Apocalypse: Master of Soul Beasts

”Demon Fiends!”

Upon hearing the words ”Demon Fiends,” Ashiya was instantly startled.

Having just escaped from Africa, Ashiya still retained an instinctive fear of the term.

Unexpectedly, Xima beside her just shrugged with a smile and reassured her in a relaxed tone.

”Don’t worry, don’t be so tense. The so-called demon fiend swarm, red alert, and martial law are all common occurrences. I’ve only been here for about a month, and I’ve already heard three similar danger alerts. It’s just an attitude and approach of caution, nothing to worry about.”

”However, the unlocking of the Level 6 Lock is indeed a big deal.”

Xima caught the crux - the so-called danger alerts and martial law were only broadcasted once, while the news of the Level Lock being broken was broadcasted three times, a small detail showing their relative importance.

When Xima saw Ashiya still frowning, her face full of panic, and even unknowingly holding Friday tighter, Xima shook her head with a smile and found the remote control in the living room.

”I told you, don’t be so nervous. These trivial demon fiends can’t stir up a storm here. Since you don’t believe what I say, just take a look yourself.”

Xima turned on the TV, leisurely switching channels until she tuned into the central channel, then gestured ’please’ to Ashiya.

”Look, live broadcast.”

...

”Good afternoon, viewers. We now interrupt with an emergency situation. Just ten minutes ago, the Level 5 to Level 6 Lock was broken, nearly twenty days earlier than expert estimates, likely related to the current warfare on the African continent. Simultaneously, the concentration of Demonic Qi in the air surged, and demon fiend gatherings were detected near the Demon Realm’s Gate close to Cathay. A red alert has been issued...”

Ashiya stared at the talkative host on the TV, her brain momentarily blank.

Before Ashiya could gather her thoughts, the TV scene switched rapidly at the host’s prompting, transitioning swiftly to a place near the Demon Realm’s Gate closest to the Yanjing Assembly Site — it appeared to be from a drone’s aerial camera view.

”What we are seeing now is the real-time footage of the Demon Realm’s Gate.”

The Demon Realm’s Gate stood on the earth, spewing Demonic Qi madly. The clear camera presented to all viewers the terrifying scene inside the Demon Realm’s Gate — menacing shadows within the gate, poised and waiting for the air’s Demonic Qi concentration to balance.

Meanwhile, the numerous Demon Cannon Fodders below Level 6 had long been eager to drill out from the gate, beginning to arrange formations in front of it. A sense of deadly tension hung over Ashiya’s heart.

For a moment, Ashiya was somewhat dazed. The more demon fiends gathered, the stronger Ashiya’s unease grew. It was not until the Demon Tribe Army in front of the gate gathered to an extremely dense degree, with various skill lights swirling above the demon array, that Ashiya tremblingly glanced at Xima beside her and uneasily asked.

”This... so many, is it really okay?”

Xima waved a hand at Ashiya, also showing an imperceptible trace of worry in her eyes when seeing the massive Demon Tribe formation. But soon, the worry dissolved. Xima didn’t know what she thought of, confidently saying to Ashiya.

”To be honest, this many demon fiends, it’s the first time I’ve seen them too. But trust me, there won’t be a problem!”

Truthfully, having been in Yanjing for less than a month, Xima certainly harbored a certain mysterious confidence in the Yanjing Assembly Site — perhaps Dirang, who worked with the military, disclosed Yanjing’s military intel to Xima.

But today, this mysterious confidence was swiftly shattered by the Demon Tribe Army, gradually turning into worry and fear.

Secondhand hearsay is never as good as what you see with your own eyes!

The demon fiends were simply too many; Xima and Ashiya sat in front of the TV for about an hour, watching as the Demon Realm’s Gate continued to supply reinforcements endlessly. The demon army spread like an endless ocean, filled with roars and menacing killing intent.

At this moment, not only Ashiya, but even Xima started to feel anxious.

”Where are the nukes... it’s reached this point, why aren’t they launching nukes yet...”

