Chapter 71 Different Battlefields
Crimson starlight cascaded over Chuan Ye City, enveloping the entire city in chaos.
On the streets, people were scattered everywhere, unconscious from the starlight, lying on the ground as if their souls had been instantly drawn away.
Out-of-control vehicles crashed through the streets, causing a series of accidents that blocked the neighborhood entirely.
Only a few beings with extraordinary powers could still maintain their consciousness under the eerie starlight.
But they could also feel their magic and vitality being drained away.
The moment the crimson star descended, the local SEMA branch in Chuan Ye City immediately reacted.
Though they had yet to fully comprehend the true nature of this mysterious star, based on its effects, SEMA provisionally classified this extraordinary disaster as—
Disaster Rating: 7.
With Minister Ueda temporarily unreachable, command fell to the newly arrived Makki.
At this moment, Makki was utterly at a loss for how to act with everything happening before him.
“Mr. Makki, the investigation results are out.”
An analyst rushed over, the report in his hand trembling slightly, clearly taken aback by the unexpected findings.
The high-hanging crimson star was quietly absorbing all the magic within Chuan Ye City with an invisible force.
“The starlight from that star is absorbing the magic of the entire city at an astonishing rate—”
“Especially the fantastical creatures that keep emerging in Chuan Ye City; it seems the starlight is ‘recycling’ them.”
The analyst paused for a moment, taking a deep breath as if to calm his shaken heart before continuing:
“The magical fluctuations emitted by both are nearly identical, their natures are very similar, like they are of the same existence.”
“The samples we have in the experimental database confirm this.”
SEMA had always monitored the unique fantastical creatures in this city and had collected numerous samples.
But at this moment, those samples were disintegrating under the starlight, as if drawn back to the embrace of the crimson star.
This meant that the source of all Chuan Ye’s anomalies was surfacing.
“Worse, this starlight not only affects the magical creatures but poses a lethal threat to ordinary people as well.”
“Even if they have no magic within them, the starlight is slowly draining their physical strength and vitality.”
The analyst’s voice grew somber, filled with unease:
“That star is like an embryo craving nutrition, crazily absorbing everything in this city, as if it intends to drain it completely—”
After hearing the analyst’s report, Makki’s heart was in turmoil, like a fire burning with nowhere to vent, leaving him anxious and restless.
Could it be that this tumultuous crimson star was merely a prelude?
This far exceeded what he, as an ordinary person, could handle.
What to do? With Minister Ueda absent, all decision-making weighed on him.
But could he really cope with this unknown disaster?
Just when Makki felt he was about to crumble under this sudden pressure, his phone in his pocket vibrated.
He hurriedly pulled out his phone, still holding a sliver of hope, thinking it might be a message from Minister Ueda.
However, when the screen lit up, what greeted his eyes was a text message.
【Raise the threat level to above level 9. Sound the alarm, order all city residents to stay indoors to avoid being exposed to the starlight. Contact the hunters and quickly transfer all unconscious individuals indoors.】
The sender was unknown.
But the content of the message was brief and clear, with a tone that brooked no argument.
That decisive tone seemed to guide him through the darkness, carving a fissure through the confusion in Makki’s mind.
Memories of the “bodies” he had once encountered in Chuan Ye flickered through Makki’s mind.
That mysterious existence hidden behind the scenes.
Did it intend to command the SEMA branch through him?
Although Makki still couldn’t determine the identity of the other party, one thing was clear—
Its purpose was to protect the city’s residents.
“Until Minister Ueda returns, I will take command.”
Makki took a few deep breaths, striving to calm himself.
Now, the direction and content of the work were clear.
What he needed to do was to give his all to complete the task.
This was what he, as an office worker, was best at.
In the command center, all the monitoring screens flashed red alert symbols, and tension filled the room.
“Raise the disaster threat level to 9,” Makki’s voice rang out amid the clamor, carrying an undeniable determination.
This was the most important order at the moment. Because only when the threat level exceeded 8 would the SEMA branch have the authority to command ordinary citizens.
And that mysterious existence lurking in Chuan Ye City clearly understood SEMA’s internal regulations.
“Received. Chuan Ye City is now in full alert status.”
“Reassess disaster rating: 9.”
As the order was given, the red alert symbol flashed across the screens in the command center, and the light from the warning signals cast reflections on everyone’s faces, illuminating their grave expressions.
“This extraordinary disaster involves ‘Authority’ and ‘Noble Phantasms,’ and A-rank and below ability users are advised to avoid direct confrontation with the source of the disaster.”
“Requesting ACE-level assistance from headquarters.”
Makki quickly organized the instructions from the text into specific commands.
“Activate the evacuation alert system under the guise of ‘chemical leakage,’ ordering all citizens in the city to stay indoors, keeping as far away from that crimson glow as possible.”
