Hariman looked at the grinning people at his feet, casually picked up a few and flung them outward. "Catch them—take them back for study."
"Yes, sir!" came the reply from behind.
Seeing Hariman was safe, Saatchi raised a hand and granted her blessing to every Awakened nearby.
"Everyone, move in! My blessing lasts twenty minutes—keep track of the time and remind me when it's up." With a shout Saatchi strode in first.
The Awakened behind her followed at once.
While the Ao Gang Society's Awakened probed the gray mist, five thousand kilometers away inside the capital of Perth Nation…
On the third-floor corridor of East-Capital Hospital, a yellow-skinned man in a black suit and a small bowler hat stopped outside a ward.
"President Lei, you certainly made good time." A woman's voice sounded behind him; Lei Xiangchen turned.
A stunning woman appeared, black long skirt hem brushing the floor, hair coiled high.
Black sleeves sheathed her arms, and the exposed palms were laced with countless fine cracks.
Lei Xiangchen's lips curved. "Orders from the Chairman—how would I dare delay?"
Chen Yeliu stepped to the door, pushed it open; inside, an unconscious Lina lay on the bed.
She strode in, yanked out every wire and tube, lifted the girl, and walked out.
Seeing this, Lei Xiangchen cleared the way ahead.
"Who are you—put her down!" a middle-aged doctor in charge of Lina hurried down the corridor, shouting as she saw the pair carry her off.
Lei Xiangchen glanced at her, lifted his bowler, smiled. "Quiet, please."
His Third Eye fixed on the doctor, releasing a subtle ripple.
The woman's gaze lost focus; tears welled as she stood rooted, letting them leave.
The eye magnified every emotion in its target; along the corridor, questioners either wept in place or stared blankly, lost in thought.
Chen Yeliu watched, impressed. "Handy gift—no wonder you finished the mission first."
Outside, Lei Xiangchen climbed into a waiting car and glanced at her. "Useful, yes—but only on the weak-minded. I still need stronger upgrades when they come out."
They shoved Lina into the back seat and sped away.
Their task: deliver Lina to Liyang Country HQ so Duke Redd could act without worry.
Lei Xiangchen drove; Chen Yeliu filed her report.
After the gray-mist incident, Jiang Yan in distant Tizi Country sent two fresh orders.
First—abduct Lina; second—keep producing Monsters.
Of course, Monster production was now someone else's job.
Meanwhile, a hundred meters beneath the sea beside Roset City in Tizi Country…
A two-meter Monster, blue scales and gill-slits in his neck, checked the device in his hand.
'Done already? Time to report to the Chairman.'
He hid the device under a reef and shot through the water toward the city.
Injected with the latest Deep-Sea King serum, he allowed Jiang Yan to stay in touch with—and control—the outside world.
Nine other Monsters waited here; if one died, another took his place at once.
At the same moment, inside the opposite urban zone…
Hariman pressed forward with his team. Saatchi stood beside him. "We've reached the planned three-kilometer point—keep going?"
Hariman pondered, then asked, "How long can your mental power hold?"
"Another five kilometers, easy. When I'm spent, the other Level Three Mental-types can take over." Saatchi gauged her drain.
Blessing a whole team against the mist was taxing; combat would make it far worse.
Hariman nodded, turned to a youth. "Nick, run back and report. The rest, follow me—we're learning what happened here today!"
"Understood!" Nick sprinted off; a Level Two Body-Type, he was fast.
"Move!" When Nick vanished into the mist, Hariman led the team deeper.
They hadn't gone far when faint footsteps sounded ahead.
Hariman's ears twitched; he halted, face grave. "Something's ahead—battle ready!"
Every Awakened tensed, energies flaring.
In this ghostly mist, tension was unavoidable.
Silver lines blossomed across Hariman's skin; pale moonlight gathered round his fists.
His gift—Moon Totem—stored lunar force to burst forth in battle.
Tap-tap-tap…
The steps drew nearer; a stooped, one-point-seven-meter figure appeared.
'Walking the mist alone—who is this?' Hariman narrowed his eyes.
Out of the fog came an old man: white hair, weathered face, black jacket and trousers, hands behind his back, worn sneakers.
"Who are you, and why here?" Hariman's voice was cold.
The elder looked familiar, yet he couldn't place him.
Redd swept his gaze over the Awakened, ignoring their rippling powers, and sighed, "Fine age to be living—yet you'll die here for nothing."
The words hardened Hariman's face.
Saatchi's eyes widened in sudden recognition. "You're Redd—"
Redd moved. He stepped among them, white qi trailing his palms; every Ao Gang member took an equal strike.
Too fast—no one reacted.
Bang-bang-bang!
Before she could finish, Saatchi felt unstoppable force smash into her. She soared, bones shattering, organs bursting.
Blood sprayed from her mouth, eyes bulging scarlet; she glimpsed Hariman and the rest hurled skyward in agony.
Bodies slammed to earth; Saatchi's mind blanked on impact.
Redd stood serene, hands behind him again; the Awakened lay broken dozens of meters away.
Every form was pulped—flesh and bone crushed to sludge.