"BOOM!" A deafening sound erupted as a deep blue rocket projectile seemed to descend from the heavens, its target squarely set on Mogansa.

This deep blue projectile hissed as it approached, its initial velocity not overly fast. However, as it neared the battlefield, its surface began to shimmer with peculiar ripples. Then, like a flower bud blooming, its outer layer suddenly peeled away, petals unfurling, revealing a core resembling a stamen—a single, piercing spike. The detached outer layers instantly ignited, providing thrust. This inner "ice spike," sharp and deep blue, used the propulsion gained from its "flowering" combustion to accelerate instantaneously, streaking past like a flash of light or electricity, aimed directly at Mogansa's eye!

Yes, this was another advanced specialization for a Gunner: the Magic Sniper.

This class maximized the data attributes of Perception and Intelligence, creating devastatingly powerful ranged attackers who wielded high-tech weaponry imbued with potent magical energy!

The role of this profession was defined by a range second only to a traditional Sniper, with a reload time even longer than a Sniper's. Yet, due to its reliance on psychic locking, its hit rate was exceptionally high. Compared to the raw physical damage of a sniper rifle, the Magic Sniper's attack carried not only formidable physical impact but also terrifying negative effects!

In that critical, unyielding moment, Mogansa, having lost his balance and started to fall, roared and slammed a foot against the car behind him. He kicked the vehicle with such force that it shrieked a metallic "screech" as it slid five or six meters sideways. He used this reactionary force to suddenly accelerate forward, seemingly intending to hurl his own eye directly into the path of the lethally sharp ice spike!

With a soft "pop," the pen-sized ice spike pierced Mogansa's left eye in an instant, exiting through the back of his skull! The tip even carried streaks of ghastly white mixed with bright crimson!

Immediately afterward, the pale blue surface of the ice spike began to shed its outer layers, much like a bamboo shoot molting its husk, leaving behind only a small, pale blue stone at its core. This core then detonated violently!

But this explosion released not fire, smoke, or intense heat, but rather a brilliant azure frost so intense it seemed to freeze the very air!

Viewed from directly above, it was as if a gigantic, deep blue, azure rose had bloomed upon that four-way intersection in the city block.

The immense power of this single shot stemmed from the extraordinary origin of that pale blue stone.

To obtain such an item, one first had to acquire the soul equipment of an Awakened who had died by being literally frozen to death, and that Awakened must have perished due to a natural disaster, not mutual combat between Contractors.

Only then could a specialized Enchanter decompose the equipment, with a certain probability of yielding this substance known as the Chill of Resentment. This particular Chill of Resentment was obtained by Purzibila after he had ambushed an Awakened in a world based on a disaster movie theme, ensuring the target died of freezing before taking his soul.

At this moment, Purzibila couldn't help but deliver a savage kick to the adjacent wall: "Damn it!"

Indeed, if Mogansa hadn't brazenly slammed his eye into the projectile at that crucial juncture, the Chill of Resentment would have detonated inside his brain... Being struck by that blow meant certain death.

But now, for Mogansa, despite suffering a crippling blow that fractured his skull and then being hit by the secondary damage of the Chill of Resentment, it had only cost him one Honor Potion. This moment highlighted Mogansa’s cunning experience; though he usually kept a low profile, when the chips were down, he never held back.

Fang Senyan crashed face-first onto the pavement, landing in utter disarray. While he didn't chip any teeth, a torrent of blood instantly gushed from his nose. The gritty roughness of the dust mixed with the coppery tang of his blood, creating an intensely burning sensation of humiliation.

At this moment, Fang Senyan felt his entire body go numb, trapped in a horrifying slow-motion replay of everything around him. He could hear, he could see, but he was utterly incapable of action. Even a loud shout was impossible; he could only scream in his mind, tearing his heart apart!

"What is happening?!" "What is happening??" "WHAT IS HAPPENING!!!!"

Fang Senyan screamed internally, yet this frantic mental outcry was powerless against his awkward predicament... How tragic!

Fang Senyan's unusual state did not escape the notice of KD, who was surveying the scene from a distance. KD watched intently for a moment, confirmed he was not faking, and immediately downed a potion that seemed to be actively boiling. He then closed his eyes.

A faint rustling sound emanated from his head. The apparatus he wore, which resembled both a balaclava and goggles, began to change. From its material to its style, it ultimately transformed into a brown, wrinkled hat instantly recognizable to everyone!

Yes, it was the Sorting Hat from the world of Harry Potter! Though this hat was now adorned with various trinkets—magic crystals, phoenix feathers, and similar objects—it didn't look noble; rather, it appeared garishly nouveau riche.

KD then produced another vial of the same brownish-red potion and splashed it onto the hat. However, the hat suddenly opened its mouth and drank the potion down, not a single drop remaining, before beginning to sing:

You may not think I’m pretty, But don't judge a hat by its cover, If you find a hat more lovely than me, I'll eat myself, I swear. You can keep your stovepipe hats shiny and black, Your proud top hats gleaming with flair, But I am the wisest, nobler hat of them all!!

