Unexpected Reunion

In the central square of Sin City.

“Help me…!”

The evening sky, painted in blood-red clouds, cast an eerie glow over the city.

“I don’t want this! I don’t want to become a monster… AAAAAH—”

Before the man could finish screaming, his eyes burst with streams of blood. From his mouth—not vomit, but flesh—blobs of raw meat sprouted and writhed. His limbs convulsed violently, twisting into grotesque shapes, dripping with viscous slime, reeking of decay.

The crowd scattered instantly, cries and wails filling the air as they fled.

In a flash, the man completed his transformation. The monster roared and charged into the fleeing masses.

And worse—this wasn’t the only one.

Dozens more surged from every connecting street, turning the square and its avenues into a slaughterhouse.

“Help me… someone… please…”

An elderly man, too slow to escape, was torn apart by a single claw swipe—killed instantly.
His body wasn’t spared. It was devoured down to the bone, leaving only a pool of blood on the ground.

Screams echoed across the square. Bodies lay strewn everywhere, twisted and broken.

A middle-aged man crawled through a trail of blood, dragging what remained of his right leg—half-bitten off.

The monsters grew even more frenzied at the sight. They let out a deafening howl toward the sky.

Is anyone coming?
Please… save me…

With his last strength, the man screamed into the empty square.
But his cry only drew their attention.

Two more monsters emerged from side alleys—different in appearance, yet united in their ravenous hunger for his flesh.

Is this the end?

The man stared in despair as deformed bodies lunged toward him.

“Where are the Shiyu Church?! Help us!”
“Damn it!!! I don’t want to die!!!”

“There’s no Shiyu Church. But the Holy Heaven Army is here.”

A cold, clear female voice cut through the atmosphere of death.

Before the words faded, a silver flash streaked like a meteor, piercing through several monsters in front of the man—impaling them in a line.

Like needles popping balloons, the creatures twisted mid-air—then exploded into a mist of blood and gore.

Blood and greenish fluid splattered across the square.

Just like that, the monsters who moments ago had been tearing lives apart vanished—gone as if they’d never existed, leaving only screams and retching behind.

“Who… is that?”

The man trembled, lifting his head—and saw a girl standing a short distance away.

She wore silver armor, her beauty sharp and icy, her eyes like stars.
Her lips were like ripe cherries, her silver hair tied high in a ponytail.

In the gloom of Sin City, she stood out like a deity descending from heaven.

If Bai Ci were here, he would recognize her instantly.

Commander Qi Qiao—the leader of the Holy Heaven Army.

The silver flash that had pierced the monsters now returned to Qi Qiao’s hand, drawn from the fading blood mist.
Not a single drop stained the blade.

“Holy Heaven Army—listen.”
“Protect the civilians. Eliminate the monsters.”

Her voice wasn’t loud—but every person in the square heard it clearly.

“Yes, Commander!”

Luo Yu arrived at the square just then.

Seeing the horde of monsters and the Holy Heaven Army, he froze for a moment.

The Holy Heaven Army…

Countless questions swirled in his mind,
but the priority now was clear—clear the square of these rampaging beasts.

Without hesitation, Luo Yu joined the Holy Heaven Army’s ranks.

For once, ideology didn’t matter. In this moment, both sides shared the same resolve: to protect others.

Luo Yu’s sword, for the first time, pointed in the same direction as theirs.

Fifteen minutes later.

More monsters kept pouring from the connected streets—seemingly endless. For every one killed, two took its place.

Even Qi Qiao was overwhelmed.

The Holy Heaven Army suffered heavy casualties—limbs and bodies littered the ground, making it hard to take a step.

These creatures knew no fear, felt no pain—only the instinct to devour. Only death could stop them.

“Holy Sky Flame!”

Qi Qiao shouted.

Sacred silver fire engulfed several monsters, burning them to ash.

“Commander, look out!”

At that moment, several massive monsters lunged at her from behind.

Qi Qiao had just finished casting her spell—her magical energy was in a brief vacuum.

No good…

Can I dodge?

Too late.

“What?!”

