Pandora yanked Caesar roughly from the vehicle, and he stared in terror at the unfolding scene before him.
Not being a combat-oriented ability user, Caesar had never witnessed such carnage—especially a sight so grisly and horrifying.
Beneath the dim, flickering streetlights lay splatters of blood everywhere. The bodies of Poseidon, Jack, Yuan, Gundam, and Zehong were strewn across the ground in disarray, their chests gaping open wounds—heartless and bloodless.
Caesar cast a glance at the harrowing tableau, his legs trembling uncontrollably. Yet Qin Tian, like a spark to dry tinder, leapt before him with a taunting sneer: "You want me to send you to hell too?"
Caesar's eyes fell to the hearts in Qin Tian's hand, then to the gaping wounds behind the fallen. Realization dawned; his vision darkened, and he suddenly fainted.
Qin Tian stared in bewilderment, glancing at Pandora. "What's going on here?"
Pandora smiled wryly. "What else? You scared him unconscious!"
Qin Tian laughed heartily. "How amusing—scared into a faint by me?"
Xiaofeng and the others approached, glancing at Caesar with subtle smiles. "Good, good. No need for bloodshed, a live capture is better. Let's bring him back."
As they prepared to depart, a wave of X Legion soldiers poured into the alley. Old White rushed forward, checking on Xiaofeng with concern. "You alright?"
Xiaofeng chuckled. "I'm fine. I'm beginning to see that the truly formidable one is Qin Tian. Five ability users taken down with a single strike. And those weren't just anyone—Level Ten and above. What's more astonishing is that Qin Tian managed to scare this ability user senseless."
Old White frowned, incredulous that the seemingly delicate Qin Tian harbored such terrifying power.
Xiaofeng nodded. "Enough. The rest is up to you. We're heading back. I intend to interrogate this guy thoroughly—find out exactly who he is."
"Go on. We'll handle things here."
Xiaofeng, Qin Tian, the giant, Tugu, and Pandora returned to camp, bringing this sudden outbreak to a close.
Yet as they left, atop a nearby rooftop, a shadow materialized with eerie stealth. Striking the parapet in frustration, he cursed bitterly, "Damn it…"
The figure was none other than Guiyao, who had witnessed his comrades' deaths at Qin Tian's hands—the brutal slaughters of Gundam, Zehong, Jack, and Yuan. It was a dagger plunged into his soul; he struggled to accept this grim reality.
Guiyao had sensed the dark energy akin to his own and had hurried to the scene, only to arrive as Xiaofeng clashed with the others, watching the entire sequence unfold.
The pain was almost unbearable. Guiyao's fury toward Xiaofeng and company grew fierce. First, he seethed at his exclusion from their clique. Then, in broad daylight, they had slain four of the Seven Fiends—while Satan himself remained imprisoned.
Through gritted teeth, Guiyao snarled, "Bastards, I swear you'll pay. Just you wait…" Then he vanished into the shadows of the rooftop.
Back at camp, Xiaofeng pressed his fingers to Caesar's body, channeling a faint current that jolted him awake. Startled, Caesar looked around, trembling. "What do you want from me?"
Xiaofeng smiled darkly, electric sparks flickering at his fingertips. "Speak. Who are you? Who sent you? What was your mission?"
Caesar's eyes widened in fear, regarding Xiaofeng as if he were a harbinger of death. "You're Xiaofeng? The legendary soul of the X Legion?"
"That's quite rude—you haven't answered my questions, yet you ask me why. Fine, I'll play nice. I am Xiaofeng. Now answer me honestly, or I'll give you another shock you won't survive."
Glancing nervously at those around him, Caesar's will broke. Not a warrior by nature, his resolve was fragile. Weakly, he stammered, "Alright… I'll tell you everything, but please don't kill me…"
Then Caesar revealed his identity, his abilities, how Sam found him, the conditions imposed, and the tasks assigned—all laid bare before Xiaofeng.
Upon learning Caesar possessed the Evolution ability, Xiaofeng's heart stirred with excitement. If he could harness this power again, his own abilities might ascend anew. If he reached Level Ten, his combat prowess would be unimaginable.
Xiaofeng eyed Caesar in astonishment. "You say you have the Evolution ability?"
Caesar nodded. "Only Evolution—no other powers."
A question flashed through Xiaofeng's mind: "You're with the Alliance forces. Do you know the Envoy?"
Caesar shook his head. "No."
"My ability is Purification—an instinctive power beyond the norm, quite unlike your Purification. You should meet him…"
Before Caesar could continue, Qin Tian interjected coldly, "Why hesitate? I say we kill him."
Xiaofeng laughed. "You've become addicted to killing lately. What's changed?"
He paused, reflecting on Qin Tian's invisibility coupled with piercing ability—a kind of instinct. Similarly, Xiaofeng's own power to absorb other users' fused abilities was instinctual.
Suddenly, a bold thought struck him. Rolling up his sleeve, he held out his arm before Caesar.
Caesar stared in stunned silence at the tattoo etched on Xiaofeng's forearm.
"Where did you get that tattoo?" he gasped.
Xiaofeng's heart leapt with joy. "You recognize this? Do you have the same one?"
Caesar nodded, revealing his own right forearm. The identical barcode tattoo was unmistakable.
Pandora, Tugu, and the giant were dumbfounded; they could scarcely accept the truth. Caesar, Xiaofeng, Qin Tian, and the giant all bore the same mark—implying a profound connection among them.
Xiaofeng laughed, "Well, I never imagined you'd have this tattoo too! Qin Tian, giant, roll up your sleeves!"
Qin Tian, awkward, revealed his slender arm—one of the ten marked. The giant's arm was thick as a tree trunk. Their tattoos were near identical.
Xiaofeng scrutinized Caesar's tattoo—number two.
"No wonder you're so weak," Xiaofeng remarked. "You're Number Two."
Caesar glanced from Xiaofeng's arm to those of Qin Tian and the giant.
The giant was Number Five, Qin Tian Number Six, and Xiaofeng himself bore Number Nine. Caesar's brow furrowed. "Does our strength correspond to these numbers?"
"Absolutely," Xiaofeng confirmed. "The giant is stronger than you, Qin Tian stronger than him, and I'm Nine—the most powerful among the known tattooed ability users."
Caesar's eyes widened. "Are there stronger ones?"
Xiaofeng nodded. "The Envoy said there are ten of us in total. I believe Number Ten is the strongest, though his whereabouts on Earth remain a mystery."
"Number Ten? If we were all together..." Caesar's excitement was palpable.
Qin Tian sneered. "Sure, strong. Yet you just led a pack of Level Ten ability users to kill your own kind. Who'd want to be with you?"
Xiaofeng waved a hand. "The ten of us are unique on this planet. Even I had conflicts with the Envoy at first. But once we realized we were on the same side, all hatred vanished. We mustn't bicker; survival is our true priority."
Caesar hurriedly agreed. "Xiaofeng is right—absolutely right."
"Good. Caesar, you have a commanding name. Stick with us, and you'll never fear death again."
Caesar smiled, yet paused, expression suddenly grave. "There's one more thing I must tell you…"
"What is it?"