"Alright, this should do. Get out."
Si Ai drove Fang Ran to a brightly lit pedestrian street, parked the unknown owner's Alto by the roadside, and headed toward the street.
"Wow!!!"
Fang Ran got out as well, and the sight before him left him stunned!
On both sides of the broad, smooth pedestrian street stood skyscrapers shooting straight into the night sky. Huge screens displayed celebrity endorsement ads, while the dazzling storefronts on either side were filled with English brands Fang Ran had never seen before, or had only vaguely heard of, their displays packed with gleaming merchandise.
A circular pool sprayed fountains, and golden light filled every corner. After living this long, Fang Ran felt as though he had finally come to the place called a CBD that his teachers had mentioned in class—the sea of lights he had gazed at countless times from afar.
This was the kind of place frequented by upper-class people you could never reach, not mothers dragging their children along, office workers sprinting for their lives in terror of being late, or uncles riding electric scooters out to pick up stock.
Fang Ran felt restless, excited—not because he was proud to be able to hold his head high in a place like this.
He was just thinking that, if he went into that diamond-ring store on his right and secretly took one, then wouldn't—
his phone problem be solved!!!!
Fang Ran thought excitedly.
(Wipes sweat.)
Alright, let's forgive this poor bastard who had never seen the world.
And that was exactly the cowardly mindset Ling had always wanted to change in Fang Ran but had never been able to. Even after gaining special abilities, this coward still wanted a computer job paying five thousand a month. Even if he gathered every ounce of courage to secretly steal a diamond ring, all he could think of was trading it for a new phone. No dreams at all!
"There are twelve participants this time. Besides you and me, there are ten others. In other words, we have ten enemies." With both hands in his pockets, Si Ai led Fang Ran onward, perfectly playing the role of an uninhibited young boss bringing along his useless little brother.
"Of course, if you want to fight for it too, then including me, you'll have eleven enemies." Si Ai suddenly turned and smiled at Fang Ran.
Fang Ran immediately shook his head like a rattle.
Asking an E-Rank scrub like him to fight people of unknown rank? Spare him.
Fang Ran felt that he had not lived long enough yet.
After all, this was an infinite survival scenario where people could die.
"By the way, Big Brother Ai, why did we come to a CBD like this?"
"Oh, it's my habit. A one-night tour of an unfamiliar city—why not go somewhere fun?"
Si Ai spread his hands and shrugged. Fang Ran immediately understood and nodded solemnly. Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, that made sense. The pile of snacks he and Meng Lang had eaten at the supermarket might not even have been worth as much as a cup of coffee here.
Eh!? Didn't that mean coming here in the future would be a huge bargain?
Fang Ran's expression immediately turned grave, as though he had mastered a new skill for freeloading!
Si Ai looked at Fang Ran's expression, like his eyes could not take everything in fast enough, and smiled. It reminded him of when he had first started out. Every time he came to a big city, he had looked exactly the same.
Smiling at the memory, he raised his head and looked at the night sky and the glowing city.
But suddenly, Si Ai's expression changed! He shoved Fang Ran away!
Fang Ran felt as though a pile driver had slammed into him, sending him flying several meters away at once!!
Could Big Brother Ai be making a move on me!?
Just as Fang Ran thought that, he looked up in Si Ai's direction and saw only—
BOOM!!!!
Several streaks of light flashed through the night sky, stabbing into the ground like javelins before exploding violently!!!
The spot where Si Ai stood suddenly exploded!
But amid the dispersing blasts of unknown power, a blaze burst to life!
Whoosh, whoosh!!
BOOM!
The flames surged wildly, whipping the air into roaring gusts! Then the raging fire exploded with a violent burst!
Si Ai slowly stepped out of the flames. Fire streamed from his jacket, his soles burned, and every step he took scorched a footprint into the ground. Without saying a word, he coldly stared at the figures amid the prosperous lights on both sides of the pedestrian street.
Then several figures leaped down from the towering buildings in every direction!
Others came around the shops from behind the street, and some even walked straight out of the building across from them.
And their number—
Neither more nor less, exactly ten.
