As Ma Zhongguo's words fell, the surrounding Evolvers charged at Yang Bin once more.
Yang Bin teleported to Ma Zhongguo's side again and swung the Barbell Rod down.
But Ma Zhongguo was ready this time. Several Vines erupted from the ground beneath his feet, coiling around him in a protective cocoon.
"Bang..."
The Barbell Rod smashed through the Vines, snapping them apart. Ma Zhongguo stumbled back several steps.
"The hell? You can use them like that?"
Yang Bin raised an eyebrow. Had to hand it to the guy - Ma Zhongguo's head worked fast.
But in that same instant, attacks from the surrounding Tier-5 Evolvers slammed into him from all sides.
No choice. Yang Bin teleported away.
The moment he reappeared, Evolvers swarmed him again.
"This bastard really isn't easy to kill." Yang Bin let out a sigh.
"Next time I definitely need a heavy-hitting attack ability."
Then he teleported straight to Wang Zhenhong's position, leaving behind one cryptic sentence hanging in the air where he'd stood.
"He's all yours. Remember - save the Light-type Ability user for Sijie. Don't kill him!"
Ma Zhongguo was still processing the strange words when his gut clenched. He threw himself sideways without thinking.
"Pfft..."
An arm spiraled into the air. Ma Zhongguo's reflexes were sharp, but not sharp enough. One arm - gone.
"Mayor!!!"
Panic erupted around him.
"There's an Invisibility user! Protect the mayor!"
Every Evolver in the vicinity closed ranks around Ma Zhongguo, eyes darting nervously in every direction.
The Water-type Ability user raised his hand to deploy a water curtain.
He never finished the motion. A dagger slid into his throat from behind.
"Been waiting for you to try that."
The voice whispered right against his ear. Then his body crumpled to the ground.
"Kill him!"
The surrounding Evolvers launched attacks toward the spot.
But Chen Hao was already gone.
"Brother, I am the mayor of Star City - an official representative. Do you understand how foolish this is?"
Ma Zhongguo clutched his severed arm, scanning the empty air around him.
No response.
"I know you're acting on Yang Bin's orders. You can still stop. The apocalypse won't last forever - the authorities will regain control soon enough. When that day comes, you'll be held accountable. I'm telling you, don't go down this road!"
"Stop now, and I guarantee your safety. I can even elevate you above everyone else." Ma Zhongguo kept talking, smooth and measured, the politician's voice never wavering despite the blood pouring down his side.
"That shit doesn't work on me." A voice materialized right beside his ear.
"!!!"
Every hair on Ma Zhongguo's body stood on end. He hurled himself sideways.
Behind him, a dagger thrust toward his neck.
At the critical instant, another white Light Shield flared into existence, interposing itself between blade and flesh.
Chen Hao had expected it. Black light surged along the dagger's edge. The Light Shield offered no more resistance than wet paper - the blade punched clean through.
The dagger sank into Ma Zhongguo's throat.
Ma Zhongguo's eyes went wide. He couldn't process it. Minutes ago he'd been riding high, brokering deals, playing kingmaker. Now he was dying on the ground like a dog.
He'd had such plans. Such ambition. He was going to be a warlord of the new age. Instead - dying before achieving one's ambitions.
His eyes held nothing but bitter refusal and regret.
Why. Why did he have to provoke these people.
Chen Hao pulled the dagger free. Ma Zhongguo's body toppled straight backward and hit the ground.
Silence.
Absolute silence across the entire area.
Every single person stared, slack-jawed.
"Mayor Ma is... dead?"
"Mayor Ma is dead!!"
"How - how dare he! That's the mayor of Star City! How could he just kill him!"
Confusion clouded every Evolver's eyes.
Mayor Ma is dead. Does that mean everything he promised us is gone?
When the authorities come back... are we going to be dragged into this?
"He killed Mayor Ma! Don't let him escape! If the authorities come looking for answers and he's gone, you'll ALL be held responsible!" A woman's voice cut through the stunned crowd.
It was Ma Zhongguo's secretary - the one in the pencil skirt and stockings.
Her words seemed to harden a few spines. Some Evolvers' gazes sharpened with renewed resolve.
Then her head separated from her shoulders.
"......"
The resolve evaporated instantly.
Ma Zhongguo was already dead. What was the point?
"Don't be afraid!" The Light-type Ability user in white stepped forward, voice booming. "He's nothing but a rat hiding in the shadows! Flush him out and we can kill him! Avenge Mayor Ma!"
His words had barely left his mouth when his arm spun off his body.
If Yang Bin hadn't specifically ordered this one kept alive, he'd have followed the secretary straight to hell.
Chen Hao might not dominate a group fight. But assassination? Right now, nobody alive could stop him.
Watching this, every remaining base official who'd been thinking about rallying the troops shut their mouths simultaneously.
Their only thought now: please don't notice me.
The atmosphere turned deeply, profoundly eerie.
---
On the other side, Yang Bin had chased Wang Zhenhong all the way back to his residence.
Every bodyguard lay dead. Wang Zhenhong stood alone.
"Why...! What did our Wang family ever do to you!? Why do you have to wipe us out like this!?" Wang Zhenhong's face twisted with desperate fury.
"Honestly? I had no beef with your Wang family originally." Yang Bin shrugged. "Blame your son for not knowing when to shut up."
"And it's not that I want to wipe you out. You're a Family Head - you should understand. Once you've made enemies, you can't leave loose ends. Right?"
He swung the Barbell Rod once.
Wang Zhenhong dropped.
Just like that, the Wang family of Star City - having survived a little over one month into the apocalypse - ceased to exist.
---
Yang Bin teleported back to the battlefield.
The first thing he spotted was Ma Zhongguo's corpse. Hard to miss - nobody dared come within three meters of it.
"Nice work." Yang Bin shot a thumbs-up toward the empty air where Chen Hao stood invisible.
The surrounding Evolvers saw Yang Bin reappear but didn't rush him. They just stood there, lost.
They'd seen his strength firsthand. Charging him was suicide. Ma Zhongguo was dead - who the hell were they dying for?
Yang Bin read their faces and raised his voice.
"We killed Ma Zhongguo to avenge Vice Division Commander Liu. That's it. Relax. Go about your business."
"......"
"Who says Vice Division Commander Liu was killed by Mayor Ma!?" someone challenged.
"I say so. Got a problem?" Yang Bin's gaze landed on the man like a guillotine blade.
The man went quiet.
"Mayor Ma was an official! You killed him - aren't you afraid the authorities will come after you?" Another voice piped up.
"Heh." Yang Bin's lip curled. "That's not your problem to worry about. Besides, Ma Zhongguo doesn't represent the authorities. You'd be better off trusting the military - at least they actually do something useful."
"I'll have military personnel come take over this base. Until then - go about your business."
People hesitated. Then, one by one, they began drifting away.
"Hey - you. Yeah, you. Don't move."