The small port town was quiet, and the restaurant was far from busy. They chose a table by the window and ordered some simple food. The Particle Man, who had turned into a cat, was perched on the windowsill. The Blood Mist had retracted, and the Weather Membrane was stable.
Chen Mo was flipping through the menu, while Zhao Yang sipped his blood-tea. Lu Ye sat in the corner, silent.
The wind chime at the door jingled once. A person walked in.
He was tall and thin, with a steady gait and sharp eyes. Dressed in a plain T-shirt and slacks, his steps weren't fast, but each one was firmly planted. The air around him subtly warped, and the temperature noticeably climbed as he approached.
He paused at the entrance, scanned the room, and a faint smile touched his lips.
"You'd be the crew that smashed the Cloud Ark out on the water? Interesting."
No one replied.
He took a few steps, stopping by their table, his tone unhurried.
"I heard you were tough." "But I don't buy it." "Wind is the kind of thing that shatters if you touch it." "Just because you beat him doesn't mean you can touch me."
He looked at Lu Ye, his voice as calm as if discussing the weather.
"I don't like people sitting around." "Especially people who sit around and have the nerve to breathe." "You're breathing in front of me right now, and I'm finding it quite uncomfortable."
The air temperature kept rising. The water glasses on the table began to steam, and fine cracks appeared on their rims. The restaurant's magnetic field started to twist, and the metal decor in the corners slightly warped.
Chen Mo frowned, Zhao Yang put down his teacup, Hu Hao looked up, and Lin Lan's finger hovered near the Weather Membrane activator. But before they could move.
Lu Ye lifted his gaze, his eyes composed.
He didn't speak. He simply focused his mind and covertly activated "Thunder Domain Slash."
The magnetic field vibrated, the Thunder Domain materialized, and electrical arcs sliced through the air, heading straight for the enemy.
But the lightning was instantly vaporized the moment it touched his outer skin. Not blocked—melted. The arcs instantly deconstructed at the point of contact, the Thunder Domain disintegrated, and the magnetic field backlashed.
Lu Ye slumped back, coughing up blood. His conscious layer vibrated, leaving him on the brink of unconsciousness.
The enemy stood rooted, unmoving. He watched Lu Ye, his expression unchanged.
The air temperature continued its climb; the restaurant lights flickered, and the edges of the wall paintings were singed. The Particle Man jumped off the windowsill, reverted to human form, and shielded Lu Ye.
Zhao Yang stood up, and the Blood Mist began to gather. Chen Mo clenched his fist, activating the Shatter-Time Punch. Hu Hao's psychic frequency surged. Lin Lan initiated the Weather Membrane. He Xuan slowed down time.
The enemy watched them, his lips curving into a slight smirk.
"Now you decide to move?" "Too late." "Sitting still was the safest thing you could have done a moment ago."
He raised one hand, and his palm glowed red. Not fire, but a sheer concentration of temperature itself. The moisture in the air began to evaporate, forcing the Blood Mist back from its edges.
Zhao Yang frowned: "He's not a standard Pyro user."
Zhong Li murmured, recording: "Pyro variant · Thermal Manipulation · Controls temperature structure within a self-centered radius · Capable of melting electro-magnetic fields · Possesses high thermal resistance."
Chen Mo spoke under his breath: "He didn't move a second ago." "But he melted the Thunder Domain faster than we could react." "That means he's been pre-loading his power this whole time."
Zhao Yang: "He's here for trouble." "Not a coincidence—he's been tracking us."
The enemy looked at them, his tone still calm.
"I don't care for Herrons." "But I like you even less." "You messed up his plan." "I'm here to confirm one thing."
He looked at Zhao Yang.
"You're the vampire?"
Zhao Yang didn't answer.
The enemy nodded: "Figures." "I'll kill you first."
He raised his hand, and a high-temperature cutting line appeared in the air, aimed squarely at Zhao Yang. Zhao Yang instantly deployed the Blood Mist, which rolled back, pulling Lu Ye to safety behind him.
Chen Mo punched, the fifth segment of the Shatter-Time Punch, aimed at the enemy's side. But before the punch could land, the air was distorted by the heat, forcing his fist to veer off course.
The enemy sidestepped the attack, then slammed his palm onto the table. The entire table instantly melted; the wood structure warped, and the utensils turned into liquid metal.
