Vanguard

The streets in the North Spinning District are narrower than those in other parts of the Outer City, which also means they are more dangerous.

On both sides are low-rise textile workshops and Storehouse, their walls blackened, the marks of years of dyeing and smoke seeping deep into the brickwork.

This area is the workers' territory during the day, but you can hardly see anyone at night.

Now it's completely empty.

That's not so bad; at least the team's progress won't be disrupted by someone suddenly appearing.

The streetlights on both sides of the street are now on.

However, the area that the light can cover is very small.

Deep inside the alleys on both sides, it was still pitch black.

The group slowed down.

Because the two Night Watcher scouting ahead simultaneously raised their fists.

Stop moving forward.

Lu Yuan immediately stopped in his tracks.

The eight people behind him stopped simultaneously.

It was very quiet around.

Only the distant sound of gunfire and the creaking sound of the wind blowing through the eaves could be heard.

Then Lu Yuan heard it.

Hiss--

The sound was very soft.

It sounded like something was being burned.

Moreover, the sound came from more than one direction.

Deep in the alley on the left, above the eaves on the right, at a dark corner ahead.

"We're surrounded! Be on alert!"

Lu Yuan said in a low voice.

At the edge of my field of vision, the grayish-white text is still dancing.

[Environmental Perception: Numerous traces of Source of Pollution... continuously monitored... recommended to stay away.]

Exactly the same as before.

Nothing has changed.

That's the real problem.

When the number of Source of Pollution becomes large enough, Environmental Perception no longer shows their specific locations and quantities.

All that's left is a vague "massive amount".

In other words, current Environmental Perception would be virtually useless in this environment.

Hiss--

The sound was getting closer.

Boer did not wait for Lu Yuan to give the order.

He pulled a short-barreled firearm from under his gray robe; the barrel was short and thick, and the silver muzzle reflected a cold light under the lamplight.

Silver-Coated Scattergun.

Almost simultaneously, the Night Watcher on the left wing and at the rear also drew out the same weapon.

The three gun barrels were pointed in three different directions.

Sizzle

Something moved in the darkness.

At the same time, Boer pulled the trigger.

A series of loud gunshots rang out in the narrow alley, Silver-Plated Bullet scattered in a fan-shaped barrage, tearing a gap in the darkness at the left entrance of the alley.

Firearms on the left flank and at the rear followed immediately.

Fire simultaneously from three directions.

A dense hail of silver bullets turned the shadows on both sides of the street into ablaze with light.

Something has been hit.

Not just one.

There are several.

They stumbled and fell out of the darkness, landing on the edge of the streetlight's glow.

Lu Yuan saw it clearly.

That's not a human.

They are similar in size to humans, with all four limbs on the ground and their backs arched upwards, each vertebra protruding high like a row of misaligned Gear.

It has no skin.

Or rather, the skin has become one with the muscles, turning into a damp, grayish-red film.

It's so thin you can see the veins underneath moving.

Their heads are the most eye-catching part.

It has no eyes.

Above the brow bone is a smooth membrane, where all facial features except the mouth blend together.

But its mouth was open.

The cleft extends from the jaw all the way to the chest cavity.

The entire lower half of his face was turned to the sides, revealing three layers of overlapping teeth of varying lengths.

Each tooth was covered in a viscous liquid that stretched into thin strands under the light.

Ghoul.

The areas hit by the silver bullets were smoking, and the grayish-red muscles were turning outwards, but they were still not dead and were still struggling desperately.

The ground, mixed with bronze castings, was constantly corroding their bodies.

But the Ghoul, still dragging its broken forelimbs, crawled towards the direction with the weakest light source using its remaining three legs.

Boer reacted even faster than Lu Yuan had anticipated.

"Melee team, charge!"

Before the words were even finished, two figures in gray robes had already cut out from both sides of the queue.

Their short swords were longer than the standard version, and the blades were plated with a light copper color.

The first person's positioning was extremely precise; with a horizontal slash, the blade cut right through the Ghoul's arched back.

The moment the bronze sword touched its body, the muscles at the edge of the wound contracted sharply, and the pierced tissue made a hissing sound.

The Ghoul let out a sharp howl, its gaping mouth snapping shut, its three layers of teeth grinding together like a meat grinder, aiming for the nearest Night Watcher's calf.

The second person's sword had already fallen.

A flash of silver light streaked across the sky.

The sword slashed down the center of the Ghoul's head, splitting Ghoul in two.

The two halves of the body fell to either side, spilling dark brown liquid all over the ground.

The remaining few were also dealt with in an instant.

The whole process took no more than a minute.

There were no unnecessary movements, no unnecessary sounds.

This hastily assembled team performed even better than Lu Yuan had anticipated in actual combat.

Boer began loading ammunition, his movements clean and efficient.

"Small groups aren't difficult to deal with," he lowered his voice, "But if they're large..."

"Wait a moment."

Lu Yuan interrupted him.

He walked toward the nearest Ghoul corpse.

It's not completely dead yet.

The body, split in two, was still clawing, its broken claws scraping the ground unconsciously.

But its movements are slowing down.

Bronze is like a red-hot iron plate to this thing.

The dark brown Flesh slowly curled up upon contact with the copper, its edges charring and turning black, with wisps of grayish-white smoke rising from the wound.

Even after they are dead, copper continues to decompose their bodies.

Lu Yuan squatted down.

He did not touch the body.

At the edge of my field of vision, grayish-white text appeared.

[Target: Ghoul (Absolute Hunger)]

[Status: A twisted species that has not eaten for a long time; its intestines have shrunk, and it has almost no energy reserves. They are often driven forward as vanguards to probe for threats.]

[Weakness: Holy attribute items]

[Forbidden Studies - Seeker: +0.1]

Lu Yuan's expression darkened.

"Absolute Hunger".

He took another look at the Ghoul's body.

Looking at it now, many details match up.

Its waist was severely sunken, its ribs were clearly visible, and its intestines were reduced to thin, shrunken threads.

They are wild beasts driven by hunger.

They were also used to test the defenses of Bronze City.

The meaning of the word "vanguard army" is very clear.

Behind the vanguard are the main forces.

Lu Yuan stood up.

He looked north.

That direction is the Collapse Point in the North Spinning District urban area.

Their destination.

This is also where these things emerge.

If even the vanguard has spread here, then the situation at the Collapse Point itself must be...

"Speed up."

Lu Yuan's voice was calm.

But Boer understood what he was hearing.

He didn't ask why.

"Fall back! Advance formation, full speed ahead!"

Boer's orders were swift and decisive.

The eight gray-robed figures instantly contracted their formation, transforming from a spreading defensive array into an arrowhead-shaped advancing column.

Two melee fighters led the way, bronze swords in hand.

Two gunners followed closely behind, ready to finish off the pursuers at any moment.

The other four people protected the sides and rear.

Lu Yuan was in the center of the queue.

They started running.

Several more Ghoul darted out of the alley along the way.

But it was resolved quickly.

Every Ghoul left behind shared the same characteristics.

So thin he was just a skeleton.

The ribs are clearly defined.

The waist is concave.

I've been hungry for a long time.

They're all pioneers.

In the darkness ahead, a putrid stench was growing stronger.