tablets, dozing against walls.
At the center table sat the hooded man… and a woman in a brown beret, trench coat, boots, and jeans. Freckles dusted her radiant smile.
Her grin widened at their arrival. Arms spread wide, she declared:
"O unfortunate yet fortunate deceased of the Third Generation—"
"Welcome to your new lives, starting today—"
"Welcome to—"
"The Shattered Realm."
