The sudden acceleration of the Domain World's encroachment on the Real World caught Feng Qi completely off guard.
He had thought that the collapse of this future world would be far in the future, leaving him ample time to establish connections with the remaining human survivors.
But now, as he stared at the distorting line dividing the two worlds, he froze, overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness.
The Domain World advanced rapidly toward Star City Shelter, leaving desolation in its wake. Flowers, grass, and trees withered as though eroded by centuries of decay in an instant.
The wide roadway leading to the shelter cracked and crumbled under the weight of the Domain's oppressive rules, splitting apart like fragile glass under pressure.
Seeing this, Feng Qi was overcome with a profound sense of powerlessness. Against a catastrophe of this magnitude, individual strength seemed insignificant. He knew there was nothing he could do to alter the events unfolding before him.
The ground beneath him suddenly trembled violently.
Turning his head, he saw a rising cloud of dust far in the distance. Countless grotesque Domain creatures surged toward him from all directions, following the expanding Domain Field as if intent on devouring the entire world.
Simultaneously, the sky was torn apart by dimensional rifts. Shadowy tendrils emerged, accompanied by an eerie cacophony of guttural whispers and a thick, impenetrable mist.
In the distance, towering humanoid figures, as massive as mountains, marched toward Star City Shelter with deliberate, earth-shaking strides.
"ROAR!"
A thunderous bellow resounded, scattering the clouds and revealing a feral, monstrous face.
Everywhere Feng Qi looked, terrifying Domain creatures materialized, their sheer numbers and overwhelming presence suffocating.
As he turned his gaze toward the shelter, the steel walls began to retract, unfolding like the slats of a retractable gate. Rows of soldiers clad in rune-infused battle armor marched out in formation.
The first battalion stopped just outside the shelter, forming a line of defense. Behind them, more squads spread out to the flanks, creating a vast formation of over ten thousand warriors who stood resolutely against the advancing Domain Field.
Witnessing this, Feng Qi's heart filled with anxiety.
Victory was impossible. Their only course of action should have been retreat—to regroup with other human enclaves and consolidate their remaining strength. A final stand here was nothing short of folly.
Determined to intervene, he sprinted toward Star City Shelter.
By now, the shelter's steel gates were slowly closing, while the soldiers raised their weapons in unison, ready to face the oncoming horde.
Feng Qi activated his mental energy, propelling himself forward in a desperate rush to reach the shelter.
But even at full speed, he couldn't match the swiftness of the Domain creatures. They raced past him in droves, utterly ignoring his presence, driven by a singular purpose—to charge toward the human frontlines.
Within moments, the first wave of Domain creatures clashed with the shelter's vanguard. The battlefield erupted in a storm of carnage and bloodshed.
The human soldiers wielded their weapons with fierce resolve, their movements augmented by spiritual energy, cutting down the advancing Domain creatures with precise and devastating blows.
Feng Qi stood in awe.
The warriors of the future were far more formidable than he had ever imagined.
Over fifteen centuries, cultivation techniques had evolved to unprecedented levels, granting humanity a mastery of spiritual energy that surpassed anything Feng Qi had encountered in his time. The warriors, clad in rune armor, exuded an indomitable aura, their killing intent manifest in their unyielding gazes.
Finally, Feng Qi reached the edge of the battlefield but stopped in his tracks.
He knew that if he crossed the line, he would face the same fate as the Domain creatures—a swift and merciless death.
As he stood frozen, watching the blood-soaked battle unfold, a deep sense of futility welled within him.
Suddenly, viscous globs of slime began raining down from the sky.
The gelatinous substance coalesced upon hitting the ground, forming grotesque, writhing lifeforms that launched a flanking assault on the human defensive line.
"Formation One, seal and purge!" a voice roared from the human ranks.
In response, a squad of soldiers floated into the air. With blinding speed, their hands wove intricate seals. Whips of pure lightning materialized around them, lashing out at the approaching slime creatures.
The crackling whips tore through the grotesque entities, disintegrating their bodies in an instant, leaving behind only trails of scorched earth.
"Shield Battalion, advance! Protect the casters at all costs!" came another command.
At this, a squad of heavily armored warriors stepped forward, raising their massive shields as they pushed back the onslaught of Domain creatures with unyielding determination.
As Feng Qi watched the disciplined, coordinated response of these soldiers, he couldn't understand their resolve.
Why fight to the death? Why not retreat to regroup and survive?
His mind was flooded with unanswered questions as he observed the unwavering resolve of the shelter's defenders.
Just then, a figure emerged from the defensive line, ascending to a height of nearly a hundred meters above the battlefield. Closing his eyes, the individual extended both arms outward.
