Chapter 87: Endless Fury

Ye Ling is in danger!

Franny shared the information with Xie Liu beside her. Xie Liu’s expression hardened, and a powerful murderous intent erupted from him. “Franny, where are they?”

“I sensed their presence last in the back mountain. But Ye Ling’s aura has vanished—they came prepared, concealing her mental fluctuations.” Franny pointed to a small path leading to the back mountain. Without another word, Xie Liu turned and sprinted away.

“Move! Everyone, get out of the way!” Xie Liu shoved aside those blocking his path, raising his badge high. “Hunting Squad on official business—everyone clear the way!” Seeing the road packed with people, he lifted his badge and shouted anxiously.

Yet most did not budge. They looked at him as if he were a fool, wondering what he was fussing about. This was the time of the Hunter’s Conference—hunters everywhere. No one else was making a scene; why was he?

No one moved. Xie Liu’s expression cooled after a brief pause, and the murderous intent in his eyes intensified, his pupils glowing a demonic red in the night, flashing a chilling light. “You people…” Xie Liu could no longer contain his fury. Just then, Franny gently pulled him behind her, facing the crowd.

“Greetings, everyone. I am Franny; I believe most of you know me.” Her voice rang out clear and confident. “I am the captain of the Silver Flash Squad directly under the Hunting Squad. I assure you, this gentleman is also a member of our direct team. We have urgent matters to attend to—please, allow us passage. Franny thanks you all in advance.” She bowed slightly.

After a moment of silence, the crowd parted to make a path. Franny nodded. “Thank you all!” She turned to Xie Liu. “Go!”

Xie Liu nodded. Now wasn’t the time for gratitude. He was about to set off, but Franny said, “Take me with you. They came prepared; you may not be able to handle this alone.”

He nodded, looking at Franny—though strong, her stamina was lacking; she could never match his speed. So he stepped forward, lifted Franny in a princess carry, and declared, “Let’s go.”

For once, Xie Liu did not tremble, as if his supposed fear of women did not exist. With a swift motion, he dashed forward.

Ye Ling, Angela—please, let nothing happen to you!

...

Angela fought against the stabbing pain in her mind, trying to rise but unable. Waves of exhaustion assaulted her nerves. She saw Ye Ling being taken away, powerless to help. “Why is it, once again, that I am so helpless?”

Tears welled in Angela’s eyes. Overwhelmed by relentless pain, she slipped into darkness.

When Xie Liu and Franny reached halfway up the mountain, they found Angela collapsed on the steps. They hurried to her side. Xie Liu examined her carefully, then spoke in a deep voice, “She’s alright—just fainted.”

Franny nodded, her gaze sweeping the surroundings. “There’s psychic force here, enough to drive away passersby. The other side has a psychic user, and not a weak one—someone who could evade my search. From what I know, only a level nine psychic from the Godslayer Squad, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, could do this.”

“The Godslayer Squad?” Xie Liu’s voice grew cold. He gently set Angela down. “Franny, can you locate them now?”

Franny closed her eyes. After a few seconds, she shook her head. “No. That psychic is very strong, and the search area is too wide—I can't pin them down.”

“I see.” Xie Liu nodded; it was as he expected. Franny was the strongest psychic, but the opponent was also a level nine. Though Franny would win a direct confrontation, hiding from her search was possible.

“Here’s what we’ll do. Time is short. Before Ye Ling is harmed, I’ll contact the Godslayer Squad captain, Oda Nobunaga.” Franny proposed a solution, but Xie Liu shook his head. “It’s too late already.”

“It’s alright, Oda is at headquarters. It’ll only take a few minutes to reach him.” Franny began searching for Oda, but Xie Liu shook his head again. “Human life is so fragile—sometimes it can’t wait even a few minutes.”

He looked at Franny, and in that moment, she saw his eyes and nearly screamed.

Those were not the eyes of a normal person. From the center of his pupils, countless tendrils seemed to grow, stretching to the corners of his eyes and beyond, reaching his temples. His blood-red pupils turned a silvery gray, their size pulsing in a rhythm like a beating heart.

“Xie Liu, you—!” Franny wanted to speak, but the aura emanating from Xie Liu made her tremble uncontrollably.

Overwhelming—absolute power!

How could he possess such strength? The aura made even her, a level ten, feel as powerless as an infant before him.

“You saw it today. Don’t mention it to anyone.” Xie Liu’s eyes, monstrous as those in Lovecraftian myth, swept over Franny. He flipped his hand, and a beam of light appeared in his palm, replaying the scene of Angela and Ye Ling being attacked.

“Temporal Rewind!” Xie Liu commanded in a low voice, throwing the light forth. It dissolved, forming several shadows—the Godslayer Squad members carrying Ye Ling away.

“Follow this shadow,” he said, lifting the unconscious Angela onto his back. “Let’s go.” His eyes had returned to normal now, but he glanced into the distance, worry etched on his face. “Let’s hope we aren’t discovered.”

...

