From Apocalypse To Entertainment Circle (BL) Chapter 164: Toward City K

The sky above City S remained engulfed in flames.

Billowing black smoke obscured the daylight, transforming it into an eternal twilight. A suffocating miasma of blood, gunpowder, and charred flesh permeated the atmosphere. Corpses of monsters and zombies were strewn across every street and alley, painting the city as a vast, macabre graveyard.

Yet, amidst the utter devastation.

Amidst the widespread death.

And even as the echoes of terrified screams had not fully dissipated—

A flicker of something new began to dawn in people's eyes.

Hope.

Some survivors slumped to the ground, their sobs wracking their bodies, while others clutched their loved ones with a desperate grip, as if they had just escaped the clutches of hell itself.

"We... we made it..."

a woman stammered, her voice trembling as she held her child close.

Nearby, a soldier sat immobile, his gaze fixed on his blood-soaked hands, seemingly incapable of comprehending his own survival.

Military ambulances continuously navigated the rubble, and rescue teams worked diligently to tend to the injured.

But even within the heart of such overwhelming chaos...

Every gaze was drawn to a solitary figure.

Sian.

He stood motionless in the midst of the destruction, an embodiment of the catastrophe itself.

Flames raged behind him.

Blood pooled around his feet.

And the palpable, terrifying pressure emanating from his form deterred anyone from approaching.

Even the members of the ability-user squad regarded him with apprehension.

Lan Qishing inhaled slowly before finally making his way towards Sian.

"Are you wounded?"

Sian met his gaze with a calm demeanor.

"Nothing serious. Merely fatigued."

His complexion was pale, and though he had attempted to remove most of the blood, faint traces lingered on his skin. Beads of sweat traced paths down his forehead. To a keen observer, his hands betrayed a slight tremor.

In truth, Sian had just unlocked the secret to fully accessing his abilities.

The more he exerted them, pushing himself precariously close to the brink of death, the more his latent power awakened.

This was exemplified by his blood ability, which granted him dominion over the blood of his adversaries.

It stood as Sian's most formidable and lethal power, enabling him to manipulate the very lifeblood of both humans and non-humans. This very ability, however, was also the catalyst that plunged him into a ferocious, uncontrollable rage if used for extended periods or at its absolute limit.

Yet, earlier, he had only employed a fraction of its might.

Even so, the outcome had unfolded precisely as anticipated.

Should Sian disregard the weariness and the trembling, he could sense the power surging within him, growing more potent, more complete... threatening to overflow.

"Fatigued?" Lan Qishing let out a weary chuckle upon hearing Sian's understated response. "You just pulverized a monster the size of a skyscraper."

Lan Qishing harbored a multitude of questions for Sian.

He yearned for a proper conversation.

He wanted to express how profoundly he had missed him and inquire about his well-being.

But the pressing circumstances left no room for such pleasantries.

The world now lay in ruins, and the task of reining in these rampaging monsters and salvaging humanity seemed an insurmountable challenge within such a limited timeframe.

Lan Qishing’s thoughts turned to the countless lives already lost... and those perishing even as they spoke.

A profound sorrow settled heavily upon his shoulders.

As a soldier, his sworn duty was to protect the innocent.

Failure in this duty would render him...

Utterly worthless.

He Jinyun approached, wiping a smear of blood from his chin with a subtle, knowing smirk.

"Gege, you remain as formidable as ever."

His smile radiated an aura of unwavering confidence tinged with audacious arrogance. The silver mask adorning the lower half of his face lent him an air of captivating mystery, a charm befitting an individual wielding supernatural abilities. His golden eyes blazed with an intense light, reminiscent of the celestial golden lightning that had descended from the heavens earlier.

Meanwhile, Kira stood silently by Sian's side, her sharp gaze meticulously surveying their surroundings.

As if anticipating another impending threat.

Suddenly—

A soldier came sprinting towards their group.

"Captain Lan!"

Panting heavily, he held aloft a military-grade tablet.

"We've just received urgent new intel from headquarters!"

Lan Qishing’s expression shifted instantly.

"Report."

The soldier swiftly brought up a map display.

Dozens of ominous red dots were now scattered across the nation's map.

And the sheer quantity of them...

Was utterly terrifying.

A heavy silence descended upon the group.

"All these cities have been attacked?"

"Yes..." The soldier swallowed with visible nervousness. "City H came under attack thirty minutes ago. Our forces are currently attempting to contain the monsters... and we've completely lost all contact with City F. Satellite imagery indicates a colossal horde advancing towards the adjacent city."

Several soldiers nearby widened their eyes in disbelief.

"That's… impossible..."

But the soldier had more grim news to deliver.

"And what's worse..." he continued, his voice dropping to a near whisper, "the monsters are evolving."

A collective gasp escaped the group.

"What do you mean by that?"

Several images were highlighted on the screen.

Colossal monstrous beings.

Some were equipped with extra limbs.

Others bore grotesquely fused zombie forms, melded into their own bodies.

And then...

Creatures from the animal kingdom.

Lions.

Hounds.

Ursine beasts.

Even immense, mutated avian species.

"The contagion has now affected the fauna as well."

A heavy silence fell once more.

One soldier promptly felt a wave of nausea wash over him upon witnessing the visuals.

"Merciful heavens..."

"The zoological park in City K completely succumbed," the soldier stammered, his voice quivering. "The animals broke free... and subsequently became infected. Our assessments indicate that without intervention, City K will be the very first to fall entirely."

Lan Qishing slowly shifted his gaze towards Sian.

"City K... is next on the list."

He Jinyun's eyebrows lifted slightly.

"What is the number of these abominations?"

"The most recent estimations..." the soldier swallowed with difficulty, "exceeding four hundred thousand shambling undead... in addition to numerous mutated entities of unknown nature."

Even the individuals possessing special abilities appeared taken aback.

"That constitutes an entire legion..."

Lan Qishing let out a slow breath before directing his attention back to Sian.

"The city's defenses will not hold for much longer."

A brief silence stretched for several seconds.

Then—

Sian calmly turned his body around.

"In that case, we depart immediately."

All present were momentarily stunned.

"Immediately?!" one of the soldiers exclaimed. "You have just concluded a devastating engagement!"

Yet, Sian did not pause in his movement.

It was as if this sudden departure was an entirely routine matter for him.

...

Five minutes elapsed—

A colossal black helicopter descended gracefully onto one of the fractured urban thoroughfares.

He Jinyun offered a subtle smirk.

"This certainly evokes some fond recollections."

Kira silently adjusted her black glove.

"I was growing weary of the inactivity anyway. Let us engage in one more preliminary bout."