Vermillion - Chapter 25.2: Lake Shore

“A black dragon rises from the depths of the South Sea, triggering a cataclysmic tsunami... Flame spirits destroy city after city of steel and concrete, calmly departing from the center of a nuclear explosion... Extraterrestrial deities attempt to dominate the entire starry sea... This is a future world where human technology is highly advanced, and it marks the beginning of a martial arts era that sparks a frenzy of life evolution.Li Yuan, a martial arts student preparing for the college entrance exam, carries the vision of an extraordinary celestial palace where he can observe the starry sea, embarking on a challenging journey in this world.Many years later.“My current flight speed is 122,682 meters per second... My explosive power is... ” Li Yuan zooms through the atmosphere about 180 kilometers above the surface of the Blue Star, his cold eyes fixed on the colossal creature resembling a mythical dragon at the edge of the dim void: “You should be the strongest among all invading demigod life forms.”“Unfortunately, at this moment, I can only be called... a Martial God!”

The Heavenly Dao has shifted, demons rise from all corners, and the powers of Cultivation need to be enhanced. The Immortal Venerable's Order commands us to diligently cultivate, slay demons, exterminate evil, purge demons to protect the Dao, and elevate the might of Huaxia...

Japan – National News BroadcastThe polished news anchor sat upright, her gaze sharp as she adjusted the stack of papers before her. The newsroom behind her hummed with quiet urgency, the weight of the moment settling over the broadcast.“Authorities are baffled by a sudden and unexplained surge in sleep-related deaths across Japan,” she began, her voice steady yet tense. “More and more citizens are passing away in their sleep without any prior health concerns. Experts are working tirelessly to determine the cause, but no clear explanation has emerged. Authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and report any unusual symptoms before bedtime.”A graphic appeared, displaying the spike in fatalities over the past month. Behind her, unsettling photographs flickered across the screen—blurred images of individuals found in their beds, their faces frozen in expressions of terror.The anchor’s tone shifted. “Health officials recommend citizens avoid excessive fatigue and maintain healthy sleep habits. More updates will follow as investigations continue.”---United States – Paranormal PodcastIn a dimly lit podcast studio, the host leaned forward, his eyes wide with curiosity. Across from him, a rugged man in a worn flannel shirt, gripping a faded photograph in one hand and a beer can in the other, leaned back in his chair.“So, you're telling me you saw this creature firsthand?” the host asked, clearly intrigued.The man scoffed, shaking his head. “Damn right, I did. Ugly thing had wings bigger than my body—slow but sneaky. Thought it could steal my pigs again, but I was ready this time—camera in one hand, shotgun in the other.”He slammed the table for emphasis, then shoved the blurry image toward the host. The photograph depicted a small, red-skinned humanoid figure with large, bat-like wings, its eyes glowing faintly in the darkness.“Spit, the thing didn’t know what hit it when I fired!” the man chuckled, his voice full of excitement.The host held up the picture to the live chat. “Alright, what do you think? Mothman? Demon? Or is our friend here just seeing things?”The chat exploded with theories—some skeptical, others eager for the investigation to continue.---China – Liangyuan Street MarketSurveillance footage from a bustling night market in China captured a chilling scene. A woman in a red qipao walked gracefully through the crowd, her figure striking in the soft glow of lanterns.Suddenly, she paused. Her body flickered—like a glitch in a video—before vanishing completely, as though she had never existed.The footage zoomed in, replaying in slow motion. In the final frame before she disappeared, her face distorted unnaturally, her eyes hollow and empty.The screen cut abruptly to black.