The town felt wrong the moment they stepped inside. It wasn't just the silence—it was the kind that pressed against the ears, heavy and unnatural. No wind moved through the broken streets, no insects buzzed, and even the faintest signs of life were gone. Shops stood open with shattered glass scattered across the ground, while dark, dried stains marked places people avoided looking at for too long.
A sharp crack echoed suddenly as someone stepped on broken glass.
Everyone froze.
For a brief moment, the entire group stopped moving, eyes scanning the empty streets as if expecting something to jump out at them. When nothing happened, they continued forward—but slower, more cautious now.
"Split into groups," someone whispered, and the idea spread quickly.
Large numbers meant risk. If something attacked, too many would die at once. Within minutes, the hundred survivors divided into smaller groups, each trying to balance safety with efficiency. No one wanted to be alone, but no one wanted to stand out either.
Li Xuan joined one of the groups without saying a word. He stayed slightly behind, his eyes constantly moving, observing both the surroundings and the people around him. Behind him, the three men followed as well, keeping just enough distance to avoid suspicion. They weren't hiding their intentions well—but they weren't acting yet either.
The group entered a small convenience store. The smell inside was stale, mixed with dust and something faintly rotten. Most of the shelves were already empty or overturned, and what little remained wasn't worth much. Still, people searched quickly, grabbing whatever they could.
A man found a half-crushed pack of biscuits and immediately stuffed it into his bag. Another picked up expired canned food without hesitation. No one complained about quality anymore—only quantity mattered.
Near the back, two people argued in low voices over a bottle of water. Their words were tense, sharp, but controlled. Neither wanted to attract attention. In the end, one backed down, not because he wanted to—but because he had to.
Li Xuan barely paid attention to them. His focus was elsewhere.
The store had nothing worth risking his life for.
He turned slightly toward the exit—
And felt it.
A faint chill passed through the air.
It was subtle, almost unnoticeable, but it didn't belong.
One of the group members paused. "Did you feel that?" he whispered.
No one answered.
Most chose to ignore it.
Then came the sound.
A slow, dragging noise from somewhere deeper inside the building.
Everyone went still again.
This time, no one spoke.
A moment later—
A scream tore through the air from outside.
It was sharp and short, cutting off abruptly as if something had silenced it mid-breath.
Panic spread instantly.
People rushed toward the exit, pushing past each other without hesitation. Some dropped what they were holding. Others didn't even notice.
Li Xuan moved with them, but his eyes remained sharp.
Outside, chaos had already begun.
A man lay on the ground, his body twisted unnaturally. Something clung to him—dark and shifting, like a shadow that had gained weight. It moved across his body in unnatural ways, almost as if it were feeding.
The man jerked once.
Then stopped moving.
"Run!" someone shouted.
And just like that, the group broke apart.
Some fled toward the convoy. Others ran deeper into the town in blind panic. A few stood frozen, unable to process what they were seeing.
Li Xuan didn't run immediately.
He watched.
The thing didn't chase the nearest target. Instead, it moved toward someone who had separated from the group—someone alone.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
It avoided open areas, sticking close to shadows, shifting along walls and broken structures.
It targets isolated people… and avoids light.
The realization settled quickly in his mind.
Behind him, footsteps approached.
Fast.
Deliberate.
"Don't move," a voice said quietly.
Li Xuan didn't turn.
He already knew.
The three men had finally made their move.
"Hand over your bag," another said, his tone low and threatening. "And the bike key."
Li Xuan let out a slow breath before turning slightly, his expression calm.
"You chose the wrong time," he said.
One of them laughed. "Wrong for you."
The first man lunged.
The fight ended faster than expected.
Li Xuan stepped aside smoothly, avoiding the attack with minimal movement. His knife moved forward in the same motion, precise and controlled. The blade cut deep into the man's throat before he could react.
Blood spilled instantly.
The second man froze, shocked by how quickly things had turned. That hesitation cost him everything. Li Xuan turned and struck again, driving the knife into his abdomen with enough force to drop him to the ground.
The third man didn't try to fight.
He turned and ran.
Li Xuan picked up a piece of broken metal nearby and threw it without hesitation. It struck the man's leg, sending him crashing to the ground. Seconds later, it was over.
Three bodies.
Still.
Silent.
Li Xuan stood there, his breathing steady. There was no excitement in his eyes. No hesitation either. It was simply something that needed to be done.
Then he felt it.
A strange warmth spread through his body.
His ability.
Chaos Plunder.
He focused on the bodies, waiting for a response.
Nothing happened.
The sensation faded.
His gaze darkened slightly.
None of them had abilities.
A wasted opportunity.
Before he could think further, the air shifted again.
Colder this time.
He looked up immediately.
The anomaly had returned.
Closer now.
More visible.
It wasn't fully solid, but its shape was clearer—a distorted figure, stretched and unnatural, moving in ways that didn't match any living thing.
Li Xuan's instincts reacted instantly.
Not something I can fight.
He didn't hesitate.
Grabbing what supplies he could from nearby, he turned and ran.
Around him, the town had descended into chaos. Screams echoed in the distance. Some people ran in the same direction as him, while others disappeared into side streets. Not all of them would make it back.
Time felt shorter now.
Every second mattered.
When Li Xuan finally reached the edge of the town, others were already gathering. Some were injured, some were silent, and some were missing.
The convoy stood ready.
Engines running.
Waiting.
More people arrived—but not all.
Out of nearly a hundred who entered, only around sixty returned.
No one asked about the rest.
No one needed to.
Ye Fan stood near the vehicle, quickly counting those who made it back. His expression didn't change, but his eyes hardened slightly. He turned to the leader and gave a small nod.
That was enough.
The convoy began moving again.
Inside the line of survivors, silence returned—but this time, it felt heavier.
Li Xuan rode with them, his hands steady on the handle.
His clothes carried faint traces of blood.
His expression remained calm.
His first kill.
Not a monster.
Not an anomaly.
Humans.
He looked ahead, his gaze steady.
In this world, the difference no longer mattered.
Today, he had crossed that line.
And there was no going back.