Song Shi weaved through the alley, twisting and turning, never straying far from the location she had sent.
The Direwolf Beast pursued her relentlessly, its proximity closing with each passing moment, but it was always just a hair's breadth away, as Song Shi made a sharp turn and slipped from its grasp.
The beast, increasingly frustrated by the elusive prey, began to growl with fury, its roar ceaseless, and Song Shi could feel the hot breath of its pursuit on her back.
Her nerves were stretched taut, her senses attuned to the vibrations beneath her feet, gauging the distance of the creature from her as she prepared to swerve again when necessary.
But even stamina has its limits, and the sense of weariness grew more pronounced with each passing second. Sweat beaded on her forehead, growing in intensity despite the wind that should have offered some relief. It pooled together, then cascaded down her nose, slick and relentless.
Just as the sweat hit the ground—
**"Clack!"**
The sharp sound of a blade meeting leather split the air, and the sound reverberated through Song Shi's ears, followed by a sudden, excruciating pain. She instinctively pressed her hands over her ears and darted to the corner of the wall.
**"Roar!"**
The beast's agonized cry echoed like thunder, and the nearby streetlights flickered on, illuminating the scene as if it were daylight.
Song Shi glanced back at the Direwolf Beast. Through the chaos, a pair of military boots landed with firm resolve, placing themselves between her and the beast.
In the man's hand was an imposing sword, its blade seemingly solid black, but upon closer inspection, Song Shi could discern a shimmering array of colors flowing through it.
The Direwolf Beast had been wounded, its forelimb bleeding a viscous black liquid that stained the ground beneath it, leaving a trail of dark ichor as it backed away warily.
It seemed to fear the Awakened; after an initial cry of pain, it hesitated, taking a cautious step back, then another. Despite its fearsome presence, it was clearly wary of the figure standing before it.
Song Shi could see in its movements, the once-defiant creature was now cautious, not the predator it had been just moments ago.
This new development left Song Shi wondering—who was this mysterious person?
Earlier, she had overheard the mention of two Awakened sent from Base One, the Wu and Lu families.
And they had spoken of someone named Lu Xing.
From their tone, it was clear that Lu Xing was a powerful figure.
If this person before her was Lu Xing, then where was his companion from the Wu family?
From where she stood, she couldn't see anyone else.
The Direwolf Beast, now seemingly having retreated far enough, suddenly surged in another direction, as if it were making a strategic retreat.
Song Shi's eyes sharpened. That rush didn't seem like an escape—it was more like a calculated attack.
**"Seeking death!"**
The previously composed Awakened one suddenly erupted in fury, leaping toward the beast with astonishing speed.
The phrase "faster than the eye can see" was no exaggeration when applied to him.
Song Shi, momentarily distracted by the chase, had to focus as the two figures sped toward the flickering streetlamp at the intersection.
Beneath it, a young woman knelt on one knee, her pale hand spread wide on the ground. Her soft, wavy hair cascaded loosely over her shoulder, strands brushing her cheek.
A faint halo of white light radiated from her palm, expanding outward, its diameter reaching thirty meters, with the light growing faint as it stretched farther.
A Healer.
In an instant, Song Shi understood.
A high-level Healer could purify the psychic toxins, or "black gas," emitted by the beasts. The higher the Healer's rank, the wider their range of purification.
The black gas emitted by the beasts had no effect on regular humans, but for the Awakened, it was a deadly force to be reckoned with.
In battles with these creatures, a Healer was indispensable, required to purify the toxic black gas surrounding them.
The Direwolf Beast, crafty and cunning, understood the concept of self-preservation. This, perhaps, was why it had been able to elude capture in the city for so long.
Knowing it couldn't defeat the Awakened in front of it, it pivoted, seeking to kill the Healer instead.
The beast's body was streamlined as it lunged, charging toward the center of the glowing circle.
The woman's eyes lifted slightly, and the image of the Direwolf Beast charging toward her reflected in her dark pupils, growing nearer—five meters, three meters, one meter…
She remained calm, poised in her crouch, not a trace of panic crossing her face.
The beast's jaws gaped wide, revealing its jagged, curved teeth, as it tilted its head and lunged for her head.
It never reached her.
The male Awakened fighter, moving with the grace and speed of a predator, instantly materialized in front of the woman. With his sword raised above his shoulder, he charged toward the beast with the precision of a bullet leaving the barrel.
The beast, desperate, planted its rear paws deep into the ground, attempting to slow itself, but it was too late.
With a mighty leap, the Awakened's sword pierced the beast's nose, sliding smoothly through its underbelly and emerging from its throat.
