Darkness devoured the first light of day.
Like a massive black curtain—
as if someone had just pulled it shut across the sky.
Layers of dense clouds stacked upon each other.
Heavy.
Suffocating.
Like the end of the world descending in silence.
The air was eerily still.
Then—
rain fell.
Heavy.
Each drop slammed into the ground,
struck against bodies—
echoing with dull, solid thuds.
—
Lam Huy Trường walked through the swarm of Clone,
their bodies thrashing wildly as they lunged at empty air.
He frowned slightly.
"So even the weather's starting to change…?"
A drop of water landed on his shoulder.
Then another.
Water slid down his hair,
trailing across his cheek—
ice-cold.
—
He shook his head lightly.
Keeping his lenses clear.
A quiet breath escaped him.
"A new stage… has begun, huh?"
—
A soft sound echoed beside his ear.
A mechanical voice.
Flat. Steady.
"Professor, the weather is undergoing abnormal changes."
Lam Huy Trường sidestepped a Clone
that collapsed face-first into nothingness.
"Huh? Looks normal to me."
The AI paused for half a second.
Then spoke again—
precise,
cold, like delivering a lecture.
"Atmospheric pressure is dropping sharply."
"Humidity has exceeded normal thresholds."
"Charged cloud density is extremely high, fully covering the lower troposphere."
A distant thunder rolled.
The AI continued.
"This phenomenon reduces visibility, disrupts signals,
and directly impacts biological systems."
"Plant life will cease photosynthesis."
"The ecosystem will rapidly destabilize."
"And—"
"Alright, alright."
Lam Huy Trường waved his hand, cutting her off.
"I'm not messing with you anymore."
A faint sound came from the AI—like a suppressed snort.
Then she continued, as if forcing herself to stay composed:
"Conclusion: current weather conditions are extremely dangerous for combat operations."
"Recommendation: reconsider your decision, Professor."
—
Lam Huy Trường kept walking.
Slow.
Controlled.
According to his calculations—
any sudden movement would create chaos.
And the Boss would notice him sooner.
So—
even as time ran out—
he chose to walk.
Slowly.
He still remembered the route
from that "dream" of foresight.
And he chose—
the shortest path.
The safest one.
The rain kept falling.
Heavier by the second.
No sign of stopping.
Lam Huy Trường let out a faint chuckle.
"Let's hope… this isn't the final stage."
—
A flickering red interface blurred into view before his eyes:
[Evolution Progress: 86%]
He stopped.
Right on point.
Roughly eleven to twelve meters
from the location marked in his "dream."
He slipped the Magnum V inside his coat.
His hand brushed against the fabric—
finding a hidden slot.
The gun vanished.
As if swallowed by empty space.
He paused for half a second.
Then let out a quiet laugh.
"So that's how it works…"
A memory flashed through his mind.
The Professor—
had drawn that same gun
from this exact spot before.
He muttered under his breath.
"Like some kind of blue raccoon's magic pocket…"
"…not bad, Professor."
—
"Now then…"
he murmured.
"Mrs. AI, if you would."
His left hand lifted.
A voice echoed from his watch—
sounding slightly annoyed.
"…You always make me do this kind of thing."
A faint light spread outward.
Then—
a white stone slowly emerged,
floating in front of him.
Lam Huy Trường reached out.
The stone was incredibly light.
As if it had no weight at all.
Its surface was smooth like a mirror.
But what it reflected—
was distorted.
Not like any light
in this world.
He stared into it.
A strange sensation crept into his mind.
Subtle.
But deep.
As if—
it was staring back at him.
From somewhere far away.
Deep.
A bottomless abyss.
Lam Huy Trường blinked.
Forcing himself to break free from the pull.
He looked closer.
Inside the stone—
something was there.
A glimmer…
No.
A tiny point of light.
It moved faintly.
Flickering.
As if alive.
As if breathing.
He tightened his grip slightly.
Then tore his gaze away.
Forward—
toward the black cocoon.
Each pulse—
echoed clearly.
He narrowed his eyes.
The corner of his lips curled slightly.
"If only I had a vehicle…"
He let out a breath.
"…Whatever. Let's play."
—
Right then—
a roar echoed from the distance.
Low.
Heavy.
And closing in fast.
Lam Huy Trường tilted his head.
Two beams of light cut through the dense rain.
Not eyes.
