Major Event, I Like It!

Night fell.

Cheerful music rang out across Silver Tree Town's square, where Circus Jokers performed acrobatics, drawing everyone's attention.

A moment later, fireworks began appearing above the town. The dazzling bursts covered every face with smiles.

At that moment, the town's atmosphere was joyful and relaxed.

At the town's tallest building, the clock tower, flames also rose and exploded fiercely in midair.

Yet they produced no sparks, only a cloud of dark green smoke.

The clock tower keeper shook his head and muttered, "Well, isn't this great? They set off a dud."

"I said it from the beginning. This is a third-rate circus, nothing like the ones I saw as a kid."

As the keeper complained, more flames rose from the clock tower, continuously exploding into clouds of dark green smoke.

No one knew what the smoke was, but instead of rising, it sank downward and was carried by the wind toward the center of town.

Several seconds later, the keeper realized he was surrounded by dark green smoke. He coughed a few times, hurriedly covered his nose, and walked into the room.

The keeper shut the window, watched the green fog spread outside, and shook his head. "Those guys must have used substandard explosives."

Just then, his body suddenly trembled, and he collapsed to the floor.

His entire body shook as he looked around. For some reason, his vision had turned blood-red.

The dim bulb in the room now shone like a high-powered searchlight, so brightly that it hurt him.

"Am I sick?"

His teeth chattered as he pulled out his phone and tried to call emergency services.

But the call would not go through. After several attempts, the keeper suddenly could not catch his breath and stopped breathing.

Meanwhile, the green fog rapidly spread throughout all of Silver Tree Town.

A Joker watched everything unfold. He chuckled and took out a gold coin, rolling it continuously between his fingers.

A bat was engraved on that coin.

That same night.

Azu floated in outer space, his eyes closed as he faced the sun.

Sunlight fell over his body and transformed into strands of golden radiance that flowed into him.

Every blood vessel in Azu's body lit up with golden light, outlining a complex and mysterious pattern.

After an unknown length of time, Azu opened his eyes. A brilliant golden glow flashed through his pupils, like the midday sun.

Fine golden patterns simultaneously lit up around his eye sockets. Only when the light in his eyes faded did those patterns gradually vanish.

Azu exhaled.

"Finally charged up."

"Now I can fire Heat Ray at its maximum limit, but I don't know how many times I can use it."

Just then, a line of information drifted across his retina.

Warning: 7 hours and 14 minutes remain until the Disaster Event occurs.

Azu froze.

This Disaster Event had issued a warning seven hours early. It clearly was not a minor matter.

He turned around and flew into the atmosphere, his entire body becoming a streak of fire as he sped away.

Seven hours was only enough time for a nap.

When dawn broke the next day, Azu gently pushed away Angelina, who was wrapped around him like an octopus, and got out of bed to change.

Information appeared before his eyes.

Disaster Event detected.

Would you like to handle this event?

Azu was curious about this event, which had issued a warning more than seven hours in advance. He readily accepted, wanting to see what kind of disaster it was.

You have accepted this event.

Event Name: Night Kingdom Rising: Opening Performance

Description: Silver Tree Town, located outside the city, has fallen into an unprecedented crisis. The Black Bat Circus, led by Vought Senator Midnight Clown Brad Willy, has occupied the town and transformed 2,174 residents into Nightcrawlers.

Event Requirements: 1. Kill at least half of the Nightcrawlers; 2. Destroy the Black Bat Circus; 3. Kill Midnight Clown Brad Willy.

Event begins!

"Finally."

The corner of Azu's mouth lifted slightly. "It's finally not some small event about rescuing hostages."

"This event is pretty interesting."

"Senator Midnight Clown."

"Black Bat Circus."

"More than two thousand Nightcrawlers."

"The rewards for completing such a major event should be substantial, right?"

He sprang up and slapped Angelina's peach-shaped ass. "Get up. We've got work to do."

Still bleary-eyed, Angelina raised her head. "Master, do you want more?"

Azu smiled. "Darling, not that kind of work."

He had Angelina get ready, then headed to the command hall. Ashley entered shortly afterward. "Homelander, the costume design team has already come up with a proposal. Should I have them come up now?"

"No, wait."

"I have something more important to handle right now."

Azu folded his arms and stared at the television screen, waiting for the foreign affairs director to appear.

But ten minutes passed, and nothing happened.

Azu found it strange and immediately thought of two possibilities.

First, the disaster occurring in Silver Tree Town had not yet been discovered by the Department of Homeland Security or the relevant authorities.

Second, the authorities did not intend to let The Seven intervene.

But—

"Whatever."

Azu turned around. "Give me Silver Tree Town's location."

"Also, gather the others."

Ashley hurried off to handle it.

A moment later.

Princess Frost, Livewire, Element Man, and Starlight walked in.

Azu looked at Ashley.

She hurriedly said, "Queen Maeve and Black Noir aren't at Seven Tower. They left last night, and I've already notified them to return."

"We're not waiting."

Azu quickly said, "A town called Silver Tree Town outside the city has suffered a serious disaster. We leave immediately."

"Ashley, have the helicopter prepared."

"You take the helicopter. We'll meet in town. That's it."

With that, Azu flew out through the window.

Following the coordinates Ashley had given him, Azu quickly spotted the town.

It was not large, with low buildings. With his eyesight, he could see the entire place at a glance.

"Master, look."

Angelina, whom Azu had brought out and who was now tightly clinging to him, pointed toward the countryside outside the town.

A temporary camp had already been erected there. Soldiers moved about inside it, while military SUVs continuously drove around the town outside the camp, apparently monitoring the situation within.

Strangely enough.

The town was exceptionally quiet.

It did not seem like a place with two thousand residents at all.

Azu lowered his altitude, landed in a forest, and set Angelina down. "Stay here and await my orders."

He had brought Angelina along this time so the girl could gain some practical combat experience, but he did not want to expose her existence, so he temporarily left her in the forest.

Angelina nodded and took two steps back. Then she saw Azu shoot into the sky before whistling toward the military camp.

A few seconds later, Azu crashed into the camp like a meteor, making the entire camp shake. Countless people lost their footing and fell.