Star City, Tiger Soul Headquarters.
Late at night.
Mist Lord stood at the top of the headquarters building, overlooking the dazzling nightscape of Star City.
It had been five months since he infiltrated the Night Shadow Clan.
During this time, he had constantly stoked tensions between the various factions within the clan, and now, those internal conflicts were finally reaching the point of full-scale eruption.
In particular, the faction his current body belonged to could no longer tolerate the unbalanced development policies of the ruling faction.
Tonight, they had decided to ally with another faction to overthrow the ruling one.
Thinking back to the righteous indignation on their faces during the meeting earlier, Mist Lord couldn't help but smirk.
Emotions could be a double-edged sword.
And among the younger generation of the Night Shadow Clan, emotions were easily manipulated.
They were also the most vocal supporters of tonight's coup.
With their assistance, dividing the clan's internal power had become remarkably easy.
Now, the time was ripe. Whether the ruling faction would fall depended entirely on what happened tonight.
And there was another reason why tonight had been chosen.
It was New Year's Eve. All the researchers had gone home to reunite with their families, making it one of the rare full-staff holidays at Tiger Soul Research Institute.
If they didn't act tonight, any other time would inevitably draw the attention of Tiger Soul's personnel and researchers.
Even the stationed security forces might intervene.
Mist Lord's goal was to destroy the Night Shadow Clan, not to bring down the entire Tiger Soul Research Institute.
After a moment of thought, he took out his phone and dialed Feng Qi's number.
After a brief wait, the call connected.
"Ah Qi, wait for my good news."
Before Feng Qi could respond, he ended the call.
He glanced at the brilliant fireworks blooming in the distance, then slipped his phone back into his pocket. Taking a deep breath, he turned and walked toward the stairwell.
By now, the Night Shadow Clan members inside the base had already begun their operation.
They quietly approached the rooms where members of the ruling faction resided and initiated the assassinations.
Though it was labeled an assassination, the coordinated assault caused a considerable commotion.
The ruling faction members quickly noticed the attack and retaliated.
While the residents of Star City immersed themselves in the joy of the New Year, a bloody massacre was unfolding inside Tiger Soul Research Institute.
One figure after another fell amidst the battle.
Several experimental devices were damaged during the conflict.
But at this moment, no one paid attention to such trivial matters.
Mist Lord's psychological manipulation had undoubtedly succeeded.
By taking the perspective of the weaker factions, he had fueled the frustrations of countless members who had long harbored grievances but lacked the courage to act.
Once their rage was ignited, it needed an outlet.
Two furious, oppressed factions had united, wielding their blades against the ruling faction of the Night Shadow Clan.
As they slaughtered their own kind, every member of the weaker factions envisioned the bright future Mist Lord had painted—a future free from oppression, a future they would shape with their own hands.
The fiercest fighting took place in the core area of the Tiger Soul Research Institute base.
This small internal plaza was also the location of the institute's central database.
The ruling faction members of the Night Shadow Clan resided there as well.
Amidst the chaos, Mist Lord emerged in the heart of the battlefield.
The young members of the Night Shadow Clan who saw him arrive displayed an almost fanatical expression.
They had long resented the current state of affairs.
Yet, their elders had always hesitated, unwilling to take the first step toward resistance.
It was Mist Lord's arrival that had united them, giving them the courage to fight, to rise up and establish the fairness they had long yearned for.
"Kill!" Mist Lord roared, charging forward without hesitation.
The followers behind him surged forth as well, brandishing their weapons against the ruling faction.
Green blood splattered onto the black metal flooring.
Through Mist Lord's perception, he saw brilliant fireworks blooming one after another around him—each burst signifying the fall of a life.
To him, these explosions of life and death were far more dazzling and vivid than the fireworks illuminating Star City's sky.
The scent of blood filled the air, intoxicating him.
The slaughter continued, the battle growing ever more intense.
Although the ruling faction was numerically outmatched, years of resource monopolization had given them overwhelming superiority in strength over the other two factions.
From the initial surprise attack, the ruling faction of the Night Shadow Clan found themselves at a disadvantage.
But they quickly retaliated.
Mist Lord didn't care which faction would ultimately emerge victorious.
What he truly desired was for both factions to be utterly crippled in this battle.
That way, he could effortlessly seize control of the entire Tiger Soul Research Institute, paving the way for his Flesh Sacrifice project to begin.
The slaughter continued, and lives were extinguished in an instant.
Yet in Mist Lord's eyes, the path to the peak was always paved with death.
