NOVPUBThe Lizard Monster turned its head, spotting the fleeing human morsel.
It pivoted on its massive haunches and charged after Henry, demolishing walls and houses in its path, its terrifying momentum surpassing that of several main battle tanks combined.
Henry, just an ordinary human, stood no chance in outrunning the beast. In a matter of seven or eight seconds, the monster was less than ten meters behind him.
"Faster, just a little faster!" Henry screamed internally, pushing his body to its limits.
As the shadow of the Lizard Monster loomed over him, Henry, in a panicked dash, tripped and fell forward, instinctively shielding the infant in a mid-air twist.
The monster’s tongue lashed out, narrowly missing them as it struck the ground where Henry had been a split second before.
After tumbling several times, Henry, bloodied and battered, saw the monstrous figure bearing down on him again. Just then, a stone struck the monster, drawing its attention away.
"Hey, you dumb giant lizard, over here!" Kevin shouted from behind another wall, before lunging out into the open.
The next second, the wall shattered under the impact of the monster.
Kevin, ducking and rolling to avoid the creature’s relentless attacks, found himself in dire straits as holes began to appear one after another in the wall.
In a catastrophic rush, the Lizard Monster charged, reducing the building to rubble.
Amidst the flying debris, a piece struck Kevin’s right leg, breaking it instantly. He stumbled and fell to the ground.
"No, Kevin!" Chelsea’s scream of despair echoed from a distance.
The shadow of the Lizard Monster now enveloped Kevin completely. Time seemed to slow down for him.
Memories of his days in service flooded his mind – days filled with endless operations, forced entries, confiscating weapons, dragging away men amidst the cries of women and children, men who seldom returned, shattering family after family.
He recalled the tragic car accident after his discharge, his daughter lying in a pool of blood, his wife’s wails of despair.
"It’s all over," he thought, "everything’s over..."
At that critical moment, a deep blue light pierced the clouds, accompanied by a thunderous, oppressive sound, as if a true behemoth from the heavens was about to descend.
The world around them grew eerily quiet; even the wind seemed to hold its breath.
An intangible yet palpable stillness enveloped the town’s surroundings.
The Lizard Monster sensed the immense threat and looked up, only to see the clouds transforming into ominous blackness, with streaks of lightning flitting through them.
Moments ago, the sky was dotted with fluffy white clouds under a clear weather.
This astonishing transformation also stunned the Eldorian Army positioned five kilometers away.
"Commander…" the deputy, incredulous, stepped forward, his eyes fixated on the darkening sky.
The commander, observing the sky, curtly cut in with a composed tone, "I can see it."
Meanwhile, Kevin, who had been bracing for death, opened his eyes in confusion and then widened them in shock. When had the sky changed so drastically?
Henry and Chelsea, equally astonished, looked up at the sky as well. Amid the gathered clouds, Martin stood vertically suspended in mid-air, his hands spread open, with spirit power surging out of him.
A single raindrop fell from the clouds, slicing through the air and silently scattering upon hitting the muddy ground.
Suddenly, a downpour enveloped the entire town, obscuring all visibility from the outside world.
It was a surreal scene. Everywhere else basked in sunshine, except for the town under the dark clouds and pouring rain.
Soldiers stepping out of their vehicles and moving closer, with everyone’s gaze fixated on this spectacle, resembled a meticulously crafted painting set against an extraordinary backdrop.
In the rain-drenched town, the Lizard Monster found itself unable to move, frozen in place as if it were a statue. With Martin’s arrival, the creature was no longer allowed to wreak havoc.
Completely drenched, Kevin and his companions understood that something beyond their knowledge had changed the course of events.
The ferocious creature that had not made a sound even under the Eldorian Army’s assault was now emitting a hoarse, shrill cry.
This cry seemed to carry a peculiar power. Even the three ordinary people could distinctly feel the profound fear it encapsulated.
The trio exchanged glances. What could possibly instill fear in a monster that had decimated over three hundred Eldorian soldiers?
They had a feeling that they were about to witness something extraordinary.
In the clouds, Martin shook his head and murmured to himself, "You’ve killed so many, destroyed so many families. Did you really think you could live?"
So, the monster ceased its howling, and the world was left with nothing but the pouring rain.
There was no response.
Seeing this, bloodshot eyes appeared in the monster’s four eyes, and its struggle suddenly intensified manifold. But in the next instant...
