In an open expanse of Jiangnan Base City, the night was ink-black and the moonlight sparse, with only scattered stars dotting the sky. Far from the city's clamor, the surroundings were so quiet that only the rustle of the breeze sweeping over the grass could be heard. Liu Yun stood alone at the center of the clearing, his shadow stretched long beneath the faint moonlight.
"Just as I thought. There was no way this would pass without a fight!"
As if he had expected this all along, Liu Yun spoke toward the darkness beyond Jiangnan City Base. As his voice faded, three figures slowly emerged from the shadows. Their steps were steady and their presence imposing. They were Jiangnan Base City's other three Planetary Stage powerhouses—Atkin, Isadora, and Yan Hai.
Greed and hostility glinted in their eyes, as though Liu Yun were already theirs for the taking.
"Liu Yun, you finally came." Atkin's voice was low and powerful, carrying an unquestionable authority.
Liu Yun narrowed his eyes slightly and looked the three uninvited guests up and down. Though wary inside, he remained calm and composed on the surface.
"Oh? So it's the three of you. Coming to see me this late at night—what do you want?"
Good thing Yan Hai was under my control long ago. Otherwise, if three Planetary Stage experts attacked together—and even Isadora, the HR Alliance's strongest fighter, joined in—I really couldn't guarantee I'd escape unscathed.
As their leader, Chairwoman Isadora sneered. Her sharp, piercing voice cut through the night like an icicle.
"Liu Yun, don't think we don't know about the Evolution Fluid formula in your hands. That is something capable of changing humanity's fate. Isn't it too greedy for you to keep it all to yourself?"
Yan Hai chimed in as well. "That's right, Liu