Chapter 4: New Era (5)
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Whether it was the survivors at the scene or the spectators hiding at home watching the live broadcast, everyone let out uncontrollable screams as Lin Nan was engulfed by flames.
Just moments ago, they had witnessed a helicopter get blown to bits; how could Lin Nan possibly withstand the relentless hunger of the fire with just her flesh and bl**d?
She was certainly toast—literally.
But just half a second later, a dark figure suddenly shot out of the waning flames.
The curved long kn*fe in her hand seemed to possess some strange magic, instantly absorbing all the remaining fiery residue suspended in the air onto its blade.
To the eyes of the crowd, Lin Nan looked like a fiery maiden who had just burst out of hell, with flames licking at her long kn*fe.
Not a single scorch mark marred her, and even her ponytail, dancing in the wind, showed no signs of curling up.
Everyone was dumbfounded.
Although the Special Operations Bureau had announced its existence, people were still grappling with the fact that its operatives were anything but ordinary humans—especially after Lin Nan floated in mid-air, leaving everyone reeling.
But how powerful was the Bureau, really? That question remained unanswered in the minds of the people.
Until today, when the sudden appearance of monsters sent innocent civilians fleeing, a doubt began to rise in their hearts: could the Special Operations Bureau really protect citizens while eradicating super villains as they claimed?
So when people assumed Lin Nan had underestimated her opponent and would be swiftly turned to ash by the giant ape’s flames, she instead emerged like a phoenix from the ashes, unscathed, having absorbed all the residual fire into her long kn*fe. Even in broad daylight, the flames dancing on her blade radiated heat that made TV reporters a safe distance away feel like they were standing too close to a barbecue.
It was clear what kind of sweltering environment Lin Nan was in as she gripped the hilt of her kn*fe.
At the same time, perhaps sensing a threat, the giant ape hurled the woman it had been clutching like a basketball, sending her soaring diagonally upwards, before it sprinted off in the opposite direction.
Naturally, Lin Nan couldn’t just stand there and watch someone d*e.
She launched into a full sprint, her speed nearly reaching its limits, leaving behind a shadow of flames as she zipped past.
Just as the fainted woman was about to slam into a building, Lin Nan arrived just in time. She wrapped her arms tightly around the woman’s waist and spun three times in the air, easing her fall.
But by then, the giant ape was long gone.
Lin Nan handed the woman off to bystanders for care and took off again, not uttering a word.
To capture Lin Nan’s image clearly, the television station dispatched four drones to follow her at maximum speed. Even so, they struggled to keep up, forcing audiences to catch only fleeting glimpses of her retreating figure. If not for the glimmering flames on her weapon, one might have thought she had vanished entirely.
Seeing it couldn’t escape and realizing the flames had no effect on her, the giant ape turned back, roaring as it made a counterattack.
As its claws tore through the ground, debris flew in all directions, and the ground vibrated with an impressive force.
In the vicinity of the combat zone, aside from some elderly folks with mobility issues who were still holed up praying for safety, everyone else had fled, terrified that the intense battle would spill over into them.
The SWAT teams that had already arrived at the scene kept their light weapons trained on the giant ape, attempting to weaken the enemy before the showdown commenced.
The moment Lin Nan’s cold, swift silhouette appeared, they immediately halted their assault, terrified of friendly fire.
From the vast array of onlookers—whether standing at the scene or glued to their screens—all eyes were glued to Lin Nan.
She absolutely had to win!
Unbeknownst to her, expectations for Lin Nan had been building.
“Whoosh!”
With both hands gripping the hilt, the flames that seemed almost extinguished suddenly burst forth from the blade like a phoenix rising.
“Flame Blade!”
With a fierce cry, she wielded the flame-encased slender kn*fe, charging headlong towards the giant ape.
The giant ape managed to dodge the fiery blade but then sent a fist crashing towards Lin Nan’s midsection.
The two—human and beast—continued to wrestle between the buildings, the giant ape’s thick skin allowing it to sometimes withstand the fiery kn*fe’s onslaught with brute force.
Meanwhile, Lin Nan’s graceful form and sharp technique genuinely left a lasting impression on everyone watching.
“Crack, crack!”
“Boom, boom!”
Buildings in the city center crumbled, and people scrambled in every direction.
But what choice did they have? If Lin Nan didn’t step in, they all knew the fallout could be far worse—surely, it wasn’t just property at stake but perhaps even lives!
The tense and fierce five minutes passed.
Lin Nan and the colossal creature, which was five times her size, were locked in an even duel.
It was as if a thrilling film scene had leaped into reality—spectators watched breathlessly, exhilarated yet anxious for Lin Nan’s safety.
“Go, Lin Nan! You can do it!”
It was as if they were rallying her spirit, and suddenly, the length of the flame-wreathed long kn*fe soared, doubling in size out of nowhere.
The giant ape was caught off guard, and its right arm was severed in an instant.
bl**d spurted like a fountain, and the giant ape let out a scream, clutching its wound and attempting to flee.
Too bad for it, Lin Nan wasn’t about to let that happen.
The flame-infused blade devoured the giant ape like a fire dragon engulfing a feast.
As Lin Nan soared over its rigid body and stood confidently to withdraw her long kn*fe, the giant ape collapsed, now looking like a jigsaw puzzle with a dozen neatly-cut pieces.
Drones captured this scene in vivid detail, broadcasting it nationwide.
Viewers were awestruck by Lin Nan’s striking presence and merciless blade work.
She was absolutely exuding coolness; in that moment, she looked like a wandering hero gallivanting across the world, free and unrestrained.
Furthermore, she had stepped up amidst a crisis, taking down a nearly ten-meter-tall monster all by herself. Such strength was truly worthy of being called Bureau Director of the Special Operations Bureau!
Lin Nan gently blew on her blade, watching the residual flames gradually extinguish.
As the giant ape’s remains began to fade with the arrival of the SWAT teams, she slowly sheathed her long kn*fe and turned to the SWAT Team Leader, coldly stating, “Contact Wang Shengli for me. I have something to tell him.”
“Yes, Bureau Director Lin.”
The SWAT Team Leader knew better than to dally with someone who seemed pulled straight out of a legend, quickly using the internal communicator to reach the Bureau. Shortly after, Wang Shengli’s voice crackled over the phone.
“Bureau Director Lin, congratulations on your victory!”
Lin Nan sighed, “Wang Bureau, now isn’t the time for congratulations. I have a feeling today’s events are just the prologue. If we want a real solution, we’ll need to…”
Wang Shengli replied, “…I understand. I’ll report this to Comrade Zhao Nanyang immediately.”
