Chapter 61: The World Stopped

【Wang Xinyi (Wang Xinyi) —】

If we keep running like this, we’ll just keep losing people one by one. We have to take down the enemy while we still have numbers...

“Gojo, anything feel off? Any presence?”

“No... nothing at all.”

Staying here like this feels wrong. Really wrong.

“Stay on guard and back up! Don’t break formation!!”

“Wang!!”

Liu’s shout rips through the air.

“What’s wrong!?”

“One more person’s gone!!”

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I stopped time.

There’s no other way to confirm this weird situation. I scanned the area—nothing out of place.

If an enemy was approaching, there’d be footprints, traces... but I found nothing. Not a single mark.

Can’t even see the enemy...? I’ve got no choice. I restarted time.

“Wang! Get to a wider area! We’re at a disadvantage here!!”

“Right. Everyone, move out from here!”

We shifted from the dense trees to an open rocky plateau with clear sightlines. That’s when I noticed something.

My right fingertip… it glowed. Just slightly. Exactly like Wang’s Qigong aura.

I can’t produce much yet, but I think I’m getting the hang of it. Once I master the technique, with the “Imitation” skill, I could unlock “Qigong Martial Arts” in no time.

Just as I was thinking that—*thud!*—something hit me.

“What the hell!?”

I looked down at my body. My left forearm… it was gone. From the elbow down.

“Huh?”

I froze time immediately.

What the hell just happened!? I didn’t even feel it. My arm was cut off—without me noticing. And the worst part? I’m the one who cut it off… me… my own… arm…!

What do you think my defense stat is supposed to be?! I’m tough enough to take a rifle shot at point-blank range and not even get a scratch!

And yet… it’s severed so easily. I glance around—nothing. Absolutely nothing…! No way I’m wrong—this has to be a point-blank attack! And if my “Barrier Defense” didn’t activate… that means I was hit up close—no doubt!

Only one person could do something like that… “Leader”!! That’s the only explanation!

My left arm’s regenerating fast. If it’s happening inside my own body, even stopping time wouldn’t stop it.

Once my left hand was fully restored, I resumed time. Immediately, I checked the spot I’d been standing with “God’s Eye.” “God’s Eye” can rewind the past few seconds of footage.

There I was—myself, just a few seconds ago… Should be able to see what happened… What attacked me…

But suddenly—nothing. My arm was just… gone. No trace. Not even when I stopped time. Not even with “God’s Eye.” I can’t see it… Can’t even confirm it’s there… How the hell am I supposed to fight this?!!

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—Damn it! The members of “Suzaku” are my comrades… my family too! And now they’re being attacked one after another… One by one… Those who vanished… probably already dead.

If this is real “Leader,” then I have to crush her right here!! I’ll take revenge for my friends—my family—my own blood!!

The grip on my iron rod tightens… tighter… stronger…

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Another one of the “Suzaku” members has vanished… Looks like Zhang tried to call out to me.

“You bastard! Where are you?! Show yourself! This is cowardly! Come out and face me!”

Li roared.

Shit... if we keep going like this, the casualties will just keep piling up. We could try fleeing with everyone, but if we let this "Leader" get away now, we might never catch them again.

They’re attacking us head-on this time—probably because all these weirdos are gathered here. Can’t miss this chance! We settle this now!!

The "Suzaku" members formed a circle, weapons raised to eliminate blind spots. But this enemy... I can’t see it with my eyes. No matter how perfect the formation, it won’t help.

"Come at me! I’ll face you!!"

Wang poured every ounce of his "qi (aura)" into his body, using himself as bait to draw the enemy out.

Then—something bad clicked in my gut... a chill down my spine. Just a tiny, wrong feeling.

I froze time—again! Not by calculation, just pure luck. Scanning the area, it suddenly *popped* into view.

Right beside Wang! Standing perfectly still, mid-step, about a meter off the ground.

Length... eight or nine meters? Maybe more...

"Wait—was that thing *right there* all along!?"

Its sleek, streamlined body reflected sunlight, glowing unnervingly.

It was a monstrous beast—lion-like, all metal, and utterly unnatural...