Vladimir was sitting in his office, reading documents. He reached for his drink, then suddenly froze. In the next second, he leapt up, his coffee crashing to the floor, oblivious to the mess. He ran to the window, staring at the place where fireworks danced far away.

“Xie Liu, so you finally couldn’t hold back?” A faint smile curled his lips, growing into wild laughter. “Ha ha ha, at last—you couldn’t restrain yourself!” He flipped his hand, revealing a black hole the size of a sesame seed in his palm.

“Finally, I can use the Laws of Time and Space again. Though this is only the beginning.”

“The world is starting to unravel.”

...

“Hey, Xie Liu, what was that ability just now? Something new?” Franny couldn’t shake the shock Xie Liu had given her—the sense of oppression was terrifying. She knew if he’d wanted to kill her, a single glance would have sufficed.

“Forget what you saw. That power was never meant to appear. I only used its most basic form; if I used any more, the world itself might collapse.” Xie Liu spoke calmly. “Now, I’m just an ordinary person—just Xie Liu. Remember that. Even if I die, that power will never be used again.”

Franny wasn’t reckless—she sensed Xie Liu harbored a secret, perhaps a dreadful one. At last, she understood why Xie Liu, whose abilities seemed so mediocre, could enter the direct Hunting Squad. Perhaps Vladimir, the chairman, knew something.

They hurried along the corridor, reaching the mountain’s summit, where the shadows vanished. Xie Liu nodded. “It’s nearby—they haven’t gone far.”

“The most dangerous place is the safest, is it?” Xie Liu sneered, striding into a dark alley.

...

Ye Ling was jolted awake by cold water, opening her eyes to see three burly men standing before her, sinister smiles on their faces.

“Who are you? What do you want?” Ye Ling instinctively checked her robe—it was still on, and she breathed a sigh of relief. But her anxiety only deepened.

“Attila, didn’t you say you liked them conscious? She’s awake now—so much trouble.” Toyotomi Hideyoshi frowned. “I sense Franny approaching. Don’t take too long—I can’t keep her fooled much longer.”

“Heh heh, that won’t do. If it’s too quick, I won’t have time to enjoy myself.” Attila leered, approaching Ye Ling in the corner. Alexander snorted, “You’re always impatient. Why not take her away and enjoy her at leisure? And why the insistence on waking her—some kind of fetish?”

“I just want to see her resist and despair.” Attila licked his parched lips, moving closer.

“Stay back! What are you doing?” Ye Ling cried in panic, grabbing something nearby and hurling it at Attila. He dodged, sneering, “A rose with thorns? I like it even more.”

He stepped forward, barking a command. Ye Ling’s body trembled as a piercing sonic wave struck her mind, leaving her dizzy and limp.

“You… stay away…” Ye Ling tried to fight back, but Attila pinned her against the wall.

“Struggle a bit more for me, won’t you?” he leered, his thick hand reaching for her robe.

“No!” Ye Ling pleaded. With a ripping sound, her robe was torn open, revealing white underwear. “You’re even wearing that underneath!” Attila spat, “Even better, I—ah!”

Summoning some unknown strength, Ye Ling bit Attila’s arm. He screamed and slapped her hard, knocking her to the ground. “Damn it, I’ll play you to death!” He pounced, pinning Ye Ling to the floor.

“No! Get off!” Ye Ling sobbed, powerless against Attila’s brute force. Her clothes were being shredded. “Help me, someone, please help me!”

As if in answer, a city patrol officer happened to walk by.

“Stop! What are you doing?” The male officer, seeing Ye Ling pinned and disheveled, tried to intervene. “If you don’t stop, I’ll have to act.”

“We’re the Godslayer Squad, directly under the Hunting Team. Do you really want to interfere?” Alexander handed his credentials to the officer, who immediately stood at attention and saluted. “Sir.”

“Just pretend you didn’t see anything. Mind your own business.” Alexander spoke quietly. The officer frowned, seeing Ye Ling’s desperate cries and resistance, hesitated. “Sir, is this really…”

“Tell me your ID number. Maybe I’ll speak to the higher-ups—you’re a promising young man, worth cultivating. Trust us, we’re the Godslayer Squad.” Alexander cut him off. The officer’s eyes brightened, and he saluted, grinning obsequiously. “Understood, sir. Please take care of me. I won’t disturb your pleasure—here’s my number, and I’ll be on my way. I saw nothing.” With that, he turned to leave, ignoring Ye Ling’s cries.

Ye Ling could hardly believe it—a man in a city patrol uniform could simply pretend not to see. Attila laughed, “Don’t you get it? In this world, everything is decided by power. We, the Godslayer Squad, are strong enough—what are city patrols compared to us? They still have to obediently follow orders.”

“No one can save you. Tonight, you’ll be mine!” He reached for Ye Ling’s underwear.

Attila thought he’d finally see Ye Ling’s utter despair. But just then, Xie Liu’s voice echoed: “If you dare extend that hand, you’ll never grow it back.”