The night hung low, and the Blood Moon pressed against the sky like a blade at the nape. The wind over the ruined hills carried dust and the stench of rotting flesh. Broken villas loomed through the mist—walls stripped bare, exposing steel beams like bones.
Lu Ye led the way. His Eye of the World radar lit up with dense red signals, nearly saturating the 80-meter radius. "There's an open field ahead… The horde density is too high. No way around it," he said hoarsely.
Qin Hao pointed to a slope in the southeast. "There's a life signal. Not zombies… humans." Zhao Yang licked his fang-like canine, a glint of interest in his eyes. "Looks like we're not just killing zombies today."
They crossed a collapsed wall and were met with carnage: dozens of human espers locked in brutal combat with hundreds of undead. Flashes of power clashed with clawed shadows. Blood and shattered crystals littered the ground.
Chen Mo narrowed his eyes. "They're not here to save anyone. They're clearing the field—for crystals."
Before they could decide whether to intervene, three mutated Runner-type zombies caught their scent and lunged. Zhao Yang instantly deployed a blood mist barrier. Chen Mo swung his iron rod, smashing one into the wall. The remaining two were strangled midair by Qin Hao's threads of light.
But amid the chaos, a new pressure surged—the espers had noticed them. Their eyes brimmed with suspicion… and hostility.
"They see us as rivals," Hu Hao sneered, his eyes flashing green. He locked onto a fire-type esper charging toward them and uttered a single word: "Stop."
The youth froze mid-step, flames solidifying at his fingertips. Hu Hao, still within cooldown, issued another command: "Turn around."
A female esper with a crossbow spun dazedly and loosed three bolts—each piercing the eyes of zombies behind her.
The enemy formation broke. The pressure on Lu Ye's squad lifted, and the undead surged through the gaps, dragging down several espers.
"Now!" Lu Ye barked. He locked onto two peak Tier-2 zombies. Space froze like solid air. Zhao Yang blurred into a blood shadow, slicing one down instantly. Chen Mo roared, unleashing a shockwave that toppled the second. Qin Hao's threads wrapped its neck and severed it cleanly.
Amid the chaos, Lu Ye's Eye of the World caught a flash of silver—a middle-aged esper manipulating steel rods and metal shards from the zombies' bodies, forging them into spears that impaled three undead against a ruined wall.
Analysis: Metal-Type · Peak Tier-2 Traits: Metal Aggregation, Form Shifting, Precision Control
Lu Ye's instincts flared—this was a valuable asset. But he noticed Hu Hao's green glow already creeping toward the man. "Hu Hao, stop," Lu Ye said sharply. Hu Hao raised a brow but withdrew the glow. "What's your plan?" "He's useful. Don't waste him."
Lu Ye approached the man, who raised a spinning metal shard like a deadly shield. "No need to be on edge. We want you to join us," Lu Ye said.
The man scoffed. "I live for myself. I don't tie my fate to anyone."
Lu Ye didn't argue. He pointed to the edge of the field—where a second wave of zombies was pouring down the slope, double the size of the first. "Go solo, and you'll be their dinner in ten minutes," he said calmly, like stating the weather.
"I can fight my way out," the man replied, voice hard as iron. "With what? The last of your strength and metal? Fight for a few minutes, then die of exhaustion, thirst—or get shot in the head by another esper for your crystals." Lu Ye stepped closer, eyes locked. "You're strong. But strength doesn't mean survival."
The man paused. The metal shield around him slowly lowered. "Is that a threat?" "It's a math problem," Lu Ye said, stepping back with a smile. "Come with us, and you'll live longer—and kill more."
Finally, the man dispelled his shield and drove a steel rod into the ground. "Fine. I'll take the gamble." He looked over the group, voice raspy and low. "Name's He Xuan. Metal-type. Specializes in aggregation, shaping, and high-speed strikes. Peak Tier-2."
With a wave of his hand, the steel and scrap around him coiled into six floating blades, gleaming coldly.
Hu Hao snorted. "From now on, my commands are suggestions—you'll learn to treat them that way." He Xuan smirked sideways. "Depends if they're worth listening to."
Zhao Yang flicked the blood mist off his fingers, grin widening. "Now this is getting fun."
Lu Ye looked at the team forming before him, knowing full well—bit by bit, their strength was becoming enough to tear open even greater rifts.