The road ahead, filled with hardships, would inevitably be built upon countless corpses and rivers of blood.
To him, the fallen members of the Night Shadow Clan were nothing more than stepping stones on his journey to the top.
—
On the other side.
After finishing a day of spellcraft testing, Feng Qi slung his backpack over his shoulder and walked toward the entrance of the sub-base.
Just moments ago, he had received a call from Mist Lord.
He understood clearly—Mist Lord had begun his coup.
But he had no intention of assisting.
He believed that, given Mist Lord's capabilities, even if the plan failed, he would still have the ability to escape unscathed.
If he went there now, not only would he be of no help, but he would also become a burden.
After all, Mist Lord was operating under the identity of a Night Shadow Clan member, and his presence would only put him at a disadvantage.
Lost in thought, he stepped through the base's entrance.
Outside, snow was falling.
Turning back, he saw the once-brightly lit base gradually dimming as one light after another was switched off.
It was a rare occasion when all the staff and researchers at Tiger Soul Research Institute were given a holiday.
On this day, they would return home for a brief reunion with their families.
Breathing out a puff of white mist, he turned to look at Lin Ran, who had followed him out.
"Will you make it home in time?"
"I will. There's a Tiger Soul private jet waiting for me at the airport." Lin Ran nodded with a smile before adding,
"Qi-ge, do you want to celebrate the new year at my place?"
"No, I haven't been home in a long time. I plan to go back and take a look."
Hearing Feng Qi's refusal, Lin Ran opened his mouth as if to say something but ultimately remained silent.
At that moment, a military vehicle drove out of the base and stopped in front of Lin Ran.
"Qi-ge, see you after the new year."
"Happy New Year," Feng Qi replied with a smile.
"Happy New Year."
After Lin Ran got into the car, Feng Qi watched as the vehicle disappeared into the snowy night.
Compared to Lin Ran, who had a private vehicle and aircraft arranged for him, as a mere test subject, Feng Qi naturally didn't enjoy such privileges.
Rubbing his hands together, he braced himself against the falling snow and began walking toward the eastern part of the city.
The Tiger Soul Research Institute sub-base was not built in some remote, desolate area.
After walking for an hour, he finally saw other pedestrians in his field of vision.
Looking at the joyful expressions on their faces, immersed in the festive atmosphere of the New Year, he felt a faint loneliness creeping in.
Arriving at a bus stop, he waited for a while until a maglev driverless bus slowly pulled up.
Boarding the bus, the automatic doors closed behind him.
Taking a seat by the window, the vehicle started moving forward.
As he gazed at the festive red decorations lining the streets outside, a wave of loneliness surged within him.
Yet at the same time, his resolve only grew stronger.
The maglev bus traveled at high speed, reaching the eastern district of Star City in just two hours.
As he stepped off the bus, the platform was completely empty.
Following the route etched in his memory, he walked step by step toward the home he had not returned to in years.
After walking for some time along the street, he finally arrived at his old neighborhood.
But the sight before him felt strangely unfamiliar.
He remembered that there used to be an old pagoda tree at the entrance, but now it had been replaced by a lush green park. Even the staircases within the community had been renovated and rebuilt.
Walking up the stairs, he heard the sounds of neighbors chatting and children laughing joyfully.
Everything here felt both familiar and foreign.
At last, he stood in front of the door he hadn't opened in years.
Following his memory, he reached toward the small gap by the door frame and retrieved a key.
As he turned the key in the lock and pushed the door open, a musty scent of decaying wood rushed out to greet him.
Stepping inside and closing the door behind him, he reached out and flipped the light switch on the wall.
The flickering lights illuminated the room.
Untouched for years, the interior was now covered in a thick layer of dust and cobwebs.
Yet despite the neglect, everything here stirred memories of his childhood.
On the left wall, faint carvings marked the passage of his growth.
In the right corner of the room sat a collection of old plush toys—his childhood favorites.
Hanging on the wall was a sheet of faded paper, once used to record his early speech development.
Now, the paper had turned yellow, and the ink had become blurry.
Turning his gaze to the left, he spotted a stack of children's storybooks.
Many of those stories still lingered in his memory. Back then, he would eagerly await the monthly delivery of new issues, excited to discover new adventures.
Then, his eyes landed on a photo frame resting on a nearby cabinet.
Walking over, he reached out and wiped away the dust covering it.
Inside was a family portrait.
This was taken before his parents left for the front lines—he had been only six years old at the time.
In the photo, he stood between his parents, holding their hands with a silly grin, while they looked at him with warmth and affection.
