Chapter Twenty-Eight: Demon!

This day marked the catastrophe of District Nine. Countless mutated creatures appeared in the wild lands between the cities as if they had teleported, their numbers so vast as to leave people dumbfounded, with many among them being Level 4 mutations.

Outside the wilderness, nearly all those who had developed abilities were dispatched to undertake this urgent mission, engaging the mutants in a bloody struggle. This place had become a battlefield worthy of the gods.

Zhu En activated his mental detection ability, enveloping the surrounding area.

“Careful, it’s a Level 2 mutant, the Azure Tiger Beast. Evade quickly.”

His teammate, upon receiving the instruction, immediately dodged and narrowly avoided the attack from the Azure Tiger Beast. The members of their squad gathered together, joining forces to take down the Level 2 mutant. Their efforts were arduous; one teammate had already fallen, yet the mutants continued to pour in relentlessly.

Tang Yun brandished his sharp sword, weaving through the battlefield like a streak of light. Several Level 2 mutants fell to his blade one after another.

“Damn, it’s a Level 3 mutant, the White-Green Fox.” Gritting his teeth, Tang Yun charged forward without fear, engaging the mutant in a fierce battle. His strength was not enough to surpass the creature, and if the fight continued, both sides might suffer grievous wounds.

Not far away, Mei Mi and Dongfang Hui fought together, their teamwork seamless. Both wielded summoning abilities—one called forth a green giant, the other summoned numerous spirit entities. Their combined forces even managed to slay a Level 3 mutant.

Among the institution’s management, Chang Duo Su and Tan Qing fought side by side. Both belonged to the Winged People and had awakened their bloodline powers—one excelled at close combat, the other at ranged attacks. Together, they swept through their foes, already having slain three Level 3 mutants in a short span.

Mentor Nina was also in tandem with another male mentor. Her “Hand of Space-Time” served as support, but her primary ability was combat-oriented, making her formidable even against Level 3 mutants.

In the wilderness of Fuxiang City, the area had been utterly transformed into a battleground. Many people familiar to Xia Yan wielded their weapons fiercely, engaging the mutated creatures in intense combat. One ability wielder after another fell, but so did many mutants.

There were still too few humans capable of handling Level 4 mutants; when these powerful creatures entered the fray, they brought overwhelming force. Some of the Guardians stationed near Fuxiang City joined the battle circle, but their numbers, especially among the top-tier combatants, were very limited.

Currently, only two individuals in the wilds of Fuxiang City could relatively easily kill Level 4 mutants: the newly appointed Lycanthrope director, and Feng Qiang. Feng Qiang had already resigned his position as team leader but hadn’t yet left the area; faced with the emergency, he rushed to the scene. Thankfully he was there, or the death toll would have been even higher.

To kill a single Level 4 mutant meant greatly reducing their own casualties.

At that moment, Feng Qiang looked up at the sky. There, someone was flying towards them.

He could hardly believe his eyes—impossible.

A man hovered above, black wings sprouting from his back, all shrouded in a layer of gray energy, his face covered in runes. He appeared bizarre and terrifying, no longer resembling a human. This was no bloodline transformation from any race, but an ability—akin to a primary or secondary power. Some abilities, such as ocular techniques or bloodline mutations, were triggered by the power of pupils or blood, just as with this man soaring in the sky.

Simultaneously, Zhu En, Tang Yun, Mei Mi, Dongfang Hui, the freckled girl, Chang Duo Su, Tan Qing, Mentor Nina, and others all looked to the heavens.

Their eyes reflected confusion, puzzlement, even fear.

“He’s developed a demon ability,” Zhu En exclaimed in awe.

“That man... looks familiar,” Tang Yun mused.

“Wait, could it be...?” Mei Mi began to realize.

“It’s that shameless guy who beat me by cheating!” Dongfang Hui puffed her cheeks in protest.

Their surprise stemmed from the fact that the man flying overhead had unlocked a secondary ability known as the Demon Power. And they knew him—it was Xia Yan.

The Demon Power was among the world’s hardest bloodline abilities to develop. To this day, few had ever awakened it.

Now, Xia Yan no longer bore his original visage, yet those who knew him could still discern his features beneath the runes etched onto his cheeks.

A Level 3 mutant, the Thunder Bird, flew at Xia Yan in a fierce assault. He showed no fear, reaching out with his right hand coated in gray substance, grabbing the creature. Instantly, the Thunder Bird let out a wretched scream as its body was corroded.

“Xia Yan has developed a second ability—and it’s the most powerful bloodline, the Demon Power,” Chang Duo Su said, trembling as she gazed at Xia Yan in the sky.

“A Demon Power... This is the ultimate mockery of the Demon Clan. The bloodline ability is far stronger than their own transformations,” Tan Jing said with a bitter smile.

“Though it’s called Demon, in truth it’s enveloped in gray flame energy. The runes and markings on his face are augmentation seals. This Demon Power is considered the ultimate transformation, a slap in the face to the Demon Clan,” Mentor Nina watched Xia Yan in the sky, intimidated from the depths of her heart.

Xia Yan, like a god of war, charged into the midst of battle, unstoppable by any mutant in his path.

Those mutants fighting against institution members were reduced to ashes, dying with only half their bodies remaining.

Many fighting members suddenly found their opponents gone, slain before their eyes.

“How is this possible, how is he so strong?”

“He must be from the Demon Clan—those wings look just like theirs.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, this is a bloodline ability called Demon, not any Demon Clan member.”