Xima muttered, her bright eyes darting around. At this moment, Xima felt so apprehensive that she could not even comfort Ashiya next to her.

The demon fiends’ reinforcement continued...

Not until the air’s Demonic Qi concentration met the criteria for Level 6 demon fiends’ admission did a large number of clearly superior Level 6 demon fiends swarm out, causing Xima to finally become restless.

”Why aren’t they taking action, why aren’t they taking action... no, I must go and bring Rahal back.”

Xima, in her ten-centimeter stiletto heels, dashed out the door in a flurry, without even having time to say goodbye to Ashiya.

This left Ashiya alone in the living room, clutching the crying Friday tightly, her expression filled with indescribable worry and fear.

...

”Is it really okay to do this...”

Watching the demon tribe outside arranging formations and gearing for a fight, Fran, standing in the command post on the city wall, asked Lin Haifeng with a touch of mockery.

”What are you referring to? Ignoring them, or that?”

Lin Haifeng raised his chin and nodded at the LCD TV hanging on the command post wall, then leisurely took a sip of strong tea.

”Of course, it’s about the TV broadcast. With the strength of the Yanjing Assembly Site, letting these demon bastards gather together and taking them down at once would actually save effort. But our power, those watching the TV have no idea of it. Something might go wrong, and instead of taking action, our own home might first blow up. That would be quite the scene...”

Fran’s concern was not unfounded. The development of the Yanjing Assembly Site was advancing rapidly, and private TVs had long entered the market. Large screens even played programs daily in several big squares within the assembly site for the amusement of its residents.

Some conventional military operations, which did not involve confidential matters, could naturally be shared. Doing so could enhance unity and centripetal force within the Yanjing Assembly Site, so watching live broadcasts of military actions had become a common pastime among Yanjing residents.

However, this time was different. Before the demon fiends gathered, Yanjing had already grasped roughly the demon’s military strength — this level of Demon Tribe Army was simply not suitable to be displayed openly to the public!

Faced with such a rank of Demon Tribe Army, ordinary people would unavoidably feel panic even through a screen, and panic, once spread, could have many unforeseen impacts.

Fran could easily predict that the Yanjing Assembly Site must be in chaos by now.

Yet the instigator, Lin Haifeng, remained leisurely sipping his tea, showing no worry about the economic loss caused by panic.

Seeing Fran’s questioning look, Lin Haifeng shrugged with a smile, ”Don’t look at me like that. You know my temperament. I have no desire to engage in these broadcasts.”

Detecting the helplessness hidden within Lin Haifeng’s smile, Fran suddenly understood, ”Tang Haofei’s doing, right...”

”Yes.”

Holding his teacup, Lin Haifeng walked to the large floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the Demon Tribe Army gathering in the distance, growing ever denser — a scene describable only as a sky-covering multitude. He wore a smile both familiar and enigmatic, speaking deeply.

”Tang Haofei, hmm, it should be Tang Haofei II, called me as the Level Lock was broken and said he wanted this battle to be broadcast to all citizens in the Yanjing Assembly Site. You know, no one can refuse his requests now, hence this whole affair.”

Outside the city, demonic qi surged into the sky, and the immense pressure made all soldiers on the city wall tighten their weapons.

Inside the city, chaos reigned, with panic spreading freely, and ugly scenes of looting and destruction occurring now and then.

Until a figure enveloped in thunder leaped from the top of the Eternal Sky City, then flew like a light over the Yanjing Assembly Site.

An immense, vast aura spread freely, needing no words. That person, standing there, was enough to shake the heavens and earth, even rendering the entire Yanjing Assembly Site silent!

”Don’t be afraid, I am here!”

The thunder-enveloped figure declared, as if a deity’s proclamation — grand and majestic, gentle yet reassuring.

As if in response, Lin Haifeng in the city wall command post looked at that familiar yet unfamiliar silhouette, speaking almost simultaneously.

”He wants everyone to understand, there are deities in this world...”

”And Yanjing, is the place under a deity’s protection!”