"Oh? Quite the show. I didn't expect all of you to be coming for me?"
Si Ai lifted his chin and gave the approaching group a wild, disdainful smile.
The ten people stood in different positions. Some stood straight, some casually; some wore suits and ties, others trench coats and slacks. The only thing they all had in common was their black clothing.
And every one of them stared at Si Ai with hostility.
"Heh, it can't be helped. In such an important and special scenario, you're the only B-Rank participant, Si Ai."
The man standing at the front wore a suit and tie and thin-rimmed glasses, looking refined and courteous.
"Looks like you all planned this out?"
Si Ai looked at the ten people who had faintly surrounded him and spoke with the same contempt, though inwardly he frowned gravely. Had they figured out his habits?
"Si Ai, stop resisting. You're finished this time!"
A young man who looked about twenty sneered maliciously.
"I remember you. In the scenario before last, I ran into you in Beijing. I seem to recall your ass was on fire back then."
Si Ai let out a derisive snort at the scruffy young man, directly ripping open his old wound in front of everyone.
"You!!"
The young man's face immediately darkened. He had not expected Si Ai to remember, much less say it out loud. He could even feel several people around him looking at him with amused eyes!
"Compared to a clown like you, I'm more interested in the identities of a few of you. We don't seem to have met before?"
Si Ai narrowed his eyes. The ring on his right hand flashed with fire as he fixed his gaze on the suited man directly before him, a hooded young man to his right whose face was hidden, and a woman in professional attire.
Those three were probably the ones who had put this plan together!
"Blazing Light—Si Ai. Nice to meet you. As for where I come from, that's not something I can easily say."
The suited man introduced himself, but remained vague about his identity.
"Actually, we've invited you many times. But unfortunately, it seems you haven't appreciated Against the Current's goodwill."
The woman in professional attire spoke, her gaze gradually turning cold.
Against the Current's people? Si Ai's eyes sharpened. Then he gave a cold laugh, looked toward the last young man, and sneered disdainfully.
"Oh? This is the first I've heard that official people would cooperate with Against the Current."
"My personal judgment is that if I want to obtain the Night Artifact this time, I must eliminate you first. As for her, afterward, she and I will fight to the death."
The hooded young man, who seemed taciturn, spoke indifferently.
Seeing Si Ai speak only with those three, the other seven—especially that young man—glared at Si Ai with impatient malice, as though they might attack at any moment!
"Then I suppose there's nothing to discuss!" Si Ai said in a low voice. A violent aura suddenly erupted around him, and even the air began to burn!
Yet facing such pressure, the ten showed no change in expression. The suited man even smiled.
"Si Ai, we know your strength. We know the power of that armguard of yours, and we understand your confidence right now. But—"
The suited man revealed a mysterious smile and continued, his tone carrying a trace of mockery.
"Did you think we'd come unprepared?"
Si Ai's pupils suddenly widened! He saw one of the people standing behind the suited man, a man whose expression seemed somewhat stiff, rapidly take out a short staff as obscure incantations began to sound from his mouth!
"The farthest north, the birth of morning dew, the lake goddess's fleeting tear,"
"The second portion drinking the bitter river water,"
"The nameless vault,"
"The lord's malice,"
"Rising from the sea with the sea god's third mount,"
"At this moment, you shall be imprisoned here within the prison of captive water!"
Then the man swiftly raised the staff before him, pointing directly at Si Ai, who was surrounded by the ten!
Bang!
The suited man raised his shoulder and fiercely blocked Si Ai, who had tried to interrupt the man's chant. Then he sprang forward, charging toward Si Ai!
And at the same time!
On the pedestrian street's ground!
A huge blue circle abruptly formed around Si Ai!
The blue circle suddenly shone brilliantly. A blue curtain of water rose from the magic circle's ring, and a hemispherical sphere of water enveloped Si Ai!
Water vapor spread through the air. Though the flames on his body still burned, Si Ai grimly felt the temperature around him beginning to fall.
The ten closed in. Their meticulous killing trap had already taken shape with chilling finality!
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