Embers Ad Infinitum

Amidst the thumping sounds that ignited the atmosphere in the arena, the noble’s coughing was completely drowned out. Apart from his companions, nobody else heard him.

But his act of falling to the ground, his flushed face, his warped expression from the pain, his bulging eyes, his bending body, and the cup that had been shattered to pieces made it impossible for anyone in the room to ignore him.

At this moment, Long Yuehong seemed to see a tragic scene. It was a tragic scene of him quickly heading for death due to a trivial accident.

This traumatized every eyewitness.

Jiang Baimian subconsciously wanted to provide emergency treatment, but she stopped just as her butt left the chair. She then pressed down on Shang Jianyao’s arm, indicating for him not to be anxious.

At the same time, she cast her gaze at the room where General Phocas was.

This lion-like general stared at the noble—who had already entered a suffocating state. He wasn’t in a rush, nor was he panicking or showing signs of rashness. He quietly watched as if he were watching a play.

After a few seconds, he seemed to figure out what had happened and said to the guard beside him, “Be on guard.”

He had no intention of sending his subordinates—who were more experienced in emergency treatment—to save the noble.

As for the other nobles in the VIP room, they either watched in confusion or led their servants over to help due to closer ties.

One of the Old Task Force’s two targets—Oray’s grandson, Marcus—wasn’t too familiar with the noble. He only retracted his gaze from the arena and glanced at the other party, whose face was beginning to turn blue.

The corners of his mouth curled up slightly as he revealed a slightly mocking smile. However, this smile didn’t seem like it was directed at the unlucky noble who choked himself to death.

Jiang Baimian retracted her gaze in confusion. Just like Shang Jianyao, she followed General Phocas and the guards’ gazes and sized up the aristocratic VIP room’s surroundings.

The situation in the arena that they had previously observed reflected in their eyes again.

The audience seats circled the arena below. They were stacked at increasingly higher levels, leaving different aisles between them. Apart from the nobles’ VIP room, the rest of the seats were open-air with special armrests for thumping.

In every area was another sign. At the top of the sign was a large mirror that could reflect a person’s entire body.

The numerous mirrors reflected the sunlight and reflected the bulletproof walls of the nobles’ VIP room.

Jiang Baimian didn’t know if this was First City’s folklore. After all, she had never heard of it before.

As she swept her gaze across the area, she and Shang Jianyao saw several security personnel walking toward the aisle from the entrance as if they wanted to maintain order in the overly enthusiastic atmosphere.

They quickly walked to a spot about 20 meters away from the nobles’ VIP room and signaled for an audience member to come with them.

“Why?” asked the audience member loudly. He looked like an Icelander or possibly a Yargai—a branch of the Red River race. He was more than 1.9 meters tall, and he had blond hair, blue eyes, and a stocky build.

At this moment, his face was filled with anger.

The leader of the security guards coldly said, “We have the authority to do so. There’s a case that requires you to assist in our investigations. Don’t worry. It won’t affect your watching of the match—as long as there’s nothing wrong with you.”

As he spoke, he and his subordinates raised the submachine guns in their hands.

The audience member muttered, “You better figure out something.”

He stopped resisting and left his seat before slowly walking to the aisle.

Upon seeing the security guards surrounding him, he suddenly strode forward and made a break for the exit.

This came without warning.

The security guards were caught off-guard as he broke through their encirclement. They could only turn around quickly and attempt to chase after him.

But as they turned around, they seemed to degenerate into children who had just learned how to walk. They couldn’t balance themselves.

Badump! Badump! Badump!

Without any resistance or interference, the security guards fell to the corridor’s steps, and their heads spun.

If not for the fact that their submachine guns were slung over their bodies, they definitely would’ve lost their weapons.

Awakened… Was he also the one who choked the noble to near-death? At this distance, it should still be at the Sea of Origins level… How did they lock onto the murderer? Jiang Baimian’s heart palpitated as she turned around and glanced at the victim.

The noble was on the ground and was surrounded by a few companions, receiving emergency treatment from another noble.

