The streets of New Omo City felt alive, humming with the noise of traffic, the buzz of drones overhead, and the flicker of neon signs flashing bright advertisements in every language imaginable. Yet, despite the city's vibrant pulse, Lin Yuan felt no connection to its beauty. To him, the city was just a façade, a mask that hid the rot and corruption underneath. Tonight, as he walked through the streets, the lights only served to remind him of the emptiness in his heart.
He had left the black market meeting with more questions than answers. Taro Lian's words echoed in his mind, each one digging deeper into his thoughts. The God Body Project. The Covenant of Shadows. He had never heard of these entities before, but the cryptic message about the "core" and its connection to his father's death was something Lin Yuan couldn't ignore.
Taro had warned him that his path was dangerous, that the enemies he was about to face were not just men but forces beyond his understanding. Yet, despite the warnings, Lin Yuan felt only the burning fire of vengeance within him. His father's legacy was in his hands now, and no matter the cost, he would uncover the truth.
As the night deepened, Lin Yuan made his way to an old, dilapidated building in the outskirts of the city—a place his father had often mentioned. It was here that Lin Yuan hoped to find the next clue in his quest. Hidden beneath layers of dust and time, his father's old laboratory was waiting.
The building stood alone in a forgotten part of the city, away from the neon glow and the pulse of modern life. It was a relic of the past, a structure swallowed by time, but Lin Yuan knew that it held the key to everything.
He entered through the back door, a rusty metal slab that creaked loudly when pushed open. Inside, the smell of old paper, chemicals, and something else—something metallic—hung in the air. His boots echoed against the cold concrete floor as he moved deeper into the building.
In the far corner of the room, a large desk was covered in papers, blueprints, and devices half-assembled. Lin Yuan approached cautiously, his eyes scanning the room. There, amidst the clutter, was a sealed metallic box, engraved with strange symbols. The box was small, perhaps a foot in length, but its aura was unmistakable. This was it—the core his father had worked on.
He carefully lifted the box and sat down at the desk, his fingers trembling slightly as he unlocked it. The inside was lined with advanced circuitry, intertwined with what seemed to be runes—a fusion of technology and magic. Lin Yuan's heart raced. This was more than just a machine. This was what his father had spent his life working toward. And it was the reason his father had died.
As he examined the core, Lin Yuan's mind raced. How could something so powerful exist in the hands of the Covenant of Shadows? And why had they killed his father to possess it?
Just as he was about to dig deeper into the core, the sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway. Lin Yuan's instincts kicked in. He quickly hid the core under the desk and pressed himself against the wall, his breath slow and steady. He couldn't afford to be caught—not yet.
The footsteps grew louder, and the door to the room creaked open.
A man in dark clothing entered. He was tall, his movements deliberate, and his eyes scanning the room like a predator on the hunt. Lin Yuan tensed, recognizing the figure immediately. Zhao Jian, a former member of the military, a man with ties to the very organization Lin Yuan was hunting. He had been seen in the company of Taro Lian, and now it seemed he had tracked Lin Yuan here.
"You've made a mistake, Lin Yuan," Zhao Jian's voice was cold, calculated, as he stepped further into the room. His eyes narrowed when they landed on Lin Yuan. "You should have left the past buried."
Lin Yuan's grip tightened around the edge of the desk. He could feel the core beneath his fingertips, its power pulsing like a heartbeat. But he didn't reveal it. Not yet.
"You don't belong here," Zhao Jian continued, his hand reaching for the gun holstered at his side. "This is bigger than you. It's bigger than anyone you could ever understand."
Lin Yuan stood up slowly, facing the man squarely. His eyes burned with determination. "I understand enough to know that you're the one who killed my father. And you won't leave here alive."
Zhao Jian chuckled, the sound dry and humorless. "You think you can stop me? You think you can take down an entire organization just because of a vendetta?"
Lin Yuan took a step forward. "I don't care about the organization. I care about my father's death. And I will burn everything down to get my answers."
With a sudden movement, Zhao Jian drew his gun. But before he could fire, Lin Yuan was already on the move. He darted toward a nearby shelf, knocking over a stack of crates as he took cover behind it. The first shot rang out, the bullet whizzing past him, but Lin Yuan was already repositioning. His heart raced, but his mind was clear. This was not just a fight for revenge. It was a fight for survival.
He grabbed a metal rod from the shelf and swung it at Zhao Jian, forcing the man to take a step back. The two exchanged blows—fast, brutal, and unforgiving. Lin Yuan's training, honed over years of solitary preparation, came into play. Every movement was calculated, every strike deliberate.
But Zhao Jian was a seasoned fighter, and he had the advantage of experience. He parried Lin Yuan's blow with ease and attempted to land a punch to his ribs. Lin Yuan grunted as he staggered back, but he quickly recovered, his eyes blazing with resolve.
"You'll have to do better than that," Zhao Jian taunted, his eyes glinting with malice.
But Lin Yuan had already made up his mind. He couldn't afford to lose this fight. Not now. Not when the truth was within reach.
With a sudden surge of energy, Lin Yuan lunged at Zhao Jian, disarming him in a swift motion. Before the man could react, Lin Yuan slammed him against the wall, pinning him there with his arm.
"Who sent you?" Lin Yuan demanded, his voice low and dangerous.
Zhao Jian sneered. "You think you're ready for the truth? You have no idea what you're dealing with. The Covenant… they'll never let you walk away from this."
Lin Yuan's grip tightened. "I don't care about them. Tell me what you know."
Zhao Jian's eyes flickered, and for a moment, Lin Yuan saw a hint of fear. "The core… it's not just a weapon," Zhao Jian muttered. "It's a key. A key to something much darker. Something your father didn't even understand."
Lin Yuan's pulse quickened. "What is it? What does it unlock?"
But before Zhao Jian could respond, the building trembled. A deep, resonating hum filled the air, and Lin Yuan felt a sudden chill run down his spine.
Zhao Jian's eyes widened in fear. "It's them. They've found us."
The sound of heavy footsteps and voices shouting outside the door signaled the arrival of more enemies. Lin Yuan knew that he couldn't stay here any longer.
He grabbed the core from under the desk, stuffing it into his jacket, and turned to face Zhao Jian one last time.
"This isn't over," Lin Yuan said coldly, before he bolted for the back exit, disappearing into the night.