"Crack!"
As the two spoke, a more bizarre sound suddenly emerged from mid-air.
This time, Lin Ran, with the experience from previous encounters, immediately cast his gaze towards the source.
He then saw a spatial rift with deep, complex patterns appearing out of nowhere in the previously empty sky!
Moreover, this spatial rift clearly looked newly formed, its patterns still spreading outwards.
But the beings within seemed impatient. Without waiting for the spatial rift to fully materialize, they eagerly poured out, a dark, swirling mass dancing chaotically in the air.
Seeing their translucent, bodyless, pitch-black forms that could freely change shape in the air, one could recognize them at a glance.
"It's the Shadow Clan!"
"Are these aliens so audacious, directly opening spatial rifts at the city's edge for an aerial assault!"
Upon witnessing this development, Luo Qingyan instinctively drew her lightsaber, preparing to engage the Shadow Clan.
Lin Ran, however, suddenly reached out and stopped her.
"Not yet..."
"We still haven't figured out the reason behind this attack by ferocious beasts and aliens. There's no need to make enemies of them."
"Furthermore, they haven't attacked us directly. We might as well just watch the show for now..."
"What I'm curious about now is whether this joint attack by ferocious beasts and aliens was orchestrated by those forgotten ones."
"It doesn't seem like it..."
"After all, all the living souls in this area have already been teleported away. Sending more forces would be meaningless."
"But if this is a spontaneous action by the aliens and beasts, the timing is too much of a coincidence."
Luo Qingyan glanced at the direction the aliens and beasts were heading and pondered, "Then... should we continue watching from within the city now?"
"There are no defenders left in the city. Relying solely on the AI's automated defenses, it's impossible to withstand those beasts and aliens."
"I doubt it would take even an hour before this district becomes their playground."
"I just wonder if they'll end up fighting amongst themselves in the city..."
Lin Ran shook his head.
"Our staying is even more meaningless..."
"There's no one here, nothing of value here, and it's a Japanese territory anyway. Let it be destroyed."
"We should focus on our own matters."
"No matter how these aliens and beasts arrived, as long as they don't launch a mad attack on us, there's no need for us to pay them any mind."
"Let's go! To the vortex!"
Saying this, Lin Ran took Luo Qingyan's hand and they flew together towards the sea.
The sea surface, due to the recent violent tides, had formed a massive vortex, not following its original course to crash upon the shore.
Clearly, someone was manipulating it.
As expected, when Lin Ran pulled Luo Qingyan closer, they clearly saw three figures of varying sizes directly at the center of the vortex.
The one on the left was the largest, with purplish-black skin and demonic horns on its head, clearly indicating its demon lineage.
The one on the right had yellow hair and pale skin, a slender and well-proportioned physique, exuding an aristocratic aura with every movement. It was unmistakably a Blood Elf.
As for the smallest figure in the middle, it had a pair of butterfly-like wings and wielded a small, dexterous magic wand. It was a member of the Fairy race, hidden for who knows how many years!
Of course, compared to their appearances, the murky power flowing from them was even more eye-catching.
Having already fought the Mirage Monster twice, Lin Ran's perception of this power was sharp and sensitive. He recognized it as the legendary power of calamity.
Thus, the identities of these three were immediately revealed...
The three of the eighteen Forgotten Ones responsible for the chaos!
Upon noticing Lin Ran, these three didn't appear overly surprised.
Clearly, the Mirage Monster must have already relayed the news to them.
"We finally meet, Mr. Lin Ran."
The Blood Elf spoke first.
Lin Ran narrowed his eyes.
"May I ask your name, esteemed sir?"
The Blood Elf smiled.
"You jest, Mr. Lin Ran..."
"How can we, who wander outside of time, have names?"
"You may simply address me by my codename..."
"I am... Twelve!"
The demon beside him nodded.
"Ten!"
The fairy also slightly inclined its head.
"Eleven!"
Lin Ran, his Eternal Kaleidoscope intensely focused on them, sighed.
"I didn't expect your codenames to be so concise..."
"If my guess is correct, your codenames should range from one to eighteen, right?"
The Blood Elf didn't attempt to conceal anything and readily agreed.
"Naturally..."
"Besides us eighteen brothers, who else could have orchestrated such a monumental scheme?"
Good heavens, they still managed to boast a little!
Lin Ran pouted.
"So, your objective is likely directed at me, correct?"
As Lin Ran spoke, he began to alter the tomoe pattern within his Eternal Kaleidoscope.
The fairy then picked up the conversation.
"Mr. Lin Ran, you are indeed self-aware..."
"Since you know, and the outcome is inevitable, why not simply surrender and cooperate with us?"
"The irreversible wheel of fate has begun to turn. You cannot escape its grasp..."
"Why can't you make the process simpler?"
"When you become nourishment on the path to godhood, you will have served a purpose!"
Lin Ran almost burst out laughing.
"I thought you Forgotten Ones were supposed to have some air of superiority..."
"Turns out you're just a bunch of rambling cult fanatics!"
"In that case, there's nothing more to say between us..."
"After I send you all to hell, you can go confess to your false gods!"
Amaterasu!
Boom!
The Amaterasu power, which Lin Ran had condensed beforehand, erupted fiercely before the three, instantly engulfing them.
The demon let out a cold snort and summoned its demonic blood to repel Amaterasu, saying menacingly, "You wish to resolve this with force? Then I shall oblige..."
However, before he could finish speaking, the Amaterasu flames, as if possessing life, surged out like a coiling dragon, firmly trapping him once more.