The sky was covered with a thick layer of black fog that kept rolling. It blended with the dusk, making it even gloomier.

The more you walk towards this place, the more it feels like entering another world. Sensory perception completely changes, and the energy concentration is at least three times that outside, giving a feeling akin to the Doomsday World.

"This isn’t good."

Su Changxing seemed to understand why West Bridge area lost contact. Energy concentration exceeding a certain standard causes the environment to change significantly, thus blocking communication networks.

It’s unclear if this is a coincidence or destined under some kind of rule.

"Has your network been affected?"

Su Changxing asked T3.

They evidently use signal connections for mutual coordination.

T3’s eyes flickered: "Yes, there’s been an impact. Space curvature compression has greatly reduced the adaptive network’s range. But establishing signal towers could expand this range."

They continued to push forward, gradually approaching West Bridge City. When night fell, they reached the outskirts of the city.

"What’s happening?"

Su Changxing frowned slightly, sensing something amiss. Astonishingly, they hadn’t encountered any other humans directly, and he felt a subtle sense of oppression....

"At the seven o’clock direction, human figures spotted, about four kilometers away." T3 prompted.

Su Changxing nodded: "Hmm, let’s go take a look."

This town seemed large, brilliantly lit at night, adorned with neon in the sky, and string lights on the riverside bridge, looking no different than usual. However, no vehicles were running on the streets.

...

"Clatter~"

The sound of chains echoed behind, like a scythe of death.

The man sensed the movement behind him, sprinting forward in horror, gasping for breath, yet compelled to run though exhausted.

He knew stopping was certain death.

Running into a corner, he collapsed to the ground for a rest, peeping out to the street, his body trembled in fear, cold sweat dripped from his forehead.

"Hey, was that two hundred and fifty-one, or was it two hundred and fifty-two?"

The man lay dead in a pool of blood, lifeless. A tall figure with chains on neck and hands appeared behind him.

...

Su Changxing approached the town and witnessed an incredibly tragic scene—numerous bodies hung from lampposts, roof edges, seemingly drained of blood, resembling mummified corpses.

"This...."

Su Changxing frowned, his face cold: "T3, check for any surviving humans nearby."

The situation was eerie, like some ritual, intentionally staged above ground.

T3 quickly said: "In the buildings ahead, there are signs of human activity underground."

It was a hotel, with several decomposed corpses at the entrance, chopped apart by some blunt instrument, slashed on the back while seemingly fleeing.

"Were they being hunted?" 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Su Changxing mused, suspecting perhaps monsters born from the black fog, but had encountered few along the way, seemingly already cleared out.

What is happening?

He walked into the hotel, also a bloody scene inside. Dozens hung from the ceiling, faces vividly terrified.

Negative emotions lingered in the air.

He neared a woman, dark mist enveloped the area, faint memory fragments scattered around.

...

"Clatter~"

The sound of chains clashing, followed by chaotic screams. A giant figure kicked open the hotel door, a large machete in hand, brutality etched on his grotesque face.

"Let’s not waste time; better die quickly and transcend."

A straightforward massacre unfolded in the hotel.

The disparity was overwhelming; these civilians lacked firearms, with no room for resistance.

...

"People from the Black Fog World?"

Su Changxing frowned, unsure of the massacre’s purpose, and they seemed numerous.

In a corner of the room, he found the entrance to the basement, sensing others indeed present below.

Opened the door.

"Is anyone there?"

Su Changxing called, walking down wooden stairs, faint aroma of wine wafting in the air.

It should be a wine cellar.

"...."

No one answered.

Yet, Su Changxing could hear intense heartbeats—they were anxious.

"I’m not one of them; I won’t kill you."

After speaking, several figures cautiously emerged, a group of more than ten, part staff, part guests.

"Hello, I’m the hotel manager. Were those people outside gone?"

A man in a suit and blue tie glanced at the exit and asked.

Su Changxing nodded: "No one outside, I came from elsewhere. What happened here?"

The group exhaled heavily, one woman even slumped to the floor, relieved she avoided misfortune.

The hotel manager took a deep breath, recalling the scene: "I’m not sure. Giant Anchor fell, rolling black fog emerged in the sky, and quickly, maniacs were wielding knives, chasing people on the streets—no one stopped them. More and more died, so we shut the door, hoping to evade them."

"Soon, maniacs approached us. I thought quickly, leading more than ten into the cellar, fortunately escaping misfortune."

Su Changxing nodded in understanding, looked around, feeling the place wasn’t particularly hidden, easily discoverable if sought.

Another slender, fair-skinned man forced a smile: "Brother, your luck isn’t bad, arriving right as they left."

Su Changxing contemplated: "Who said they left? I only said I didn’t see them... You be careful; if you want to survive, head to East Forest. Beware of danger on the way, just hide."

Then, he turned to leave, sensing movement outside.

The fair-skinned man called: "You’re leaving? Didn’t you say those maniacs might not have left?"

Su Changxing turned back, nodded: "Hmm, take care."

V17 stood at the cellar door.

"What happened?" Su Changxing approached to ask.

V17’s eyes flickered: "Sir, an attacker appeared earlier, but we’ve killed them."

"An attacker?"

Su Changxing nodded, quickly walked outside, seeing a fresh corpse on the road, chest pierced by a laser, utterly lifeless.

Chains adorned his neck, hands, and feet, familiar in material, likely from the Black Fog World, akin to Leng Ying’s collar, but harder.