Lin Xiao moved swiftly through his house, adrenaline pumping through his veins as he prepared for the unknown. His eyes darted between the supplies he had gathered—water, food, and makeshift weapons.
The system notification had set him on edge; the sense of urgency hung heavy in the air, and every passing second felt like a countdown to chaos.
Lin Xiao quickly went over his mental checklist, making sure everything was ready for his family's safety. But in the back of his mind, questions lingered: Why aliens? And why now?
Just as he finished reinforcing the last barricade by the front door, he heard the unmistakable hum of engines—a sound too powerful and strange to belong to any car or plane.
Lin Xiao's heart raced as he dashed to the living room window and glanced up at the sky. His breath caught in his throat as he took in the bizarre sight overhead.
Large, strange-looking ships were descending through the clouds, their sleek forms cutting through the air with a silent grace that defied the laws of physics.
Unlike anything Lin Xiao had ever seen, these ships weren't the standard metallic gray he'd expect from movies; they were obsidian black, almost like they absorbed light instead of reflecting it.
Their surfaces were covered in pulsing blue and green lights, creating an eerie, glowing effect against the sky.
Each ship had an elongated body with sharp, pointed ends, almost like the edge of a spear, designed for piercing through atmospheres—or perhaps through other defenses.
The vessels seemed to drift down without a sound, but Lin Xiao knew that they bore a deadly weight. He watched as they hovered over the town, their presence casting a shadow over the streets below.
The hum intensified, growing louder and more ominous. Lin Xiao felt a shiver run down his spine. This was no mere reconnaissance mission; these ships were here for something far more sinister.
He whipped his head toward the television, fumbling to turn it on. Maybe the news had some information—anything to give him an edge.
The screen flickered to life, and he was greeted by a news anchor, her expression a mixture of shock and terror.
"...reports of unknown vessels appearing in major cities around the world," she said, her voice trembling. "Officials are advising all citizens to stay indoors and secure their homes. These alien ships are emitting unknown radiation, and sightings of hostile lifeforms have been confirmed. Please, remain calm and do not attempt to engage…"
Lin Xiao's hands clenched into fists as he listened, his heart pounding. The anchor's words faded into the background as he caught something out of the corner of his eye—a strange glow filtering in through the window.
The television was quickly forgotten as he moved toward the sound, dread settling in his stomach. The hum of the ships had intensified, filling the air with a low, pulsating rhythm that he could feel deep within his bones.
Then, the first scream pierced the silence outside.
Lin Xiao's eyes widened, and he sprinted to the door. Cautiously, he peered through the peephole, hoping to catch a glimpse of what was going on.
His blood ran cold as he saw them—the aliens.
They were tall, unnaturally so, with elongated limbs and bodies that seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly translucence.
Their skin—or whatever passed for it—was a dull, sickly green, mottled with dark patches that looked almost like scales. Each alien had four arms, all ending in razor-sharp claws that twitched with a disturbing sense of anticipation.
Their heads were long and narrow, with multiple eyes that glowed a menacing red, scanning their surroundings with an unnerving intelligence.
But what unnerved Lin Xiao the most was their silence. They moved without making a sound, their thin, flexible bodies shifting effortlessly as they prowled down the street.
The aliens seemed to communicate through subtle gestures, each tilt of their heads or flick of their claws resonating with a shared purpose. He watched as one of them approached a car parked along the curb, its claws slicing effortlessly through the metal as if it were paper.
Lin Xiao felt his heart skip a beat as another blood-curdling scream rang out, this time closer, from just a few houses down.
The aliens moved with deadly precision, stalking their prey without any hint of mercy or hesitation.
Instinctively, Lin Xiao's hand crackled with energy as he activated his electrokinesis. Sparks danced around his fingers, small arcs of electricity humming as they pulsed through his veins. A sudden surge of confidence filled him; these aliens might be terrifying, but he wasn't helpless.
He flung open the door and stepped outside, his eyes narrowing as he took in the nearest alien. It turned to face him, its red eyes locking onto his with a predatory focus. Lin Xiao wasted no time. He thrust his hand forward, sending a bolt of electricity shooting from his fingertips.
The alien recoiled as the energy struck its chest, tendrils of electricity spreading across its body. It convulsed for a moment, smoke rising from its charred skin, but it didn't collapse as he'd hoped. Instead, it snarled, its eyes burning even brighter.
Lin Xiao cursed under his breath, realizing that electrokinesis alone wouldn't be enough to bring them down quickly.
He had hoped the electric shocks would incapacitate them, but these creatures seemed far more resilient than he'd anticipated. Gritting his teeth, he tried another approach.
He focused his thoughts on his memory manipulation skill, intending to disorient the creature by muddling its perception of him.
But as he concentrated, he felt a strange resistance. It was like hitting a wall—a complete block in his ability to access the alien's mind. Lin Xiao's eyes widened in disbelief.
His memory manipulation, a skill that had proven invaluable in the past, was utterly useless against these creatures. He cursed again, feeling frustration rise within him. These beings were entirely immune to his mental powers.
With no other option, Lin Xiao relied on his raw physical abilities and his electrokinesis. He conjured another arc of electricity, this time aiming for the alien's limbs to try and slow its movements.
The alien staggered, its clawed feet sparking as they connected with the ground, but it continued advancing, undeterred by the pain. Lin Xiao summoned another bolt, this time throwing as much power into it as he could.
The electricity surged forward in a concentrated blast, striking the alien square in the face. With a final shriek, the creature collapsed, its body twitching before falling still.
Before he could catch his breath, more aliens appeared, drawn by the commotion. Lin Xiao's heart pounded as he glanced around, seeing them emerge from behind cars, fences, and trees. They were everywhere. He could hear their claws scraping against the pavement, their eyes glowing like embers in the dim evening light.
He took a deep breath, grounding himself. There was no time to hesitate. As the nearest alien lunged at him, Lin Xiao dodged to the side, swinging his arm and sending another electric shock through its body.
He moved with practiced precision, his muscles remembering the countless battles he had fought in other timelines. He could almost feel his body moving on its own, each movement fluid and instinctual.
But as he fought, he couldn't shake the feeling of isolation. His family was still inside, hidden and safe, but for some reason, they hadn't come out, even with the sounds of battle right outside their door.
He glanced back at the house, but there was no sign of movement. It was almost as if they were unaware of the danger, shielded by some invisible barrier.
A pang of worry hit him, but he forced himself to focus. His family was counting on him to protect them, and he couldn't afford any distractions.
The aliens continued to advance, their numbers growing. Lin Xiao realized that he was quickly being outnumbered.
Sweat dripped down his face as he darted and dodged, using every ounce of strength and skill to hold them off. The ground around him was littered with the bodies of fallen aliens, but more kept coming, their eyes fixed on him with an unyielding focus.
Lin Xiao clenched his fists, the electric energy around him crackling with renewed intensity. He knew he couldn't keep this up forever, but he had no intention of going down without a fight.