Gazing at the photograph, memories flooded his mind.
The once-blurry images of his parents became vividly clear.
He had once struggled to understand why they would leave him behind and head to the battlefield.
But as he grew older, he gradually came to understand their reasons.
Before leaving, his father had knelt down, ruffling his hair, and said,
"If we don't fight, the burden will only fall heavier on your generation. Don't think of us as heartless…"
Sacrificing a small home for the greater good was not just about grand ideals—it was about securing a future for that very home.
Without a nation, there could be no family.
In this era, that sentiment held true in a different way.
Without human civilization, there was no future for any individual.
The sacrifices of the older generation were meant to ensure that the new generation could thrive.
If not for their struggles, perhaps humanity wouldn't even have been able to hold onto the five great cities—everyone would have been reduced to scavengers, wandering aimlessly.
At this moment, he deeply understood what his parents had felt back then.
It was for a greater cause, but also for the sake of their own family.
Wiping the dust off the photo frame, he carefully placed it back on the cabinet.
Looking around, he decided to clean up the place.
An hour later, as he gazed at the now spotless room, a faint smile appeared on Feng Qi's face.
It had been years since he last returned home.
Every familiar object triggered waves of nostalgia, but also a hint of sorrow.
But now, he had finally come to terms with it.
He understood his parents' decision, and he hadn't let them down—nor had he disappointed himself.
Pulling a chair over to the balcony, he sat down and looked up at the fireworks blooming in the night sky.
Listening to the innocent laughter of children from the neighboring apartment, he smiled—a genuine, long-lost smile.
—
At Tiger Soul Research Institute, the brutal battle continued.
The three factions of the Night Shadow Clan had all been driven into a frenzy.
The sheer carnage left the older generation of the Night Shadow Clan trembling with fear.
They realized that if this continued, the Night Shadow Clan would suffer irreversible damage.
The situation had already spiraled far beyond what they had anticipated.
Originally, the plan had been to weaken the ruling faction, overthrow the old system, and establish a fairer system of resource distribution.
They had never intended to completely exterminate the ruling faction.
In the end, they had still planned to leave their enemies a path to survival, so they could work together to rebuild the Night Shadow Clan's future.
After all, they were all members of the same clan.
In the Domain World, where countless races vied for dominance, the Night Shadow Clan had always viewed itself as a nation.
And every member of the clan was a part of that nation.
Even if their differences had led to this violent conflict, they had always expected there to be room for reconciliation in the end.
But the younger generation thought differently.
Their radical actions had turned a planned resistance into a massacre.
At this point, there was no turning back.
Too many had died, and now, the only thing fueling the battle was hatred.
The older generation of the Night Shadow Clan was utterly powerless to stop it now.
They had only one choice—to see it through to the bitter end.
Since things had come to this, the only way forward was to completely wipe out the ruling faction.
Only by doing so could the Night Shadow Clan move on without being crippled by internal strife.
As the bodies piled up around him, Mist Lord felt nothing.
He moved like a specter of death, weaving through the battlefield.
Wounds covered his body, but he paid them no mind.
This new body had been nothing more than a tool—a vessel meant to destroy the Night Shadow Clan.
And its purpose was nearly fulfilled.
Once this battle was over, it wouldn't matter if this body was destroyed.
Because a new vessel awaited him.
That body—that identity—would be the true cornerstone of his path to the peak.
With its influence, the plan he had buried deep within his heart could finally begin.
Three hours later, he stood in the ruins of Tiger Soul Research Institute's core district.
Suddenly, he burst into laughter.
As horrified eyes turned toward him, thick gray mist erupted from his body, instantly spreading into a dense sea of fog.
In the swirling mist, ghostly faces emerged, their hollow gazes sweeping over the exhausted and terrified members of the Night Shadow Clan.
A new round of slaughter was about to begin.
—
11:55 PM.
Dragging his battered and broken body, Mist Lord climbed the stairs leading to the rooftop.
Reaching the edge of the rooftop, he stepped up onto the ledge.
Standing there, overlooking the dazzling skyline of Star City, he felt exhilarated.
This place—the Tiger Soul Research Institute—would be the first step on his journey to the top.
Step by step, he would ascend from here until he reached the very peak.
At that moment, the bells of midnight tolled across Star City.
Exhausted in both body and mind, he jumped down from the ledge, leaning against the railing as he caught his breath.
Taking out his phone, he scrolled through his contact list and dialed a number.
After a moment, the call connected.
A bloody smile spread across Mist Lord's face.
"Qi-ge, Happy New Year. I did it."