Luo Yu, watching from afar, noticed Qi Qiao’s danger.

That commander… she’s going to die?

But why… do I feel no joy?

Don’t I hate the Holy Heaven Army the most?
Aren’t they our sworn enemies?

Yet now, his heart clenched as if gripped by an invisible hand.

So this is it…

Qi Qiao closed her eyes as the stinking, monstrous form loomed over her—ready to consume her whole.

I’m sorry… Father… I failed as a commander.

The next second, a colossal surge of elemental energy flashed across the sky—blocking her path.

Several monsters were instantly shredded into dust.

“That’s…”

Luo Yu’s mind flashed with one image.

He’s here…

Only he could unleash magic like this in Sin City.

Time seemed to freeze.

“Who… is that?”

Qi Qiao opened her eyes, staring at the figure before her.

Bai Ci didn’t speak. He simply raised his hand calmly.

“Long time no see, Commander.”

The moment Qi Qiao saw Bai Ci’s face, she knew.

This face haunted her dreams—though always as nightmares.

It’s him… the demon god…

“It’s you…?”

The one who slaughtered her subordinates… humiliated her beyond endurance… now stood before her—protecting her?

Damn it…

Qi Qiao glared at Bai Ci, hatred burning in her eyes.

Seeing her reaction, Bai Ci sighed inwardly.

Honestly, this reunion was pure coincidence.

He’d assumed only Luo Yu would be holding back the monsters here.

When he arrived at the square, he hadn’t expected to see so many Holy Heaven soldiers—
or to meet Qi Qiao again…

Though he knew she commanded the forces in Sin City, meeting her like this—under these circumstances—was beyond his expectations.

The first opponent he’d fought upon arriving in this world.

“Sorry… about what happened before.”
“But first, let’s deal with these monsters. I’ll explain everything after.”

Bai Ci said, eyeing the endless tide of creatures.

“So you remember what you did…”
“Good. I was afraid you’d pretend it never happened.” Qi Qiao spat, teeth clenched.
“One chance…”
“If you help me wipe them out now… I’ll forgive you.”

“Gladly.”

Bai Ci smiled.

Now’s my chance to shine…

His hair whipped wildly around him. No incantation. No gestures. In seconds, eight elemental forces gathered in his hands.

Fire intertwined with ice. Lightning danced with wind. Sacred and dark energies coexisted in harmony…

Then, the entire square trembled. Elemental power surged. The sky cracked. The earth shook.

“What?!?!”
“That’s…!!”

Every soldier, every civilian—they all turned toward Bai Ci at once.

“A Seventh-Tier Grand Sorcerer?!”

Qi Qiao whispered, stunned.

Impossible…

All the magic in the heavens and earth rushed toward Bai Ci, swirling like a vortex.

Even the monsters seemed drawn to him, roaring in his direction.

“It’s not just Seventh Tier…”

Qi Qiao’s voice faltered. As a Sorcerer herself, she understood what this meant.

Not just one element…

Mastery of all elements.

How?

“Fall back! Holy Heaven Army—protect the civilians! Get them out of here!!!”

Qi Qiao snapped back to reality, shouting orders.

She knew a spell of this scale would have catastrophic range.
She had to ensure everyone’s safety.

“Yes!!”

The soldiers disengaged, pulling the survivors away from the square.

Luo Yu moved among them, carrying an injured elder on his back.
He glanced back one last time—at Bai Ci, standing alone in the center of the square.

“Thanks…”

On the other side, Qi Qiao looked deeply at Bai Ci.
Her gaze held too many emotions to name.

“I leave this to you.”

She turned and left, silver hair flowing in the wind.

No matter their past—right now, Qi Qiao chose to trust Bai Ci.

When only monsters remained in the square:

Forbidden Spell — Trembling Heaven’s Dome

A blinding white light flashed.

In that instant, the entire Yundu Empire witnessed a brilliant flash emanating from the direction of Sin City.

Dead silence.

All blood, filth, and horror—wiped away in a divine punishment.

The once-infested square was now covered in drifting ash.

At its center stood Bai Ci—alone.

Like a god.