"Huff... huff..."
In a hidden container at the corner of the ship berthing area.
A thin, soap-bubble-like Energy Membrane completely isolated this cramped space from the outside world.
Chairman Wu leaned against the container wall, his chest heaving violently.
One of his arms hung limply, the joints twisted unnaturally.
Lin Qianqian crouched beside him, her face as pale as paper. The once-glowing white halo around her had dimmed completely, and the faint luminescence at her fingertips was barely visible.
Around them, several men lay sprawled across the floor—some still breathing shallowly, others already motionless.
"Qianqian... how much longer can your Energy hold?" Chairman Wu shook his heavy head, trying to stay alert.
Lin Qianqian clenched her teeth, forcing out the words: "Chairman... I... can't hold on..."
Outside the container, dozens of distorted silhouettes loomed in the thick mist.
Some Vortex Shell Crabs, leeches, Human-faced Jellyfish... as if following orders, patrolled the area relentlessly.
"Damn it... are we really going to die here..."
Chairman Wu swayed violently, causing the thin Energy Membrane protecting the three of them to tremble like a soap bubble.
Just as the membrane was about to collapse completely, exposing them to the monsters' senses—
"ROAR!!!"
An ear-splitting, authoritative roar, like thunder, exploded from another direction in the Mist Zone!
The sound waves transformed into tangible shockwaves, tearing through layers of white mist as they radiated outward.
Splash! Splash! Splash!
The monsters that had been circling the trio—whether the underwater Vortex Shell Crabs, Human-faced Jellyfish, or others—all froze simultaneously.
"Gah?" "Jie?!"
They turned toward the direction where the Tri-color Core flashed with light, then surged frantically toward the source of the tiger's roar.
With the monsters gone, the pressure inside the container lifted instantly.
Chairman Wu's legs gave out, and he collapsed to the floor with a thud as the protective membrane vanished completely.
"Cough... cough... we're... saved? What just happened?" He gasped for breath, coughing up bloody foam, his face filled with disbelief.
"That sound..."
Lin Qianqian jerked her head up, staring in the direction of the roar with an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
"Regardless... the monsters are gone. We must seize this chance to leave and return to base." Chairman Wu wiped his face and staggered to his feet.
Scanning the unconscious men in the container, his expression darkened: "Carry back those still breathing... as for those without life signs... we'll have to leave them."
...
The tiger's roar transformed into sound waves that collided with the ripples radiating from the Tri-color Halo.
Pop~
The silent mental assault was crushed by the overwhelming sound waves, dissipating into nothingness.
Ripples spread through the air as the white mist was disrupted by an invisible force, creating a clear zone.
The surrounding monsters that had been closing in were also intimidated by the tiger's roar, hesitating to advance.
. The Battle Against the Golden Tuna
Seeing this, the other Awakened quickly hid behind Han Ning while surrounding Chen Feng, Lu Yunping, and the others, knocking them unconscious completely.
"Scree~"
The tricolored light cluster trembled violently, emitting a series of piercing shrieks eerily similar to the cries of a wildcat.
"Roar!"
No matter how much it released its hypnotic glow, Han Ning always responded with a tiger's roar. The mind-twisting waves lost all effect in the face of his powerful voice.
"Scree!"
As if enraged, the light cluster suddenly accelerated, darting rapidly toward the area where Han Ning and the other Awakened stood. Nearby monsters, as if whipped by an invisible lash, surged forward like a tidal wave.
The muscular man in camouflage tightened his grip on the steel pipe and bellowed, "Quit standing around! Form a defensive formation and help this guy hold off the other monsters!"
The others quickly took their positions, preparing to intercept the incoming creatures.
As the light cluster closed in, its true form was finally revealed to all.
It was a bizarre golden tuna, over five meters long. Its front half was covered in layers of pale Bone Armor, the edges of the plates razor-sharp. From its head protruded a meter-long Spiral Drill, spinning at high speed. On its flat, broad back grew a massive coral cluster that constantly shifted between blue, purple, and red hues—the very source of the mind-warping tricolored glow.
"So this is the thing that affected Chen Feng and the others?"
"Roar!"
Facing the fierce charge, Han Ning stood his ground. His tiger paws stepped forward, his dark golden fur bristling with molten-like radiance.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Dozens of Vines erupted from his body, forming a cross-armed shield before him.
Boom!!
The high-speed Spiral Drill slammed into the Vine shield. Cracks spread, the Vines shattered inch by inch, but the drill was forcibly halted.
As Han Ning and the golden tuna clashed, the surrounding Awakened also engaged the other monsters.
"Kill!"
"Defensive-types hold the front! Attack-types find openings!"
"No fear, everyone push forward!"
"Rawr!" Snowflake joined the fray against the monsters.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Crack! Smash!
The Mist Zone echoed with the deafening sounds of battle.
"At least this guy's useful," Han Ning thought, glancing briefly at the tank top-clad man directing the fight. He stomped down, his figure blurring.
"Wild Blessing—break!"
In a flash, he leaped above the sharp drill, his body enveloped in emerald brilliance. The light surged, his fur thickening instantly, his arm muscles bulging as he gripped the spinning drill.
Snap! Crack!
The tough Spiral Drill was forcibly snapped in half. The broken tip spiraled into the mist, leaving a ghastly gash on the tuna's head. Dark red, foul-smelling blood gushed out.
"Gah!" The tuna shrieked in agony, writhing from the pain. Its thick, armored tail whipped toward Han Ning's midsection.
Golden flames flared in Han Ning's eyes as he reacted swiftly. His left claw shot out like lightning, catching the tail's end. The tremendous impact made him stagger—his tiger claw's keratin layer cracked instantly, blood seeping out—but the Wild Blessing quickly healed the wound.
The fish tail was firmly gripped by the tiger's claw.
"Up!"
The Molten Gold Battle Tiger twisted its torso, its right claw tightening into a fist as searing heat condensed at the knuckles, forming a swirling halo of light. With a powerful thrust, it punched straight into the tuna's bone-armored flank.
BOOM!!!
A visible shockwave rippled outward from the point of impact.
The resilient Bone Armor immediately dented inward, a web of cracks instantly spreading across a large area.
The molten heat clung like maggots to bone, fiercely eroding the flesh beneath the armor.
The tuna's body was sent flying sideways, crashing heavily onto a half-submerged shipping container in the distance, denting the metal box upon impact.
"Grrrowl!" Snowflake excitedly growled, her yellow vertical pupils fixed on her master's ferocious figure.
Yu Na's small mouth hung slightly open.
The other Awakened stared in stunned silence, nearly forgetting they were in mortal danger.
That monstrous creature they hadn't even dared look at directly was being treated like a punching bag before Han Ning!
"So... so strong! How have I never heard of someone like him before?" muttered the camouflage-vested muscular man, his eyes filled with awe.