23

The battle had barely begun when everyone realised in despair that this smiling fat man was not a harmless, friendly person but a monster lurking in the depths.

"His defense is too strong!" Alex gritted his teeth, determination in his eyes.

Nyx wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his fingers trembling. The blood was warm and salty, but he seemed not to feel the pain. He slowly raised his eyes, cold and deep as if he could see the end of fate.

"Only that ancient technique can break his undefeated body." His voice was low and firm, like announcing an unchangeable truth.

Alex nodded slightly, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. They had given everything to gain this power, and now they had to give it up.

The two of them looked at each other, a silent understanding passing between them. Their resolute expression was their final answer.

The old monk slowly closed his eyes, sighing deeply, as if mourning, yet also blessing them. The wind lifted his robe, rustling softly like a sad old song.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" his voice carried a hint of reluctance, his gaze deep as an abyss.

"Your lives will reverse, and even if you survive, all your power will be gone forever."

There was no answer. Only a brilliant light burst forth, like a falling star burning everything.

Time reversed in that moment.

The surrounding air seemed to be torn by an invisible force, space distorted like a mirror stretched to its limit. Mars Canon roared, his voice thundering through the ground, his fists crashing down like comets, aiming at the two—

But just as his fists were about to crush them—

The power of time exploded!

A blinding white light swallowed the world, illuminating the entire battlefield. Mars Canon's fists halted in mid-air, his movements suddenly froze, his pupils contracted as if gripped by an indescribable fear.

In the light, Alex and Nyx's bodies began to shrink rapidly. Their skin became smooth and tender, bones contracted, the muscles and power they once had disappeared under the erosion of time.

They reverted to children, their lives still reversing.

However, their eyes remained deep and wise, as if they remembered every battle, every sacrifice, and every pain through endless time.

Mars Canon looked at them, trembling, feeling an icy chill climbing up his spine to his heart. He looked down at his hands—

Wrinkles spread, muscles collapsed, bones became fragile as if they would shatter any moment.

"...This can't be..." His voice was hoarse like dried leaves in the wind.

Mars Canon staggered back, his once invincible body now hunched and weak. He reached out, trying to gather his mental power, but his fingers just trembled, unable to feel any flow of power.

His strength was being stripped away, bit by bit, with time.

"No...impossible!" His breath quickened, his heart pounded as if trying to escape his chest. His mental power had reached its peak with the help of technology, strong enough to crush a city.

But why couldn't he resist time?

He didn't understand—his power was absolute, his will could shatter mountains, but time mercilessly took everything from him, leaving no room for resistance.

Was this the law of the universe?

A divine power he couldn't reach?

His lips trembled, wanting to say something, but it felt like an invisible hand was choking him, not letting out a single word.

"Enough!" The old monk stepped forward slowly, his gaze as calm as water. He raised his hand, gently sweeping through the storm's center. The wind blew across the battlefield, the smell of blood gradually dissipated, as if all the killing in the world had finally come to an end.

Mars Canon was now just an old man at death's door, with white hair, a hunched body, and he fell heavily to the ground, as if submitting to the supreme power.

"War should end here."

-----------------

Since that day, no one knew what exactly happened. Everything came suddenly and disappeared even faster.

Rumors started spreading in the nearby cities. Some said it was divine punishment, others said the gates of hell briefly opened, and some swore they saw monsters roaming in the night…

Principal Zhang stayed silent for a long time, as if gathering all his strength, before finally speaking:"Tonight, I must tell you all the truth." His voice was low and tired.

"These alien-led hunting games have been happening in many cities."

The crowd erupted in shock, fear spreading like a wave.

The principal continued without pause,"Many years ago, a friend told me that in an alien spaceship crash over thirty years ago, the government discovered that aliens had visited Earth—they use us as entertainment, a bloody gladiatorial show like ancient Rome, where only the strongest survivors are allowed to leave."

The crowd fell silent, some gasped.

"Aliens can't bring large-scale warriors to Earth, so they chose a more hidden but deadly method—they spread black spores capable of genetic mutation. Last time, these spores multiplied until every living being in the area was dead, then the spores disappeared completely."

The principal's voice trembled slightly but remained firm:"This time, we personally experienced its arrival. Sadly, I must tell you all—we have been invaded by the black spores."

