A tense silence descended upon the Special Affairs Bureau as the staff members anxiously gathered, their gazes shifting between each other with growing unease.
"Group leader, what shall we do now?" A voice broke the silence, trembling with worry. The barbarian fighters, numbering in the tens of thousands, were an overwhelming force. No matter how well-equipped they were, the Bureau's forces stood no chance against them. A clash would end in utter slaughter.
"But if we let them go, they will invade the city, and the entire city will fall. How many will die, how many will be harmed?" another voice questioned, fear edging the words.
The problem was that reinforcements from the city would take too long to arrive. Time was slipping through their fingers, and they were left with no clear solution.
Qin Changqing's cold eyes flashed with determination. "There's nothing more to say. It is simply a death sentence on the battlefield." His voice, though heavy with resolve, betrayed the truth of their situation—he too knew they were no match for the barbarian horde. But one thing was certain: he would not allow them to enter the city. He would delay them, buy time, even if it cost him his life.
At that moment, a sudden shout broke through the tension, startling the Special Affairs Bureau staff.
"Group leader, there's someone there!"
All eyes turned toward the source of the voice. The sight that greeted them was one they could scarcely believe. A lone figure, standing tall and unwavering, appeared before the group of barbarian warriors.
"What is this? A member of the Special Affairs Bureau?" someone asked, confused.
"Is he mad? Does he seek death?" Qin Changqing's voice was sharp with anger. No one in their right mind would rush alone into the midst of tens of thousands of barbarian warriors.
"No… he's not one of us," another voice clarified. "It seems to be a tourist, someone who wandered into Bailong Mountain by accident."
"A tourist?" Qin Changqing's face twisted with frustration. He understood that Bailong Mountain was a popular spot for climbers and tourists, but to think one had slipped through their blockade and appeared right in front of the barbarians—what a cruel twist of fate. It seemed this tourist was destined for death, for no one, no human, could survive such a confrontation.
The tourist in question was none other than Xia Chuan. Hearing the commotion outside, his curiosity had drawn him closer, only to find himself facing the intimidating presence of the barbarian warriors.
The sight was staggering. These barbarian figures towered over him, their bodies a terrifying blend of muscle and raw power, each standing several meters tall.
"It's so tall…" Xia Chuan observed, a thought crossing his mind. He understood how the miniature beings might feel when looking at him. The difference in size between him and these towering giants was akin to that of a god and an ant. And yet, even the mightiest of ants would not hesitate to fight if it knew the path to victory.
These barbarians were not mere brutes. Their bloodline pulsed with the power of the sun, their strength exceeding even that of ordinary warriors. But Xia Chuan was no ordinary man. With the power of the world's artifacts coursing through his veins, he was far beyond their reach.
One of the barbarians noticed him, the rest following suit.
"What's this? A weak human dares to stand before us?" one barbarian sneered, his voice filled with disdain.
"Pathetic. A mere human, so fragile, so puny. I could crush him with a flick of my finger," another said with a mocking grin.
"Let's not waste time with this pitiful creature. He is nothing more than a two-legged sheep, fit only for slaughter or servitude," a third barbarian growled.
The barbarians' murderous intent was palpable. They grinned with savage pleasure, eager to crush Xia Chuan beneath their boots, reducing him to a pulp.
But Xia Chuan merely stood, his gaze unwavering as he surveyed the giants before him. "You're too tall," he muttered, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I don't like talking to those who force me to look up. Kneel."
With a single command, Xia Chuan unleashed his power.
Boom!
An invisible force erupted from his body, radiating outward in a wave of crushing gravity. Within seconds, a weight far beyond comprehension descended upon the barbarians.
The air itself seemed to buckle under the pressure as the gravity within a ten-mile radius increased by a hundredfold.
The barbarians—massive and powerful though they were—had no time to react. The force of gravity pushed them down, bending their knees to the earth with brutal force. Massive bodies, each weighing hundreds of kilograms, were crushed to the ground as if they were mere insects. The earth beneath them cracked and groaned under their weight, and the sky seemed to tremble in response.
Weapons clattered to the ground, unable to be held in the barbarians' hands. The sheer force of gravity shook their internal organs violently, sending blood pouring from their seven orifices. Their skin was bruised and torn, blood staining their once-immaculate armor.
"Impossible!" the barbarians roared, their voices tinged with disbelief and fury. They could not fathom how a mere human had the power to subjugate them so effortlessly. They were warriors, mighty and fierce, yet before this strange force, they were powerless.
It was as though they were being forced to kneel before a king, unable to resist the invisible weight that bore down upon them. It wasn't simply a matter of muscle or strength—it was an overwhelming, unyielding power, beyond their comprehension.
Xia Chuan's eyes glinted with cold confidence. The Hundredfold Gravity had done its work, rendering the once-feared barbarian warriors helpless, their bodies unable to move beneath the crushing weight. The air hummed with the power of his will, and the barbarians lay broken before him.
With a calm, measured step forward, Xia Chuan's presence grew ever more imposing.