"We're here, this must be Snowfall City, right?"
"Speaking of which, you guys can speak Sunset language, can't you?"
The biting wind was fierce. Luo Rui, dressed in a thin overcoat, wore the organization's special form-fitting combat suit underneath. It could protect the wearer from the attacks of sinister entities and resist the bullets of pistols and rifles.
Moreover, it not only did not hinder movement but even allowed for more powerful exertion and faster speed.
Luo Rui couldn't afford it initially. However, for this mission, the organization provided him with contribution points, allowing him to pre-redeem a batch of cultivation items and equipment.
As for the potions provided during the mission, those were free.
Accepting this mission was a tremendous profit.
Accompanying Luo Rui in stepping onto this land were two other Firewood Warriors.
One was a woman in her late twenties, fashionably dressed. She smiled and said, "Of course. In my previous job, I often had to deal with foreign clients."
The other was a slightly older man, around his early thirties. He chuckled and said, "I know Sunset, Rhoden, and Surf languages."
Luo Rui's eyes widened. "Holy crap, you're a big shot!"
The older man laughed. "What big shot? If anyone's a big shot, it's you. You were among the first to pass the assessment at our training base, and now you've far surpassed us. You're a master."
"Ahahaha..."
Luo Rui was a bit embarrassed by the praise. He touched his head. "This mission will rely on our cooperation to ferret out the cultists' traces."
The mission description had already explained the horrors of cultists.
But Luo Rui was not afraid. He was already a second-tier Awakener. Under the guidance of his instructors, his awakened ability, 'Thousand Silken Threads,' had developed into various combat techniques. He had also learned two special skills, Palm Thunder and Sinister Tracking, and possessed a complete set of equipment.
He considered himself not weak among second-tier Awakeners.
His two teammates were the elder, proficient in multiple languages, codenamed 'Wind Whisper,' and the fashionable woman, codenamed 'Phantom Eye.'
Firewood did not require the use of codenames. They could directly address each other by name. However, if one chose to use a codename, it had to be reasonable.
For example, 'All the good codenames were taken by dogs' or 'Strongman eighteen times a minute.' Not only would such codenames not be approved by the organization, but individuals who chose these bizarre codenames might be sacrificed at any moment.
Codenames had to be serious.
Luo Rui hadn't chosen one yet, mainly because he hadn't thought of one that matched his abilities and sounded cool and explosive. Too explosive might also be difficult to get approved, so he had another idea.
He would make a name for himself and earn a 'recognized' title.
Just like the respected 'Strongest Sinister Hunter,' 'Shattering Fist Martial Saint,' Big Shot Xing, Martial Saint, which sounded incredibly impressive.
He was likely a top-tier expert like Instructor Black Blade.
Although whenever a student asked, "Who is stronger between Big Shot and the Instructor?" Big Shot Xing would always laugh it off, saying things like the outcome of a battle between Awakeners depends on many factors, and one cannot generalize.
The codenames of his two teammates were derived from their awakened abilities.
The elder, Wind Whisper, had the awakened ability 'Listen to the Wind.' It was basically useless in combat, but he could hear sounds from all directions through the wind. He was an expert in reconnaissance.
The fashionable woman, Phantom Eye, had the awakened ability 'Eye Hypnosis.' As long as one made eye contact with her, they would become dazed and even hypnotized, allowing her to read memories.
Phantom Eye had also apprenticed under the organization's Big Shot Silver Bell and learned many hypnotic techniques.
They were both excellent support members. As for the actual combat personnel, well, it was just him.
And he was also the captain.
However, Luo Rui had no intention of being dictatorial. He asked, "What do you think about this mission?"
Wind Whisper pondered for a moment and said, "The mission description states that the cultists possess human memories and cognition, and their numbers might be considerable. They might even be capable of controlling sinister entities... I think we shouldn't engage in direct confrontation."
Phantom Eye chimed in, "I agree."
Luo Rui mused, "Our mission is solely reconnaissance: first, to investigate whether cultists truly exist, and second, if they do, where their base is."