Immediately, the ambient spiritual energy in the air surged toward him as if drawn by an unseen force.
A brilliant golden dot of light appeared in the sky above, growing rapidly in size as it moved with calculated precision. The dot traced intricate patterns in the air, forming an enormous spell array.
Suddenly, a torrent of flames erupted from the array, descending like a tidal wave.
The searing fire engulfed the Domain creatures below, annihilating them before they could utter a single cry. Ashes scattered in the wake of the inferno, the land scorched to nothingness.
Feng Qi, safely at a distance, could feel the oppressive heat even from where he stood.
Had he been closer, he would have undoubtedly perished as well.
At that moment, waves of heat rolled toward him from the battlefield, forcing Feng Qi to retreat several steps.
"So powerful!"
[These are among humanity's last surviving warriors, tasked with defending the shelter. Do you think the weak could have survived to this point? If they were weak, the shelter would have already fallen to the Domain creatures.]
Hearing the narrator's reply, Feng Qi nodded in agreement.
"ROAR!"
A deafening roar shattered the air. A Domain creature with massive wings swooped down from the sky, its gaping maw targeting the figure still casting spells mid-air.
The airborne figure reacted swiftly, turning and thrusting both hands toward the winged Domain creature. The formation above his head reversed direction, spewing torrents of flame toward the assailant.
Engulfed by the searing flames, the winged creature let out a spine-chilling wail before plummeting to the ground.
Feng Qi, who had been holding his breath in nervous anticipation, pumped his fist in excitement when he saw the attack succeed.
But his elation was short-lived. A spatial vortex suddenly appeared in the sky. From within the swirling void, a massive gray mist hand emerged and struck the spellcaster.
The attack was swift and unexpected. The spellcaster had no time to react and was hit directly. Blood spurted from his mouth as his body plummeted, landing in the middle of the Domain creatures' horde with a resounding thud.
Seeing this, Feng Qi let out a furious roar, activating his Blood Source ability. His muscles swelled, his frame quickly growing into a two-meter-tall, hulking figure. Without hesitation, he charged toward the fallen spellcaster.
Barreling through the Domain creatures in his path, Feng Qi reached the injured spellcaster. He saw a Domain creature gnawing at the man's rune armor, trying to tear it apart.
Feng Qi lunged forward, slamming his fist into the creature's face. The blow sent the creature flying several meters.
Bending down, he helped the gravely injured spellcaster to his feet.
"Can you move?" Feng Qi asked urgently.
The man coughed, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. His eyes widened in shock as he got a good look at Feng Qi's monstrous appearance.
"Who… who are you?" the spellcaster managed to stammer.
"I'm human! An accident turned me into this… whatever, no time to explain. I'm getting you back to safety!"
Before the man could respond, a Domain creature lunged at them from Feng Qi's right. Feng Qi reacted instantly, swinging his fist to knock the creature away.
He then picked up the spellcaster and crouched, preparing to launch him back toward the human defensive line.
This move was one Feng Qi had learned from the Future Database—a physical cultivation technique designed to channel maximum power into a single explosive motion.
His body bent backward, muscles coiled like a tightly wound spring.
"Here we go!"
With a roar, he unleashed all his strength, hurling the spellcaster toward the human defensive line. As the man soared through the air, Feng Qi extended his mental energy, creating a force that pushed the man further forward.
But even with his efforts, the man began to lose altitude, falling short of the defensive line.
At the last moment, a figure leapt from the human frontlines, catching the spellcaster mid-air before landing safely within the shelter.
[Nice!] The narrator's voice rang out triumphantly.
Feng Qi clenched his fists in relief.
However, before he could retreat to maintain distance from the humans, another figure leapt from the defensive line, hurtling straight toward him.
Clad in black rune armor, the newcomer landed beside Feng Qi with astonishing speed and grabbed his right arm before he could react.
The immense force lifted Feng Qi off the ground, dragging him back toward the human frontlines.
When they landed, a black spear was pressed against Feng Qi's throat.
"You claim to be human? State your resident identification number!" The figure's voice was cold and commanding.
Feeling the spear's icy edge against his neck, Feng Qi's heart sank.
Again with the resident number. If he had one, he would've given it already!
"I'm human, but I don't have a resident number," he said, his voice tinged with frustration.
"Prove it. Otherwise, I will treat you as a Domain creature and kill you," the man replied icily.
Knowing that saying he was Feng Qi from 1500 years ago wouldn't be believed, Feng Qi quickly came up with an explanation.
"I participated in the Rune Modification Project. I left the cities long ago and have been surviving on my own."
The man holding the spear paused for a moment before replying, "I am Chen Mo, commander of Star City Shelter's First Combat Brigade. I'll temporarily believe you, but I won't allow you to enter the shelter."
