Chapter 31: Investigating the Sky Anomaly

Chu Feng’s gaze was fixed intently on the sky, where a purplish-red rift hung like the eye of a giant beast, greedily peering down at this shattered world.

The dark clouds gathered in an unnatural manner; they did not drift as usual, but churned and surged like boiling, viscous liquid, as if something horrific were struggling to break free from within.

The purplish-red glow pulsed like a monster’s breath, at times intense, at others faint. Each flicker felt like a whisper from the Grim Reaper, pressing down on the very air itself.

Pan Yue’s breathing grew rapid. She gripped the hem of Chu Feng’s jacket, her knuckles turning white.

"What... what is happening?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Liu Yong moved silently to the front of the group, his mechanical prosthetic eye gleaming with a cold light. He gripped his weapon tightly, ready to respond to any sudden escalation.

Sun Yue had shed his usual playful demeanor. Like a wary cat, he kept a sharp eye on the surroundings.

Chen Qiang tensed his muscles, standing like an unshakeable fortress. His expression was steady and resolute, seemingly offering silent reassurance to the others.

Wu Xia frantically flipped through her intelligence manual, searching for any scrap of information regarding this anomaly, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

Even Officer Fang, usually the picture of composure, looked grave. He drew his sidearm, scanning the perimeter with heightened vigilance.

Inside, Chu Feng felt like a turbulent tide. He could feel the shadow sigil within him pulsing violently, as if calling out to some dormant power. Yet, simultaneously, he felt an unprecedented sense of danger, as if a massive trap lay ahead—one from which there might be no return once stepped into.

His brows were furrowed, the veins on his forehead slightly distended. Hesitation warred within him; he felt both curiosity toward the unknown and caution against the peril.

He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms.

He stared at that bizarre sky, where the rift seemed to mock the insignificance and ignorance of humanity. This unknown power was both deeply alluring and utterly terrifying.

His reason told him to retreat at once, to return to safety, but his restless heart yearned to uncover the secrets hidden behind this phenomenon.

"Should we... take a look?" Chu Feng whispered, his tone carrying a trace of longing he himself could barely perceive.

No sooner had he spoken than the purplish-red light in the sky intensified, as if countless eyes were now watching them.

Just then, Liu Yong let out a low growl and abruptly raised his hand, pointing ahead. His eyes were filled with unprecedented alarm. As everyone followed his gesture, they saw...

They saw countless black figures falling from the churning dark clouds like rain.

These figures were twisted and grotesque, reeking of a nauseating stench. As they hit the ground, they let out shrill hisses, sounding like demons from hell.

"What the hell are these things?!" Sun Yue exclaimed, having never seen such hideous creatures.

They possessed insect-like carapaces but had human limbs. Their heads were masses of writhing flesh, covered in a dense cluster of eyes that made one’s skin crawl.

They moved with blinding speed, reaching the group in the blink of an eye. Their sharp claws slashed through the air with a terrifying, piercing whistle.

Chu Feng acted with lightning reflexes, pulling Pan Yue behind him. At the same time, the shadow sigil within him erupted, wrapping him in a shield of black energy that blocked the incoming onslaught.

"Everyone, be careful! These monsters are fast, and their attacks are bizarre!" Chu Feng shouted. He swung his dagger, black energy coiling around the blade as he carved out sharp arcs, slicing the encroaching creatures in two.

The battle broke out instantly. Liu Yong’s mechanical arm fired off scorching flames, reducing several monsters to ash.

Chen Qiang acted as a wall, standing before the group, his shield parrying every strike from the creatures.

Sun Yue utilized his agility to weave between the monsters, his own blade striking like a viper into their vital spots.

Wu Xia continued to gather data, relaying the monsters' weaknesses to the rest of the team.

***

In the heat of battle, Chu Feng discovered that while these creatures were fast and hit hard, their defenses were relatively weak, and they feared fire and light.

He immediately relayed this discovery to the others and directed them to change tactics.

"Liu Yong, use your flames! Chen Qiang, keep everyone protected! Sun Yue, find openings to strike their weak points! Wu Xia, keep gathering intel!" Chu Feng commanded calmly. His voice acted like an anchor, giving the team a sense of stability amidst the chaotic fray.

Under Chu Feng’s direction, the team’s coordination became increasingly fluid, and their attacks grew more effective.

Though the number of monsters was vast, they began to retreat under the team’s fierce counter-offensive.

Hidden in the shadows, scouts from other factions watched this scene with expressions of astonishment.

"This squad... to handle these new types of monsters so easily, their strength is not to be underestimated," a man in black whispered.

Just then, a monster suddenly lunged from the side, pouncing toward Pan Yue.

Chu Feng’s heart skipped a beat. He lunged forward to intervene, but he was a split second too late.

The creature’s razor-sharp claws tore through Pan Yue’s arm, and blood surged forth instantly.

"Pan Yue!" Chu Feng cried out, catching her in his arms.

"I'm fine..." Pan Yue said, forcing herself to endure the pain, though her pale complexion betrayed her.

Chu Feng tore a strip of fabric from his jacket with a heavy heart, trembling slightly as he bandaged her wound. "Hold on, I will heal you..." His voice was low and firm, yet it carried a trace of tenderness that was hard to detect.

