Desperate Fugitive, Killer Mutant

Jiang Mian's expression darkened, the wind currents around her suddenly surged, and her fatigue vanished instantly.

She had always been cautious. She hadn't lived in this place for long and spent most of her time in the hospital, rarely interacting with others.

How did this person track her down, or rather, why? And they had the audacity to come to her home?

Several possibilities flashed through Jiang Mian's mind at lightning speed, finally settling on Li Hao's detestable face.

In his father's eyes, Li Hao's death was inexplicable, ultimately classified as an "accident."

The new official legislation, which clearly protected high-tier sequence Awakened like herself, had further increased the pressure on him.

But if he couldn't touch her openly, an "accident" would be harder to explain.

Could it be the work of Li Hao's Awakened father?

Regardless of the reason, breaking into her home and brazenly staying inside meant the other party was definitely after her.

She didn't have much money at home; most of her cash had been spent on Inhibitors.

If they were after money, they would have left already upon finding none.

With the keen senses of [Gale], Jiang Mian judged that the opponent was only a step away from Third-tier.

However, their aura was slightly violent, likely a Mutant, and an "old one" at that.

This only strengthened her earlier suspicion: Li Tian had probably hired a Mutant through some special channel to create an "accident."

If she were still First Order, she might have had to consider it, but now...

Even against a Third-tier Awakened, if she could only use one Element, she could outlast them.

She could fight!

Since they dared to break into her home, they should be prepared to stay forever.

If she backed down now, future troubles would be endless.

"Click."

She decisively pushed the key in her hand into the lock, producing a clear sound.

Inside the room, illuminated by the scant moonlight, the outlines of furniture were barely visible.

The shadows in the corner seemed particularly dense. A gaunt man raised his head from the darkness, looking at the twisted doorknob. A hint of sickly excitement flickered across his pale face.

His exposed neck and arms were covered in patches of irregular gray-black scales.

This was a characteristic of a Mutant who had gone through the third stage, irreversible even with Inhibitors.

They're here...

Originally, as a Mutant, Liu Mu should have tried to hide his condition.

But his appearance had deteriorated so much that he had grown partial gray-black scales, making it impossible to work normally and buy Inhibitors.

To survive, and to afford the expensive Inhibitors, he could only resort to this dangerous line of work.

Fortunately, he was sequence 234, a [Wanderer] under the [Chaos] path. His ability allowed him to switch between a physical and shadow state and meld into shadows, making him extremely suited for infiltration and assassination.

Liu Mu had been unaccustomed to it at first, but with practice, he had become numb, even finding some enjoyment in it, using it to vent his inner desires.

"Hehehe..."

Recalling the target information sent by his employer, the agitation from mental erosion made him unable to control a low chuckle, and he subconsciously scratched the scales on his hand.

Jiang Mian, female, eighteen years old, recently awakened sequence 48 [Eye of the Storm], no combat experience, appearance... Generous reward: a Type 3 Inhibitor, plus two hundred thousand. Enough for him to live it up for a while.

Type 3 Inhibitors were the most common variant circulating in the Black Market. For Mutants beyond sequence two hundred, one dose was enough to last half a month.

"Creak~"

Jiang Mian pushed the door open, looking exhausted, seemingly unaware of the hidden observer in the shadows.

She had taken off her raincoat before entering, revealing a simple hoodie and sweatpants underneath. She appeared completely oblivious as she closed the door behind her.

The instant the door shut, the shadow beneath Jiang Mian's feet abruptly transformed into several tentacle-like ropes, lashing up from the ground and coiling around her limbs, attempting to restrain her.

Simultaneously, a purplish-black mist filled the room, engulfing the surrounding walls, floor, and ceiling, making it feel like another dimension.

Oh? They used two skills right away?

Jiang Mian understood. The opponent wasn't going for a quick kill, but wanted to toy with her, their "prey"?

Heh, who was toying with whom remained to be seen.

"He...lp..."

She was bound by this "powerful" force, unable to move, her face filled with terror as she tried to call for help, struggling continuously.

But the shadow ropes seemed incredibly tough, and the more she struggled, the tighter they coiled.

Liu Mu let out a hoarse chuckle and slowly emerged from the shadows, savoring Jiang Mian's expression with a twisted smile.

"Don't bother struggling, little sister. My [Shadow Mist] has sealed the area, so you won't be able to use that wind-blowing ability of yours."

He lowered his head, squinting, and scrutinized Jiang Mian's face, his lips stretching into an even wider grin.

The [Shadow Mist] also has the effect of blocking sound. Not to mention calling for help, even if you set off firecrackers here, no one outside would hear it, which is why he was so fearless.

"Such tender skin, it'd be a shame to ruin it. However, a high-level sequence like you must taste delicious."

"You, you're a Mutant? Why..."

"Why?"

Liu Mu grinned, revealing a mouth full of sharp teeth, and rubbed his hands together, saying:

"Someone wants your life. Heh heh, Sequence 48, a top genius, and your head is only worth this much money."

Liu Mu always felt a twisted jealousy towards geniuses like this.

To be able to personally destroy a genius, and a delicate young girl at that, and to collect some interest before finishing the job, the thought alone was exhilarating.

"So that's how it is..."

Jiang Mian could now be completely certain that the employer was probably Li Hao's father.

She withdrew her frightened expression and said indifferently:

"After dealing with the pawn, the king shows up. It's endless."

Liu Mu was slightly stunned by her words. This girl... something was off. Was she so scared she'd lost her mind?

While he was still in a daze, an indescribable heat suddenly erupted from Jiang Mian, instantly igniting the dark shadow ropes wrapped around her limbs.

"Sizzle... sizzle..."

The energy that formed the ropes rapidly dissolved under the high temperature.

However, the orange-gold flames, upon attaching themselves to Jiang Mian, did not harm her in the slightest; not even the hem of her clothes was ignited.

Liu Mu's pupils contracted sharply. He saw that the girl's apricot eyes, which had been filled with panic moments ago, were now burning with a heart-stopping dark gold light, exuding a terrifying aura like that of an ancient fierce beast.

"No, that's not right!"

He instinctively took half a step back and exclaimed in disbelief:

"How can the [Eye of the Storm] have this kind of ability?! Was the intel wrong?!"

"[Eye of the Storm]? Heh heh..."

Jiang Mian's dark gold eyes locked onto Liu Mu, and she didn't say any more.

She wasn't some all-knowing oracle or a verbose villain. Why should she answer his questions?

As her light chuckle faded, the orange-gold [Fierce Flame] erupted with a roar, igniting the surrounding purple-black [Shadow Mist], and also, igniting Liu Mu, who was within the Shadow Mist.