Realizing he was no longer in immediate danger, Feng Qi seized the opportunity to ask, "Commander Chen Mo, why don't you evacuate the shelter's residents instead of staying here to fight?"
"Evacuate? To where?"
"Are you saying Star City is the last human shelter? There's nowhere else humanity can survive?"
Chen Mo shook his head. "Crossing the Domain Field to reach another shelter is beyond our capabilities. Besides, we have no idea if any other shelters still exist."
The heat of the battle bore down heavily on Feng Qi as he asked, "Even if there are no other shelters, can't you lead the residents eastward? Staying here for a final stand—how long can you even hold out?"
"There's nowhere left to retreat," Chen Mo replied tersely.
Without waiting for further questions, Chen Mo turned back toward the defensive line. "I don't have time to chat with you. Take care of yourself. The shelter is sealed now, and no one's getting in."
"One last question: why don't you join the others in the shelter instead of fighting out here?"
"Resources are limited, and we are warriors. To die in battle is our destiny." Chen Mo spoke in an almost casual tone, never looking back. His spear spun in his hands before he leapt into the fray, charging at the encroaching Domain creatures.
Hearing this, Feng Qi froze, realizing a harsh truth.
These warriors had severed their ties to any chance of survival. They had committed themselves to this battle, knowing the shelter's resources couldn't sustain a larger population. If the resource cycle failed, it would doom everyone inside the shelter.
The weight of this realization hit Feng Qi like a blow.
The battle raged on. As more powerful Domain creatures appeared, the human warriors could no longer fight as effortlessly as before. Gradually, soldiers began to fall, their places taken by comrades stepping forward from the rear.
Although their faces were hidden behind helmets, Feng Qi could feel the solemn resolve emanating from their forms.
Wounded fighters were dragged back to the rear, where medics worked desperately to patch them up before they rejoined the fight.
Feng Qi watched helplessly, unable to change the course of events unfolding before him.
The mounting casualties placed greater strain on the defensive line, but the warriors stood firm. Some lost arms to the beasts, others had their legs shattered, yet none retreated. They stood like immovable mountains, their determination unyielding.
Feng Qi clenched his fists, his gaze fixed on the horrific scene.
The future of humanity shouldn't be like this, he thought bitterly.
As time passed, more warriors fell, and the defensive line crumbled. The remaining soldiers rallied around the statue standing at the city gate, preparing for one final stand against the onslaught of Domain creatures.
One by one, warriors sacrificed themselves to protect the statue, preventing the creatures from drawing closer.
"Is it worth dying to protect a statue?" Feng Qi murmured under his breath.
"Yes," came a voice from his right, surprising him. "It represents the dignity we swore to defend with our lives. It's not just decoration."
Turning his head, Feng Qi saw the soldier who had previously blocked his path. Now lying on the ground, the man had lost both arms. His eyes had turned a ghostly gray, clearly blind, yet he stared blankly at the sky.
The soldier continued, his voice faint but unwavering. "This statue has been reforged 28 times. After every battle, we melt down the rune crystals drained of their energy and add them to it."
"It's the symbol of our warriors' dignity. As long as we stand, it must never fall."
"Cough... A book and a sword, no matter how far…" The man's voice faltered, and then he fell silent.
"Dignity?" Feng Qi muttered, his emotions churning within.
A sense of suffocating despair washed over him. Then, with resolve burning in his chest, he charged toward the defensive line.
He knew he was weak compared to these warriors, but in that moment, he vowed to stand alongside them—to fight until his last breath.
As he ran, his Nightmare ability activated automatically.
Fragments of the dying warriors' memories flooded his mind. Their thoughts and voices intertwined in a cacophony:
"Captain, do you think we can win?"
"I don't know. But we're not fighting because we think we'll win. We're fighting because we have to win."
"The future looks like this because we failed to honor the sacrifices of our predecessors. All we can do is keep fighting until our last drop of blood is shed."
The scenes merged into one vivid image.
In his mind, he saw them standing beneath a clear blue sky, their fists raised to their temples in a solemn salute. They faced his statue and made their oath:
"The Eternal Night approaches, and we will remember.
We seek no glory, united as brothers, loyal to duty, living and dying as one.
Our hearts remain steadfast, unyielding, unafraid.
Sound the horn to warn of external threats; forge an unbreakable shield to secure humanity's eternal prosperity.
Today, we stand, offering our lives. To die, without regret.
Humanity shall endure!"
"Humanity shall endure!" Feng Qi shouted, his voice ringing out like a battle cry.
Around him, voices rose in unison, their cries echoing through the battlefield.
Consumed by seething hatred, he joined the remaining warriors in a final, desperate charge against the Domain creatures.