The riverside alley was filled with muffled impacts and suppressed groans.
Ethan Ye was already breathing heavily.
His clothes were torn, his body covered in bruises, blood seeping from the corners of his mouth.
The eight masked men moved in perfect coordination.
They attacked relentlessly—fast, ruthless, and merciless.
Each strike carried killing intent.
Even with Ethan Ye's terrifying combat instincts and experience, he was being forced back step by step.
Too strong…
These people are far stronger than ordinary mercenaries.
His vision blurred slightly as another heavy blow landed on his ribs.
Crack!
A sharp pain exploded through his body.
But just as his defense was broken—
An even more terrifying pain followed.
It was as if his nerves had been magnified, every sensation exploding violently throughout his body.
Ethan Ye's pupils shrank.
What… is this pain?!
Before he could think further, another strike landed.
Boom!
The pain doubled again.
His body was sent flying, smashing into the wall of the alley.
Blood splattered across the ground.
The masked men froze for a split second.
Even they were startled.
They had hit him—but not that hard.
Yet Ethan Ye's reaction was as if he had been struck by a fatal blow.
"Finish him," the leader said coldly.
They rushed forward again.
Ethan Ye clenched his teeth and forced himself to stand.
Every movement felt like tearing his body apart.
But his eyes remained sharp.
He knew—
Someone was interfering.
Alex Lin…
The thought flashed through his mind.
Only that man could pull off something so absurd.
The masked men attacked again.
Ethan Ye raised his arms to block—
Crack!
Pain surged wildly.
His consciousness nearly shattered.
Finally, he could no longer hold on.
His body collapsed to the ground.
The eight masked men stepped back, breathing steadily.
"So this is the War God?" one of them sneered. "Overrated."
At that moment—
Sirens wailed in the distance.
The masked men's expressions changed slightly.
"Withdraw."
Without hesitation, they turned and disappeared into the darkness.
Moments later, hurried footsteps approached.
Alex Lin arrived.
He looked at Ethan Ye lying in a pool of blood, his brows furrowing deeply.
"…You really got yourself beaten badly."
Police cars and ambulances arrived soon after.
Ethan Ye was rushed onto a stretcher.
Before losing consciousness, he vaguely saw Alex Lin walking beside him, calm and composed.
Yet for some reason—
That calm figure gave him an inexplicable sense of security.
When Ethan Ye woke up again, he was already in the hospital's ICU.
His body felt heavy, wrapped in bandages.
Pain still lingered, but it was far more bearable now.
He stared at the white ceiling, his thoughts slowly settling.
Images replayed in his mind—
The ambush.
The abnormal pain.
Alex Lin arriving at the last moment.
Why… did he save me?
Why does he always do this?
For a brief moment, confusion crept into his heart.
But he soon clenched his fists.
His gaze hardened.
No.
I can't be shaken.
This man is still my enemy.
No matter what… this hatred cannot be forgotten.
Outside the ICU, Alex Lin stood quietly, hands in his pockets.
The doctors stepped out.
"His injuries are severe, but his life is no longer in danger," one of them said. "He needs time to recover."
"That's fine," Alex Lin replied calmly. "As long as he's alive."
The doctor hesitated before adding, "It's strange. His injuries suggest extreme pain response, far beyond normal limits."
Alex Lin smiled faintly.
"People are different."
He turned and walked away.
Behind him, the hospital corridor was silent.
But unseen currents were already beginning to stir.
The game had officially entered its next stage.