Song Shi's mind flashed back to the moment when she had witnessed the impenetrable hide of a beast in the experimental base. The bullets hadn't even pierced its skull.
Yet here, this Awakened, armed with a single strike, had torn through the beast's body with ease.
The strength, speed, reflexes, agility—all the traits of a violent and unstoppable force—matched the descriptions she had read about the Violent Awakening in the *Human Divergence Guide*.
The beast recoiled, its head lowered in submission, as the Awakened landed lightly on his feet.
The Direwolf Beast groaned in pain, unable to roar, only emitting low, pitiful whimpers.
Its forelimbs crawled weakly, but its hind legs kicked in a desperate attempt to free itself, to make the Awakened release his grip on the sword.
Despite the size disparity—its body several times larger—the Awakened's legs were firmly rooted, unyielding.
The beast's struggles only served to deepen the wound. Blood began to pour from the gash, first as a trickle, then in violent spurts.
The Healer, still crouched in the background, could not escape the blood splattering onto her white robe.
The Awakened's emotions fluctuated visibly. What began as simple punishment now turned into unrestrained, deadly intent.
With a swift twist, he drew his sword, the blood arcing through the air as the dim streetlamp overhead flickered ominously, casting a crimson hue over everything below.
The ground beneath them darkened with the spreading blood.
The Direwolf Beast attempted to rise again, but the Awakened's boot pressed against its nose, propelling him into a leap that carried him two meters above the beast's back.
With one final strike, the sword plunged into the beast's neck, almost cleaving it entirely in two.
Blood poured from its mouth, staining the ground beneath.
The Healer rose, stepping back as the white light around her converged once again.
The sword was withdrawn and thrust again, a relentless, cathartic motion that seemed to never find release.
"Lu Xing."
The Healer called out, her voice calm, though tinged with an undercurrent of something deeper.
The Awakened's movements faltered, his bloodlust subsiding as his gaze cleared. He lowered the sword, the violence fading from his eyes.
Song Shi observed the scene carefully.
The *Human Divergence Guide* had described Violent-type Awakened as the closest divergence to the beasts themselves.
Low-level Violent Awakened often lacked moral compass, and the higher the level, the more unstable their mental state became. Their bloodlust often spiraled out of control, and when they went berserk, they were no different than a deadly beast.
They were dangerous, yet their strength was unmatched. Humanity could not afford to discard their power.
Thus, restraints were placed on them, controlling their savage impulses.
Guardians were born of this necessity.
The most suitable guardians were high-level Healers, whose mental power could soothe the frenzied Violent Awakened.
And, of course, Contract-based Awakened could fulfill this role, though their numbers were far too few to waste in such a capacity.
The Direwolf Beast lay still, its massive form silent.
Lu Xing leapt down from the beast's body and turned to face Song Shi's direction.
Partially concealed behind a wall, Song Shi hesitated but eventually stepped out into full view.
Lu Xing glanced at her once, appraising, then dismissed her as a threat and returned to wiping his sword.
The woman who had been behind him approached, taking off her jacket as she neared Song Shi.
"Here, wear this."
She handed the jacket to Song Shi.
Song Shi paused, glancing down at her tattered hospital gown. The hem was ripped, torn open at the side.
"Thank you." Song Shi took the jacket.
As she was about to put it on, Lu Xing, who had been wiping his sword, suddenly appeared beside her without a sound. His gaze locked onto the jacket in her hands, then lifted to meet her eyes, cold and unyielding. The dark blade, still stained with blood, hung at his side, turning slowly.
It was as if his message was clear: if she dared put it on, he would cut her down.
Song Shi: "..."
The young woman stepped forward, taking hold of Lu Xing's sword-wielding hand and pulling him behind her. She smiled apologetically at Song Shi, "Ignore him. Go ahead and wear it. I have more jackets in the car, I won't catch cold."
After speaking, she turned to lead Lu Xing away, her hand still on his arm.
Song Shi slipped the jacket on, overhearing their conversation as they left.
"She's still in a hospital gown; she needs care."
"She's a Violent Awakener. She doesn't need your care."
"A Violent Awakener is still human," the young woman argued, attempting to stir Lu Xing's conscience.
"That jacket is dirty now anyway. Just let her keep it."
Conscience—unsuccessfully awakened.
Song Shi glanced at the few drops of blood staining the corner of the jacket, then thought nothing of it.
She activated her lightbrain, opened the Hunter Group's website, and checked the comments below her submitted location. Numerous people had commented, and there was an official response: **"Personnel dispatched. Upon verification, 10,000 Federation Coins will be transferred to your account."**
Song Shi put away her lightbrain, took one last look at the fallen Direwolf Beast, and left the area.
*(End of Chapter)*