Invasion of the Evil Qi

Wuxing and Wan Lingyue sprinted along a gravelly path, struggling to keep ahead of the rushing, malevolent qi that loomed behind them like a dark flood. The air grew thick with a suffocating stench, stinging their noses and throats, urging them to move faster. Sweat dripped from Wuxing's brow as he, desperate, dialed his parents' number on his phone. The call rang just once before ending abruptly, and a second attempt only returned an impersonal, "number is unavailable" message.

"Damn it, why is it turned off?" Wuxing muttered, a chill creeping into his chest.

Noticing his distress, Wan Lingyue quickly fumbled for her own phone, her hands trembling as she tried to reach her family. But no matter how many times she dialed, her calls went unanswered, leaving only a cold, empty tone. "It can't be… they never turn off their phones. Why now?" she whispered, her voice cracking as her eyes glistened with tears.

They looked at each other, their expressions mirroring a shared, sinking dread. The threat chasing them was relentless, but the added anguish of losing contact with their loved ones weighed just as heavily. Wuxing gripped Wan Lingyue's hand tightly, his voice resolute despite the turmoil in his heart. "We can't give up. It could just be bad signal; maybe they're already somewhere safe." Yet even as he tried to reassure her, an unsettling feeling gnawed at him, a shadow of what the worst outcome could mean.

As they hastily made their way through the rugged terrain, a deafening roar shattered the sky. A towering mountain in the distance, engulfed by the malignant qi, shuddered and tore from its roots, collapsing in a massive cloud of dust and debris. Wuxing instinctively shielded Wan Lingyue, covering her as fragments of rock scattered around them. When the dust finally settled, he murmured urgently, "We need to pick up our pace and reach the city as soon as possible. Hopefully, the authorities will send reinforcements."

No sooner had he spoken than the unmistakable drone of helicopter blades filled the sky. Several military choppers sped toward the encroaching fog of qi, their powerful floodlights piercing the darkness.

By the time Wuxing and Wan Lingyue reached the city's edge, they found it already gripped in a state of high alert. Alarms blared throughout the streets, and a tense, heavy atmosphere blanketed the area. The sky grew darker, and a rolling red mist steadily crept closer, a giant net slowly enclosing the city. Panicked residents flooded out of buildings, scrambling to escape. Traffic clogged the streets as terrified pedestrians darted between cars, each face etched with fear.

At that moment, squads of soldiers in tactical gear formed a defensive line around the city's perimeter, with dozens of helicopters circling overhead, their searchlights directed toward the ominous red fog. The officers on loudspeakers shouted evacuation orders to the civilians. But before long, the sinister mist surged forward, encroaching on the outer defensive lines. From deep within the fog, unsettling murmurs echoed, like countless lost souls whispering in the air, sending chills down the spines of all who heard.

"Commander! The red mist is advancing faster than anticipated—only five hundred meters away from our position!" a communications officer's voice trembled as he reported.

"Hold the line! We cannot let it breach the city!" the commander barked, clenching his teeth as he ordered the troops to open fire.

Bullets and artillery shells rained down on the mist, yet the qi seemed to form an impenetrable barrier. Every round passed through it harmlessly, failing to slow its advance. Like a ravenous beast, it continued its relentless march, warping the air with an intense, searing heat. The commander's expression grew grim as he issued his final command: "Initiate the retreat protocol! All personnel, fall back immediately. Repeat, all personnel fall back!"

As soldiers scrambled to withdraw, one helicopter drifted too close to the edge of the advancing fog. Instantly, the malevolent qi wrapped around it, consuming it in seconds. The cockpit windows shattered, and the pilots' horrified screams were cut short as the entire craft rapidly disintegrated, its metal frame corroding before it crumbled into fragments that vanished into the mist.

Inside the city's command center, screens showed the spreading fog as it swallowed more and more ground. The operators' faces were ashen, terror etched into their eyes as they watched helplessly. Sudden alerts flashed on the monitors, data readings spiking beyond measurable limits. The energy from the evil qi was reaching catastrophic levels, tearing through streets and buildings as if the very fabric of the city were collapsing under a vengeful force.

Among the crowds being evacuated, Wuxing gripped Wan Lingyue's hand tightly, staring back at the city blocks now enveloped by the mist. His heart twisted with guilt and sorrow—had his master's failed seal led to this disaster? But he knew he couldn't dwell on it now; survival was paramount. They needed to reach a place where they could send a message to those with the means to stop this.

Suddenly, a colossal shadow stirred within the qi, shifting its form. It appeared as a monstrous, towering figure, its blood-red eyes glowing menacingly as it thrashed within the mist. Its presence brought a wave of despair; even the distant buildings seemed to shudder in fear. The shadow's guttural roar resonated, the sound shaking the earth, as if the heavens themselves recoiled.

The evil qi pooled thicker, pressing inward, driven by an unseen, ferocious force. Yet as it advanced, a bolt of brilliant, violet lightning struck from above, directly onto the shadowy figure. The impact illuminated the entire city, and the creature recoiled, emitting a shriek of rage as the qi momentarily thinned. But the respite was short-lived. The mist thickened again, as if gaining strength, sweeping back in with renewed ferocity, closing off every avenue of escape.

Wuxing held Wan Lingyue close, whispering in her ear, "We have to find another way out, away from this doomed city."