An irregular cave mouth, three meters across, yawned on the cracked ground. Peering down, Chen Xiao saw scorching light pouring from the earth's core. Layers of molten rock stepped down in jagged, overlapping tiers—each slab placed with impossible precision, like a staircase carved by intent.
Not nature's work. The Rules had fashioned this.
Chen Xiao led the way, A Yao, Jiang Ling, Zhang Longqi, and Zhao Yuanhang close behind.
"This is unreal—who made a place like this?" Zhang Longqi muttered, awestruck."These molten slabs are basically stairs," Zhao Yuanhang added. "Very considerate."
As they descended, the heat grew oppressive. Temperatures climbed past forty degrees; A Yao fanned herself with frantic hands. "Why does it get hotter the deeper we go? We'll be roasted!" someone complained.
Chen Xiao felt it, too. He'd originally planned to wait until his companions were near collapse before helping—then changed his mind. With a flick of his hand, streams of water erupted, coalescing into shimmering robes.
"One for each of you. They'll cut the heat."
"Mad Ghost Boss, you're incredible!" Zhang Longqi whooped. The cool water robes wrapped them in a breeze; relief washed over the group. Without those robes, they'd have turned back long before reaching the furnace. The search for fire seeds was proving far tougher than they'd expected—but the water robes let them press on.
Deeper still, the cave system branched into a red-tinged labyrinth. Sulfur stung the nostrils; the ground hummed with hidden pressure as molten magma churned below. The walls glowed faintly; the temperature rose above fifty degrees—a true inferno.
"Move fast. If you see anything suspicious, grab it," Chen Xiao ordered.
They sprinted like arrows; the wind their motion made offered a sliver of relief. But they found no seeds. Either the path had already been picked clean, or the seeds were exceedingly rare.
"Chen Xiao, we've got company," Jiang Ling warned; Chen Xiao had already picked up four nearby signatures—no great power, but present.
"Accelerate."
Chen Xiao blurred, a streak of afterimages—pure Moon Shadow speed, not stealth, just overwhelming swiftness.
"Who's there?!" the four Combat Nation members cried as the space around them fractured like a smashed mirror.
A shadowy figure materialized: a young man with an Eastern face, hovering calmly, radiating an eerie, crushing pressure.
"Huaxia…" someone breathed. "It's Huaxia."
"Leader Alexander, they're the top team!" another shouted. "Fear nothing—let's take them!"
At Combat Nation's center stood a mountain of a man: broad shoulders, stacked muscles, a thick beard—Alexander, their iron anchor.
"You're from Huaxia. What are you doing in our territory? Even in this 'peaceful' stage, would Huaxia be the first to break the truce?" he rumbled.
Alexander's leader, Alexander, thrived on battle—but facing Huaxia, he tried diplomacy. "Brother from Huaxia, ally with us? We'd gladly stand together."
Chen Xiao shook his head. "I'm not here to fight."
Alexander brightened. "So you'll join us. Good. But if you're after the fire seeds—"
"We haven't seen a single one," another Combat man cut in. "Let's get out before Euro Alliance takes everything."
Chen Xiao's brow tightened. "You're not being honest."
He vanished.
Boom—an earth-shattering crash followed. A massive, iron-like hand materialized and crushed down on Alexander's neck, pinning him to the stone. Cracks spidered outward; dust and debris billowed up.
Alexander writhed, his SSS-rank [Bear Form Burst]—the camp's pride—utterly outmatched. He couldn't believe it. How could anyone be this fast, this strong?
"Alexander! What's happening?!" his comrades yelled, stunned.
The trio watched in disbelief: their leader pinned in an instant by a single, unseen strike. Once, Chen Xiao could never have fallen on Alexander so decisively—back then he had only [Invisibility]. Now, with Moon Shadow's brutal timing, those precious seconds were gone. Two seconds can change destinies; in their world, it decided life or death.
Chen Xiao's grip tightened. The cave echoed with the metallic creak of pressure and the sharp intake of distant breaths. Around them, the Rules-made steps and furnace heat made every movement a trial, but speed and precision had just created an opening no bear could close.