Chapter 45: The Light of This World!

“Song Lufeng, let me see what your ability truly is.”

“As you wish.”

Black lightning surged in all directions, with Song Lufeng standing resolutely at its core.

Behind him, a black moon rose into the sky.

The black lightning, like whips or serpentine dragons, intercepted, shattered, and devoured all opposing abilities.

Meanwhile, the black moon fragmented into countless smooth circular blades.

These blades, weightless and without physical form, effortlessly sliced through all monsters in their path.

Song Lufeng clenched his hand, gathering the black lightning into a sword.

Zhan Bai felt the immense pressure, his energy forming the tense silhouettes of nine mythical beasts behind him.

Song Lufeng’s ability was SSS-ranked, while his was only SS-ranked.

He refused to accept this.

With a roar, the nine-headed beasts lunged forward, their massive, mountain-like maws opening wide to tear Song Lufeng apart.

CRACK!

ZAP!

The black sword in Song Lufeng’s hand extended, blocking the terrifying fangs.

“Take this!”

Zhan Bai swung his mutated arm—an arm that had once been severed by Song Lufeng but had since regenerated into something beast-like.

It radiated raw, savage energy.

Each of the nine beast heads unleashed a different devastating force:

Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, Poison, Light, and Psychic Shock!

These were far beyond the abilities of monsters fused with human genes.

A catastrophic wave of energy surged toward Song Lufeng.

In response, he plunged his black lightning sword into the ground.

A sphere of black lightning erupted, expanding outward to clash with the nine forces.

As black lightning wove through the multi-colored energies, shockwaves spread across the battlefield.

Within a ten-mile radius, the very ground dissolved and vanished.

The shockwave pierced the sky, shredding the leaden clouds apart and revealing a glimpse of sunlight.

The tremors shook the entirety of Xuanwu City.

People turned their eyes toward the towering pillar of light.

For a moment, sunlight touched their faces—unreal, almost forgotten.

Even Bai Shuang, who had distanced herself, couldn’t hide her shock.

“So this is a battle between SSS-ranked beings… This power defies comprehension…”

Yet, the leaden clouds soon swallowed the sky once more, and the rare sunlight faded.

As darkness reclaimed the ruins, two figures stood in silent confrontation.

Zhan Bai—the light had left him.

Instead, it now shone upon Song Lufeng.

Behind Zhan Bai, the nine-headed serpent’s energy form had already lost half its heads.

The tattoos on his body were similarly torn, as though nine heads had been ripped away.

He coughed up dark blood, bits of his own organs spilling with it.

Through the fading sunlight, he gazed at Song Lufeng.

“The light may shine on you now, but only for a moment.”

“Just like your so-called ‘Savior’—she’s only casting a fleeting glow upon this world of despair.”

“She’ll soon tire of this salvation game.”

Song Lufeng’s battle-worn uniform was in tatters, but he gripped his black-glowing sword firmly, his voice unwavering.

“She won’t.”

His Savior was not that kind of person.

He believed in her.

The hope in his eyes stung Zhan Bai.

That same look of unshaken hope… was something he had once possessed.

But now, despair was his only companion.

“Even if she doesn’t tire of it, with the amount of resources she’s pouring in, do you really think the people of that world will let her continue?”

Zhan Bai laughed mockingly.

“This crumbling Xuanwu City will soon become a crushing burden on her shoulders.”

This time, he didn’t use his abilities.

But his words pierced deep into Song Lufeng’s heart.

He and Xuanwu City—were they becoming a burden to the Savior?

Yes.

He knew it.

It was a truth he couldn’t ignore.

“Song Lufeng, you’re even more decisive than I thought—you dared to come underground alone.”

“You deliberately sent your people away to lower my guard.”

“And to ensure that our battle wouldn’t harm them.”

“But I’m no fool. Neither are the invading beasts.”

Song Lufeng’s expression darkened.

He immediately rushed outside.

Seeing him abandon the chance to finish him off just to save others, Zhan Bai’s face twisted in madness.

“You really have changed. The old you would’ve killed me at any cost.“

“But now, you choose to save those weak, worthless people instead.”

“You’ve gone soft, Song Lufeng.”

He stood up, walking toward the city gates, his voice echoing through the air.

“Then let me tell you something in return.”

“This world is no longer what you think—it’s bloodier, more desperate than ever.”

“The Beast King? There’s something above it—the Beast Emperor.”

“And do you know who sent the Beast Emperor into this world?”

“Song Lufeng, I want you to live. I want you to come find me again—and prove that I’m wrong!“

“And as payment for your victory… the last sliver of my humanity offers you a gift…”

“That is, if you survive the Beast Emperor’s claws.”

His figure disappeared into the depths of Xuanwu Base.

Behind him, the phantom of the nine-headed beast continued to devour the corpses of the fallen monsters, absorbing their powers…

———

Nearby, Yu Fei adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses.

“Am I… being given as a ‘gift’?”

“Oh well.”

He walked toward Bai Shuang.

At the sight of this high-ranking scientist, the guards of the Light Corporation raised their particle rifles, ready to fire.

Yu Fei calmly raised his hands.

“Relax, relax. I’m just a scientist—I’m no threat to you.”

“I’m here to surrender, not to fight.”

Bai Shuang gave him a complex look.

“Handcuff him. Take him away.”

———

At that moment, on the battlefield, the situation took a drastic turn.

Originally, Shu Weng’s forces had successfully lured the Mountain Boars into their traps, eliminating them one by one.

Victory was within reach.

Then, a monstrous roar shattered the sky.

A sound so terrifying, so oppressive, that its very energy made people vomit blood.

“What’s happening?! That sound—”

Shu Weng flared his light wings, soaring high to witness an unbelievable sight.

A colossal beast, like a living mountain, reared up and bellowed.

And in response, tens of thousands of mutant beasts began to charge.

A BEAST TIDE!

Shu Weng’s face turned ashen.

“RETREAT! EVERYONE, RETREAT NOW!”

But it was too late.

Flying beasts had already cut off every escape route.

With no choice left, the soldiers formed a defensive ring around their war vehicles, preparing to fight to the death.

Shu Weng fired light arrows from his wings, bringing down the airborne enemies.

But for every beast he felled, more swarmed in.

“Shu Weng’s group is in danger—move in for support!”

Shi Hai and Cheng Fang led reinforcements from the flanks.

Lu He and Shi Zhuang piloted battle mechs and armored vehicles, carving a bloody path through the horde.

“Don’t hold back! FIRE!”

Their nuclear weapons were their last hope.

Miniature nuclear blasts created zones of annihilation.

Only the Beast Emperor remained unscathed.

But after a few shots, their energy reserves ran dry.

And the beast tide came crashing down once more.

“Why aren’t we firing?!”

“The nukes—we only had three shots!“

Despair settled over the battlefield.

“What do we do? Are we going to die here?!”

“Without nuclear firepower, we’re doomed!”