The streets of Blackstone City erupted into chaos.
Not panic.
Not yet.
But movement.
Fast.
Sharp.
Purposeful.
Smoke rose in the distance, dark against the night sky. The sound of collapsing stone echoed from deeper within the city, followed by another burst of force that shook the ground beneath their feet.
Lin Feng looked toward the source and grinned slightly.
"…That escalated fast."
Su Yao ignored the comment.
Her eyes remained fixed toward the center district.
"They moved sooner than expected."
The man from the shadows folded his arms calmly.
"No. They moved because of tonight."
Lin Feng glanced at him.
"…Because I got noticed?"
"Because the balance broke."
Another explosion thundered through the city.
Closer this time.
People rushed through the streets around them. Some fleeing. Some armed. Some clearly heading toward the conflict instead of away from it.
Faction members.
Fighters.
Killers.
The city was waking up.
Lin Feng rolled his shoulders.
"So who's fighting who?"
Su Yao answered immediately.
"The Iron Blood Hall made the first move."
"The faction from earlier?" Lin Feng asked.
She nodded once.
"They're trying to seize territory before the others can respond."
The man beside them added calmly,
"And eliminate unstable variables."
Lin Feng smirked.
"…That sounds like me."
"Yes," both of them answered at the same time.
Lin Feng laughed.
"Good to know everyone agrees."
Another tremor shook the street.
This one stronger.
The pressure spreading through the city intensified further. Multiple powerful auras collided somewhere ahead, sending shockwaves through the night air.
Lin Feng's eyes lit up.
"…Now this is a real city."
Su Yao finally looked at him directly.
"This isn't a game anymore."
Lin Feng met her gaze calmly.
"I know."
And he did.
This wasn't controlled fighting inside an arena.
This wasn't testing strength under observation.
People were dying now.
Real stakes.
Real consequences.
Which made it even more exciting.
Su Yao noticed the look in his eyes and sighed quietly.
"…You really are insane."
Lin Feng grinned.
"Probably."
The man from the shadows suddenly stepped forward slightly.
"They're coming."
Immediately—
Lin Feng felt it too.
Three presences.
Fast.
Direct.
Heading straight toward them.
A second later—
Figures appeared at the far end of the street.
Dark uniforms.
Weapons drawn.
No hesitation.
Iron Blood Hall.
One of them pointed immediately.
"There!"
The group charged.
Lin Feng cracked his neck lightly.
"…Guess introductions are over."
The lead attacker reached them first.
Fast.
Aggressive.
A blade aimed directly for Lin Feng's throat.
Lin Feng moved instantly.
He stepped sideways just enough for the strike to miss—
Then drove his fist straight into the attacker's chest.
BOOM!
The man flew backward violently, crashing through a nearby wall.
The other two didn't stop.
One attacked Su Yao.
The last moved toward the man in shadows.
And then—
Lin Feng finally saw him fight.
The man moved almost casually.
One step.
One motion.
The attacker froze mid-charge.
Then collapsed.
Unconscious before even hitting the ground.
Lin Feng blinked once.
"…Yeah, okay. You're ridiculous."
The man adjusted his sleeve calmly.
"I've heard worse."
Nearby—
Su Yao ended her fight just as quickly.
Her blade flashed once.
Clean.
Precise.
Her opponent dropped instantly.
Silence returned to the street.
Briefly.
Lin Feng looked around at the bodies and sighed.
"…That was short."
Su Yao stepped forward immediately.
"This is only the beginning."
As if proving her right—
A massive surge of energy erupted from the center district.
Far stronger than before.
The pressure spread through the entire city like a storm wave.
Windows shattered nearby.
The ground trembled violently.
Lin Feng's expression sharpened slightly.
"…That's not normal."
"No," the man replied quietly.
"It's one of the faction leaders."
Another pressure rose to meet it.
Then another.
Three monstrous auras collided across Blackstone City.
The night sky itself seemed to shake.
Lin Feng stared toward the distance, excitement burning in his eyes.
"…Now that feels strong."
Su Yao looked at him carefully.
"You're thinking about going there."
Lin Feng smirked.
"You aren't?"
A brief silence.
Then—
"…I am."
The man from the shadows sighed softly.
"Of course both of you are."
Another explosion tore through the city.
This one followed by screams.
Then silence.
The war had fully begun.
Lin Feng took a step forward.
Then another.
Toward the center district.
Toward the strongest clash.
Toward the chaos.
Su Yao moved beside him without another word.
The man watched both of them for a moment before shaking his head slightly.
"…This city really is doomed."
Lin Feng laughed.
"Probably."
And then—
The three of them disappeared into the chaos of Blackstone City.
Cliffhanger
As they raced across the rooftops toward the center district—
Lin Feng suddenly felt something else.
Different from the faction leaders.
Different from everyone tonight.
Cold.
Ancient.
Hidden.
And watching him directly.
His smile slowly faded.
"…What the hell is that?"
Because for the first time since arriving in Blackstone City—
Lin Feng felt danger.
Real danger.
And somewhere in the darkness—
Something smiled back.