“Also, immediately contact the city’s hunters; I want to talk to him personally.”
“Organize personnel to go outside and move all unconscious civilians indoors.”
“Remember, this task must avoid that patch of red starlight.”
“And tell me, where did Minister Ueda go?”
…..
…..
In the basement of the Heaven Institute mansion.
The air was heavy and cold, with weak, flickering candlelight on the walls.
Old Sang tightly gripped his double-edged sword, trying to sever the connection between the ritual and the vessel, or to shift the target of the ritual to something else.
However, every attempt had ended in failure.
The target of this ritual was far beyond the “King-type.”
The abilities residing within his double-edged sword could not impact it at all.
Meanwhile, Old Sang had to contend with Zongyue’s relentless attacks.
Endless shadows surged toward him from all directions like a tidal wave.
If it weren’t for the sword in his hand “severing” the connection to space, he might not be able to last even a second under such an onslaught.
Zongyue’s ability was an unbridgeable chasm for Old Sang.
No matter how gravely Zongyue was injured, as long as he transformed into a shadow, he could instantly recover.
The power Zongyue displayed was nearly enough to make Old Sang lose his will to fight.
The opponent not only could control shadow entities from a distance but could also switch freely between shadow and physical form.
Although Old Sang could sense Zongyue’s lack of combat skills from their exchanges, the gap in their abilities was insurmountable.
Even with Old Sang’s most basic physical enhancement that had elevated him to the rank of a gold-level hunter, vast experience and skills became powerless in the face of absolute ability disparity.
“Isn’t having the ability to ignore physical attacks a bit too much!?” Old Sang couldn’t help but grumble.
Before he could finish his sentence, Zongyue’s arm suddenly transformed into a shadow spear, instantly piercing through his right arm.
Old Sang was forcefully thrown against the wall behind him, creating a deep dent.
However, Zongyue didn’t pursue, seemingly not considering Old Sang a threat.
He merely donned that affectionate expression again, slowly approaching the silver-haired girl lying on the ground.
Just as he was about to get close to the girl.
A cold female voice resonated from behind him, as if echoing Old Sang’s complaint—
“Indeed, hunters are nothing but muscle-bound brutes who don’t think, right?”
“What?”
“With light comes shadow—”
A silver flash cut through the air, illuminating Ueda’s cold face standing at the door.
In the next moment, all the candlelight in the basement went out in an instant.
“Then you won’t be able to become a shadow, will you? You really chose an appropriate tomb for yourself.”
The next instant.
With a clear and brief “click,” a cold light sliced through Zongyue’s back, creating a smooth and clean wound.
Blood splattered onto the silver-haired girl in front of Zongyue.
“Something’s not right…”
Alice raised her head, her gaze quickly scanning the surroundings.
The warning came from the young man in the team.
His voice carried an unmistakable unease, as if the chill in the air had suddenly become more piercing.
“Something is approaching here.”
Alice also felt it: a sense of oppression.
Outside, heavy and rhythmic footsteps echoed on the snow.
The “crunching” sound resonated through the church, reverberating in the serene space, each step seemed to strike at everyone’s nerves.
The flames in the fireplace flickered lightly, reflecting the tense expressions on everyone’s faces.
After exchanging glances, each person quickly unleashed their fantastical spirit forms.
The air was suddenly filled with a tense atmosphere, with the brilliance of spirit forms intermingling with the firelight, as if heralding the battle that was about to come.
“DD-chan, are you not done yet?”
Alice asked in a low voice, her tone revealing a hint of urgency.
Yet, all that came in response was silence.
DD-chan’s thoughts seemed still lingering in the memories of the priest, desperately searching for some crucial information.
“It seems this time, it’s another defensive battle?” one of the team members joked.
“Ah, before DD-chan brings back information, we must hold this position.”
Alice sighed gently, her gaze gradually becoming resolute.
She slowly stood up, her fingers gently touching the contact lens over her right eye before removing it.
Golden dragon pupils flickered in the dim light of the flames.
Alice instructed the others to stay close to DD-chan and the priest while she ventured out of the back room and into the main hall of the church.
Her gaze swept around, landing on the tightly closed door.
Behind it lay a multitude of magical responses.
Moreover, the nature of the magic was highly consistent; it appeared to be of the same kind of creature created.
…..
…..
A black shadow raced like lightning over the vast ocean.
Its speed was enough to part the air, creating a deafening roar, as if even the sound barrier were being torn apart.
Towering waves surged on the surface of the sea.
The strong wind pressure sliced through the water’s surface, causing splashes to explode in the air, leaving a deep trace.
The girl riding the black shadow looked up at the sky.
That red star high above the firmament.
Like the purple-black starlight in her eyes.
It was flashing with ominous brilliance.
