Achieving Demon Godhood from Unlocking Talents

A series of dull thuds reverberated, echoing throughout the entire block.

The residents in the buffer zone trembled, not daring to show their faces. Only a brave few, their faces pale, peeked through the cracks of their windows.

TAP TAP TAP TAP!

A staccato of footsteps, like raindrops striking the ground, rang out continuously.

Figures in Superpower Bureau combat uniforms appeared at both ends of the street, all holding their guns at the ready, their gazes grave.

But soon, after they had completed their tactical encirclement and gotten a clear view of the scene in the center of the street...

GULP!

It was impossible to tell who had swallowed, but the sound was unmistakable.

Whether it was the members of the Superpower Bureau’s Fifth Squad, the operatives from the field team, or the gang members and ordinary residents from the nearby neighborhood...

All eyes were fixed on the scene.

BANG!!

The wall shuddered as a new crater was smashed into it.

The brown arc of light flashed and died, vanishing without a trace.

Ma Kui, who moments before had been so arrogant and insufferably cocky, was now covered in blood. His black jacket was in tatters and caked with dust, and his body slumped limply at the base of the wall.

His breathing was shallow, and he could barely keep his eyes open.

And in front of him...

Lu Chao was still gripping his head, hoisting him up again.

His eyes were cold, without a trace of hesitation.

’Revenge for the former captain, justice for the injured team members and the other innocents—they all demand a reckoning.’

’It doesn’t matter what power his backer, Iron Sand, has!’

At that moment, as they watched the scene unfold...

Gao Hu, who was being supported by his comrades, watched with wide eyes filled with excitement and anticipation. The other members of the Fifth Squad also looked on with feverish exhilaration, thirsty for revenge.

But just as the dust was about to settle...

"Stay your hand!"

WHOOSH!!

A fierce gust of wind tore through the air. Something shot forward, glinting coldly as it aimed straight for Lu Chao’s eyes.

It was like a sniper bullet; the instant the voice cried out, the projectile was already right in front of him.

BUZZ!

A chill shot through him, and Lu Chao froze.

His left arm, coated in white ash, shot out and snatched it from the air.

The object’s intense spin carried immense destructive force, actually making his arm tremble and sending a slight, stinging pain through it.

A few moments passed.

Under the combined enhancement of his Thunder Extreme Secret Skill and his "copper flesh" state, Lu Chao finally crushed the object to a halt in his grip and looked down at it.

It was a small, silver drill bit, remarkably similar in appearance to a bullet.

Lu Chao’s eyes grew cold. Then, his senses flared.

TAP! TAP!

He followed the sound of the footsteps and saw a figure emerge from between the concrete buildings at the other end of the alley.

A pair of immaculate black leather shoes stepped onto the cracked concrete road, looking utterly out of place.

Looking up from the shoes...

The man wore an elegant black wool overcoat over a suit and vest, complete with a dark bow tie.

He appeared to be in his thirties, his hair neatly combed into a side part.

His features were rugged, but the bridge of his nose was slightly crooked, giving him a rather sinister look.

"Who are you?"

CLICK! CLACK! CLICK!

Chen Xiao and the others finally reacted, raising their guns in a mixture of shock and anger.

But the newcomer showed no fear, instead walking slowly forward, straight into their line of fire.

"As expected of the young talent who defeated the Blood Slaughterer’s disciple. Captain Lu, your methods are indeed extraordinary,"

he said flatly, staring at Lu Chao.

His words sounded like a compliment, but his eyes held a look of condescension.

His words made Gao Hu and the others falter, not quite understanding.

’Blood Slaughterer? Disciple?’

Lu Chao didn’t offer an explanation. He just narrowed his eyes at the newcomer, sensing that his origins were far from ordinary.

His intuition told him the man’s Life Energy had reached 110 points—he was a true Superpower Level expert.

"Allow me to introduce myself."

"My name is Tan Yue. I’m the security consultant for the Jinggang Chamber of Commerce,"

he said calmly, stepping past Chen Xiao and the others as he approached Lu Chao.

At his words, everyone’s expression tightened.

’The Jinggang Chamber of Commerce? And his surname is Tan...’

’Only a member of the elder family that controls Satellite City No. 4 could have such status.’

"So?"

Lu Chao asked calmly, his brow furrowed.

He thought back to the intelligence Gao Hu had relayed earlier—about a hidden contact meeting with Ma Kui.

His right hand, still wreathed in ashen energy, remained clamped on Ma Kui’s head. Ma Kui’s breathing was faint, but his eyes darted about stealthily.

