Self-Rescue

Within the Nia City.

Suddenly, several roars of beasts echoed from the hazy mist.

Gunshots rang out occasionally, along with cries for help and screams, but all eventually dissipated into the chilling sound of chewing in the deathly silence.

"Damn it, what on earth is going on?"

Inside a shop on the street, Fatima hid under the counter, looking at several ordinary people trembling beside her, and felt like she was going crazy.

Why does the world seem to have changed so drastically when I wake up?

Why is the sky a strange, colorful rainbow? And why are there monsters that can keep regenerating?

"Is Nia City about to face another natural disaster after the last catastrophe? Misfortune... Why do you favor this place so much? Or is there some other special reason?"

Fatima felt her head was spinning.

"Waaaaah... I'm so scared!"

Just then, inside the store, a little boy in the arms of a couple seemed to finally be unable to hold back his tears and began to cry.

"Shut up... Do you want to get us killed?"

Fatima was taken aback.

But before she could stop them... bang! bang! bang!

A dull thud came from the shop entrance.

"Damn it... let's fight them!"

Fatima gritted her teeth as she loaded her revolver. "Listen... those monsters seem to really like crowded places... once I get out, run to the outskirts immediately, get as far away as possible."

Just as she was giving her instructions, the shop door shattered, and a pitch-black monster with two heads, resembling a giant hunting dog, appeared.

Its eyes were bloodshot, and it drooled foul-smelling saliva. It immediately fixed its gaze on Fatima.

"Aim... shoot, it's very simple!"

Fatima nimbly rolled away from the monster's attack, aimed at its eyes, and pulled the trigger hard.

Bang!

Amidst the flames, one of the hound's eyes exploded, splattering black liquid everywhere.

But it didn't work!

Just seconds later, its wound healed, and it became even more ferocious. It opened its mouth wide, the corner of its mouth splitting all the way to its waist, revealing sharp, white teeth, and bit down hard at Fatima.

If bitten, the female detective, along with the surrounding furniture, would be swallowed whole!

Puff!

The ferocious maw bit down hard on its target, but after chewing, it spat it out, only to find that Fatima had somehow become half a puppet.

"That's my life-saving ability..."

Fatima's figure appeared on the street, sprinting towards the outskirts.

However, she soon despaired.

In the hazy mist, the shadowy figures of several monsters surrounded us from all directions.

"Am I going to die?"

"I never imagined... I'd die here... I still wanted to fall in love and have a pair of adorable babies..."

Fatima gave a bitter smile, preparing herself for death.

"Heh! What an interesting wish. Well then, live well with it."

A voice suddenly came from mid-air.

Fatima looked up in astonishment and saw a semi-transparent, radiant figure. "A spirit?"

"So it was Nightmare Demon!"

The spirit was depicted as a gentle old man who snapped his fingers as he watched the black monsters closing in.

Snap!

Several white flames, like flowers, scattered across the monsters.

The next moment, they howled and their bodies mysteriously burst into flames, turning into ashes.

"The city hall and the Church have set up two refuge areas, located at the former site of the Cathedral of Light and the Central Plaza... Go!"

The spirit glanced at Fatima and then vanished into thin air.

"A high-level professional? A master... or a legend?"

Fatima murmured to herself, watching as the black monsters spontaneously combusted wherever the spirit passed. She let out a long sigh and ran toward the nearest Cathedral of the Goddess of Light.

Church of the Goddess of Light

The once magnificent building has now become somewhat dilapidated.

Thousands of refugees were crammed into narrow halls and a limited square outside, where various smells mingled together, making one almost nauseous.

In addition, there were injured people emitting agonizing cries, adding to the somber atmosphere in the air.

Outside the church, a halo of light temporarily kept the eerie mist and monsters at bay.

Even so, a sense of unease continued to spread among the refugees.

This was the scene that Sulu saw when he arrived.

"This is troublesome..."

Billy returned to his side and said in a worried tone, "According to a Priest, the local Archbishop Oliver gathered almost all his men last night to support Theo's operation in the East District Bureau 11... Now it seems they have predictably failed, and suffered terrible consequences."

"That light barrier has truly isolated Nia City. Although spirits can still pass through... the situation is very bad..."

"That's easy to see."

Sulu rolled his eyes. "If we can't resolve this situation soon, we're all doomed! Huh? What is that?"

He saw a stumbling figure burst into the church; it was Fatima.

This female detective, being a professional, survived such a dangerous situation.

Sulu nodded at her, showing no intention of going over to greet her, her eyes fixed on Billy: "And what about the cause of this disaster?"

How could I possibly know that?

Billy said with a pained expression, "But... I reckon the higher-ups will be gathering all sorts of superhumans soon."

Sure enough, not long after, a group of priests in white robes appeared and began spreading the latest news. "Attention everyone, all professionals, please proceed to the interior of the church. We have something very important to discuss!"

The news caused an uproar among the crowd.

"I knew it... I knew there were supernatural beings, the Federation has been deceiving us all along..." a white male shouted, waving his arms wildly.

"Why didn't you tell us? We have the right to know too!"

"Yes, the information must be made public!"

The thousands of people crammed into the church hall and the small square in front of it showed signs of rioting.

"Quiet!"

Just then, a voice rang out.

It was magnificent and vast, seemingly possessing an incredible power to calm the crowd instantly.

"This is the Goddess's sanctuary; please watch your words and actions."

An elderly man in white robes stepped forward, exuding the air of an ascetic monk. His gentle gaze quelled any unrest wherever it fell.

Among the crowd, some figures began to move, heading towards the interior of the church.

"Let's go too."

Sulu greeted Ian, and the two walked together toward the white-robed elder.

Before long, another person appeared beside him— Fatima, whose expression was subtle.