As night descended.
"Ethan, you take the bed."
"I'll make do on the living room floor."
Cedricl's bedroom was cramped.
Once a bed was in place, there was little room to spare.
Ethan shook his head: "I'll sleep in the living room."
"I'm not used to beds."
To this day, the dormitory bed remained untouched.
Ethan slept underneath it every night.
The confined space gave him a sense of security.
Upon hearing this, Cedricl conceded.
"Alright, we'll both camp out in the living room, perfect for a chat."
They agreed to talk, but...
Within a minute of lying down, Cedricl's snores filled the room.
Ethan, clutching 'Star Splitter,' drifted off to sleep in his clothes.
Soon, he too succumbed to slumber.
Life on the surface had honed his ability to sleep in any setting.
Not even Cedricl's snores could disturb him.
He could sleep through a battle if need be.
Time passed unknowingly when suddenly...
"Help!"
A piercing cry cut through the stillness outside.
Ethan's eyes snapped open, and he crouched behind the sofa before surveying his surroundings.
Only then did his sleepiness completely fade.
"What's happening?"
Rubbing his eyes, Cedricl sat up and followed Ethan's gesture toward the window.
Another scream echoed from outside.
The Zeng household was abruptly awakened.
Footsteps sounded, and lights flickered on.
Wrapped in a threadbare patched blanket, Mrs. Zeng spoke anxiously, "It seems to be coming from Aunt Wang's place."
Ethan approached the window and peered outside.
He saw a small house, shrouded in darkness, unseeable.
Ethan's eyes, now tinged with a hint of silver, activated his 'Barrier-Breaking Eye.'
The walls vanished from his view.
Inside the dimly lit living room of the house, he saw several gray shadows.
One shadow lay prostrate on the ground, its outline feminine.
Above her, a shadow the size of a wolfhound seemed to be gnawing on something.
The other two shadows moved about the room, occasionally scaling the walls.
Their movements...
Were insect-like.
Wolfhound-sized insects...
Ethan's thoughts raced back to the morning announcement on the train.
The broadcast about Behemoth parasite smuggling!
"Trouble's afoot."
Ethan turned and said, "It might be Behemoth parasites."
"What?"
"Behemoth parasites!"
Cedricl's parents paled, clutching the twins and their daughter tightly.
"I'll go check it out," Cedricl declared.
Without a word, Ethan charged towards the door.
Together, they stepped into the alley.
The neighbors, roused by Aunt Wang's screams, had gathered to investigate.
Cedricl shouted, "Stay back, Aunt Wang's house might have Behemoth parasites!"
"Contact the local security bureau quickly!"
Ethan had already drawn 'Star Splitter' and arrived at the front door.
With his 'Barrier-Breaking Eye,' he reassessed the interior – the situation remained unchanged.
The suspected parasites lingered within.
Ethan effortlessly destroyed the door lock with his sword.
Cedricl approached, flashlight in hand.
As Ethan nudged the door open with his blade, Cedricl lifted the light high.
A beam pierced the gloom of the living room.
Chaos reigned within; furniture was strewn about.
Aunt Wang lay in a pool of blood.
Stirred by the light, she struggled to lift her head and reached out towards the door.
"Save... me..."
Whoosh!
A dark shadow descended in the light, seizing Aunt Wang's head.
A creature with a wolf-like head and a tick-like body began to gnaw at her skull.
Cedricl gasped, "Wolf ticks!"
Ethan added, "Three of them!"
Cedricl glanced at Ethan.
He then carefully set down the flashlight, careful not to startle the wolf ticks.
A faint blue glow emanated from his eyes as electric arcs danced between his hands.
Divine Hiding: Electrokinesis!
Cedricl activated his Divine Hiding, his hands rapidly forming seals.
A black rope, formed from elemental power, shot from his fingertips.
Mystic Technique: Black Rope!
Like he had mentioned, Cedricl could augment his mystic arts or combat techniques with his Divine Hiding's power!
The black rope ensnared a wolf tick.
Before the parasite could react, Cedricl shouted, sending a surge of electricity along the rope.
In an instant, it spread to the wolf tick.
The room erupted in sparks.
The wolf tick screamed and was charred by Cedricl's electricity.
However, the other two wolf ticks scurried across the floor, lunging at Cedricl.
"Get down!"
At Ethan's command, Cedricl dropped to the ground.
A sword light flashed overhead.
Then, like a lightning strike, it shattered into thousands of fragments.
Tiny meteors whistled through the air.
They sliced through the two wolf ticks.
In mid-air, the parasites' bodies disintegrated.
Legs, wings, carapaces, innards, eyes – a clatter scattered across the floor.
The 'meteors' returned, reforming the blade of 'Star Splitter.'
Only then did Ethan reach out to pull Cedricl up.
Relieved, they surveyed the room.
Cedricl exhaled and turned to the neighbors, "It's over, all clear..."
But at that moment...
Screams erupted from his home.
Cedricl's face blanched.
He rushed back inside.
Ethan quickly followed.
At the door, they found Mr. Zeng on the ground, clutching his arm.
Mrs. Zeng was held captive by a man with extensive tattoos and a fierce demeanor.
He pressed an automatic pistol to her temple.
Cedricl pleaded, "Let my mother go, what do you want?"
The man glanced at Cedricl and Ethan.
He spat disdainfully.
"Like hell!"
"I'm stuck in this godforsaken place because of the damn security bureau."
"I released the parasites to create chaos and escape."
"And you go and kill them off so easily."
"If I don't take a hostage, how am I supposed to get out?"
He glanced outside, muttering, "I can't get caught; they'll kill me for sure."
He was the Behemoth parasite smuggler!
Cedricl shouted, "You want a hostage? Take me, let my mother go."
Ethan surveyed the surroundings, noting the man was by the window.
He must have climbed in to take Mrs. Zeng hostage.
Ethan discreetly backed away, planning to circle around and strike.
Meanwhile...
The smuggler pointed the gun at Cedricl, "Move, or your mother dies..."
His words were cut short.
The outer wall of the Zeng home and the smuggler's head exploded simultaneously!
Ethan's mind went blank.
Then a thought surfaced.
Silencing a witness?
Bang!
Almost simultaneously, Ethan heard gunfire from outside.
Instinctively, he looked towards the source.
A figure flashed on the rooftop of a small two-story building 300 meters away.
Silver glinted in Ethan's red eyes.
He activated his 'Barrier-Breaking Eye,' locking onto the gray shadow of the creature.
Then he rushed towards the main street.
He saw the sniper moving swiftly toward the thoroughfare.
As Ethan burst onto the street...
The crowd screamed.
A sleek black motorcycle, emblazoned with a red nine-headed bird, burst from an alley.
The rider, helmeted and carrying a sniper rifle, executed a savage turn, the tires screeching against the pavement.
Then with a roar of the engine, the bike sped off into the night.