Gaze across the city

Su Chen, devoid of any malicious intent, found himself drained of energy. The powerful force emitted by the talented individual had rebounded, depleting his own reserves. With his body weakened, Su Chen plummeted from the heavens, hastily retrieving a power bank to replenish his energy.

Thankfully, the armor encasing his body provided a shield against immediate threats, alleviating his concerns.

However, it was the bearded leader's words that momentarily stunned Su Chen, leaving him perplexed and dumbfounded.

To have survived amidst the cataclysm and assemble such a formidable group of individuals indicated a certain level of cunning.

Before Su Chen could utter a word, the opposing leader concluded his speech and hastily interjected, "No need for thanks, brother. We shall depart... until we meet again, farewell..."

With that, he whisked away the stuttering talent, who seemed eager to voice his thoughts, retreating alongside his comrades down the alleyway.

They had been the mantis, preying upon the cicada and the oriole. Little did they anticipate that their intended prey would awaken a dormant beast, forcing them into a desperate retreat.

Su Chen sighed inwardly, then turned on his heels, wordlessly advancing toward the convoy.

On the other side, the bearded leader and his accomplice led their group, distancing themselves from the scene before releasing the stammering talent. The realization dawned upon him, and he stammered, "Big brother, h-he humiliated us... w-we..."

"Enough of your nonsense!" The bearded leader's countenance darkened. "What are you thinking? Do you still wish to reclaim our lost honor? We should count ourselves fortunate to escape with our lives. Did you witness the fate of those motorcycle riders? They were ruthlessly slain without a shred of mercy. I suspect our adversary spared us merely to maintain his reputation. Moreover, despite possessing three talents among us, your abilities remain underwhelming. We are utterly defenseless against his impervious armor. It surpasses even the military's cutting-edge equipment. We cannot contend with such a ruthless individual. Let us abandon this futile endeavor!"

The stammering talent's face turned gloomy. "We... the oriole... became grandsons instead. I-I..."

The bearded leader, equally exasperated, sighed. Though their spirits were dampened, their camaraderie remained strong. He spoke, "Let it go. The fact that our third brother still draws breath outweighs everything else. As long as he survives, our family will endure. Besides, we possess ample supplies and firearms. Once we venture beyond the city's confines, we will have a solid foundation for survival. We need not vie for larger spoils that only invite danger. The world grows increasingly treacherous, making our path all the more arduous."

The taciturn man remained silent, his gaze filled with contemplation as he cast frequent glances over his shoulder.

　　...

On the opposite side, Su Chen swiftly returned to the bus, his suit disheveled, ready to relay something to Su Wenhao.

However, in that very moment, the earth quaked violently, accompanied by a deafening, rending noise echoing from a distance.

Heads turned in unison as all eyes beheld the sight of the blood-colored crevice in the sky erupting with an intense glow, casting an eerie crimson radiance across the entire heavens. Then, a blinding flash of incandescent light descended from above, disappearing into the farthest reaches of the horizon with a resounding boom. The ground shook violently, causing a dilapidated building in the distance to crumble, and a street lamp on the corner toppled over. Subsequently, a cacophony of thousands of blood-curdling roars reverberated from the farthest reaches of the world, as a colossal black monstrosity soared through the city's expanse, resembling a flock of birds fleeing from the blazing brilliance.

The chilling cries echoed throughout Yuan Liao City.

Amidst the violent tremors, a bus toppled over, plunging the surroundings into chaos in an instant.

Yet, amidst the continuous flashes of light, a sense of unspeakable dread washed over the sensitive and gifted individuals.

There was an overwhelming feeling that a horrific, overwhelming gaze was meticulously scanning the entire city—every person, every corner.

None could escape the scrutiny of this all-encompassing gaze.

The entire city's inhabitants were exposed under its piercing scrutiny, as if insignificant ants subjected to a cursory glance by a human observer.

However, Su Chen abruptly halted.

For he felt that the terrifying gaze had fixed upon him, its cold, indifferent stare penetrating to his very core.

A bone-chilling coldness pervaded his heart, leaving Su Chen utterly startled.

No.

No, that gaze was not directed at him; it was the Ring of Anowal!

In that instant, Su Chen sensed that the Ring of Anowal, which had nearly fused with his being, responded with a peculiar surge of energy. It grew scorching hot, emitting an insatiable, abyssal suction that greedily demanded replenishment. Su Chen, now bereft of significant energy reserves, found the meager remnants swiftly drained, only for the insidious gaze to redirect its ravenous hunger toward the horrifying presence beside him.

It was as if... a retaliation.

Most astonishingly, the Ring of Anowal actually acquired something from that ominous gaze.

In that fleeting moment, Su Chen couldn't ascertain the sensation, but it was all too brief. The gaze vanished, and the Ring of Anowal gradually cooled, its hunger abruptly quelled. As quickly as it had taken, the feeble traces of energy it had siphoned from Su Chen were unceremoniously returned in disgust.

His heart pounding fiercely, Su Chen swiftly discerned a change in the Ring of Anowal.

Upon its bronze surface, a crack had emerged, akin to peeling paint, exposing an immaculate, unfathomable darkness beneath.

Such an occurrence seemed impossible; Su Chen had meticulously examined the ring and knew its bronze texture was impervious to damage, making it inconceivable for the paint to peel off.

He surmised that this alteration resembled a mechanism within the Ring of Anowal, a defense against prying eyes, and it had suffered damage during the encounter with...

That gaze...

Could it be... an evil deity?

Amidst the turmoil of the military convoy, chaos reigned. Su Wenhao, overwhelmed by the unfolding events, displayed visible signs of anxiety. Su Chen's heart raced with tension as he grappled with the shattered state of the Ring of Anowal, leaving him utterly bewildered. Reacting instinctively, he took a cautious half-step backward, seeking refuge in a secluded spot where the crowd was sparse. With a trembling hand, he reached out to touch the peeling darkness, his curiosity demanding answers.

Yet, the moment his fingers made contact, an abyssal void stretched out before him—a desolate expanse, distant, profound, and utterly empty.

Besides this disconcerting revelation, no other changes became apparent.

That dark crevice appeared to connect to an alien realm of boundless silence and impenetrable darkness!

Su Chen pondered for a moment, his gaze shifting toward the crowd reassembling nearby. Shaking his arm, he attempted to absorb energy as he had done countless times before. To his surprise, the process proceeded as usual. After a moment's consideration, he marshaled the minuscule trace of energy that had been forcefully expelled, directing it inward. This time, he sensed a faint resistance, as though there existed a tenuous link to that dark expanse.

With a brief pause, Su Chen retrieved the power bank he had used earlier, discreetly positioning it atop the wristband of his left hand, shielding it from view with his body. He then focused on stimulating his body's energy once more.

What transpired next bordered on the incredible.

The feeble light emitted by the power bank flickered, and in the blink of an eye, it vanished into thin air. It materialized at the apex of the bottomless dark void, hovering silently without any visible support. Su Chen mustered the last vestiges of energy within him, injecting it into the void. Success! The power bank reappeared in the palm of his hand.

"What in the world..." Su Chen murmured, his mind a whirlwind of confusion. "What is happening here?"