KD addressed it with respect: "Great Lord Sorting Hat, surely your omnipotence knows where the center of the violent spacetime fluctuation near us is located?"

The Sorting Hat immediately let out a hiccup, as if choked: "Th-that takes a great deal of my energy."

KD bowed deeply: "But I have heard you are omnipotent."

"Of course I am!" the Sorting Hat declared proudly. "I! Am Omnipotent! Just wait!"

After several seconds, it spoke again, sounding distinctly fatigued: "Two miles west, inside a vehicle."

KD immediately rushed to the window and looked west. There lay a city square, complete with a fountain, green space, and exercise equipment. KD's gaze instantly locked onto a vehicle resembling a mobile broadcast truck, complete with a radar dish!

Inside that vehicle, two men were visible sitting opposite each other. Though both were male, their hands were clasped together in a strangely intimate manner. Their eyes were tightly shut, their eyelids twitching incessantly. Floating before them was a circle of light, and within that light floated a tiny figure that looked exactly like Fang Senyan!

The miniature figure was seen to be heavily bound by numerous black ropes. These ropes appeared to have been woven from the gray, brittle hair of the deceased and strands of seaweed salvaged from graves. The small figure struggled desperately but could not break free from the terrifying restraints.

Suddenly, the light flashed! The floor-to-ceiling window before KD shattered with a loud crack, fragmenting into thousands of glittering shards. A sharp object sliced past KD's face, carving a bloodline across his cheek like a razor shaving—a thin trickle of blood began to flow downward.

Purzibila immediately turned pale and adopted a defensive posture, but KD slowly walked back, sat down, and waved a dismissive hand, his face grim: "It really is those people from the Curse Destruction Path."

Purzibila’s expression soured instantly, and he let out a cold sneer: "Those guys. They're here too? God delivered them right to us! In the Jurassic World, they killed Keiko with such brutal methods; killing just one of them was too lenient for them!"

KD closed his eyes and said calmly: "We can take revenge, but absolutely not now. Didn't you notice just now? Even those lawless thugs from the Curse Destruction Path only dare to provoke me, not attack directly. This time, our esteemed patron has cast a massive net, demanding a single, successful strike. If any team messes up, just think of His terrifying capabilities. A cup of water might be enough to end your life!!"

Purzibila's facial muscles twitched several times. He seemed about to retort but ultimately slapped the table heavily, then moved back to the window to begin aiming his weapon.

KD suddenly spoke: "It seems the Curse Destruction Path is taking the Sailor very seriously. They've even deployed their twin S-rank ability users, Curse of Enmity, to bind him. Two twin Awakened working together to restrain him—it'll likely take over an hour before he wakes up. Be careful not to attack anyone called the Sailor, lest you pull him out of the Curse of Enmity. We must strictly follow His Lordship's intention: sever their limbs and clip their claws... Fang Senyan’s group only just managed to escape the aftermath of the great battle between the legendary titans, so they are not in peak condition, and then they were hit by an explosive charge!

"Following that, they were hit by that horrifying attack dubbed the Azure Rose, turning the battlefield into something akin to a glacier. Everyone is continuously suffering from the slowdown effect and is completely disorganized. In short, the timing, terrain, and personnel are all stacked in the opponent's favor.

"More importantly, the core member of the team, Fang Senyan, is now restrained by the powerful S-rank ability, Curse of Enmity—effectively ejected from the battlefield!

"Next, five melee specialists have burst forth, all of them seasoned Awakened with extensive combat experience, each possessing unique skills. Among them are Shari, whom Fang Senyan encountered in the Bloody Invitation world and who specializes in the air-swallowing sonic cannon, and the assassin Stade, who uses grappling hooks; they are still present. They have skillfully segmented the Ace Team members, preventing them from regrouping and forcing everyone to fight individually! With a powerful Magic Gunner waiting in the distance and the Mage holding back their fire, the situation is even more perilous.

By now, Fang Senyan's eyes were burning with a savage light. He had finally grasped the intentions of the mastermind!

In previous worlds, he hadn't entered, leaving his comrades to fight alone, resulting in heavy losses and utter defeat. But in this world, even though Fang Senyan was with his team, what was the result? Now, he could only watch helplessly as his team members were assaulted.

Watching his brother San Zai being trampled, ribs shattering, blood spewing from his mouth! Watching the woman he loved being slammed into raging flames! Watching Mogansa, with whom he had shared life-and-death battles countless times, being stabbed through the abdomen! Watching Reef, who had fought side-by-side with him through countless battles, struggling desperately to hold on!!

Just watching, unable to do anything, unable even to use his own body to shield them from harm—that, too, had become a desperate luxury... (A note: I will release three chapters next, but to maintain reading flow, all three will be posted simultaneously. Therefore, there will be no update between 8 and 10 PM tonight; those updates will be bundled together.) (To be continued) RQ