They stared in disbelief at the distant figure soaring overhead, his strange visage so powerful as to strike fear into their hearts. How terrifying must he be, to obliterate such formidable mutants in an instant!

Most did not recognize the present Xia Yan—his face was covered in runes and marks. To them, he was no longer human.

Lan Xin faced a Level 4 mutant, the Blood Moon Demon Wolf. The wolf darted around her, its speed astonishing, claws flashing like streaks of blood.

This one-on-one battle zone was so intense that no one dared approach within a hundred meters, for fear of being caught in the aftermath.

Lan Xin was barely holding on, reluctant to activate her extreme augmentation; she had already used it for two minutes earlier to kill a Level 4 mutant, suffering minor injuries as a result.

She was exhausted—she estimated she could last another ten minutes before collapsing.

“I never thought I’d die here,” Lan Xin gritted her teeth, but with no rescue forthcoming, her death was only a matter of time.

Rescue seemed impossible; this place was a slaughterhouse for humans and mutants alike, and nobody had the strength to help.

Just then, a demon with twin wings swept down from the sky, flying straight toward her battle circle.

Lan Xin stared in disbelief at the man above, his face marked with runes and symbols. Yet she could still recognize him—Xia Yan.

He had developed a secondary ability.

“Are you alright, Miss Lan Xin?” Xia Yan landed beside her, asking with concern.

“Yes, I’m fine—Xia Yan, look out!” Lan Xin saw the Blood Moon Demon Wolf lunging at him from behind.

Xia Yan swung his blade, the Many-Formed Sword now shrouded in gray substance, which rendered it unstoppable. With one slash, the Blood Moon Demon Wolf let out a miserable howl.

Its claw was severed, blood gushing like a waterfall.

Lan Xin stared at Xia Yan in disbelief—it had taken only a single stroke to sever the wolf’s limb. She knew well how tough this mutant was; before, Xia Yan would have needed seven or eight consecutive blows to the same spot to hope for amputation.

The Blood Moon Demon Wolf, enraged and ignoring its severe injury, lunged at Xia Yan. The blade flashed, gray substance flickered like burning flame, and with that strike, the wolf’s head was cleaved off.

Lan Xin was too stunned to voice her amazement.

This wasn’t a Level 3 mutant—it was Level 4, and among the strongest of its kind.

Killed by Xia Yan in just two strikes?

His strength had already surpassed the director and the Guardians’ team leader!

“Miss Lan Xin, let me take you to the rear to rest. You’ve already used your extreme augmentation, your stamina is depleted. If you continue, you might die,” Xia Yan said gently.

Upon hearing this, Lan Xin’s dazed expression finally reacted. She was still shocked, unable to believe the carnage before her.

It was too incredible—she could no longer comprehend the situation.

“I still have some strength left,” she finally replied after a pause, her cheeks flushing slightly.

Ignoring her objection, Xia Yan lifted her and soared into the air, flying toward the rear. Lan Xin made no effort to resist, only sighing softly as he held her in his arms.

She knew full well that if she continued fighting, she would almost certainly perish here. Only when disaster struck did she realize her limits—she could not save Fuxiang City.

“Xia Yan, I heard from Gong Kui that you had an accident. I thought you wouldn’t make it,” Lan Xin said.

“Yes, there were some troubles, but thanks to them, I developed a second ability,” Xia Yan smiled, not wishing to elaborate. “Miss Lan Xin, it’s all in the past now, nothing to worry about.”

“Your second ability is actually the Demon Power…” Lan Xin marveled. “They say this ability is a sharp irony for the Demon Clan. Once awakened, it can crush all their bloodline transformations except those of purebloods.”

"That's not entirely true—the Demon Clan’s transformation doesn’t require taking up an ability slot," Xia Yan countered with amusement.

“That’s true,” Lan Xin nodded. “But this overwhelming advantage is nearly absolute—it greatly enhances physical strength, grants gray flame energy, lasts much longer than bloodline transformations, and the flight speed is vastly superior. Even if it costs an ability slot, it’s still a bargain.”

She sighed softly, then smiled, “I wonder how many people wish they could trade both their abilities for the Demon Power!”

If one were to list the most powerful abilities among all, many would struggle to choose. But if the task was to name one of the strongest, the Demon Power would certainly be among them.

“We’re here.” Xia Yan descended with Lan Xin at the temporary base. Gong Kui was there, serving as commander. She did not need to fight, but her role was far more important than those on the front lines.

“Miss Gong Kui, I leave Miss Lan Xin in your care. She must not leave until she’s recovered,” Xia Yan instructed.

“Don’t worry, leave it to me,” Gong Kui replied with a cheerful smile.

“If anything happens, contact me immediately. I’ll head back now,” Xia Yan said, then unfurled his wings and soared into the sky.

“Are you alright, Miss Lan Xin?” Gong Kui looked at her with concern.

“I’m not injured, just my limbs are weak—the side effects of my ability,” Lan Xin replied with a wry smile.

“Xia Yan is incredible!” Gong Kui beamed. “He overcame his mental shadow and even developed a second ability. With the Demon Power, he might be the fastest at killing Level 4 mutants in District Nine, far surpassing the Lycanthrope director and Feng Qiang.”

“Yes, I think so too. His growth is like a miracle,” Lan Xin smiled, recalling her battle with Xia Yan from more than half a year ago. Back then, she had easily won, but now he had left her far behind.

Still, she was happy.