"Perhaps we should enter the city first and gather information from the locals."
...
The city was excessively quiet. Although the current Glorious Kingdom also appeared somewhat bleak, compared to this place, it was incredibly lively.
Luo Rui activated his skill, Sinister Tracking. In his darkened vision, he saw strands of swirling, foul winds, extremely dense, almost reaching the area around the Gate to the Sinister Realm.
Moreover,
He saw a rather large sinister entity roaming back and forth, making thudding sounds. Ordinary people couldn't see its form, but it had left very obvious traces, with gray-black claw marks all over the ground!
"Are the mysterious departments of the Surf Kingdom eating shit? They haven't even noticed such a large sinister entity? How long has this been here!"
Luo Rui cursed angrily.
The elder, Wind Whisper, shook his head. "After all, not all places have the execution capabilities of our Glorious Kingdom. When the situation wasn't as bad before, didn't Western countries also prohibit residents from going to remote areas? That directly caused a rebellious mentality, and many young people chose to venture into abandoned castles and psychiatric hospitals in the dead of night."
"Now, the situation in many cities is likely starting to spiral out of control, let alone the fact that this place is likely a cultist stronghold."
He glanced at the distant black claw prints, then looked at Luo Rui. "What do we do now? You decide."
Faintly, he could still hear the roars of sinister entities.
Luo Rui clenched his fists, wanting to rush up and slay this sinister entity. It wouldn't be difficult; anyone present could do it.
However, this was the cultists' stronghold. Exposing their Awakener identities would not only put them in grave danger but also lead to mission failure.
Killing a single sinister entity would be futile.
There were too many sinister entities here!
He slammed his fist. "Let's... let's go!"
...
Before arriving, they had some understanding of the Surf Kingdom's situation. Seeing it firsthand now made the impact even greater.
Some major cities still maintained order, with the primary force being the Surf Kingdom's local mysterious department – the Super Combat Department, or the Department of Extraordinary Combat.
However, the Super Combat Department did not have a large number of Awakeners under its command. The core, privately recruited, and externally hired combined were less than half.
Many Awakeners were controlled by major consortiums.
They protected their own industries.
"These short-sighted fools! When the world is completely consumed and extinct, do they think they will survive!"
Luo Rui was indignant.
The elder, Wind Whisper, also wore a grim expression. "But these issues are too distant for us. These are for the instructors and mentors to consider. What we need to do now is complete the mission to the best of our ability."
Based on some information they had previously gathered online, they found a local Chinese national and used their 'money power'... No, money power wasn't very effective at this time. Supermarkets might not have what they wanted.
Inside the apartment,
Luo Rui took out various instant food items from his portable combat backpack, along with a large bundle of Surf Kingdom currency that he had prepared beforehand.
"We just need to ask for some information, and then all of this will be yours. You're a newspaper reporter, right? Have you noticed anything unusual in Snowfall City recently?"
The young man opposite looked haggard, his hair like a bird's nest. He tore open a bag of bread and devoured it, making indistinct "Mm-hmm, there are too many unusual things" sounds.
After a while, the young man drank some water, looking as if he had finally come back to life. He then said conspiratorially,
"Do you believe in the existence of monsters?"
He didn't notice the strange expressions on Luo Rui's and his companions' faces. He continued, "About a month ago, when I was still a reporter, I personally witnessed the appearance of a terrifying monster. Even if it was just a silhouette, I believed it wasn't an illusion, but real!"
"Because I saw with my own eyes that several people were missing parts of their bodies; they were eaten by the monster!"
"I originally wanted to publish this matter in the newspaper, but no one believed me. The foolish editor-in-chief even fired me... It's fine if I'm fired, I don't want to work for a trash newspaper anyway."
"You believe me, right? I'm not making up a story."
Of course, they believed.
Not only did they believe, but they had seen more than he had heard.
Luo Rui said, "We found you precisely because we believe."
