The rapid bursts of gunfire echoed through the night.
"Da da da!"
"Bang bang bang!"
Song Yi's team was in the midst of a fierce battle with the fourth-order human-faced demon spider. Despite being riddled with bullets, the monstrous creature barely flinched, its massive body swaying but not succumbing to the firepower.
Song Yi's brow furrowed. "These weapons are useless! We're only delaying it. Gao Guang, get to the overturned truck and rescue our colleague!"
"I'm not leaving you!" Gao Guang protested, his voice thick with concern.
"This is an order!" Song Yi snapped, her voice resolute.
Reluctantly, Gao Guang nodded, "Yes, Captain!" He holstered his weapon and sprinted toward the overturned truck.
As he reached the wreck, Gao Guang quickly assessed the situation. The truck had struck a large rock, causing the man-faced spider to tip it over effortlessly. Without wasting a moment, he yanked the door open and pulled the two unconscious officers from the vehicle.
"Captain! I've got them!" Gao Guang shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.
"Good! Get them into the car, now!" Song Yi commanded, still focused on the hulking spider.
One of the officers, regaining consciousness, blinked in terror at the sight of the enormous arachnid. "Is this a nightmare? How is that spider so huge?"
"Focus, Ada!" Gao Guang barked, steadying his nerves. "Help Xiao Yong while I back up the Captain!"
With a quick nod, Ada supported the other injured officer, while Gao Guang sprinted back to Song Yi's side.
The bullets weren't even scratching the surface of the human-faced spider, leaving Song Yi in a state of frustration. Suddenly, the creature retaliated. A thick stream of white spider silk shot out from its maw, entangling Ah Zheng, one of her officers.
"Ah!" Ah Zheng screamed as the sticky thread wrapped around him. He tried desperately to cut it with his knife, but the spider pulled him across the grass with terrifying force, knocking him off balance.
"No!" Song Yi's heart pounded as she rushed forward, determined to save him. But she was too late.
In a horrifying instant, the spider's razor-sharp front legs impaled Ah Zheng's chest. His scream was cut short, and his body went limp.
Rage and grief surged through Song Yi. Her eyes burned with fury as she raised her submachine gun and fired relentlessly at the monster. The bullets barely made it stagger. The spider hissed, then spewed another round of silk directly at her.
Song Yi dodged left, but froze when she saw a figure stepping in front of her—Gao Guang.
"Golden Bell Shield—Activate!" Gao Guang bellowed. A shimmering golden barrier erupted around him, stretching three meters in all directions. The spider's silk splattered harmlessly against it.
Song Yi's eyes widened in astonishment. She'd never seen this ability from him before. "You've been hiding this from me?" she asked, her voice tinged with surprise.
Gao Guang, his face set in determination, replied, "I didn't think it was needed until now."
"How long can you hold it?" Song Yi asked urgently.
"One minute," he said confidently.
"That's enough." Song Yi's voice steadied as she began to focus her energy. "Hold them off while I charge up!"
Without hesitation, Gao Guang planted his feet firmly, his gaze unwavering. "Don't worry, Captain. As long as I'm standing, nothing will get to you. If they want you, they'll have to go through me first."
Song Yi was taken aback by his loyalty, her heart swelling with unexpected emotion. He was far more reliable than she had ever given him credit for.
Channeling her power, Song Yi activated her unique ability—[Charged Strike]. It took five seconds to fully charge, and in that time, her strength would multiply fivefold. But she was vulnerable during the charge, needing Gao Guang's protection.
As the golden bell shield shimmered around them, the spider lunged again, smashing its legs against the barrier. The loud clang echoed as the creature recoiled in pain, unable to breach the shield.
Song Yi's charge completed. In one swift motion, she unsheathed her dagger and dashed forward. With precision and power, she slashed at the spider's leg. The blade, imbued with the strength of her charged strike, severed the leg in one clean cut.
The human-faced spider shrieked in agony, its monstrous howl reverberating through the night. It lifted another leg in a rage, but Song Yi was safely within Gao Guang's golden bell shield. The creature's strike bounced off harmlessly, leaving it disoriented and hurt.
Seeing the futility of its efforts, the spider hesitated. Crippled and humiliated, it turned and fled into the shadows, disappearing into the night.
Song Yi lowered her weapon, breathing heavily. "Let it go. There might be more of them nearby," she said, her voice laced with exhaustion and sorrow.
Her eyes flickered to the body of Ah Zheng. He hadn't survived, and the weight of losing a teammate pressed down on her.
Gao Guang, drenched in sweat, dropped the golden bell shield. The energy drain was taking its toll, and he swayed slightly on his feet. "Captain… we should move. That thing might come back with reinforcements."
"You're right," Song Yi agreed softly.
Two officers rushed over to carry Ah Zheng's body. With heavy hearts, the team regrouped and continued on their way.
As they drove off, Song Yi contacted her superiors, her voice steady despite the grief she felt. The situation was dire, and after some discussion, the decision was made—activate the citywide air raid sirens. The monsters were growing stronger, and the public needed to be ready.
The wailing sirens cut through the city, a grim reminder that the worst was yet to come.
Meanwhile, on a distant floating island, Yuto Saito held Yun Yun close as they listened to the alarms in the distance. In that quiet moment, both wondered if the nightmare had just begun.