The Blade That Cuts Through Chaos, Surviving in the Rift

Priority Evacuation Notice:

"This is Chen Xun of the Brave Alliance. I am issuing a citywide announcement: The command officer from Jinling has been granted full authorization and has dispatched a rescue team to Xinchang. Initial contact has already been established between the Brave Alliance and the Jinling rescue force.

The former leader of the Brave Alliance has been executed for initiating an unprovoked attack on the apocalypse rescue forces. As of now, I, Chen Xun, am the acting head of the Brave Alliance.

To ensure the safety and well-being of the survivors in Xinchang, the Jinling rescue team will swiftly begin operations, adapting its strategy to the city's unique crisis. Communication with Xinchang's local command is ongoing.

During this transition period, as the Brave Alliance has officially joined forces with Jinling's rescue efforts, I have been granted the authority to issue the following directives to all survivors and active groups within the city:

Any armed group of five or more individuals who are not immediate family will be classified as a rogue militia.

All rogue militia factions in Xinchang must establish contact with the Brave Alliance by sunrise tomorrow and cooperate fully with the rescue operation.

Contact may be made via written message in the communication channel or by appearing in person at the Brave Alliance's secured district. Failure to comply by the deadline will be deemed as resistance against Jinling's rescue initiative, warranting appropriate countermeasures.

All civilians are advised to remain calm, secure their homes, and stay indoors while awaiting rescue.

Any survivor facing an emergency should immediately report their coordinates in the communication channel for priority extraction."

...

Once Chen Xun sent out the message, the citywide communication channel erupted into chaos.

Xinchang's chat channels were a tangled web of conflicting interests and power struggles among various factions. Ordinary civilians rarely spoke up, wary of drawing attention. The ones responding now were predominantly members of different armed groups scattered across the city.

"Jinling rescue team? What the hell is the Brave Alliance up to now? Is this legit?"

"Smart move—using the neighboring commander's name to intimidate us, keeping us from making moves while they fight Prince Xin."

"Wait, I think this might actually be real. My gut says Chen Xun isn't bluffing. He's never lied before."

"Hold on a second! Didn't someone called 'White Bear' show up earlier? Could that guy be from Jinling?"

Suspicion and speculation ran rampant. The factions in Xinchang were too deeply entrenched in their own power plays to blindly trust such an abrupt shift in leadership. Just as the debate escalated, a new message appeared in the chat.

White Bear Safehouse: "The message is legit. I'm the captain of Jinling's rescue team. I've already made a deal with the Brave Alliance. Now, it's up to the rest of you to decide where you stand."

The channel fell silent for a beat. Then, someone asked the question on everyone's mind.

"White Bear, did you kill the Brave Alliance's old leader?"

"Of course."

The response was instant and unwavering.

"He led an attack on the rescue team, ignoring the severity of the crisis. He was executed on the spot."

The weight of those words settled over the chat like a heavy fog. Some doubted that an unknown figure like White Bear could have taken down a notorious warlord. But the former leader's conspicuous silence spoke volumes—he was the type to respond with fury if anyone dared to spread lies about him. If he wasn't denying it, then...

The Jinling rescue force was real. And its leader was no ordinary man.

While some were still processing this revelation, a mocking message broke the silence.

"Let's say everything you claim is true. Who the hell gave Jinling the right to interfere this much? Our own command hasn't even spoken yet, and you're demanding we surrender by tomorrow morning?"

"What's your plan, White Bear? Are you going to wipe out any faction that doesn't obey?"

Chen Dapeng frowned at the name flashing on the screen.

"That's 'Ruthless Safehouse,'" Chen Xun muttered beside him. "They control the western part of the city. Their leader is an A-rank combat-type ability user. Used to be a foreman before the world went to hell. Now he commands two to three hundred men."

"They're rough, uneducated, and fearless in a fight. No one likes dealing with them."

The unspoken message was clear: Ruthless Safehouse wasn't worth engaging with. They were just belligerent by nature.

But Chen Dapeng merely chuckled darkly. "They think they're tough? I'll flatten them."

Ignoring the warnings from his comrades, he typed directly into the channel.

"Listen up, 'Ruthless.' By sunrise, every armed faction in this city has two choices."

"One: Support the rescue effort and follow Jinling's directives."

"Two: Disband immediately."

"If you refuse to choose, I'll make the choice for you."

A tense silence followed. Then, Ruthless Safehouse erupted in fury.

"You arrogant bastard! Come and kill me right now if you've got the guts!"

"F* you! Just because you dealt with the Brave Alliance doesn't mean you can boss us around!"**

"We're not pushovers like them! You think you can intimidate us? Bring it on!"

Their defiance was met with nothing but an amused scoff. Chen Dapeng pulled out a compact radio, his expression darkening as he turned to Lu Nianxin.

"Where's my army?"

Lu Nianxin simply pointed to a nearby squad of heavily armed soldiers. The Defenders stood motionless, their disciplined silence exuding an aura of absolute control.

Around them, the remnants of the Brave Alliance watched in quiet awe, realizing just how different Jinling's forces were.

"Mobilize. We have work to do."

Chen Xun's eyes widened in alarm. "Wait, wait! You can't just storm in like this!"

Lu Nianxin yawned. "Don't bother. You won't stop him. And if you try, you'll probably get hit yourself."

"But at least inform your commander first! This isn't how a proper rescue force operates!"

Lu Nianxin smirked. "Oh, we operate by the book. Dapeng, however, is an exception."

He shot a knowing glance toward the departing troops, watching as Chen Dapeng led his soldiers into the city with unwavering determination.

"A sharp blade cuts through chaos. And right now, this city needs a blade."