The convoy moved through the night in tense silence. No headlights were turned on, and even the sound of engines was kept as low as possible. The darkness surrounding them felt unnatural—thick and suffocating—as if it were alive and watching their every move.
The road stretched endlessly ahead, broken and uneven, while the convoy advanced in a tight but cautious formation.
No one spoke unless necessary. Even whispers felt too loud.
At the back of the convoy, something followed.
It did not rush forward recklessly, nor did it make any sound. It moved slowly, blending perfectly with the shadows cast by the moving vehicles. If someone looked directly at it, they would see nothing. But the moment they looked away… they could feel it.
Something creeping closer.
Then it attacked.
A man at the rear didn't even have time to scream. His body was dragged backward into the darkness before anyone could react. Those nearby only saw a blur before he vanished completely.
For a moment, everything froze.
Then panic erupted.
"Something took him!"
"Behind us!"
"Stay together!"
Fear spread instantly. People turned, trying to see what was happening, but all they saw was darkness. The formation broke as survivors began running blindly, trying to avoid becoming the next target.
The chaos made things worse.
The shadow struck again.
And again.
Within seconds, six more people were dragged into the darkness.
Screams filled the night.
Then—
"Sequencers, move!"
The captain's voice cut through the panic like a blade.
Three figures rushed toward the rear without hesitation.
The first was a massive man. Zhang Xuan's body expanded slightly as his muscles tightened, his skin hardening as his Sequence ability activated. Each step he took felt heavy, like a moving wall.
Beside him moved Zhao Xun, calm and focused. His sharp eyes scanned the darkness as he drew his bow, already tracking something others couldn't see.
Then came Shen Miao.
Her presence was striking.
Her long red hair swayed behind her, and her crimson eyes shone in the darkness. She wore a fitted black outfit that allowed free movement while highlighting her sharp, confident demeanor. The moment she raised her hand—
Flames ignited.
They lit up her face—young, composed, and unwavering. At only twenty-two, she carried the calm of a veteran.
"Everyone, move forward!" Zhang Xuan roared. "Stay behind the captain! This area is now a combat zone—don't stop!"
The shadow moved again.
It attacked from the side, faster than before.
Zhang Xuan reacted instantly, raising his arm to block. A sharp slash tore across his forearm, drawing blood, but he didn't retreat. Instead, he swung his arm toward the shadow.
His attack passed through it.
Like hitting air.
"Damn it!" he growled.
"Physical attacks won't work!" Zhao Xun shouted.
At the same moment, he released an arrow.
The arrow glowed faintly with energy as it shot forward, piercing through the shadow. The ghost's form distorted slightly.
It worked—but not enough.
"Fire is effective," Shen Miao said calmly.
She extended her hand.
Flames burst forward, bright and intense, cutting through the darkness. The heat spread instantly, forcing the shadow to recoil.
For the first time—
The ghost reacted.
Its body twisted violently, letting out a distorted sound, somewhere between a scream and a whisper.
It was vulnerable.
"Keep attacking!" Zhao Xun called out.
Arrows flew one after another, each infused with energy. Shen Miao followed with continuous waves of fire, forcing the ghost to remain on the defensive. Zhang Xuan stood firm at the front, blocking its approach.
The battle intensified.
The ghost moved unpredictably—appearing above, below, and from the sides. Its speed was terrifying.
But the three Sequencers worked in perfect coordination.
Zhang Xuan endured.
Zhao Xun controlled.
Shen Miao attacked.
Minutes passed.
Five minutes.
Seven.
Ten.
The ghost began to weaken.
Its movements slowed, and its form became unstable. Each burst of fire distorted it further.
Finally, Shen Miao unleashed a stronger wave of flames.
The ghost let out a sharp, distorted screech—
And retreated.
Its body dissolved into shadows and vanished.
Silence returned.
Zhang Xuan lowered his arm, breathing heavily. Blood still trickled from his wound, but it was no longer severe. Zhao Xun kept his bow raised for a moment longer before relaxing.
Shen Miao lowered her hand as the flames disappeared.
"It's gone," Zhao Xun said.
"For now," Shen Miao replied quietly.
None of them truly relaxed.
But the immediate danger had passed.
Without delay, they returned to the convoy. The order to move was given, and the vehicles resumed their journey.
This time, no one complained.
No one hesitated.
They simply moved—faster.
For two more hours, the convoy pushed forward without stopping.
Only after confirming the ghost was no longer following did they finally halt.
The moment they stopped, exhaustion took over.
Some collapsed on the ground. Others leaned against vehicles, too tired to speak. The tension that had held them together finally broke, leaving only fatigue and lingering fear.
At the rear, a few people sat silently.
Their companions were gone.
Their families—
Gone.
Some cried softly. Others stared blankly, their minds unable to process the loss.
Fear remained.
But so did relief.
They were still alive.
After several minutes without incident, people began to settle down.
Li Xuan quietly observed everything before preparing to rest.
His expression remained calm.
But his thoughts were sharp.
He replayed the battle.
The ghost's movement.
Its weakness.
Its behavior.
Fire was effective.
Physical attacks were useless.
Coordination was critical.
Information—
That was survival.
At the center of the convoy, six figures gathered.
They stood apart.
Cleaner.
Stronger.
Different.
They were all Sequencers.
Rou Xi stood beside Zhang Xuan, her hands glowing with a soft yellow light. She looked gentle, with long wavy black hair and calm eyes. Despite her youthful appearance, her healing ability was precise.
"You'll be fine," she said softly.
Zhang Xuan nodded as the wound on his arm slowly closed.
Nearby, the others discussed the battle.
"That ghost behaved strangely," Lin Xudong said. The old man, around sixty-five, looked ordinary—but his eyes were sharp.
"It should fear light," Zhao Xun added. "But it used shadows to attack."
Shen Miao spoke quietly.
"It adapted."
Silence followed.
Xu Ming finally spoke.
"We need to rethink everything."
"If ghosts can adapt, then what we know is unreliable."
No one disagreed.
After a moment, Zhao Xun asked, "What's next?"
Xu Ming replied calmly, "Tomorrow, we meet another convoy."
"I got the information from the radio."
No one questioned it.
They all knew about the artifact.
Everyone had secrets.
"Why not avoid them?" Zhao Xun asked.
Xu Ming shook his head.
"I don't sense danger."
That was enough.
"If there's no danger, there's opportunity," he continued. "Information, supplies… cooperation."
The group nodded.
The meeting ended shortly after.
One by one, they left.
Xu Ming remained alone.
Inside his tent, he held a broken radio.
Its surface was cracked, yet it emitted a faint, strange aura.
He gently stroked it and spoke softly—
"I love you… you're the most beautiful… the most precious…"
His expression stiffened slightly.
He didn't want to say those words.
But he had no choice.
Every artifact had a price.
This was his.
If he didn't say those words, the radio would not respond.
It was humiliating.
But worth it.
Because it gave him something invaluable—
Information.
And in this world, information meant survival.
Outside the tent, Ye Fan stood silently.
He had heard everything.
A strange expression crossed his face.
"…Captain must be under too much pressure," he muttered quietly.
Without saying anything more, he turned and walked away, deciding to give Xu Ming some privacy.
Inside the tent, Xu Ming continued speaking to the radio.
Outside—
The convoy slowly fell into uneasy sleep.