The spilled water soaked the floor around him, accentuating the white cup’s shards.

Jiang Baimian quickly cast her gaze at the fleeing Awakened.

This fellow was very muscular and fast. He distanced himself from the security personnel quickly and ran straight for the exit. During this process, he deliberately used other audience members as cover to prevent himself from being shot—either from afar or nearby.

The gunmen in the distance were naturally other security personnel, and some spectators were around them.

It had to be known that First City’s citizens were born warriors. It was common for them to draw their guns when they encountered such matters.

Bang! Bang!

Amidst the sporadic gunshots, the tall, muscular, blond, and blue-eyed man had already approached the exit. There were also a few security personnel there.

Without any fear, he rushed over with a confident expression.

At this moment, he suddenly staggered.

Thud!

He fell heavily on the flat ground that was without obstacles.

In Jiang Baimian’s eyes, his legs had stiffened at that moment as if they had been filled with lead, making them no longer belong to him.

“Legs Immobility?” Shang Jianyao said in a soft voice and a slightly excited tone.

“Seems like it.” Jiang Baimian nodded slightly.

Long Yuehong also noticed the situation over there. He saw a few security guards rush over from the exit, lower the submachine guns in their hands, and fire at the Awakened who had fallen to the ground.

The training they had undergone told them not to think that they could capture an enemy with such strange abilities alive unless the other party had fainted.

Ta! Ta! Ta!

Sparks spewed out of the black muzzles as a large number of bullets rained down on the blond, muscular man.

Sigh… Long Yuehong sighed softly when he saw this. In his heart, an Awakened was very strong compared to ordinary people, regardless of their level.

However, such powerhouses were still extremely weak in the face of firearms.

The gunshots soon stopped. The Awakened jumped up—not injured at all!

Long Yuehong’s eyes bulged.

There’s also an ability that makes one immune to gunshots? This was the only thought that echoed in his mind.

In a spot he couldn’t see, countless bullet holes formed a human silhouette on the platform where the blond man had fallen.

All the bullets had ‘avoided’ the target and drew an outline of him!

In two to three steps, the Awakened reached the exit.

Suddenly, a rope fell from above.

The rope curled sharply. At a glance, it looked like a snake.

The Awakened’s pupils dilated rapidly. Without thinking, he drew his weapon and fired crazily at the rope.

However, no gunshots sounded. What he pulled out was not a pistol but a lighter.

His pistol remained firmly holstered at his waist.

Amidst the clicking sounds, the lighter kept emitting flames, but it was useless.

Finally, the few security personnel from before rushed over.

This time, they didn’t dare to use their guns again, afraid that they would encounter the unbelievable again.

Under such sweeping fire, they actually missed! This was simply a miracle!

They either pounced forward and restrained the other party, drew their electric batons, or waved their fists in an attempt to paralyze the target and knock out the enemy.

Strangely enough, their actions went surprisingly smoothly. The man seemed to be at odds with the rope the entire time, and he didn’t realize that he was holding a lighter and not a pistol.

Finally, he fell to the ground again and lost consciousness.

Afraid of snakes, no—afraid of distorted creatures to the point of losing his mind? Upon seeing this, a term flashed across Jiang Baimian’s mind: Shadow of Distortion!

April’s Kalendaria, Shadow of Distortion

Upon seeing the Awakened being dragged away, Jiang Baimian—who had no idea what had happened—retracted her gaze and looked at Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong.

“We just watched an assassination farce?” She laughed softly. As she spoke, she glanced at the noble who had almost choked to death from drinking water.

Her gaze suddenly froze.

The noble sat in his original spot, and there was no sign of him nearly suffocating. On the table in front of him, the porcelain cup—which had been smashed to pieces—was still intact.

The corresponding ground was dry, without any water stains.

Following Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao’s gazes, Long Yuehong also discovered this scene. For a moment, he couldn’t tell what was real and what was fake.

Amidst the thumping sounds, the iron railings on both ends of the arena below slowly rose.