Chapter 42: The Net of Heaven and Earth, an Empire's Collapse

The salty wind of Raptor Bay whipped across the docks, carrying with it the scent of brine and the chilling finality of defeat. Skylar Luo, the man who had ruled Newtide City’s underworld for decades, was a broken heap on the cold concrete. Eric Ye’s question about “unconditional surrender” hung in the air, each word a hammer blow to his shattered pride. For a moment, absolute despair clouded Skylar's eyes. Everything was gone. His strongest fighter, the God of Slaughter, was dead. His...