The words hit the crowd like a bomb.

Villagers turned pale, some shook their heads in disbelief, and some women started crying softly.

But the principal calmly continued,"My friend tried to inform the government and military about this, but their response was—sealing all information, eliminating all infected beings, and...hunting down all those who knew."

A villager asked nervously,"Principal, do you mean...we will be taken away? Silenced?"

The principal remained silent, but the answer was clear.

The village was enveloped in despair.

The once familiar fields were now filled with new graves. Every day that week, there were funerals, cries echoed, and the air was thick with the smell of burning paper money.

Finally, the military personnel in protective suits arrived.

They took the principal away without roughing him up—the principal even recognized some of them. Before leaving, he grabbed a teacher's hand, his eyes shining as he urged,"If the children want to return to school, want to continue classes...even if there's only one student left, keep the school running."

He was pushed into a car and disappeared into the night.

Meanwhile, on TV, a female reporter in a black suit reported with no expression:

"Dear viewers, this is the Federal Neuraline News. Today, a village school had a fire due to a mishandled bonfire, resulting in 9 deaths and dozens of injuries. Currently, the injured have been taken to the hospital for treatment, and the latest report from the hospital says everyone is stable and not in danger."

She paused, then spoke with a slightly respectful tone,"Additionally, during the incident, we witnessed many brave villagers who selflessly participated in the rescue, saving countless lives. Next, we will interview some of these heroic villagers to learn their stories."

The camera switched, showing a group of villagers with empty eyes, as if their souls had been drained.

The reporter's voice remained calm,"After the incident, the relevant departments started an investigation. The school principal was taken away by the police for mismanagement. Some villagers claimed to have seen alien creatures, but the investigation revealed they were just inflatable balloon props used during the bonfire."

The viewers saw what looked like a typical accident report.

At the same time, in the shadow of a distant forest, a black car quietly parked on an empty mountain road. The window slightly rolled down, and two men inside were talking.

"I've heard enough of these drunken ramblings."

"Sir, weren't you the one who told them to make it up?"

The man sneered, his tone cold,"Oh? Seems like you're quite free? Now your task is to get Dr. James to give me answers as soon as possible."

-----------------

In the Federal Lab of Super City 19, the harsh fluorescent lights made everything look lifeless.

The reflections of two scientists were seen in the microscope lenses, serious and focused. On the dissection table lay a dead terror wolf, its pale fur stained with dark red blood. On another table, there was a broken mechanical aerial killer and a sample bag containing werewolf hair.

Dr. James, in full protective gear, looked anxious, his pupils dilated and forehead sweaty. His voice was uneasy:"Look here… these black patterns…"

He took a deep breath and said,"This isn't ordinary fungus. It's a new type of spore, causing genetic reorganization in the terror wolf's blood."

Another scientist, Dr. Monica, held her chest, trying to calm her racing heart."It's not just a gene mutation… it's a life leap… these spores… it's like God's brush, rewriting the blueprint of life."

Dr. James's voice was filled with fear:"They can completely change the host, increasing its aggression. Like zombies, unless completely destroyed, they will never stop hunting… the military will treasure them."

Dr. Monica turned even paler:"But the problem is, we… can't control them. Spores spread with the wind, and once the black flowers bloom, the spores will spread like a bio-storm across the world…"

Dr. James interrupted her:"But did you notice? Once the host dies, the black flowers quickly wither, and spore production stops."

Dr. Monica shook her head:"But there are so many mutated creatures on-site, and many have escaped. These black flowers have already spread spores in countless places."

Dr. James thought for a moment, his eyes complex:"For now, it seems animal activities are limited, and the incident site is remote, so… maybe that's a small bit of luck."

He looked up sharply, his voice commanding:"Update all ventilation systems, and install filters smaller than the spores. We can't take any risks."

Dr. Monica nodded, biting her lip:"I'll notify the safety department and military immediately."

Dr. James slowly leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes and murmuring,"God… is this your punishment or Satan's gift?"

Meanwhile, above the city, black spores floated in the air—more and more, thicker and thicker, as if weaving an invisible dark curtain over the world.

{Stay tuned for Series 2: The City In The Shadows}