The moonlight was hazy, and the shadows of the trees swayed gently in the wind.
In the silent forest outside the Future Supply Zone, a team of several hundred men moved swiftly across the rugged terrain, traveling through mountains and valleys.
Their destination was a domain field over a hundred miles away.
This domain field was situated near the Future City Supply Zone, serving as one of the many defensive domain fields standing between Future City and Star City.
Every member of the team was equipped with highly advanced technological gear.
As they moved forward, drones hovered overhead, scanning the terrain ahead and transmitting real-time data to the squad leader's tablet.
Each warrior wore a custom-fitted exoskeletal suit, allowing them to traverse the dense and treacherous forested terrain with minimal physical exhaustion.
Night vision goggles covered their faces, ensuring clear vision in the pitch-black surroundings.
After an extended march, the leader of the team, Lu Changkong, suddenly came to a halt. The warriors of the Devouring Wolf Domain Combat Squad behind him stopped as well, awaiting his command.
"Replenish your energy!"
At his order, the team members immediately retrieved a pill from their portable supply pouches and swallowed it.
The compressed energy pill quickly dissolved in their systems.
A cool surge of energy spread through their bodies, instantly washing away their fatigue.
After a brief rest, the Devouring Wolf Domain Combat Squad resumed their advance toward the target location.
As they moved, Lu Changkong constantly scanned the surroundings with a grave expression.
This mission had come abruptly, giving him only three days to prepare.
The task assigned by the Master was a surprise assault on a domain combat squad that had recently entered the Beastheart Domain Field—their objective was to eliminate them completely while seizing any spiritual resources they could.
The information he had about this mission was minimal.
He only knew that this squad had seemingly uncovered some kind of secret during their last operation, which was why the Master had ordered their elimination.
To Lu Changkong, whether or not they actually knew anything about the secrets of the Institute of Technological Research didn't really matter.
The fact that they might pose a threat was reason enough for the Master to want them erased.
Having served for so many years, he understood just how ruthless and calculating the Master was.
Yet, despite all the blood he had shed in service of a domain creature that stood against humanity, he had never once harbored resentment.
His loyalty remained steadfast—even after learning the truth.
His mind drifted back to that fateful day.
Years ago, he had graduated from Winterfell Academy. Like many of his fellow graduates, he stepped onto the battlefield with hope in his heart, determined to fight for the future of humanity.
The warfront was merciless. He had witnessed its brutality firsthand.
But he never regretted his decision.
Until one day—he received devastating news.
His younger sister, the one he had grown up with and cherished more than anything, had fallen gravely ill. She was rushed to Future City Hospital for emergency treatment.
For Lu Changkong, this was like a bolt of lightning from a clear sky.
Through every hardship he had endured on the battlefield, it was the thought of his sister that had kept him going.
Every penny he earned at the cost of his life was either spent on new combat gear or sent to support his sister in Future City.
He knew she had always dreamed of becoming a spiritual apothecary.
It was a dream he wanted desperately to fulfill for her.
A spiritual apothecary didn't have to go to the frontlines. They could stay in the rear, safe from harm. That was what he wanted most for her.
Whenever he returned from the battlefield, the first thing he did was check the packages she sent him.
His room at the squad's base was covered wall to wall with her award certificates—his proudest treasures.
Seeing her grow up little by little through video calls was his greatest source of comfort.
But he never imagined that one day she would become terminally ill.
The moment he received the diagnosis—his world collapsed.
Without hesitation, Lu Changkong applied for leave and rushed back to Future City.
When he saw her again, her once lively face had turned deathly pale.
Her frail body lay on the hospital bed, her once bright eyes now dull and lifeless.
He couldn't accept this fate.
Desperate, he scoured the internet, searching for any possible cure.
His first stop was the Future Research Institute, hoping that their advanced technology could provide a solution.
But after examining her medical records, the researchers regretfully informed him that the institute had long abandoned medical research.
There was nothing they could do.
Instead, they suggested he seek help from the United Military Hospital.
With a glimmer of hope, Lu Changkong rushed to the United Military Hospital.
There, a female doctor attended to him.
After reviewing his sister's medical records, she spoke calmly, delivering a cruel reality—a truth that shattered his last shred of faith.
She admitted that the hospital did have a special medicine that could cure his sister's illness.
However, there was a catch—
The production of this miracle drug was incredibly limited.
Each year, only six vials were manufactured.
And they were exclusively reserved for warriors who had earned the Outstanding Contribution to Humanity Medal.
That single sentence broke him.
Lu Changkong understood.
The United Military Hospital was making decisions for the greater good of humanity.
