Chapter 382: Danger!

Just as the ground battle raged fiercely, a distant rumble rolled in from the skyline far beyond Dongmu City.

Several fighter jets, in formation, swooped at ultra‑low altitude, rapidly closing in on the area already shrouded by various anomalous celestial phenomena.

In the cockpits, the pilots stared wide‑eyed, incredulously watching the chaotic radar blips and, within visual range, the soaring Light Pillars and the sky‑filled "unidentified flying objects".

"This is White Bird One! Visual confirmation! The target area exhibits massive anomalous phenomena! Repeating, massive anomalous phenomena! Detected a gigantic unidentified creature! Engaged with… multiple humanoid targets?! Requesting orders! Over!" The long‑range pilot's voice trembled with shock.

"White Bird One, this is Eagle Nest. Continue surveillance, collect data, but absolutely do not enter the combat airspace! Repeating, do not enter the combat airspace! Await further instructions!" The command's reply was tense.

However, this small "interlude" did not escape the perception of certain entities on the battlefield.

Huan Long's upper‑body silhouette lifted slightly; its hollow eyes glanced at the buzzing "iron birds" in the sky, and the sneer at its mouth deepened.

"Mortal creations… dare to glimpse the great works of Destruction?"

It made no overt attack, merely projecting the intent of Destruction toward those few fighter jets in the sky.

"Ugh—ahhh—!"

Almost simultaneously, the pilots of two of the fighters let out agonized screams; their gazes were instantly filled with violet‑black chaos, and their faces twisted into a blend of frenzy and pain.

"For… for the great being! Destroy everything! Long live!!! Onboard!!!"

They roared, completely losing Reason String, slammed the control sticks, and the fighters performed self‑destructive, extreme maneuvers, their cannons raking the nearby allied aircraft while carelessly diving toward the ground battlefield—whether toward Huan Long or Black Tower and the others.

"Number Three! Number Five! Are you insane?! Disengage! Pull up!" the long‑range pilot shouted in terror.

But it was too late.

The hijacked fighter, like a suicide bomb, trailed black smoke and slammed into its comrade, exploding into two fireballs in the air.

Another jet plummeted straight toward the ground… its target shockingly turned out to be the JiAssassin that was maintaining the Insect Swarm!

"Assassin!" San Yue Qi shouted.

The Mecha Assassin reacted instantly, thrusting backward and narrowly evading the fighter's suicide impact.

The fighter crashed to the ground not far behind it, turning into a massive fireball and scattering debris; the shockwave even rattled the Mecha.

This minor interlude had a negligible effect on the ground battle, not even drawing a second glance from those locked in the fierce fight.

Only Weber, from behind cover, glanced at the dissipating smoke in the sky, his complexion paling further as he muttered, "Even the troops… this already exceeds the limits of Concealment entirely…"

At the battlefield's center, the combat had reached a white‑hot climax.

Perspective shift.

Tengwan Lixiang and his party trudged through the wrecked streets, following the traces, and finally, in the middle of a relatively intact commercial avenue, spotted the figure standing with its back to them.

A black trench coat, slightly disheveled black hair, and a right hand hanging naturally at its side—indeed, it was Weigong Qiesi.

He stood there silently, as if gazing at the continuously flashing explosions on the distant horizon, showing no reaction to the approach behind him.

"Mr. Weigong?"

Tengwan Lixiang called tentatively, stepping forward cautiously, "Are you alright? We're worried about you."

There was no response.

Not even a shoulder twitched.

Mashu, shield raised, trailed behind Tengwan Lixiang's side, her violet eyes full of vigilance.

Chang Ye Yue, holding a Black Umbrella, her crimson pupils slightly constricted, sensed a discord emanating from that silhouette.

Tengwan Lixiang moved two steps closer, "Mr. Weigong, the Main Battlefield needs support, and Miss Ailisi Feier…"

The moment she mentioned the name Ailisi Feier—

A sudden aberration erupted!

Weigong Qiesi's right‑hand sleeve, hanging at his side, ruptured without warning!

Immediately thereafter, three narrow blades edged with ominous black‑red patterns flashed, swift as black lightning, tearing the air and thrusting straight at Tengwan Lixiang's chest!

The angles were treacherous, the speed beyond human reaction limits!

"Senior!!"

Mashu's pupils contracted sharply, reacting almost the instant the blades appeared!

She lunged forward with a sudden step, using all her strength to yank Tengwan Lixiang backward forcefully!

"Sss!"

The sharp blade tip grazed the fabric of Tengwan Lixiang's shirt over his chest, pulling up a few threads and a sting of burning pain.

If it weren't for Mashu's beyond‑limits assistance, that blow would have pierced her straight through!

The black‑red blade missed, and instead of pursuing, it swiftly retracted as if alive, flowing back into Weigong Qiesi's sleeve; the torn sleeve eerily writhed, restoring itself, as if the lethal strike had been an illusion.

Only then did Weigong Qiesi's body slowly turn around.

Everyone inhaled a cold gasp.

His face, belonging to Weigong Qiesi, was now covered with black‑red stripes spreading like a spider's web.

The stripes seemed alive, subtly writhing beneath his skin, exuding a nauseating malice.

His eyes were completely filled with murky black‑red, no whites or pupils visible, only a bottomless mire.

He tilted his head, his neck emitting a faint "kaba" sound, the corner of his mouth curling upward as he spoke—still in Weigong Qiesi's voice, but soaked in viscous darkness:

"... Do you recognize me?"

"This World's Evil!"

Tengwan Lixiang instantly judged, her amber eyes heavy with gravity.

She had seen Servants tainted by similar things, but directly corroding a living Master and controlling them so thoroughly made the situation far more troublesome.

"You have taken control of Mr. Weigong Qiesi!"

"Control? No, no…"

"Weigong Qiesi" corrected with that twisted smile, his voice tinged with a delighted tremor, "It is comprehension, resonance. This man's heart… haha, what a fitting vessel. Fatigue, Despair, a cold calculation that hides darkness and a desire for ruin even he dares not face… He only needs a little push to become perfectly… a part of me."

"Nonsense!"

Mashu shouted sharply, the massive shield slammed heavily to the ground, blocking in front of Tengwan Lixiang, "Leave Mr. Weigong's body at once!"

"Leave? Why?"

This World's Evil controlled Weigong Qiesi's body, spread his hands, struck a pretentious pose, "We're getting along quite nicely now. Besides, he also has… a very interesting Little Toy."

His gaze, faintly and imperceptibly, flicked toward the three complete bright red Command Spells on the back of his hand.

Chang Ye Yue's crimson eyes suddenly hardened.

She had previously been trying to use a little of her own power under the Rule's restriction without success, but now, perhaps the manifestation of This World's Evil broke some balance, perhaps the Suppression Force had no room to attend—she clearly felt the invisible Lock that had always bound her loosen.

"Not good."