13. Bloody Night

New York Diamond Business District

This is the largest jewelry trading market in New York, filled with dazzling jewelry and diamonds.

"Hands up!"

A group of police officers armed with long guns aimed at Jacob and Newt, who were wearing gold and silver.

"Cough - lion." Jacob lifted his head high and pointed to the side.

"Roar!" A majestic male lion walking through New York's shopping street?!

Gah!

A scream echoed from the sky, and the lion fled in panic as if facing the most terrifying thing in the world.

"What?!" The police were confused.

Newt, holding the troublemaker Sniff in his arms, looked more solemn than ever before. "It's impossible... I confirmed that it didn't escape!"

"What?" Jacob looked up in confusion.

"Let's go!" Newt grabbed the box, took Jacob's hand, and disappeared in an instant...

Town Hall

A grand dinner is being held, or in other words, a gathering with ulterior motives.

The gorgeous hall is carefully decorated, adorned with blue and white stars and stripes, and patterns representing the Magnesium country can be seen everywhere.

Every guest is dressed up, and each one represents New York's upper-class elite.

It is no exaggeration to say that this group of people controls New York. Aside from the rotation of the sun and the moon, they can even determine the lives of millions of New Yorkers – their food, clothing, housing, transportation, and even their birth, aging, illness, and death.

On the only stage, a huge poster highlights the protagonist of tonight – Henry Shaw.

The senator, who is under 40, has even announced his candidacy for president in a high-profile manner.

On his portrait, a slogan stands out in bold letters: "The future of the country."

The host stood behind the microphone: "Ladies and gentlemen, tonight's guest speaker needs no introduction. Some have already called him the 'future president.' If you don't believe it, just read his father's newspaper—"

A piece of American humor caused everyone present to burst into laughter.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce New York City Councilman Henry Shaw to you!"

Amidst warm applause, the young and arrogant Henry Shaw came on stage. His carefully styled hair was perfectly in place, and his confident smile made him appear at ease in front of the noble audience.

He didn't have the stern look in the picture; that cool expression is only suitable for appearing in a photograph.

As a congressman and a presidential candidate, he still needed a persona that was relatable to the people.

"Thank you, thank you, everyone," Henry expressed his gratitude to the crowd. In the crowd, a teenager, who looked to be about fifteen or sixteen years old, sneered. In his eyes, Henry, who had appeared polite and confident on stage, was nothing more than a show-off, trying to distract from the unsightly...behind him.

"Howard, remain composed," someone said sternly.

Upon hearing this, the young man reluctantly gave a half-hearted applause.

Just as Henry was delivering his speech, a disaster unfolded a few blocks away...

One by one, the streetlights went out, plunging the area into darkness. Sounds of destruction followed.

Boom boom!

Floor tiles were lifted and rained down like hailstones. Cars on the street were tossed around like toys. Even the windows of nearby businesses shattered.

Absolute chaos!

The few pedestrians in the vicinity were petrified, their screams filling the otherwise silent night. They couldn't see what was happening, but the sense of invisible terror only heightened their fear.

The road was blocked by a building.

Gah!

Amid the screams, a massive hole was created in the wall.

Undeterred, he continued forward!

"Yes, we have made progress, but complacency will not be rewarded. Just like the prohibition of those drunken saloons..." Henry's speech was abruptly interrupted as an electrical issue disrupted the microphone. Old Henry, who was seated below and fully immersed in his eldest son's speech, turned his head in displeasure.

Tonight's dinner was of great importance, and he had specifically cautioned against any mistakes, no matter how small.

To his surprise, something had gone awry. The elder Henry contemplated terminating the person responsible for the sound system on the spot.

Henry furrowed his brow, but he couldn't allow everyone's attention to be diverted. He pressed on, saying, "And now the billiard room, as well as those private lounges..."

Before he could finish, the entire hall suddenly plunged into darkness.

A power outage?

Henry struggled to contain his growing anger.

However, the harsh sound of electricity crackling in the microphone interrupted him again, this time emitting a grinding noise that sent shivers down everyone's spines.

Empty...empty...

The muffled noise seemed to resonate from all directions.

The attendees couldn't help but feel a rising unease. The feeling was unsettling, akin to being swallowed by a giant creature. In the thick darkness, a powerful heartbeat reverberated within the stomach...

Whispers circulated among the crowd.

Anxiety was spreading.

All the strange noises abruptly ceased, leaving nothing but an eerie silence and the darkness that enveloped the unknown multitude.

This was the darkness before dawn!

It was the final drumbeat before the battle commenced!

Without warning, the closed wall burst open, revealing a colossal, black, and terrifying giant with glowing blood-red lines. With an ear-piercing roar, it ruthlessly attacked the grand hall! Neatly arranged small round tables were sent flying one after another, and upper-class people in suits and ties fell to the ground one after another. Bright light bulbs smashed and fell to the ground, causing a deafening noise. Chaos engulfed the entire city hall.

A group of unfortunate individuals silently passed through, destined to meet the same fate as Mary. They would all have their blood drained and become hideous mummies in fancy costumes!

Even those who managed to avoid the chaos were left feeling uncomfortable. It was as if they had been left hanging on a street lamp to dry for days, their skin parched and even cracked.

That entity rushed straight to the stage, causing everyone to abandon their cultivated manners and etiquette, leaving only terrified screams driven by instinct.

Standing alone on the stage, Henry Shaw had no time to react. In an instant, he was drained of all his life force by the terrifying power and torn apart.

His withered head rolled off the stage.

All of these disasters occurred swiftly and came to an end just as quickly!

A large hole was left in the wall where the poster had once hung, and there was nothing but screams and cries.

It was only then that people believed the terrifying entity had departed.

Old Henry stumbled through the wreckage. Just a minute ago, he had been so confident, but now his proudest son lay in pieces before his eyes.

Old Henry knelt beside his son. The white-haired leader of the media empire had completely lost his former wisdom and composure. Tears streamed down his wrinkled face as he tightly clutched his pained and frightened heart. His aged head was filled with grief.

"It's a Wizard!"