The Outstanding Contribution to Humanity Medal was awarded to the pillars of human civilization, those who paved the way for humanity's future.
But Lu Changkong was unwilling to accept this reality.
The medicine existed, so why wouldn't they give it to his sister?
He couldn't accept that she would die so young, still in the prime of her life.
Determined to save her, he returned to the battlefield.
He pleaded with his squad leader, begged those with powerful backgrounds in the combat division, hoping someone could help him.
They all tried, but ultimately failed.
In the end, after much persuasion from his commander, Lu Changkong returned to his room in despair.
That day, the sunlight was blinding, filtering through the window, casting long shadows across the wall covered in his sister's awards—but none of it could pierce through the darkness weighing on his heart.
Eventually, Lu Changkong returned to Future City, back to the hospital.
Lying beside her hospital bed, watching his unconscious sister, his heart felt like it was being torn apart.
He had spent his entire life fighting for humanity's survival, yet he couldn't even protect his own family.
How pathetic.
How laughable.
Compared to all of humanity, he only wanted his sister to live.
To hell with righteous causes and noble ideals—he would give them all up without hesitation.
Pain, grief, and fury consumed him.
His soul died that day.
His sister was his only family in this world. If she died, then what reason did he have to keep living?
The brutality of the frontlines had never broken him—but this did.
His sister was his light, the only thing keeping him going.
But in just a few short days, his world collapsed.
All his dreams for the future shattered like glass, leaving him with nothing but emptiness.
A man who had fought through rivers of blood on the battlefield without shedding a tear broke down and sobbed uncontrollably.
Hopelessness swallowed him whole.
And it was in that moment of absolute despair that the shadow appeared.
That was the first time he met it.
Shrouded in darkness, its voice carried a strange, hypnotic power, luring him in.
But years of warfare had given Lu Changkong a mind of steel, impervious to mental interference.
The moment he realized that this figure was a domain creature beyond human comprehension, his instincts screamed at him to attack.
Yet, the shadow spoke a single sentence that made him hesitate.
A sentence he would never forget—
"I can save your sister, but in return, you must serve me."
Lu Changkong knew that if he accepted, there would be no turning back.
His education had taught him exactly what this choice meant—betrayal of humanity.
If he agreed, his name would be cursed for generations.
Yet when he turned to look at his sister, still unconscious in her hospital bed, his heart wavered.
That moment of hesitation planted a seed—one that took root, grew, and blossomed into his downfall.
Faced with the only chance to save her, he lost the battle against his own conscience.
And in the end—he bowed his head and submitted.
The shadow did not disappoint him.
The very next morning, as sunlight filtered through the hospital window, his sister slowly opened her eyes.
At that moment, Lu Changkong held her and wept in joy.
But deep inside, he knew—he had already set foot on a path of no return.
Even if it wasn't for himself, he had to continue walking this road for her.
Before disappearing, the shadow had left him with one final warning—
"Your sister's life is not in my hands. It is in yours."
The meaning was clear—if he ever betrayed them, she would die.
From that day on, Lu Changkong the frontline warrior vanished, replaced by Lu Changkong of the Devouring Wolf Domain Combat Squad, a subordinate of the Institute of Technological Research.
Years passed. The shadow kept its promise.
His sister was admitted to Future City's only spiritual apothecary academy, and now, she was about to graduate.
The shadow had even assured him that she would secure a position in the Spiritual Apothecary Research Institute.
Her dream was finally coming true.
And that alone made everything he had done worth it.
Over the years, he had no idea how much human blood stained his hands.
At first, he had felt guilt.
But as time passed, his heart turned to ice.
He could still remember the looks of disbelief in his victims' eyes, the feeling of their warm blood splattering onto his face.
But after a while, he no longer felt anything.
The dream of a united humanity no longer mattered to him.
He only cared about the future he wanted.
He knew he was nothing more than a dog to the shadow, a hound to be used and discarded at will.
But he had no regrets.
What was wrong with being a dog? At least a dog could still protect its loved ones.
As for humanity's future—what did that have to do with him?
The world may see his path as one of damnation, but to him, it was the only path that made sense.
With that belief, Lu Changkong had walked this road for years.
Under his leadership, the Devouring Wolf Domain Combat Squad had grown in power, eventually rising to become the third most powerful unit under the Institute of Technological Research.
After reaching the core second-tier ranking, he finally glimpsed the terrifying might of the shadow's forces.
And his faith in them only grew stronger.
Perhaps one day, he would be abandoned.
But he had already prepared himself for that fate.
At the very least, he was certain of one thing—
No matter what happened, the shadow's forces would never harm his sister.
