"Stand down! The target took a detour!"

The dozen or so gunmen felt disappointed, each hoping to gain some benefits from Li Xuan.

Failing at the very first step of their plan was truly frustrating.

"Let's head back, everyone. I'll treat you all to a couple drinks," said the team leader among the gunmen.

His teammates' faces broke into slight smiles as they all started teasing him. "Boss, are you some kind of hamster? Hiding things this deep - you actually have alcohol stashed away?"

"I've got plenty of good stuff. Just keep working hard for the CEO, and we'll all live the good life," the leader said.

"Here we go again - we're not kids anymore. The CEO gives us such good treatment, of course we'll work hard."

"Too bad we didn't catch the target today. Otherwise, we might have all become ability users."

"Stop talking nonsense! Without the darkness descending, where would we get transformation abilities? Official speculation says transformation abilities are a gift from hidden supernatural forces to humanity. No matter how powerful Li Xuan is, he can't make people gain transformation abilities like world-changing supernatural powers can."

The leader raised his hand. "Enough, stop arguing. We didn't even catch the man, what's the point of discussing this? Once we capture him later, everything will become clear."

The team members all revealed sinister smiles, each one chilling enough to make one's hair stand on end. This wasn't fake pretense - it was the natural malevolence that formed after too much killing and torture.

Boom!

The building shook, catching the gunmen unprepared as their bodies swayed off balance.

"Earthquake?"

Before the gunmen could steady themselves, a giant hand covered in bluish-green scales smashed through the glass, carrying unimaginable force as it struck.

Two gunmen were hit immediately, their flesh-and-blood bodies embedded into the concrete wall, dead on impact.

"What is that thing!" the remaining gunmen exclaimed in terror.

"It's the giant beast! He's here for revenge! Open fire!" The team leader reacted with lightning speed, making an immediate decision as he pulled out his custom-made firearm and started firing wildly.

Bullets slammed against the giant beast's scaled armor, sparking violently upon impact. The scales dented and showed damage, but no bullets penetrated through them.

Bang!

The massive claw moved again, sweeping across like an unstoppable force. The nearby gunmen had no chance to dodge - the moment they made contact, bones throughout their bodies cried out in agony, as if they'd been hit by a heavy truck speeding down a national highway?

The giant claw immediately followed up by swatting the gunmen's leader away like a fly. His body slammed against the wall, barely recognizable as human shape anymore, with bones and flesh mixed together.

In mere moments, only one gunman remained out of the original dozen.

The last gunman trembled uncontrollably, unable to even hold his weapon steady.

"Don't... don't come closer," the gunman said fearfully.

The giant beast seemed to hear the gunman's plea for mercy and showed unexpected compassion, withdrawing its massive claw.

Just as the gunman felt relieved at having escaped death, a enormous beastly eye suddenly appeared at the broken window, reflecting the gunman's figure within it.

The gunman lost his footing, stumbling backward to sit on the floor.

The giant beast spoke: "Call your CEO."

The gunman didn't dare refuse, pulling out his phone to dial Song Shandian's number.

Soon, the call connected.

Heavy, rapid breathing came from the other end, clearly someone running for their life.

"You're still alive? Excellent! Quick, help lure the giant beast away! I'll give you a year's worth of food supplies afterward!" Song Shandian said hurriedly.

"Boss... I... save me..." the gunman whispered.

At that moment, Li Xuan's voice came through: "Song Shandian, run faster. I'll be coming after you soon. Whatever you do, don't let me catch you, otherwise you're going to suffer terribly."

On the other end, Song Shandian's face darkened. He hung up the phone and cursed a few times about idiots.

If he could take on Li Xuan alone, why would he need to set up this elaborate ambush with so many people to trap Li Xuan?