From within the clouds, a thick bolt of blue-violet lightning struck down. The sudden display of nature’s fury caused the onlookers to stand on end. The Lizard Monster was instantly petrified.
This lightning was not like the one Martin hastily summoned at the abandoned factory. It was a result of long-accumulated power.
At Spirit Power Level 3, augmented by the Power of Meteorology, the Level 2 Lizard Monster stood no chance and was instantly annihilated.
To Kevin and the others, the monster that had been so invincible, mercilessly slaughtering Eldorian soldiers and civilians, was now... thunderously falling, never to rise again.
The system’s voice echoed in Martin’s mind: "Task completed. Rewards: organization experience points 30, secret realm gate."
"The secret realm gate connects to a certain organization’s secret realm.
It can be temporarily opened by the controller of the secret realm - the host, or a miniature secret realm connection point can be created to anchor the gate for long-term use."
The system’s explanation was straightforward. Martin instantly grasped the function of the secret realm gate.
The first usage was essentially a personal "quick return" feature. The second, creating a miniature secret realm link and anchoring the gate, was akin to a teleportation point in a game.
Martin felt a surge of excitement. This tool would provide immense convenience.
For instance, had there been a teleportation point here, he wouldn’t have needed to spend over ten hours to arrive. He could just enter the headquarters’ secret realm and be here in an instant.
After organizing his thoughts, Martin looked down. "Time to go meet them."
On the ground in Lukesburg, Kevin and his companions stared at the fallen monster, dumbfounded.
"Is it... dead?" Henry asked in a mix of astonishment and confusion. The others shared a similar look of bewilderment.
Suddenly, several thin bolts of lightning intertwined and struck nearby. The blinding flash startled them at first, then they instinctively stepped back. 𝔫𝖔𝔳𝔭𝔲𝔟.𝖈𝔬𝔪
When they looked again, a tall man was standing where the lightning had struck.
Their mouths fell open in disbelief.
"Is that... Thor?" It was no wonder they were mistaken; the man’s entrance was strikingly similar to that of the superhero named Thor from a popular movie years ago.
Martin raised his head, allowing the rain to slide off to the sides. He offered a slight smile, "Sorry, I’m not Thor."
Even in the dim environment, his eyes held an intimidating brilliance, the residual strength of his attack causing an involuntary spiritual pressure that almost made it impossible for Kevin and the others to maintain eye contact.
The three of them were at a loss for words. Their day had been too surreal - an army, a monster, a daring rescue, and now a being who was clearly more than human.
Even a battle-hardened veteran like Kevin was momentarily overwhelmed.
"We..."
"Don’t be nervous," Martin reassured them. On his way here, he had used the Power of Wishing to keep track of the events unfolding here and had seen what the three had done.
It was also with his help that they managed to survive against such overwhelming odds.
Martin valued these three people highly. Their humanity and courage in the face of crisis were indeed commendable.
"Kevin, Chelsea, Henry," Martin called out their names, surprising them. How did this person know who they were?
"We have about twenty minutes before the army enters the town, maybe even longer if I choose to extend it," Martin said calmly.
"I think we should first tend to the baby’s shock and cold, and then sit down to talk about today’s events."
His tone was as gentle as ever. Reminded by Martin, Kevin and the others realized the baby’s condition wasn’t right. It was silent, its face purplish.
Martin led them into a nearby half-collapsed house for shelter. He touched the baby’s forehead with a fingertip, emitting a faint light.
The wet swaddle turned dry and warm, and the baby’s complexion and demeanor normalized.
Kevin and the others watched this miraculous scene in awe, their bodies trembling slightly.
In the living room with only half a roof, there were a few chairs.
"Please, sit down," Martin said, taking a seat first. With a glance from him, the others slowly sat down as well. Rain poured through the missing half of the roof.
In this town that had just witnessed a major event, a few people sat amidst the ruins, about to discuss matters that could change their destinies.
Chelsea, a woman of literary sensibility, felt a strange sense of congruence.
It was as if the reality they were in mirrored the beginning of an epic journey found in literary works, creating a profound atmosphere.
Her hands clenched unconsciously. Chelsea suddenly had a strong premonition that this moment might indeed be the start of a significant story.
As the three settled, Martin’s first statement hit them with the weight of reality: "The world is changing, and humanity is on the brink of a catastrophic disaster."
