Deviant: No Longer Human

Shi Lei. "Humph, if not for the supreme one directing us to purge this evil personally, we would never help sinners like you. Your aura stinks," he declared, his disgust for the alliance, however temporary, clear.

!!

Zach's knuckles whitened as he clutched the firearm, a growl escaping his lips. "Bastards," he hissed, pivoting sharply and retreating to a shadowy recess.

With a quick zip, he liberated himself, all the while seething with contempt. "What do they think? If not for Commander Mercy, would they still be drawing breath?" His words dripped with venom as he entertained sinister visions of dispatching the monks post-mission.

Puchi!

At the sound, Zach's gaze narrowed, a ripple of apprehension coursing through him. Warmth pooled beneath him, but it wasn't the anticipated relief. No, it was crimson, staining the ground.

Thud!

His body crumpled soundlessly as Wang Xiao surveyed the scene, methodically assessing and strategizing.

Whoosh!

Wang Xiao sprung into motion, his form a blur as he systematically dismantled their ranks, each movement calculated and lethal.

Four more adversaries succumbed to his relentless assault, the sudden realization dawning on the remaining soldiers.

"Someone has infiltrated! Be alert!" The warning cry cut through the night, a desperate attempt to marshal the forces against this unseen assailant.

Bam! Bam!

Gunfire erupted towards the last known location of the threat, a futile effort to strike down the phantom that haunted them.

But their efforts were in vain; each shot fired only served to reveal their positions, making them easy prey for Wang Xiao.

The courtyard, once a scene of tense anticipation, erupted into chaos as gunfire pierced the night, the brief flashes of light casting stark shadows across the ancient stone.

Amidst the disorder, Shi Lei's voice cut through the din, a note of panic underlying his confusion. "What's happening?" he demanded, his stance defensive as he surveyed the unfolding violence.

Shi Yan, ever the pillar of calm amidst the storm, commanded, "Stay calm," his eyes meticulously scanning the perimeter, tracking the ominous sounds of bodies hitting the ground with a grim determination.

The night air, charged with the tension of imminent confrontation, suddenly shifted as a blur of movement targeted Shi Yan directly. It was not a missile or a stray bullet but Wang Xiao's fist, closing in with lethal intent.

Boom!

Shi Yan reacted with practiced precision, channeling his energy into his palm and thrusting it outward to parry the attack.

The collision of forces sent shockwaves through the air, an evidence to their power. "Wha—" Shi Yan gasped, the impact sending him reeling backward, his body flying tens of meters before crashing into a tree trunk with a bone-jarring thud.

Boom!

"Elder!" Shi Lei's cry echoed in the courtyard, his concern for Shi Yan momentarily overshadowing his shock at the assailant's identity.

As he laid eyes on Wang Xiao, standing amidst the chaos with eyes that gleamed an ominous red, realization dawned. "Y-You are the demon!" he accused, his voice laced with fear and disbelief.

Wang Xiao, however, seemed unphased by the label, his expression one of mild annoyance rather than anger.

He shook his head, dismissing the accusation with a scathing critique. "Are you two the ancient gods they were trying to revive? I would have to say, you two are quite pathetic by the standards of gods!" His words, sharp and dismissive, cut through the tension, laying bare the absurdity of their supposed divinity.

In the midst of the charged atmosphere, an information from Yin Yue resonated within Wang Xiao's mind, clarifying the nature of his opponents.

[They are not gods or anything, just some better humans made by continuous body conditioning, and some external alterations to their bodies], her voice, clear and informative, offered a new perspective on the beings before him.

Armed with this newfound understanding, Wang Xiao's gaze upon Shi Yan and Shi Lei shifted. They were not divine entities but merely humans, albeit enhanced through rigorous conditioning and perhaps technological or mystical augmentations.

"You dare mock the divine?" Shi Lei spat, defiance flaring in his eyes despite the clear danger Wang Xiao represented. "You will regret trespassing on sacred ground!"

Wang Xiao, unfazed, simply adjusted his stance, ready for whatever may come. "Sacred ground?" he mused aloud, his tone laced with skepticism. "This place is soaked in the blood of ambition and treachery. Where's the sanctity in that?"

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Around them, the remaining guards rallied to Shi Lei's side, their weapons aimed at Wang Xiao, yet none dared to fire, the memory of their fallen comrades a silent warning of their enemy capabilities.

Shi Yan, struggling to his feet, his back against the tree trunk that had halted his flight, wiped the blood from his lips. His eyes, filled with a mix of respect and resentment, remained locked on Wang Xiao. "You... Who are you really?" he asked, his voice strained from the impact.

"I want the return of something that belongs to me!" Wang Xiao declared, his intense gaze sweeping over the gathered guards before fixing firmly on Shi Yan. "And I have reason to believe you possess it!"

As the standoff intensified, more monks, drawn by the situation, emerged from the monastery's depths.

Their faces were etched with concern and curiosity, forming a silent audience to the confrontation.

Among them, Shi Yan stood out, his presence commanding and imbued with an air of authority.

He stepped forward, his voice resonating with a firmness that seemed to command the very air.

"Enough," he intoned, the power in his voice imposing a temporary peace. "This violence is futile. Let us engage in dialogue and seek a peaceful resolution."

"A resolution?" Wang Xiao countered, his voice laced with a thinly veiled threat. "Start by explaining why you sought to abduct Anran, and perhaps I might allow you to walk away with your lives." Despite his words, Wang Xiao harbored no intention of sparing them, his mind set on retribution.

"Anran?" Shi Yan echoed, a flicker of recognition crossing his features. "You're referring to the girl?"

With a nod, Wang Xiao confirmed, "Yes, her."

At Shi Yan's subtle gesture, a soldier emerged from the shadows, pushing Anran forward with the barrel of his gun ominously placed against her head.

Anran's panicked eyes searched the courtyard before locking with Wang Xiao's steely gaze, a silent plea evident in her fleeting look before she quickly averted her eyes.