"Wood grass?! What is that?!"
"What is this?!"
"Dark robot?! What?!"
"..."
Micro-robots poured forth, prompting exclamations of shock and disbelief from everyone present, even from the typically composed Long Baiyun and Hong Jiu, who instinctively took a step back.
However, the micro-robots seemed uninterested in Long Baiyun and Hong Jiu; their focus was solely on the members of the Knife Gang and the Xiaodao Gang.
"Damn it! What are these tiny metal things? I can't move!"
"It's holding onto my foot! My whole body is paralyzed! Help! Help me!!"
"Eating people! Yes, these must be man-eating creatures! Run!!"
"This is sorcery! It must be sorcery!!"
"..."
The micro-robots proved overwhelming. The Knife Gang members had no defense against the torrent of micro-robot attacks. Before they could even brandish their machetes, they were swarmed by the micro-robots, which quickly immobilized them like tightly-knit cobwebs. Some were restrained against walls, others pressed to the ground, while others were bound in a cocoon-like fashion, leaving only their mouths and nostrils exposed for breathing. The rest of their bodies were utterly immobilized.
But, for the members of the Knife Gang who were usually involved in street brawls and lacked knowledge beyond their immediate world, they were completely unaware of what micro-robots were.
Seeing themselves wrapped up like mummies and immobilized, they thought they were witnessing a kind of magic seen only in movies. They were terrified, to the point where they nearly wet themselves in fear.
In an instant, the members of the Knife Gang either hung from walls, their limbs restricted, or lay on the ground like entangled insects. They had either been immobilized by the micro-robots or transformed into black, human-shaped cocoons, leaving only their mouths and nostrils free for breathing.
"It's useless! I tried slashing them with my knife, but these metal ants just reconnect after being cut!"
Some members attempted to free their comrades by hacking at the micro-robots with their machetes.
Yet, even if they severed the micro-robots, the disconnected pieces instantly reassembled. Those that fell to the ground quickly rejoined the rest, leaving the Xiaodao Gang members astounded and overwhelmed.
Amidst the chaos, Dao Boss put up a fight.
He deflected the micro-robots' attacks with his knife and skillfully evaded their advances. Employing swift footwork and body movements, he fought back against the swarm.
But even the most skilled martial artist could only do so much. Dao Boss's resistance eventually crumbled, and he was pushed against a wall, immobilized by the micro-robots. He could no longer move.
The entire confrontation unfolded in mere moments, lasting no more than ten seconds. The battle was over as swiftly as it had begun.
In the top floor corridor, micro-robots covered every inch. The entire space was swarmed by their presence, creating an eerie, writhing mass that transformed the corridor into a grotesque, living entity. Long Baiyun and Hong Jiu exchanged fearful glances, panic and astonishment evident in their eyes.
The members of the White Cloud Pavilion raised their guns in response, but realizing that the micro-robots weren't targeting them, they hesitated to open fire. While on edge, they refrained from pulling the trigger.
"You... what have you done?!"
Even Long Baiyun, usually composed and unflappable, couldn't suppress his shock. His voice trembled as he tried to form coherent words.
"This..." Hong Jiu was at a loss.
He prided himself on his experience and knowledge of the world. He'd seen countless grand spectacles and major events. Yet, this was a scene beyond anything he had ever encountered. The sight before him defied his comprehension and left him dumbfounded.
They couldn't fathom how Fang Yan had summoned such an army of micro-robots from seemingly nowhere. They flowed out like living tentacles, swiftly subduing the Knife Gang members and rendering them powerless.
Had they not witnessed this with their own eyes, they would have dismissed it as an absurd fairy tale.
With newfound wariness, they looked at Fang Yan, their expressions no longer lighthearted or dismissive. Trembling hands and uncertain gazes betrayed their sense of unease and heightened vigilance toward Fang Yan.
"Knife Boss."
Fang Yan extended his hand, guiding the micro-robots to bring the immobilized Dao Boss before him.
The micro-robots receded, revealing Dao Boss's terrified countenance.
Feeling the forceful grip of the micro-robots, Dao Boss's shock was indescribable. He felt as if he were trapped in a nightmare, experiencing something surreal and fantastical in the real world.
"What?!"
"You're asking the wrong question," Fang Yan responded with a wry smile.
"Of course... it's your downfall."
Fang Yan's hand twitched, and Dao Boss's form suddenly convulsed as if he were being shaken by an invisible force.
"What?!! NOOOOO!!!"
A piercing, agonized scream tore from Dao Boss's throat as his body was contorted and crushed with horrifying force.
Long Baiyun and Hong Jiu watched in disbelief, their faces drained of color. They were witnessing a brutal display of power, unlike anything they had ever seen before.
Dao Boss's anguished cries echoed through the corridor, the air heavy with the suffocating realization that Fang Yan had complete control over life and death in that moment.