"Your reactions are slower than I expected," he said.
Zhao Yang: "Are you done talking?"
"Ha! Pathetic!"
The enemy's palm vibrated, and another high-temperature cutting line shot toward Zhao Yang. The Blood Mist shielded him; its edges were rapidly seared through, but Zhao Yang didn't retreat.
He whispered: "Dark Blood Mechanics."
Space began to sink; the restaurant's internal magnetic field structure was forcibly suppressed. Heat diffusion was limited, and the thermal energy around the enemy began to be compressed. Air density rose, reducing the fluidity of his Pyro ability.
The enemy frowned, shifting his feet, trying to break free of the suppressed zone. But Zhao Yang had already moved.
He lunged forward, the Blood Mist condensing into a blade aimed at the enemy's chest. The enemy raised his hand to block, and the temperature in his palm instantly skyrocketed, severing the blood blade.
Zhao Yang stepped back, his face pale, but his resolve was steady.
"You can burn my blood," Zhao Yang said. "But you can't burn me."
The enemy laughed: "You're resilient." "But you're still not fast enough."
He raised his hand, and a second high-temperature cutting line appeared in the air, sharper in angle and significantly faster. Zhao Yang dodged, but his shoulder was grazed, leaving his skin charred, though the Blood Mist automatically began repairs.
Just then, the wind outside stirred.
Cloud Ark, moved.
He didn't speak, nor did he give a warning. He simply activated his Wind Blade, slicing into the restaurant.
The Wind State deployed, moving at extreme speed, bypassing the high-temperature zone between Zhao Yang and the enemy, and cutting directly toward the enemy's back.
The enemy sensed it, turning to counter, but the Wind Blade had already arrived. A gash was cut into his shoulder, and his thermal structure began to destabilize.
"You're here too?" the enemy muttered. "Still not completely dead?"
Cloud Ark didn't reply. He sliced again, the Wind Blades crossing to form three diagonal lines, forcing the enemy back. "Ah!"
Zhao Yang seized the chance to press forward, the Blood Mist gathering again, covering the enemy's feet. "You said we weren't fast enough," Zhao Yang said. "Try being slow."
He activated "Truth Regression."
Space vibrated, and the enemy's recent actions were forcibly pulled back by three seconds. He turned again, but the Wind Blade was already in position.
Cloud Ark sliced a third time, the Wind Blade aimed directly at the enemy's waist. The enemy was forced to activate his high-temperature defense; the temperature of his outer skin instantly spiked, forcing the Wind Blade to retract.
But Zhao Yang had already locked in the target.
"You melted the lightning," Zhao Yang said. "So I won't use lightning."
He raised his hand, and the Blood Mist condensed into ten thin lines, simultaneously pressing in on the enemy from all sides. The enemy raised his hands to block, increasing the temperature, but the space was suppressed, preventing the heat from fully dissipating.
Chen Mo murmured: "He's pinned now. Not enough heat, the wind is disrupting his structure, and the time delay is set."
Zhong Li: "Zhao Yang primary offense, Cloud Ark assist. They've established the rhythm."
The enemy stood his ground, breathing rapidly. He looked at Zhao Yang, then at Cloud Ark.
"You two…" he said quietly. "A good team-up."
Zhao Yang didn't respond. He simply raised his hand, and the final blood line struck the enemy's chest.
The enemy was knocked back three steps, spitting blood, and slammed against the restaurant wall. The magnetic field shook, and the temperature collapsed.
He didn't fall. But he stopped.
The air returned to normal; the restaurant temperature began to drop, and the water glasses condensed moisture again.
The enemy quietly said: "I remember you." "Herrons will know."
He turned and left, choosing not to continue the fight.
Zhao Yang stood still, the Blood Mist receding, his shoulder wound healing automatically. Cloud Ark returned to the window, the Wind State deactivated, and sat down silently.
Chen Mo: "This wasn't on us." Hu Hao: "He brought it on himself." Lin Lan: "But we almost died anyway." He Xuan: "Next time won't be so easy."
Lu Ye leaned against the wall, pale but clear-eyed.
"Herrons knows we're here now," he said.
Zhong Li recorded: "Pyro Enemy · Temperature Control · Melted Thunder Domain with high heat · Showed killing intent toward Zhao Yang · Connected to Herrons · Current status: Withdrew."