Chapter 1254

A soaring pillar of light descended from the heavens, as if connecting to the horizon.

In the dazzling light, the Long An core, designated as the return point, seemed bathed in pure white light, instantly causing all survivors to stare blankly.

Moments later, accompanied by a majestic reward tone, every survivor in the entire Asian theater felt a brand-new power erupt from within.

Ordinary people previously stuck at the Awakened Ones' threshold were overjoyed to sense the panel that suddenly appeared before them.

Under the final reward of the competition, their attributes actually broke through the crucial 10-point barrier, shooting straight into the ranks of the Awakened Ones!

Countless people shouted excitedly, and across the entire continent, the excited crowd seemed to have won an unprecedented victory!

If viewed from space, light pillars were descending everywhere on the globe at this moment, as if another world had collectively descended.

"Lord Lin An has returned!!"

"We won!!"

Everyone stared blankly, instinctively looking toward where the light pillar stood.

In extreme shock, the troops of the outer city even forgot about Zhao Mei fleeing; even the red-clothed mutant, who never spoke like an iceberg, now fixed its gaze on where the light pillar rose. The tongue protruding from its skull also seemed to sense some power and stiffened in place.

That guy's power...

It's gotten stronger!

What a terrifying power..

If Awakened Ones this far away could not possibly sense Lin An's aura, then as a psychic-system mutant, she now felt only a violently overwhelming aura surging down from within the light pillar!

Compared to Lin An's aura before departure, it's not merely multiplied—it's far stronger!?

Especially..

She had never sensed such power before!

It was a power that had transcended psychic ability, a higher tier—just a single glance made her feel immense threat.

It seemed that a single strike would instantly kill her, who had once been able to grapple with Lin An.

What level is this!?

Is it Fourth Stage!?

Unlike the crowd stunned by Lin An's return, Zhao Mei, who had all along wanted to flee, now had her heart trembling.

Not only had she bumped into a pile of monsters, but Lin An happened to return just as she was about to act!

She, who once boasted before her teammates that she feared nothing from Lin An, now felt like she was going crazy!

Not fearing Lin An? That was just empty talk!

Seeing the entire arena fall into a brief stupor, it seemed as if Lin An's return was of utmost importance.

At this moment, Zhao Mei didn't even think, and without hesitation unleashed her trump card.

With a whoosh, her formerly sturdy frame seemed to shed its skin, and a tiny flesh-and-blood figurine, as small as possible, shot out from her body, rushing toward the outskirts in the blink of an eye.

No one knew that beneath her apparent bodily-system talent lay the ability to burrow into similar hosts' bodies! Old Duck thought he knew her inside out, believing she had merely sweet-talked that hooligan; no one knew she had originally seduced that hooligan!

In an instant, the Long An soldiers surrounding Zhao Mei finally snapped back to, staring in shock at the 'Zhao Mei' falling from midair.

Anyone could see that this Zhao Mei was merely a shell!

"She got away!?"

Instantly realizing their carelessness had let Zhao Mei escape, several Long An Awakened Ones' faces darkened abruptly, and An Jing Tian, rushing from afar, also suddenly grew grim.

"Chase!!"

At the same time, AnXia and the Red-Clothed Mutant both furrowed their brows, neither expecting that the woman who had bumped into them would actually escape.

After a moment's hesitation, AnXia still chose to sprint toward the Long An core, while the Red-Clothed Mutant slowly healed its head.

AnXia didn't really want to kill again.

Although she might be able to catch him if she pursued, Colonel Chu had warned her not to act lightly, for her condition was delicate; with frequent contact with human blood, no one knew whether she would lose control again.

As for the Red-Clothed Mutant, it didn't matter if it let the person go.

If the other side weren't trying to capture her, she actually wouldn't bother with these matters at all.

After all, she is merely a mutant, fundamentally hostile to humans.

If it weren't for Xuan Hai Cheng being held by Chu An, she would have had no choice—she wouldn't even stay with Long An. Being able to strike once against an external invasion is already enough to give Lin An face.

Large numbers of troops set out in pursuit, just as An Jing Tian, grim-faced, was preparing to personally lead people out of the city, when a squad leader who looked rather mature suddenly shouted to stop him.

"Director An, please go back first!"

"Lord Lin An just returned; it wouldn't be right for you not to be there to greet him!"

"Put bluntly, we've already wiped out these people; all that's left is mopping up. We're not afraid of one person getting away."

"Compared to Lord Lin An's return, this matter is truly insignificant! We will definitely capture her!"

He spoke extremely quickly.

The squad leader finished speaking and then opened his mouth again in a low voice:

"Director An, it's best that Lord An not learn of this, or rather, don't make a big fuss."

"As soon as Lord Lin An returns and encounters this, he'll surely think we've neglected our duties, and the impact on you would be enormous..."

"You wouldn't want Lord Lin An to be disappointed in you, would you.."

Speaking from the heart.

Compared to the young An Jing Tian, the squad leader who had once mingled in a publicly listed corporation understood what mattered most.

Long An, which had never had an accident, suddenly suffered one—undoubtedly a major blunder!

Especially, the enemy easily infiltrated Long An's most important warehouse and even killed the guard detail.

Once Lord Lin An finds out, who knows whether he'll take his anger out on us?

As a member of the outer city garrison, he cherishes his current position too much.

If any mishap occurs... his future is ruined!

Inside and out, how many people are eyeing his position!? "Helping" An Jing Tian is just helping himself!

Listening to the captain's sincere persuasion, An Jing Tian's expression suddenly froze.

Lin Dui... disappointed...

In an instant, he also began to hesitate.

What the captain said is right; no matter what, he doesn't want Brother Lin to be disappointed in him. He already felt he couldn't help much, and after Brother Lin left, he made this mistake again. To be honest, his anxiety at this moment is greater than anyone's!

Although logically it's not his mistake, as the one responsible for the safety of the entire Safe Zone, he bears an inescapable responsibility.

Taking a deep breath, his expression strained, An Jing Tian looked toward the captain in a low voice:

"You must find the person!"

"Also, find out exactly who let the person in!"

Thinking that the opponent could sneak in, An Jing Tian's eyes couldn't help but flash a hint of harshness.

Perhaps, the entire Faction: Long An should be reorganized!

If such a problem arises again later, he simply cannot imagine how he would face Lin An!