On Mistspirit Mountain, the Paranormal Special Operations Squad led by Du Lin had reached its destination.
The wind churned the mist covering the mountain, carrying a faint, elusive scent of blood and sweetness. The squad members spread out on either side of the mountain path, gripping heavy psychic guns as they cautiously felt their way forward.
Du Lin walked at the head of the squad, his fingertip resting on the Psychic Ability Trigger Device. His gaze swept over the tree trunks snapped in half beside the road, their bark still bearing claw marks stained black and purple. His expression grew increasingly grave.
"Everyone, maintain formation. Five-meter spacing. Report anything unusual immediately. No acting on your own."
The low command reached every squad member through their earpieces. Mo Duo walked on the squad's flank, her gunstock braced against her shoulder. Her gaze swept into the depths of the mist, and she suddenly stopped.
"Captain, look over there!"
Following the direction she pointed, they saw half a squad uniform stained with black blood hanging from a leaning tree trunk. It had been left by one of the outpost scouts sent ahead to seal off the mountain path.
Du Lin crouched and rubbed the blackened bloodstain between his fingers. A sticky, bloody odor clung to his fingertips. It smelled exactly like the patches of filth at the docks, only several times stronger.
"Looks like that thing has already dealt with the advance scouts. Stay alert, everyone. We're facing at least a level-two mutant."
He had barely finished speaking when a sudden rustling came from the nearby woods. A demon over two meters tall, covered in black scales, smashed through a tree trunk and charged out.
It had three vertically slit eyes on its head, and foul-smelling saliva dripped from its mouth. The moment