Above the clouds, Lilith's flight came to a sudden halt.
Her 160-meter silver-white dragon wings flapped in the air, their immense power twisting the air into a gale that seemed capable of tearing everything apart, cleaving through the clouds ahead.
Her four crimson vertical pupils narrowed slightly, gazing at the blue light screen that had suddenly popped up in front of her.
It was a message from the Reincarnators; the content stated that the Invaders' strength far exceeded expectations, and they wanted her to meet up with them to discuss a countermeasure.
Lilith looked at the message, her gaze shifting down to the attached location, and her lips slowly curled into a grin.
That smile was hideous and terrifying.
"Very strong?"
She murmured to herself, her youthful voice torn apart by the howling winds high in the sky.
"Then I'll just have to see for myself—exactly how strong they are!"
Her dragon wings beat violently!
"Boom—!!!"
A violent sonic boom cloud exploded behind her as Lilith's massive body turned into a bolt of silver-white lightning, charging toward Chicago at a Speed even more frenzied than before!
...
Chicago, suburban sewer system.
Deep within the dark and damp pipes, the air was foul and filled with a pervasive stench.
Occasionally, rats scurried through the corners, making rustling sounds.
Seven people were squeezed into this narrow space, barely illuminated by a few emergency lights.
Lucas stubbed out his cigarette and looked up at Leon.
"How is it? Have you contacted him?"
With the official manhunt by America in full swing, their faces had spread across the entire country.
Now, as soon as they appeared in the public eye, their coordinates would be immediately locked.
So during this time, they could only hide in these sunless sewers, surviving on dry rations and water purchased from the System Mall.
Leon stared at the portable computer in his hand, the data stream on the screen flashing rapidly.
He pushed up his glasses and gave a bitter smile.
"I've made contact."
Lucas's eyes brightened slightly.
"But,"
Leon continued.
"The other party didn't respond."
He pulled up an image—a moving dot of light that was traveling toward Chicago at an incredible Speed.
"He probably wants to deal with those Invaders alone."
Once a Hunter appeared and their approximate location was determined, a Balancer could use their authority to establish a connection between the Reincarnators and the Hunter for a brief chat.
And just now, Leon, who had hacked into Chicago's surveillance system, received official news along with the Hunter's specific location.
Then, using Ivy's authority, he sent information about the Invaders to this unknown Hunter.
But the other party didn't reply with a single word, not even confirming the receipt of the message.
Now, that dot of light was approaching Chicago at supersonic Speeds.
"Humph!"
Beside Ivy, a man had a look of suppressed anger on his face.
"Arrogant!"
His name was Sketa, a member of Ivy's team.
Ever since he had personally witnessed the terror of those Invaders, he knew that a Hunter couldn't possibly be a match for the five of them.
"We've seen the strength of those Invaders! How could a single Hunter be their match!"
He gritted his teeth, his voice filled with uncontrollable anger and frustration.
Did this Hunter really think that with a bit of talent and strength, he could go head-to-head against five Invaders who were comparable to top-tier Hunters?
That was suicide!
A brief silence fell over the sewer.
No one refuted Sketa.
Because they all knew that what he said was the truth.
The power of those Invaders had already exceeded their understanding.
Five beings comparable to top-tier Hunters, plus the Behemoths they controlled—
How could one Hunter possibly win?
Lucas was silent for a long time before looking at Leon again.
"Can you hack into the Military system and get another gunship?"
His voice was low, yet filled with determination.
"This time, it's our only chance."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.
"Once the Hunter dies, we'll be completely at a disadvantage."
Those Invaders already knew their approximate location.
In the time that followed, if the other party mobilized the full might of America to search for them, it would only be a matter of time before they were found.
Therefore, they had to find a way to save that Hunter.
They had to find a way to make a big move!
Leon was silent for a while, then nodded slowly.
"I'll try."
He lowered his head, his fingers tapping rapidly on the keyboard.
On the screen, firewall after firewall was breached, and one permission after another was stolen.
In the sewer, only the sound of typing and the heavy breathing of the group remained.
In the corner, Shiki didn't say a word, just quietly staring at a certain direction in the darkness.
A complex light flickered in his eyes.
He had a tracker on him, so he intended to leave the team to buy them time to hide.
...
Downtown Chicago.
The once-bustling streets were now deserted.
Towering office buildings, luxurious shopping malls, and wide plazas were all empty, with only the occasional piece of trash rolling around the street corner, blown by the wind.
But this City was not truly empty.
Dozens of massive Behemoths were situated throughout the City.
Some were coiled in the middle of the streets like moving hills.
Some climbed the exterior walls of skyscrapers, their hideous claws piercing into the glass curtain walls.
Some crouched by plaza fountains, their dull yellow vertical pupils coldly scanning the surroundings.
Even the smallest Behemoth was over thirty meters long.
They were true monsters; most of these creatures that had mutated after absorbing the gene virus came from the wild and possessed an inherent Bloodlust nature.
And the gene virus had amplified this Bloodlust nature infinitely.
But even so, they all prostrated themselves here, awaiting their master's command.
And at the very center of the City—
At the top of the tallest skyscraper, a colossal creature was coiled around it.
A Giant Python over a hundred meters long.
Its thick body coiled around the entire building several times, its black scales glinting with a cold, metallic light in the sun.
Its massive head hung in the air, its tongue flickering, and its dark gold vertical pupils looked down at the distant horizon.
And on top of its head—
A figure stood with his hands behind his back.
The youth stood on the Giant Python's head, his dark gold vertical pupils gazing at the distant sky.
The gale blew at the corners of his clothes and ruffled his black hair, but it couldn't budge him in the slightest.
He wanted to use the grandest display to welcome that mysterious Hunter.
Dozens of Behemoths.
A hundred-meter Giant Python.
And the five of them.
He wanted to see what kind of expression that Hunter would have when they saw all of this.
Would it be trembling fear?
Would it be turning and fleeing?
Or—
"Boss."
Behind him, Lei Ying's figure descended from the sky, landing on the Giant Python.
Jumping arcs of electricity were still coiled around her hands, and her signature lazy smile was on her lips.
"The Military has completely withdrawn; this City is now our hunting ground."
The youth nodded slightly.
"She's almost here."
He said softly, a playful look appearing at the corners of his mouth, and a Bloodlust light flickering in his dark gold vertical pupils.
"I hope she doesn't disappoint me."
Lei Ying chuckled.
"Whether she's a disappointment or not, we'll find out in a moment."
She raised her hand, electricity jumping at her fingertips.
"However, if she's too weak, it'll be too boring."
The youth did not answer.
He just stood there quietly, his gaze always locked on the distant sky.
There, the clouds surged as if something was tearing through the heavens, coming at extreme Speed.
...