Because unlike humans, they had their own set of principles.
Lost in his thoughts, Lu Changkong led his squad through the wilderness, covering a hundred miles in a relentless march before finally reaching the Beastheart Domain Field.
Without hesitation, he charged into the bloodstained battlefield.
The scene before them was one of pure desolation.
Corpses littered the ground, the skeletal remains of beastfolk impaled on spears that lined the path. The stench of death was overwhelming.
Lu Changkong had long grown numb to such sights. His expression remained indifferent as he waved his hand, signaling the Devouring Wolf Domain Combat Squad to continue forward.
Above them, scouting drones controlled by the squad's support team flew ahead, scanning for enemy presence.
After a long trek, Lu Changkong raised his hand, signaling for a halt.
They took a short break, consuming compressed energy pills to replenish their stamina before pushing forward at an even faster pace.
Before setting out, Lu Changkong had carefully reviewed the recent mission activity within the Beastheart Domain Field, identifying the combat squads currently stationed there.
There were only two squads carrying out operations in the area. One of them was their target.
To avoid detection, Lu Changkong had deliberately chosen to take an off-road route, traversing mountains and rugged terrain rather than using the main paths.
He wasn't concerned about being exposed. Even if their movements were noticed, the Institute of Technological Research would surely fabricate a perfectly logical explanation for the outside world.
Armed with detailed intelligence provided by his master, Lu Changkong knew exactly where their target squad was operating.
There was no need for detours. He led his team straight toward the target's location.
As they neared their destination, Lu Changkong slowed their pace, mentally preparing for the upcoming battle.
But just then, the drones transmitted a live feed back to them.
Onscreen, a young girl, barely thirteen or fourteen years old, stood directly in their path.
Lu Changkong frowned.
He had no idea who she was or why she was there.
But he didn't intend to stop.
Killing had become second nature to him—there was no hesitation, no remorse. If she blocked their way, she would die.
As the squad closed in, the girl came into view.
She had long, jet-black hair, a petite frame, and delicate features. She wore a sleek black martial arts uniform, standing calmly amidst the desolate battlefield, completely out of place in the war-torn wasteland.
"Kill her," Lu Changkong ordered coldly.
Above them, the drones fired multiple energy beams, their intense light slicing through the air toward the girl.
A series of deafening explosions erupted as the beams struck, kicking up a massive cloud of dust and debris.
But Lu Changkong's brows furrowed.
His night vision headset had thermal detection, allowing him to see through the smoke—
And what he saw shocked him.
The girl hadn't moved an inch.
Not only that, but her clothes weren't even torn.
A faint, semi-transparent jade-colored aura now shimmered around her, shielding her completely from harm.
Then, the girl spoke.
"Lu Changkong, I'm curious," she said, her voice calm and steady.
"Why did you betray humanity?"
Lu Changkong's heart sank.
She knew his name.
That meant she had come prepared.
Years of battlefield experience triggered his instincts—this was a trap.
If she knew his identity, she wouldn't be here alone unless she was absolutely certain of victory.
A strong urge to retreat surged through him.
"Do you regret it?" she asked again.
"I don't." His voice was cold, his steps subtly retreating.
"I want to know why."
"Because they gave me the future I wanted."
Hearing this, Mu Qing—the girl before him—paused for a moment before responding.
"I looked into your records. You were an exceptional warrior on the front lines. You weren't supposed to end up like this.
"So tell me—what kind of future are you talking about?"
"The future I chose is none of your concern."
"Does it have to do with your sister?" Mu Qing pressed further.
"That's none of your business!" Lu Changkong snapped, waving his hand in command—ordering his squad to attack.
Mu Qing sighed.
"I see… Qi-ge was right about you."
She remembered the words Feng Qi had told her before assigning her this mission.
"Lu Changkong is a tragic man, but he is also despicable."
"He wanted to save his sister, and that wasn't wrong."
"But did he ever stop to think—why was he able to live safely in Future City with his sister? It was because generations of warriors died to protect that peace."
"If those warriors had made the same choice as him, Future City wouldn't even exist."
"Living for oneself isn't wrong—but he chose the wrong path. Maybe that's why he never told his sister the truth. I've read her profile—she swore to dedicate her life to humanity's future. If she knew what her brother had done, she would be ashamed of him."
Mu Qing's gaze hardened.
The jade-colored aura around her flared brightly.
As Lu Changkong's squad charged toward her, she moved like a phantom, slipping past their attacks with unbelievable speed.
Before Lu Changkong could react, she was right in front of him.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
Her fist, burning with overwhelming force, came crashing down on him—
A single, devastating blow.