Chapter Thirty-Three: State of Emergency

Shakya kept firing, but the black mass of the Kin still managed to escape into the sewer.

“Damn it! Stop right there!”

She fired several shots in rapid succession. The energy rounds blasted apart the inhuman creature formed from the black fluid, yet the fragments that remained soon gathered themselves back together and scattered in different directions.

She had intended to reduce it to nothing, since letting it escape could lead to consequences no one could predict.

Even after repeated shots tore countless holes through its body, the creature did not seem to have suffered any fatal damage. It still retained the ability to move.

In the end, dragging what little remained of its shattered body behind it, the creature slipped into the sewer.

It had gotten away!

“Whew...”

Only after watching her enemy disappear did Shakya brace both hands against her knees and begin to gasp for breath.

That had been exhausting.

She did not know whether it was because of her agitated emotions or because she had been using the breathing technique her master taught her.

Still, Bruce was safe, and everyone in the area had been rescued.

After such a perilous ordeal, being tired was a small price to pay. At least there had been no large-scale loss of life.

At the beginning, Shakya had thought she might die there that very night.

Fortunately, she had acted swiftly and decisively. Otherwise, who knew what other tricks the creature might have produced?

Brrr-rrrrrr...

The sound of helicopter rotors rose in the distance. It seemed the reinforcements were about to arrive.

At least for now, Shakya had driven back the Kin, and everyone was temporarily safe.

The helicopter was already visible.

“I’m over here! Can you see the flare?”

Shakya took a magnesium flare from the tool pouch attached to her operative’s uniform. After lighting it, she waved it toward the helicopter.

“Oh! We see you! How is everything on your end?!”

Agent J contacted Shakya over the radio.

“Not bad. The landing zone is temporarily secure! There are some wounded who need treatment, though, so please hurry.”

“Understood.”

The helicopter gradually drew closer, and the searchlight beneath its nose began sweeping across Shakya’s position.

She placed the magnesium flare in front of Bruce’s mansion to guide the helicopter in, then returned to the gate to check on Bruce.

“Qin Yun... you...”

The deafening roar of the rotors slowly roused Bruce. He opened his eyes and saw Shakya walking toward him. Behind her, a futuristic-looking helicopter was descending.

Perhaps because of his injuries, his body was extremely weak, and his vision remained blurred.

He felt Shakya help him sit up. In her palm, he seemed to see a faint golden glow.

When that dim light touched him, warmth spread throughout his body.

Bruce felt as though some of his strength had returned.

“Quickly, the wounded man is here!”

“All right, Miss Shakya! I’m getting the stretcher!”

Shakya?

That was what the people from the helicopter called Qin Yun.

Bruce still felt heavy and weak, but his mind was no longer clouded.

“Shakya...?”

He murmured the name under his breath.

Noticing that Bruce was still conscious, Shakya turned to look at him and raised a finger to her lips.

Agent J, Agent K, and the other members of the team came running over with a stretcher. Shakya helped Bruce onto it.

Agent J looked Bruce over. “Miss Shakya, this man is a civilian, isn’t he...? Can he be treated at one of our agency hospitals?”

“He’s my friend.”

Shakya’s reply was firm. Whatever the location, Bruce had to receive treatment as quickly as possible.

There seemed to be no time to worry about formalities. Fortunately, he was the only wounded person there.

“No problem. I’ll apply to use an emergency ward at the city hospital under my authority. I’ll find a way to handle the rest. Let’s get him treated first.”

As always, the experienced Agent K was refreshingly straightforward.

Shakya remembered that it was the same hospital where she had recovered from her own injuries.

“K, you really are dependable.”

Shakya gave Agent K a thumbs-up.

“Qin Yun... who are you, really...? And who are these people...?”

Bruce endured the pain and questioned her.

He had been rescued, yet his heart was filled with doubts.

“Once you’ve recovered, I’ll explain everything to you slowly...”

Together with the other operatives, Shakya carried Bruce onto the helicopter.

Before long, the helicopter began moving toward the hospital. As for what came next, they could make arrangements after getting Bruce there.

That would have been ideal, but the Kin had only been driven back by Shakya, not killed.

The flight to the helipad atop the city hospital should have taken less than five minutes. Yet while Agent K was contacting the hospital, every operative’s communicator—including Shakya’s—suddenly erupted with alarms.

Almost at the same moment, emergency evacuation sirens began wailing throughout the entire city.

Even aboard the helicopter, they could hear wave after wave of sirens rising from below.

“What... what’s going on?!”

Everyone activated their terminals and saw an emergency message from Ziyuan, along with an order from Traum to deploy.

“It’s good that everyone is present. An emergency has occurred. Return to headquarters immediately!”

Ziyuan then explained the situation.

A massive energy signature had been detected underground in the eastern suburbs of New Spring Autumn City!

And it was still growing!

It was almost as if something was gathering itself together!

Shakya understood.

That thing was still alive—and soon, she would have to face it again.

“Look... what is that over there...?”

The helicopter’s rotors were so loud that Bruce, lying on the stretcher, tugged at Shakya’s clothes and gestured for her to look in a certain direction.

From the air, the sight was terrifying. A black column had emerged between the buildings, and it seemed to be growing taller by the second.

It was rising in the direction of the eastern district.

New Spring Autumn City had a tower in its eastern district. There could be no mistaking it.

Damn it. She had never imagined that this Kin could become so enormous. There was no time to warn the civilians and evacuate them in advance!

“Shakya... it seems...”

Agent K gently placed a large hand on Shakya’s shoulder. He knew that this woman would be heading back to the front line once again.

In a situation like this, all they could do was place their hopes in Shakya, the pilot of Traum.

Shakya nodded, then glanced at the members of K’s team.

“Qin... Qin Yun... that direction... that’s the district where Longsheng and the others are...”

Bruce’s already feeble voice was nearly drowned out by the helicopter engine.

“What did you say?!”

Shakya had vaguely caught the name Longsheng.

“Longsheng...? And the others?”

That was right. Shakya remembered that Li Jiayi had mentioned it too. Her home seemed to be somewhere near a tower.

“Longsheng and... Li Jiayi... they’re over there...”

Shakya bent down beside Bruce’s mouth, and he repeated the words weakly.

The situation appeared to be even worse than she had imagined.

Was this whole night nothing but a nightmare?

“Ziyuan, this is K. We have one civilian casualty here, and we’re currently transporting him to the hospital. Requesting authorization.”

After discussing the matter with the other operatives, K decided they had to ensure the wounded man’s safety first.

He had expected Ziyuan to consider the request before answering, but her reply came without hesitation.

“Authorized. However, once you reach the hospital, have Shakya use the nearest quick-access route to return to base and prepare for deployment.”

“Understood. We’ll take care of the wounded man first.”