The snowstorm raged like a vengeful ghost. At 3 a.m., Bai Er slipped into the shadows, his black cloak blending into the blizzard. Shen Wufei's villa loomed ahead, its walls unguarded—a rare vulnerability in this game world.
Zou Yidao lit a cigarette, his breath visible in the cold. "That Shen Wufei's a mystery. No one's seen him outside that bug-infested mansion."
Jason snorted. "You're just scared he'll outsmart us."
Bai Er's mask hid his expression. "We need that city. No killing unless necessary."
The villa's doors creaked open, revealing a nightmare. Walls, floors, even furniture swarmed with ants—black, red, and golden. Their mandibles clicked like a thousand ticking clocks.
Zou Yidao's voice crackled through comms. "They're not real! They're—"
A swarm engulfed him. His armored skin hissed as acid-laced bites seeped through. "Run! They're programmed to protect the hive!"
Jason's mace shattered a spider's leg, but the swarm surged. "Bai Er! Where the hell are you?!"
Bai Er emerged from the darkness, a dagger at Shen Wufei's throat. The city lord trembled, his long hair masking tear-streaked cheeks. "I... I'll relinquish the city."
The ants retreated, leaving a trail of dead bodies. Shen Wufei's voice trembled. "They're... my life's work."
Sherry stared at the mechanical spiders. "You turned your home into a death trap?"
"It's the only way to survive here," Shen Wufei whispered.
Back at the Life Tree, Jason activated the City System. Menus flickered—defense upgrades, tax settings, blacklists.
"Set the entry fee to max," Jason ordered. "1,000 credits. Keep the vultures out."
Zou Yidao groaned. "You're burning through credits like crazy. Soul Refinement's farther than ever."
Jason clenched his fists. "We'll earn it back. No more hiding."
As they left, Jason glanced back at Shen Wufei, now hunched over his broken machines. The man's shoulders sagged, a broken marionette.
"He's just a kid," Bai Er said softly.
"A kid who built an ant army to survive," Jason muttered.
The Life Tree stood tall, its branches dusted with snow. For the first time, Jason felt a flicker of hope.