Upon seeing the newcomer, a flicker of excitement crossed his face. He coughed a few times and, despite the blood covering his head, struggled to call out, "Mr.... Mr. Tan."

"Mm."

Making no attempt to hide his intentions, Tan Yue gave a calm nod and walked until he was just three meters from Lu Chao before stopping.

He remained expressionless as Chen Xiao and the others, having recovered their senses, surrounded him again, a dozen dark muzzles aimed squarely at him.

Instead, he tilted his head up slightly, his gaze passing over the others to look down on Lu Chao. "Captain Lu."

"We have already recruited the Ma Kui brothers. We hope this will help bring a swift end to the Wilderness War."

His eyes were flat as he pointed to the bloody, slumped form of Ma Kui and said matter-of-factly, "Therefore, you cannot touch him."

What?!

At his words, the color drained from the faces of Gao Hu and the others, their eyes flaring with shock and rage.

They had expended so much effort and paid such a heavy price to finally get the chance to avenge Captain Zheng and complete their mission.

’And now Ma Kui has been recruited by the Jinggang Chamber of Commerce?’

Lu Chao also narrowed his eyes, staring at the man.

In that moment, all his questions were answered.

’The Tan family, one of the four great elder families...’

’No wonder the other squads in the Superpower Bureau have been dropping this mission one by one lately.’

’It wasn’t because they feared retaliation from Iron Sand, but because they sensed something was off and didn’t want to sour relations with the local powers of the Red Maple City Circle.’

’After all, the relationship between the Alliance Country and the Red Maple City Circle is delicate right now. Since we’re all stationed here on assignment, it’s not a good idea to burn bridges.’

"So, you want me to let him go?"

Lu Chao asked, his eyes narrowed. Ma Kui, still in his grasp, coughed a few times, a flicker of excitement at his impending rescue flashing in his eyes.

Tan Yue met his gaze and nodded calmly, his eyes cold as he said,

"That’s right."

Despite seeing Lu Chao’s unyielding stance and the shocked, furious expressions on Gao Hu and his men,

he still said lightly, "For the greater good of Red Maple Shelter City."

"I hope Captain Lu will consider this matter carefully."

’He says it as if it’s only natural, as if he’s truly thinking of the entire city circle’s well-being.’

’But when the Fifth Squad was ambushed, he didn’t intervene.’

’If Gao Hu and the others had died, would that have been for ’the greater good’ too?’

"Heh."

Lu Chao let out a small laugh.

He could sense Ma Kui’s relief and desperate will to survive, as well as the deeply hidden venom and hatred the man felt toward him and the Fifth Squad.

At the same time, he could feel the anger and helplessness of Gao Hu and his men, their tension and unease.

And so.

"And if I refuse?"

The air fell silent, the atmosphere growing heavy.

The distant hovercraft seemed to sense the change in atmosphere, its thrusters flaring as it drew closer.

"You refuse?"

Tan Yue’s eyes narrowed. "That means you’re refusing to give my Tan family any face."

"If that’s the case, then I’ll have no choice but to..."

SPLAT!!

The head burst open, blood flying everywhere!

Two eyeballs rolled across the ground. Ma Kui’s headless corpse slumped down, and the glowing implant patterns all over his body gradually faded to black.

"What was that you were saying?"

His black combat uniform spattered with fresh blood, Lu Chao stared calmly at Tan Yue.

Disbelief, shock, fury...

A cascade of emotions flickered across the man’s face before it finally settled into an icy mask.

Meeting his gaze, feeling his killing intent.

Lu Chao stood his ground and asked again, "I killed him. Now, what are you going to do?"

CLICK-CLACK-CLICK!

Every gun barrel instantly swiveled to aim at Tan Yue.

Every member of the Fifth Squad snapped back to reality. Filled with gratitude toward Lu Chao and the thrill of finally getting revenge, they stared coldly at Tan Yue.

At the same time, the hovercraft piloted by Zhao Yuanqing and several other squad members hovered directly above the alley.

The roaring downdraft from its engines rattled the windows of the concrete buildings on either side and made the walls tremble.

Its mounted gun turret and special grenade launcher both activated, aiming unabashedly at Tan Yue.

"You think you can save the man who killed a member of my Fifth Squad?"

His voice was low as he strode forward, step by step, until he stood in front of Chen Xiao, Gao Hu, and the others.

Staring coldly at Tan Yue, Lu Chao’s energy surged. He continued to circulate the Thunder Extreme Secret Skill, stimulating the acupoints throughout his body. "This is Red Maple, it’s true."

"But don’t forget... this is also the Alliance Country."