“Damn it…”
“Shift” Ma Twelve looked like he was about to run out of steam.
To lure the Black Tortoise behind them into the “Cat” team’s ambush, he, along with “Hover” Wu Thirteen and “Forget Sorrow” Luo Eleven, had been running with her in tow the entire way.
Along the journey, they heard chaotic explosions and fighting in the distant square, silently praying that “Extreme Path” would be lucky enough to snatch the giant bell from the White Tiger’s grasp.
“Brother Eleven… are we almost at the ‘ambush point’?” Ma Twelve gasped.
“Stop… stop talking… use that energy to keep running…”
The marker rounds on the Black Tortoise’s body continuously emitted thick red smoke, sending signals to all nearby “Cats.”
More and more people began converging toward the red smoke, but the process was taking far too long, sending chills down the spines of those leading the Black Tortoise on this chase.
Fortunately, today, for some reason, the Black Tortoise seemed oddly compliant, following them without resistance. Despite possessing “Blink,” she never appeared beside them, only inching forward in short bursts.
She also never once used her “Pocket Plunder” to attack them, as if waiting to see how things would unfold.
Though the plan was to lead the Black Tortoise into the “ambush point,” from her perspective, it seemed like they were just aimlessly dragging her around in circles among the low-rise buildings. Her patience was wearing thin.
After several more laps around the buildings, the Black Tortoise realized they had no intention of leading her out. With a sigh, she activated “Blink,” instantly appearing before them and blocking their path.
Luo Eleven and the others screeched to a halt, panting heavily.
After all, while the Black Tortoise could teleport, the three of them had been sprinting for dear life for over ten minutes.
**”Why aren’t you killing me?”**
Her ethereal voice drifted from her shadowy form, but the three could only bend over, gasping for air, unable to respond.
Luo Eleven, still catching his breath, waved a hand dismissively. “Let us… rest first… damn, this is exhausting…”
**”Kill me.”** The Black Tortoise’s tone brooked no argument.
“Hold on…” Luo Eleven finally steadied his breathing. “We can’t kill you yet. You’ve got to wait—we need to reach the ambush point, and then…”
**”You’ve been running in circles. How will you reach an ambush point?”**
The Black Tortoise sounded genuinely confused, as if realizing she’d been played.
“We *are* heading there…” Luo Eleven slowly raised his head. “Even if it looks like we’re running in circles, we’re almost there…”
**”Bold.”**
The Black Tortoise extended her obsidian-black arm, clearly preparing to attack.
**”I allow you to kill me, but I do not allow you to waste my time. There are still many rules I must uphold, and countless deaths I have yet to experience.”**
“Who’s wasting time?!” Luo Eleven shook his head. “We’ve gone through so much trouble to lure you into this ambush—all just to kill you!”
**”Oh…?”**
As soon as the word left her lips, red signal flares shot into the sky from all directions.
*Whoosh!*
One after another, eight flares soared upward, their glow like tiny suns against the dark crimson sky, forming a perfect circle in the air.
And at the center of that circle stood the Black Tortoise.
**”An ambush…”** she murmured. **”So it wasn’t me seeking the ambush… but the ambush seeking me.”**
“Wouldn’t you call this surrounded?” Luo Eleven grinned. “Black Tortoise… now we *really* have to kill you…”
Familiar figures emerged atop the surrounding rooftops.
Song Seven, dressed in black, stepped to the edge of a rooftop, pulling a hair tie from her wrist to tie back her disheveled hair before glaring down with a solemn expression.
“Sixth Sister warned us this Black Tortoise was unusual, but I never expected *this* level of absurdity.”
One by one, “Cat” team members appeared—Wang Ba, Bai Nine, Jiang Ten, and others—each leading small squads atop different buildings. Except for Qian Five, every member ranked up to Twenty-One had arrived.
With Qian Five absent, Song Seven was the highest-ranking present.
The Black Tortoise slowly turned, surveying the encircling foes. She could sense formidable **”Echoes”** emanating from each of them.
It was a jarring realization—most didn’t seem insane, yet their battle-hardened auras were unmistakable. Their mastery of **”Echo”** wasn’t just *powerful*—it was *precise*.
Years of combat had honed their abilities to perfection.
Lowering her gaze, she spotted a few more figures clad in black leather standing on the ground below.
Clearly, they had devised a meticulous plan—some for long-range support, others for close-quarters combat.
In all her existence, she had *never* been so thoroughly surrounded by so many intent on her death.
**”So, what now?”** Her voice echoed as she scanned the crowd. **”Shall I strike first, or will you?”**
Song Seven frowned at the pitch-black figure below. Though Sixth Sister had only briefly described the Black Tortoise’s appearance, it was clear many of their original strategies were now useless.
Turning to the man and woman behind her, she asked, “Fourth Brother, you outrank me. Shouldn’t *you* take command?”
Detective Li lit a cigarette, exhaling smoke before replying, “I don’t know your team’s abilities. You’re better suited to lead.”
“Fine.” Song Seven then glanced at Su Can. “So… what’s the Black Tortoise’s current status?”
Su Can stepped forward, her eyes shimmering like gemstones as faint light encircled her pupils.
The world beneath her gaze shifted—everything retained its form, yet now bore faint, glowing halos.
After scrutinizing the Black Tortoise, her expression darkened.
“Can you still see her eyes?” Song Seven pressed.
Su Can sighed, squinting as she scanned the Black Tortoise like a high-precision instrument.
“Not just her ‘eyes’…” she whispered. “That thing is so bizarre… I can barely tell if she’s even *human* anymore.”
“What do you mean?”
“Her entire body is covered in **’ripples’**…” Su Can explained. “How do I put this? Normally, I see ripples *on* people. But with her… I’m seeing a person *within* ripples.”
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