Mbutang Country, inside the Capital, a Casino that spans several blocks.
It was already one in the morning; even though the neighboring Anna Country was under large-scale Monster assault, the place was still buzzing, luxury cars coming and going.
Upper-crust tycoons, their glamorous Arm-Candy in tow, strode through the main doors oozing confidence.
The biggest Casino in the surrounding nations, it was the favorite Money-Pit of the rich and powerful.
Besides, the Border was hundreds of kilometers away; if the Monsters really attacked, it wouldn't necessarily be today.
Not far from the Casino, on the roof of a Hundred-Story Tower.
Wei Gaocheng looked down at the sprawling Casino. "Huo Tian is here?"
"Yes. This is also Darth Group's headquarters, sir—please don't kill me, I want to join you." The young man had resigned himself; anyone bold enough to hunt Huo Tian was no small fry.
And now that he'd sold Huo Tian out, if the man found out he'd be beaten to death.
Wei Gaocheng said nothing; Han Qi beside him sneered, "Join us, sure—later we'll see if your words check out."
One more Cannon-Fodder never hurt.
Whoosh! Wei Gaocheng's wings flared, shifting fully into Bird-Man Form.
He gazed at the Casino below with zero intention of sneaking in. He was a Monster—why waste time like some Protagonist?
'Then level the whole place.' Wei Gaocheng rose a kilometer into the air, positioning for a perfect angle to blanket the Casino.
A cruel grin split his face. "Turn to ash and vanish from this earth!"
Shrrrk! His wings slammed downward; countless metallic feathers shot at the Casino like a storm of blades.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The feathers punched through the roof and detonated inside like Rockets.
Blast after blast rocked the building; whole sections collapsed, dust billowing sky-high, shrouding the area.
Patrons were shredded before they could react, or crushed by Shockwaves and falling debris.
"Aah! Help!"
"Someone—my leg's broken—please!"
"Run!"
From the hundred-story roof the Young Martial Artist watched the Casino crumble, cold sweat beading at the sheer destructive force.
Beside him, Han Qi and Li Yong had already Monsterized, on guard for Huo Tian's sudden appearance.
Yet even as the Casino was reduced to rubble, not a single Awakened rushed out.
High above, Wei Gaocheng frowned at the dust-shrouded ruins below—utter silence.
"Looks like no one's home." He shook his head; they'd obliterated the headquarters and still no response.
Which meant no Darth Group Awakened were present.
Whoosh! Wei Gaocheng swooped down, murderous eyes locking on the youth. "Not one Awakened—played us, did you?"
The young man paled under that killing intent, opening his mouth to explain.
Thud! An ashen, wrist-thick bone spike punched through his chest from behind.
The spike hoisted him into the air and dangled him over the building's edge.
"Aah—my lords, mercy!" he screamed, feet kicking at empty air, chest agony lancing through him.
Cold stares were his only answer. Han Qi sneered, "Can't even guide us right and wants to be the Monster Association's dog? A waste of good rice."
Shluck! The spike retracted; the youth plummeted.
"Aaaaah!"
His wail tore across the sky.
Thud!
The sound of impact echoed up; Han Qi didn't even glance down.
Three- or four-hundred meters, a gravely wounded Level Three had zero chance of survival.
"What now, head back?" Li Yong asked.
They'd come all this way for nothing.
"Let me think." Wei Gaocheng stood at the edge, arms folded, pondering.
Flanking him, Han Qi and Li Yong copied the pose, thinking hard.
Moments later Han Qi's eyes lit up. "Since Huo Tian's not here, we'll grab a few of Mbutang's Level Fours. I refuse to believe they all ran off too."
"Sounds good," Li Yong nodded.
"Then let's do it!" Wei Gaocheng grinned. No Level Five? Several Level Four 'Volunteers' would do nicely… Four a.m., Anna Country, mountains outside the Capital.
Jiang Yan stood amid a sea of Monsters.
Thanks to their tireless efforts, his pearl of the abyss was full once more.
pearl of the abyss: 1,638,400/1,638,400
"Negative Emotions full. Summon?"
'Summon!'
Hum! A ripple of unseen force; a purple-black cloud appeared before him.
This time the cloud stopped expanding at half a meter.
Rumble! Continuous Thunder echoed within.
Black Gold and Blood Master stood behind Jiang Yan, watching curiously.
'Why's this one even smaller than Black Gold's?' Jiang Yan's eyes narrowed; he couldn't count on Jackpot Luck every time.
Ten minutes later the cloud dispersed, revealing a crimson, ten-centimeter imp curled tight, black wings wrapped around its body.
"The hell? This runt's already on the clock?" Black Gold laughed, pointing at the Tiny Demon.
Jiang Yan ignored him and checked its info.
Crimson Demon: a special native demon from hell, its genes hold the DNA of ten different demon species! (A living Gene Bank of the demon world.)
Demon Codex: Crimson Demon's body can record any Genetic Data—even their Supernatural Powers!
Slumber: with too many genes inside, Crimson Demon must sleep to stay alive.
'This is…' Jiang Yan's eyes flashed the moment he read it.
A Jackpot Bundle—if he could extract those genes he could create ten distinct demon types.
How strong they'd be would be pure luck.
With a thought Jiang Yan called down the Cloud Ray napping in the sky.
"Woo!" A deep call sounded overhead as the Cloud Ray's huge body hovered before him.
Jiang Yan picked up the Crimson Demon and set it on the Cloud Ray's back. "Keep an eye on it—don't drop it."
"Woo!" The Cloud Ray cried, then lifted into the air and flew away.