The black-clad figure hiding in the shadows saw this and the corner of his mouth curled upward. "It seems we've found their weakness..."

Chu Feng carefully wrapped the cloth around Pan Yue’s arm, his movements as gentle as if he were handling a piece of precious porcelain. His brow was furrowed, his gaze filled with heartache and self-reproach.

Pan Yue bit her lip to suppress the pain, her eyes fixed on Chu Feng. Watching his focused expression, her eyes were filled with adoration and love.

The sounds of slaughter around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the soft sound of their breathing. A subtle, ambiguous tension permeated the air.

"Does it hurt?" Chu Feng asked softly after finishing the bandage, his tone laced with a tenderness he rarely showed.

Pan Yue shook her head, forcing a smile. "It's nothing, just a minor scratch."

A flash of heartache crossed Chu Feng’s eyes. He reached out and gently stroked her cheek. "I’m sorry, it’s all my fault..."

Pan Yue grabbed his hand and pressed it against her cheek, feeling the warmth of his palm. "Silly, don't say such foolish things. This has nothing to do with you." Her voice was soft, like a spring breeze, sending a wave of warmth through Chu Feng’s heart.

Just then, Liu Yong let out a roar. Breaking from his usual analytical nature, he charged directly into the swarm of monsters. His mechanical arm swung wildly, smashing the creatures away one by one.

"Liu Yong, what are you doing?!" Sun Yue exclaimed, having never seen such reckless behavior from him.

Liu Yong ignored him. Like a furious beast, he attacked the surrounding monsters with a suicidal ferocity. His desperate fighting style miraculously threw the monsters' formation into disarray, providing the team with a chance to strike back.

"Now! Attack with everything you've got!" Chu Feng seized the moment and shouted.

The others didn't hesitate, drawing their weapons and launching a fierce assault on the monsters.

Under Liu Yong’s suicidal frenzy, the number of monsters plummeted.

"Liu Yong, stop! You're going to get yourself killed!" Chen Qiang shouted while parrying an attack.

Liu Yong seemed not to hear him. He continued his savage assault until the very last monster fell. Only then did he stop. His mechanical arm was mangled, and his body was covered in wounds, yet he stood tall like a victorious warrior.

"Why... why would you do that?" Chu Feng asked, walking up to him.

Liu Yong didn't answer. He simply turned away in silence, looking toward the distance—toward what used to be their home, now nothing but ruins.

***

"Because..." Liu Yong’s voice was low and hoarse, "I don't want to lose anything else..."

The black-clad figure in the shadows watched this, a cold sneer appearing on his lips. "It seems there is internal strife within their ranks..." He pulled out a communicator and whispered, "Target confirmed. Prepare to move in."

The smoke cleared, leaving a nauseating stench in the air.

The remains of the monsters lay scattered across the ruins like fragments of a nightmare.

Chu Feng walked over to Pan Yue and helped her up. "How are you? Feeling any better?"

Pan Yue shook her head gently. Her face remained pale, but she forced a smile. "I'm fine. We won."

Liu Yong remained silent, standing alone at the edge of the ruins, staring into the distance.

Sun Yue, acting like a nimble monkey, rummaged through the monster remains. Suddenly, he let out a gasp. "What is this?!"

The group gathered around. In Sun Yue’s hand was a shard of black metal, engraved with a bizarre symbol: a twisted vine coiling around a burning heart.

Wu Xia recognized the mark instantly. "This is the insignia of 'Blood Vine'! They are notorious scavengers who specialize in plundering resources from other survivors."

"Blood Vine?" Chu Feng’s brow furrowed. He had heard the name—it was said to be a brutal organization, ruthless and devoid of any moral compass.

"It seems these monsters were their doing!"

The atmosphere turned heavy instantly. The appearance of the Blood Vine meant they were about to face an even greater challenge.

Just then, a sharp alarm pierced the silent night. Officer Fang’s expression shifted, and he pulled out his communicator. An anxious voice crackled through: "This is Base, we are under attack! Requesting support! I repeat, we are under attack, requesting support!"

"The base is in trouble!" Officer Fang looked up abruptly. "Damn it, those bastards!" Chu Feng slammed his fist against a wall, his eyes burning with rage.

"We have to go back!"

The group moved immediately, gathering their gear and preparing to return to the base.

Just as they were about to depart, Liu Yong suddenly spoke. "Wait." He walked up to Chu Feng and handed him a small device. "Take this. It might help."

Chu Feng took the device and looked at Liu Yong with confusion. Liu Yong offered no explanation; he simply patted Chu Feng on the shoulder and turned to walk into the depths of the ruins.

Chu Feng watched his retreating figure, a sense of unease rising in his heart. He felt as though something terrible was about to happen.

"Let's go, we need to get back as fast as we can!" Officer Fang urged.

Chu Feng took a deep breath, pocketed the device, and followed the team.

Night shrouded the land, and danger lurked in every shadow. What would they face next?

Chu Feng’s heart was filled with the fear and anxiety of the unknown...

Suddenly, Chu Feng stopped in his tracks. He felt the device in his pocket vibrate slightly. He reached in instinctively, only to find a slip of paper.

He unfolded it. It contained only one sentence:

"Beware of Pan Yue."