Chapter 7: Let's End This Game of Pretend

In an instant, the entire manor plunged into darkness.The laughter by the poolside abruptly ceased.

Someone knocked over a wine glass—the sound of shattering crystal piercing through the blackness.

"What's going on!?"

"Oh god, it's so dark!"

"Yuqin, what happened?"

"Everyone stay calm!"

Li Yuqin's voice rang out: "Probably just a circuit breaker."

She turned on her phone's flashlight and raised it overhead.

Du Feng reacted immediately, pulling out his phone and shouting: "Everyone stay where you are! Villa security! Where's security?!"

In the darkness, the crowd's agitation gradually subsided.

Dozens of phone lights flickered on one after another, twinkling like fireflies across the estate.

People began whispering theories—maybe the riverside power lines had failed.

Su Zhan remained seated.

His eyes had already adjusted to the dark, allowing him to clearly see the panic on every face.

"The butler went to check the circuit box," Li Yuqin reassured everyone. "Please gather in the main hall first."

In the darkness.

Su Zhan's gaze sharpened.

He sensed something—someone was coming.

Not far away.

"Aaaaah—!!!"

A blood-curdling scream erupted.

The crowd instantly erupted into chaos, phone flashlights swinging wildly.

"What was that!"

"Fuck, something's wrong!"

"Call the enforcers! Quick!"

"What's happening?!"

Li Yuqin's voice now carried a sob.

Du Feng yanked her behind him: "Villa security! Where the fuck is security?!"

Another scream.

This time, everyone saw it clearly under the flashlight beams.

A figure—white mask with crimson eyes, elongated tongue extending from the mouth—pierced straight through a boy's chest.

"Run!"

"Aberrants! They're aberrants!"

"Help! Someone help!"

"Call the enforcers! Now!"

"Fuck! No signal!"

The crowd scattered like headless chickens.

Li Yuqin's high heel caught in the lawn, sending her tumbling to the ground.

She looked up desperately at Du Feng fleeing toward the parking lot: "Du Feng! Don't leave me!"

Du Feng never looked back.

Leaving Li Yuqin abandoned in the grass.

Su Zhan quietly retreated deeper into the villa.

He really had the worst luck.

Attending a birthday party only to encounter an aberrant hunt.

Inside, screams echoed continuously.

A grinning-masked aberrant burst from the tree shadows.

Bone spurs extended from its fingertips, impaling a girl through the shoulder and lifting her into the air.

"Save... me..."

The aberrant tilted its head in appreciation before suddenly opening its—

"AAAAAH!!!"

Witnessing this, the crowd completely broke.

What followed was pure slaughter.

Su Zhan observed carefully.

Five hunting aberrants total.

All wore white masks revealing only eyes and mouths.

Draped in loose black robes concealing their forms.

They specifically targeted those screaming loudest.

Probably easiest prey.

Su Zhan reached the villa's inner bathroom.

Before he could close the door—

A hand slammed against it.

"L-let me in!"

Du Feng stood pale-faced, his expensive suit stained with mud and blood—no trace left of the rich young master's arrogance.

Su Zhan's eyes flickered as he stepped aside: "Get in. Stay quiet."

Du Feng staggered in, locking the door before collapsing onto the toilet lid.

"Those... those monsters..."

He gestured wildly: "People torn in half... heads..."

Leaning against the sink, Su Zhan said flatly: "Shut up if you want to live."

The mirror reflected his icy profile—a stark contrast to Du Feng's breakdown.

Du Feng clutched his hair, teetering on the edge—but understood the severity and fell silent.

Thud.

Something heavy hit the hallway outside.

Su Zhan tensed, listening intently with his back to Du Feng.

Du Feng's pupils dilated unnaturally as a ghastly smile split his face.

His jaw unhinged to his ears—a barbed tongue lanced out like a javelin.

At the critical moment—

Su Zhan's body twisted grotesquely, his back bulging as gray-black scales armored his form.

His right hand morphed into a scaled claw that slashed—

But Du Feng's tongue curved mid-air, its barbs grazing Su Zhan's shoulder and drawing blood.

"So you're the aberrant."

Su Zhan's voice was glacial: "Following me secretly—clearly up to no good. You brought them here."

Du Feng's body swelled, his suit ripping over expanding muscle.

His spine protruded into razor-sharp bone spikes.

"Clever prey."

Du Feng's voice became multi-layered: "But you'll still die!"

In the cramped bathroom, two monsters collided.

The sink shattered.

Deep gouges scarred the walls.

Shattered mirror fragments reflected two inhuman visages.

Du Feng's tongue lashed like a whip.

Su Zhan dodged—the tile wall behind him split open.

Seizing the opening—

Su Zhan's claw shot for Du Feng's throat—only to be blocked by the snapping tongue.

BANG!

Both crashed against opposite walls in the ruined bathroom.

Water sprayed from broken pipes.

Through the steam, the monsters locked eyes.

"Does Doberman know you're aberrant?"

Su Zhan suddenly asked.

As an Aberrant Purge Division enforcer, sheltering your own brother.

Heh... Doberman, you've outdone yourself.

Du Feng's pupils contracted before snarling: "You should worry about staying alive!"

The grotesque tongue struck again.

Su Zhan flashed—

Three silver streaks—Du Feng's tongue severed mid-air into four writhing segments.

Acidic mucus corroded the tiles.

"You—!"

Du Feng's roar accompanied cracking bones—seven bone spikes erupted from his back like a porcupine.

"Matches your hedgehog hairstyle."

Su Zhan had wanted to say that for ages.

Enough testing.

Let's end this game of pretend.

BOOM!

Du Feng's bone spikes obliterated the entire wall.

Through the dust, Su Zhan materialized.

SCHLICK!

Five deep gashes raked from Du Feng's left shoulder to right abdomen.

Black-green blood sprayed across mirror shards—each drop eating through glass.

"Impossible!"

Du Feng staggered back, flesh squirming madly at his wounds: "How could you—"

Su Zhan's pupils had narrowed to crimson slits.

His claw rose again: "Next life, remember—don't act in front of hunters."

The final strike was lightning.

Du Feng's seven spikes intercepted—and shattered instantly against the scaled claw.

The blade continued—piercing clean through his throat.