142 Double Fear (Notice)

“It’s actually her.”

The figure in the mask stepped forward from behind Xiunan.

He was somewhat aware of what had transpired at headquarters yesterday. He understood the relationship between Sanya and the leader, Bai Yan, and was surprised to learn that the host of the Nightshade Raven was none other than Sanya herself. This time, the Golden Spiral Organization had been caught off guard.

“Time is tight. I’ll leave first.”

Xiunan placed half his foot on the ledge of the rooftop.

“Hey...” Before the masked man could speak, Xiunan vanished, a shadow darting swiftly through the night.

Across the many towering buildings of Nirodo, Xiunan moved like a phantom, leaping and flickering. Facing the wind, he glanced down slightly. On the ground below, a small, black figure cloaked in a cape hurriedly followed him.

Winter District, Golden Spiral Organization’s stronghold.

White Smoke, draped in a trench coat, stared ahead with a grave expression, lips moving as if in conversation.

Five meters away, a panic-stricken Sanya gazed blankly at the sky. A colossal black crow slowly swooped down, its immense wings formed from storm clouds blotting out the sun.

On her wrist, a crow emblem shimmered faintly, and with time, the mark was slowly creeping along her skin toward her shoulder.

“Found her!”

A familiar voice rang out from afar.

A flood of Saint Flame Society members poured in from surrounding streets like a tide, led by branch chief Kevin.

Before the words had fully left his mouth, fierce clashes erupted on both sides. The Icebird Saint Order and the Lust Club had also mobilized their forces, engaging the Saint Flame Society’s fighters. It was clear they all sought the Nightshade Raven.

In an instant, the humming of cars filled the streets, and shop windows shattered. The destructive force unleashed by these extraordinary Ring Masters and supernaturals rivaled that of an army.

Especially with everyone clustered together, the density of ring energy in the area surged, amplifying the effects exponentially.

At the outskirts of the battlefield, reinforcements from other Golden Spiral Organization sectors arrived, only to be drawn into the chaos.

Some pressed forward under their leader’s guidance, aiming to rendezvous with the Winter District’s combat units; others were entangled and held in place. Their opponents were not only the Saint Flame Society but also erstwhile allies—the Icebird Saint Order and the Lust Club—now turning on one another. In this moment, friendship no longer existed.

“Champion, Platinum, Black Knight, Red World, and Mask... where is Knight?”

White Smoke counted them off one by one.

The Golden Spiral Organization’s upper echelons had broken through layers of encirclement, gathering protectively around leader White Smoke. Yet, though Mask had arrived, the first to act, Knight, was nowhere to be seen. A trace of puzzlement flickered across their faces.

“Probably entangled with a powerful enemy. Forget him for now. We must break through with Sanya.”

Beside White Smoke, a figure enveloped in blue smoke hovered midair—it was the unconscious Sanya.

“Trying to escape?! Stay here!”

A figure wrapped in crackling lightning plummeted rapidly from the sky, crashing down like a cannonball toward the group.

Boom!

The ground trembled, lightning crackling wildly.

The air thickened with the acrid scent of ozone.

Members of the Golden Spiral Organization scattered, as a pit several meters wide suddenly appeared on the street.

Whoosh!!!

Blue light surged from the crater, colliding with White Smoke in the distance in a flash. The crackling explosion of energy echoed across the sky, leaving residual power lingering everywhere.

The First Clan.

The turbulent aftermath forced those nearby to retreat.

Soon, numerous formidable figures converged here. Several high-ranking Golden Spiral members engaged them fiercely.

However, it was undeniable that the Golden Spiral Organization soon fell to the disadvantage. Their enemies were simply too numerous; some leaders had to contend with three or four foes of equal rank simultaneously.

A mournful, ship’s horn-like sound echoed through the air.

All who were fighting instinctively ceased their movements, gripped by an unknown dread tightening around their hearts. It was as if this was the natural enemy of the supernaturals...

At the entrance to the street, atop a skyscraper,

A figure in a black robe slowly lowered their cloak.

A grotesque demonic mask was revealed.

The Daughter of Calamity donned the Mask of Despair.

In an instant, endless black mist enveloped the greater part of the district. The low growls of monsters echoed within the fog, and all things bizarre, grotesque, and terrifying danced within it. Dense waves of black surged forward.

[Author’s note: The upcoming plot sees Xiunan, with the miraculous creature Daughter of Calamity combined with the Mask of Despair, tear through the Saint Flame Society. With White Smoke’s cooperation, the mission is accomplished.

Following this, the story depicts the gradual collapse of the world’s laws, as the mysterious Rings that constitute the foundation of reality begin to fracture. The miraculous creatures are fragments of these broken rules.

Ancient beings return, such as the Black Smoke King connected to the Thornflower Rune, alongside some who have survived since ancient times, like the protagonist’s senior brother, Floating Ice.

Note: The primary reason for the story’s shift was my own. The earlier narrative and key hooks no longer aligned.

The book, initially titled The Extraordinary World Gamified, followed this storyline for over forty chapters. After some reader feedback, I urgently adjusted it toward a game exploration style, transitioning to an otherworldly journey to heighten immersion.

Based on its performance after the change, the remedy was somewhat effective. However, the core of the world I envisioned had shifted, making subsequent writing increasingly difficult.

I inevitably fell into clichés, as readers also noticed.

After over a month of struggle, I resolved to end this tale and start anew with a story I’ve long desired to write.

I intend to complete this soon, so to my patrons, rest assured. And to readers who have followed along, I offer my apologies. Early to bed, early to rise—I’ll begin the new book tomorrow.]

142 Dual Fears (Notice)