The haggard youth smiled, his eyes shining with excitement. "I knew monsters really existed! Just like what's been happening lately, people going mad, jumping off buildings, being dismembered... but I knew this wasn't some contagious mental illness at all; it was unseen monsters committing acts of violence!"
"Where are they? Are there any people exhibiting abnormal behavior?"
Luo Rui asked.
The haggard youth thought for a moment. "Our nights here seem livelier than the days, but I haven't dared to go out lately, so I'm not too sure... Oh, I wonder if the Holy Moon Cult counts."
"It's a newly emerging sect. Perhaps it's because the current situation is tense and strange, and people are under too much mental pressure and need a spiritual anchor. This sect's members like to gather at night, which is also baffling."
He didn't think it was abnormal, just reckless.
But Surf Kingdom people liked to be adventurous, which was understandable and not surprising. However, Luo Rui and his companions' eyes lit up.
They asked for more details.
The outline of a cult church was gradually forming in their minds.
Suddenly,
Thump!
The wall trembled, as if something massive had collided with it.
Wind Whisper's ears twitched, and his expression suddenly turned serious.
"Get back!"
He roared.
Luo Rui acted swiftly, pulling the haggard youth towards him. The next moment, the wall nearby exploded like splintered wood.
A figure was flung against the wall like a sack of rags, blood trickling from its neck. It seemed unlikely to survive.
Then, a disheveled figure burst out from the breach.
Its face was pale and greenish, with fangs and sharp teeth. Before Luo Rui could observe further, he heard shouts from the adjacent room and the sound of gunfire.
Bullets struck the slender figure, causing her to retreat repeatedly.
The haggard youth's eyes widened. "It's Mrs. Chris from next door, but how..."
He covered his mouth.
Mrs. Chris, dressed in a long housecoat, staggered, blood blooming like flowers on her body.
Four armed men emerged from the breach, their pistol muzzles steadily aimed at the figure not far away.
"Damn it, he killed Abel!"
"I didn't expect this to be an Awakener."
"Hmph! So what if she's an Awakener? Can she withstand firearms! If she hadn't suddenly attacked, Abel wouldn't have been harmed!"
"Damn it!"
The woman named Chris, bathed in blood, swayed precariously.
Suddenly, her pupils widened. The wounds from more than a dozen gunshots instantly stopped bleeding, and she lunged fiercely at the nearest figure.
Her claws pierced his heart.
She still possessed vitality despite taking several more shots.
Only when the leader, the armed man, dropped his gun and his fists covered with a metallic sheen, engaging in close-quarters combat, was this frenzied Awakener finally killed.
He gasped for breath.
His mind was filled with anger, confusion, and bewilderment.
He glanced at the other individuals in the room, about to say something, when he suddenly noticed...
"Boss seems… not right."
Another team member approached, his pistol aimed at the nearby hole.
There, two figures had appeared at some point.
They seemed no different from normal humans, wearing ordinary clothes, but as they approached, fangs gradually appeared in their mouths, and their fingernails elongated into claws.
At the same moment, the door to the haggard youth's home exploded into debris, and another figure walked in.
Three people.
No,
"Are these humans or monsters!"
The three members of the Surf Kingdom's Super Combat Department were no longer sure.
The leading Awakener said, "Retreat! Retreat! We're not a match."
In such a confined space, being the only Awakener, he couldn't fight. Moreover, these monsters seemed to have… incredibly strong vitality.
They didn't die after taking so many bullets!
As for the four ordinary people caught in the crossfire, the Awakener captain silently apologized. You're on your own.
Just as he thought this, he saw one of them crouch down, spreading his hands and pressing his five fingers onto the floor.
Instantly,
White threads spread out from the floor, rising and intertwining, like a net.
With a low cry, lightning crackled from the young man's palms, and the electricity spread rapidly along the threads. In an instant, before the three cultists could react, a brilliant blue lightning enveloped them.
Sizzle—
Sizzle—
The electric light shone brightly, illuminating the dumbfounded faces of the Super Combat Department members in the room.