In the 2nd Soul Realm, Cyclopsâ injuries had completely healed, and even the eye he had lost as a child had regrown.
However, two days without food had left Cyclops starving.
Suddenly, a purple light flashed beside Wen Yu. A complex, round pattern flickered at an incredible speed, from which a large dogâs head emerged. It vigorously sniffed the long-lost scent of freedom before Cyclopsâ 3-meter-long body wriggled out from the purple light.
Li Quanâan and the others were startled by the sudden appearance of this creature. It was merely a common mongrel, but it had been too strongly Strengthened by Demonic Qi. Its huge body, ferocious killing intent, and the saliva occasionally dripping onto the ground all made the surrounding professionists feel a knot of anxiety in their chests.
"Mayor Li," Wen Yu said directly to Li Quanâan, ignoring the surrounding gazes of panic and fear, as well as the screams of non-professionist women and children.
"I promised Sun Ruixing that I would protect this camp until nightfall today. If you take everyone away, the camp would cease to exist, and I would have broken my promise. That canât happen," Wen Yu said, shaking his head.
"I donât care whether what you said about the government or food is true or not. Nobody in this camp may leave before nightfall."
Mayor Li first glanced at Cyclops beside Wen Yu, then at his own men around him; the smile on his face vanished.
A rash young man is easy to deal with, but a powerful, rash young man is definitely a huge problem.
"What if I refuse?" Mayor Li narrowed his eyes at Wen Yu. Although the large dog looked strong and the small black ball on Wen Yuâs shoulder seemed mysterious, he was surrounded by more than one hundred professionists.
Remembering his own forces, Li Quanâan didnât even wait for Wen Yuâs response and directly commanded everyone loudly, "Evacuate! Now! Immediately!"
"Heh," Wen Yu chuckled as Li Quanâan openly disregarded him. His voice was soft, but it successfully caught Li Quanâanâs attention.
"Mayor Li, right?" Wen Yu said, ignoring Li Quanâanâs subordinates who were obeying their orders, and spoke directly to Li Quanâan.
"Power... itâs truly a wonderful thing. No wonder so many people wanted to hold office before the apocalypse."
As Wen Yu spoke slowly, Mayor Liâs expression grew increasingly solemn. Wen Yuâs strength, far surpassing that of ordinary professionists, made Li Quanâan sense a killing intent steadily brewing around him, growing ever stronger. Even the crowd, which had been moving about, sensed the strange atmosphere, gradually halting their steps and staring intently at Wen Yu.
"Iâve already stated my purpose for being here. Now, let me briefly introduce myself. My name is Wen Yu, and Iâm from Mudanjiang City."
Wen Yu paused for a moment.
"Though Iâve never held office, I have some understanding. Power is like a drug; once you have it, you never want to let go and only crave more. However, also like a drug, power can lead one astray."
"Perhaps you donât quite understand the current situation. It doesnât matter; youâll soon learn a certain fact."
Without saying more, Wen Yu stroked Cyclopsâ empty stomach. "Go on, get something to eat. Donât kill their leader. Donât kill the non-professionists. For the rest, pick as you please. Stop when I tell you to."
Cyclops was already famished, but with Wen Yu nearby, the power of the Soul Contract had restrained it from acting. It was only when Wen Yu gave the command that the killing intent in Cyclopsâ eyes flared, and it pounced ferociously.
Like a gust of wind, the power of a Level 2 mutant beast was essentially insurmountable for the current survivors.
Cyclops charged directly into the group of men Li Quanâan had brought, and then, blood splattered.
"Heâs killing people! Heâs killing people!" panicked cries echoed from the bystanders as they watched Cyclops go on a killing spree.
Everyone could see that this large dog obeyed Wen Yu, but no one had expected Wen Yu to actually give the order to kill.
The apocalypse had only just begun, and many peopleâs mindsets had not yet adjusted.
Li Quanâan watched in a daze as Cyclops tore into the crowd, meeting no resistance. Its sharp teeth and claws inflicted wounds upon contact. Despite being the most powerful professionist on his side, Li Quanâan could only watch helplessly. Though he possessed a hidden profession and had 5 physique points, he knew he would fare no better than his men against Cyclops.
The crowd erupted into chaos. Non-professionists screamed and cried, desperately trying to get away from Cyclops. Among the professionists, there was no shortage of brave individuals who dared to brandish their weapons at Cyclops, only to be turned upon and bitten to death.
"Stop." Seeing that Cyclops had killed nearly twenty professionists in no time, Wen Yu called out.
Cyclops glanced at Wen Yu, then turned its head to look at the trembling professionist before it, and then began to tear at and devour the corpses on the ground. This food was enough to fill its stomach.
Li Quanâan stared in horror at the corpses littering the ground, then at Cyclops ferociously devouring them, cold sweat breaking out involuntarily on his skin.
The entire camp trembled under Cyclopsâ might.
Ignoring the survivors who stared at him as if he were a monster, Wen Yu stood his ground and said calmly, "I apologize that so many people died because of my orders. Yes, Iâd like to say sorry to those who died because of me today."
He offered this bland apology for the dead, but his tone only made everyone around him feel more uneasy.
This man had no reverence for life, none of the respect an ordinary person should have.
"By the way, Mayor Li, do you understand now?"
"Understand what?" Mayor Li still hadnât recovered from the recent bloodshed; his reaction was a beat slow.
"Sigh." Wen Yu slowly walked up to Mayor Li. Seeing the mayorâs trembling body, Wen Yu sighed in disappointment; for the leader of a settlement, such timidity was truly disheartening.
"This is the fact I wanted to explain to you. Right now, in this camp, the one who calls the shots isnât you. Itâs me."
"So, youâd better consider my suggestion carefully."
"Please, just wait quietly until nightfall, alright?"
Seeing Li Quanâan nod reflexively, Wen Yu turned and walked towards the house.
"By the way, if anyone disobeys... well, my dog eats people."
"Yes, and one more thing. Thank you all, including those who have passed. Thank you for allowing me to keep my promise. I donât have many virtues, but I am a man of my word."