Golden Eyes

In the shadows of the warehouse.

A black cat slowly paced out.

Its fur was sleek and glossy, its gait elegant, and it had a pair of golden-yellow eyes.

"What is this?"

Lin Yan's pupils contracted. Zhang Wei had once mentioned that when he discovered the class monitor had been killed, he had wanted to shout for help. But at that moment, he saw a pair of eyes hidden in the darkness, then lost consciousness.

His description at the time had been... golden and glittering, like gemstones.

It was the black cat before them.

In fact, they had discussed what had caused Zhang Wei to lose consciousness.

This method should have been a Mental Attack, but extremely few monsters possessed such an ability, and none matched the obvious trait of golden eyes.

Wen Xiuyong's theory of Gene Modification had later given them a clue. But Zhang Wei was, after all, merely an ordinary person, with physical abilities probably only on par with an advanced martial arts academy student.

After determining that the skinning monster was Lord level, they had instinctively assumed that the monster capable of Mental Attack was its subordinate and had not paid it much attention.

But the fact that they had infiltrated the laboratory so easily weighed heavily on Lin Yan's mind.

This was very likely another Lord-level monster!

They had never considered such a possibility, because if that were the case, there would have been no need for them to sneak around like this. With their astonishing special talents, vigilance, and cunning, destroying the entire North District would not have been difficult.

Yet they had not done so.

Then what exactly was the mastermind's objective?

Clearly, they had greater demands behind this matter.

Lin Yan's thoughts raced. The shortage of powerful fighters in Tianjing Base City, the beast tide's invasion of Defense Line 021, the two monsters' covert activities within the North District—there had to be some inevitable connection between them.

When "Zhang Wei's class monitor" was killed, why had Zhang Wei, an ordinary private in a reconnaissance company, witnessed the scene and survived unharmed?

This matter did not seem simple either.

After being moved by the monsters to City 032, Zhang Wei had successfully sent a distress message through the military's public information channel.

"Save me."

"Yang Bin and the beast tide have a problem. He's now..."

The North District had then naturally discovered the abnormalities in Yang Bin's identity.

A person whose body had vanished without a trace, yet had appeared again.

This was undoubtedly an enormous mystery.

It was like a carefully laid bait, little by little drawing them to continue investigating in this direction.

Until later, when the military district arranged for the Star Special Operations Squad to head to City 032 for a rescue.

One thing after another.

What was the goal they wanted to achieve through this whole affair?

What was their ultimate purpose?

Lin Yan could not untangle these threads, but there was no longer time to keep thinking. He was facing an even greater problem.

"Meow~"

The black cat gave a soft cry, its tiny face revealing a humanlike expression—proud and aloof.

Lin Yan tightened his grip on the hilt of the Heavenly Gang Battle Sword.

If he was right and this was truly a Lord-level monster, he had no confidence that he could inflict any harm on it at all.

But he still had to try.

Waiting helplessly for death would be far too ugly.

He called out, "Little Wen."

Wen Zhi'an answered softly, "Hm?"

"From now on, can I call you Zhi'an?" Lin Yan asked with a gentle smile.

Before she could answer.

The silver-white blade left its sheath, its sword light dazzling.

Lin Yan moved like a phantom. The moment he struck, he unleashed the Po Jun Sword Style.

A mayfly shaking a tree, a mantis blocking a cart, a finger scratching Buddha, a moth flying into flame.

People always laughed at those who overestimated themselves.

But it was still better than doing nothing.

Silver sword light appeared in the black cat's pupils, yet it showed no intention of dodging.

Its eyes were filled with deep contempt.

"Meow!"

From Lin Yan and Wen Zhi'an's perspective, its golden eyes released a hazy golden glow. For a moment, the world spun around them, and their consciousness fell into another scene.

Thick black clouds floated in the sky.

Torrential rain poured down.

"Ah!" A shrill scream rang out.

Blood mixed with the rainwater pooled on the ground.

Where is this? Lin Yan could not help thinking, then he saw the golden traditional characters on the wall beside him.

Tianjing City Sheng'an District First High School.

Lin Yan ran through the school gates in great strides.

Before his eyes, a huge Tiger Mastiff stood a full three meters tall. Its massive body and savage fangs were terrifying. It leaped across the plaza before the teaching building and directly bit a male student on the shoulder.

It was utterly bloody.

And scenes like this could be seen everywhere across the campus.

Chaos, screams, roars.

They played out beneath the torrential rain.

Lin Yan instinctively tried to find something within the campus.

Why am I here?

What am I looking for?

A thought suddenly surfaced in his heart. Just as he was about to pursue it, a familiar figure appeared before him.

She wore a white dress and had fallen into the mud before a flower bed. A Shadow Leopard suddenly sprang out from the flower bed, and the girl in white was on the brink of danger!

Lin Yan was shocked. He sprinted forward without the slightest hesitation and stepped in front of her.

He was nothing, just an ordinary student.

He had no power to resist the monster's attack. Intense pain swept through his mind, and he could even feel his life force draining away.

Am I going to die?

His vision gradually blurred until the world was left with only black and white.

Vaguely, Lin Yan saw the Shadow Leopard slowly approaching again. The girl moved closer, took his hand, and his blood stained her white dress.

Lin Yan heard his own heartbeat growing slower and slower.

Along with that slowing heartbeat came her sorrowful sobbing.

Who is she?

This feeling is so familiar.

Lin Yan slowly closed his eyes. His heartbeat came to a complete stop, but suddenly, new energy surged through his silent heart.

Where is this?

We were clearly at the North District Research Institute. Why are we here?

This place isn't real!

Fuck you!

That damned cat!

Illusion, illusion, illusion!

Lin Yan suddenly opened his eyes and sat up from his body sprawled in the pool of blood.

The girl in white stopped crying and stared at him blankly, her face streaked with tears.

She saw the blood-covered boy reveal a smile utterly out of place.

It was very warm.

"Don't be afraid. I'm here."

He spoke softly.

Lin Yan stood up, looked up at the black clouds on the horizon, and shouted, "If you want to play, then I'll play with you!"

The Shadow Leopard pounced again.

"Get lost!"

Lin Yan said coldly.

Yet incredibly, at his furious shout, the Shadow Leopard was blasted into the sky. With a boom, a brilliant firework exploded on the horizon.

There was no logic, no reason.

Lin Yan sneered. "You little bastard, today I'll show you that if you try to toy with illusions in front of me, you've really run into your father."

"Virtual Hall, activate!"