But—
headlights.
An engine tore through the night.
A four-wheeled motorcycle burst out of the rain.
Two riders.
One male.
One female.
They sped past him.
The girl in the back met his gaze.
Just for a split second.
But it was enough.
Lam Huy Trường froze.
"…Lyra?"
Her lips moved slightly.
"Professor…"
The vehicle skidded sideways.
All four wheels slammed hard against the wet ground.
Boom.
Water exploded upward.
Low chassis.
Wide tires.
Perfect grip.
The rider in front didn't slow down.
He leaned forward.
Twisted the throttle.
And charged straight ahead.
Lam Huy Trường reached out, stammering—
"Wait—"
His pupils shrank.
"…What… what the hell is going on?"
Both riders lowered their bodies.
The driver tightened his grip on the handlebars.
Eyes locked straight ahead.
The vehicle—
was charging directly into the danger zone
he had seen in that "dream."
"Hey! Stop!"
Lam Huy Trường shouted through the rain.
"Damn it… can't he see the cocoon?!"
"…And why is Lyra there?"
He was about to chase after them—
But—
from behind.
Through the thick curtain of rain.
A streak of red…
slithered past.
Not a shadow.
Not water.
It glided through the air—
right above his head.
Lam Huy Trường froze.
He looked up.
His heart skipped a beat.
"…A red serpent?"
The engine roared.
A sharp, piercing hiss followed.
The two sounds overlapped—
rushing forward together.
Headlights swept across the battlefield.
The red serpent slammed into the swarm of Clones.
A distorted roar erupted.
Chaotic.
Twisted.
Clones were sent flying.
Crushed.
Torn apart.
In the distance—
the cocoon trembled.
Lam Huy Trường clenched his fists.
"Don't tell me…"
The ground shook.
The red serpent halted.
No longer chasing.
It let out a low, rumbling sound—
almost like laughter.
Through the rain—
Lam Huy Trường saw the vehicle swerve sharply.
The tires screeched.
He stood there, stunned.
Too slow to react.
Inside his mind, a scream echoed—
"So one boss wasn't enough?
Now I get a bonus one too?!"
His gaze snapped back and forth.
The cocoon.
The red serpent.
"…One against two?"
The words slipped out—almost a shout.
"Are you kidding me?!"
His eyes darted again.
The cocoon.
The red serpent.
The cocoon's pulse—
faster now.
Stronger.
As if stimulated.
Meanwhile—
the red serpent… opened its jaws.
Its mouth stretched wide.
Pulled to the limit.
From within—
something… began to emerge.
Slowly.
Horrifyingly.
A human body.
Naked.
Pale skin.
Eyes—
slitted.
Cold. Like a serpent's.
Its lower body—
still fused inside the massive maw.
As if it had just been "born"
from that monster itself.
A voice came out.
Distorted.
Layered.
"To die by my hand… you refuse."
"Then it is your choice."
He licked his lips.
Slowly.
Madness flickered in his eyes.
"My Queen…"
"…I bring…"
"…fresh prey…"
"…for you…"
"…please enjoy…"
A dry laugh echoed.
Hissing through the air.
Lam Huy Trường clenched his fists.
In the distance—
the vehicle's headlights were starting to be swallowed.
Clones surged in.
Encircling.
And at that exact moment—
a burst of light exploded.
From the headlights.
It detonated.
Sweeping outward.
Clones were torn apart.
Shattered.
Annihilated.
Lam Huy Trường's eyes widened.
""The hell… is that a Power Rangers ride or what?"
But—
from the front—
the cocoon…
cracked.
A streak of red split across its surface.
Space itself twisted.
Red lightning gathered—
around a forming sigil.
It coiled together.
Taking shape.
A sound echoed out.
Mournful.
Sorrowful.
Unnatural.
It spread through the air—
like a wail from something not of this world.
And then—
something…
began to descend.
Slow.
Heavy.
Unstoppable.
"Damn it…"
Lam Huy Trường didn't hesitate.
He moved.
His boots ignited.
Golden light flared—
wrapping around his body.
At the same time—
from the vehicle—
laser beams fired in rapid bursts.
They tore through the rain.
Lam Huy Trường appeared—
right beside the vehicle.
In an instant.
And in that same moment—
the red lightning from the sigil above
struck down.
Like a swarm of serpents—
locking onto the vehicle.