Worm (Parahumans #1) - Chapter 268: Arc 26: Sting - Interlude

Japan – National News BroadcastThe polished news anchor sat upright, her gaze sharp as she adjusted the stack of papers before her. The newsroom behind her hummed with quiet urgency, the weight of the moment settling over the broadcast.“Authorities are baffled by a sudden and unexplained surge in sleep-related deaths across Japan,” she began, her voice steady yet tense. “More and more citizens are passing away in their sleep without any prior health concerns. Experts are working tirelessly to determine the cause, but no clear explanation has emerged. Authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and report any unusual symptoms before bedtime.”A graphic appeared, displaying the spike in fatalities over the past month. Behind her, unsettling photographs flickered across the screen—blurred images of individuals found in their beds, their faces frozen in expressions of terror.The anchor’s tone shifted. “Health officials recommend citizens avoid excessive fatigue and maintain healthy sleep habits. More updates will follow as investigations continue.”---United States – Paranormal PodcastIn a dimly lit podcast studio, the host leaned forward, his eyes wide with curiosity. Across from him, a rugged man in a worn flannel shirt, gripping a faded photograph in one hand and a beer can in the other, leaned back in his chair.“So, you're telling me you saw this creature firsthand?” the host asked, clearly intrigued.The man scoffed, shaking his head. “Damn right, I did. Ugly thing had wings bigger than my body—slow but sneaky. Thought it could steal my pigs again, but I was ready this time—camera in one hand, shotgun in the other.”He slammed the table for emphasis, then shoved the blurry image toward the host. The photograph depicted a small, red-skinned humanoid figure with large, bat-like wings, its eyes glowing faintly in the darkness.“Spit, the thing didn’t know what hit it when I fired!” the man chuckled, his voice full of excitement.The host held up the picture to the live chat. “Alright, what do you think? Mothman? Demon? Or is our friend here just seeing things?”The chat exploded with theories—some skeptical, others eager for the investigation to continue.---China – Liangyuan Street MarketSurveillance footage from a bustling night market in China captured a chilling scene. A woman in a red qipao walked gracefully through the crowd, her figure striking in the soft glow of lanterns.Suddenly, she paused. Her body flickered—like a glitch in a video—before vanishing completely, as though she had never existed.The footage zoomed in, replaying in slow motion. In the final frame before she disappeared, her face distorted unnaturally, her eyes hollow and empty.The screen cut abruptly to black.

MC Derick, unexpectedly reborn, had thought he could save his sister's fate, whom he had relied on since childhood. However, to his surprise, an apocalypse unfolded...After accidentally killing zombies, Derick activated the Apocalypse King system. Wasn't this forcing him to conquer the world and establish his own ideal kingdom?Thus, Derick embarked on the path of an Apocalypse King, singing all the way from the city of Gray Bear. Want to survive? First, call him “Master.” Whether you are a high-ranking lady, a celebrity singer, a police flower, a school belle, or an elegant beauty, in Derick's eyes, you are merely a slave. To stay alive, behave obediently and serve as a good female slave...

Victoria devoted five faithful years to Ethan, her mate-to-be—or so she thought. But on the night she planned to reveal her deepest secret, she overhears Ethan and her best friend in bed, laughing about her “omega innocence.” Betrayed, heartbroken, and burning with fury, Victoria turns away from the man who used her... straight into the arms of his enigmatic half-brother, the dangerous and magnetic Damian Sterling.“Why him?” Damian asks, his voice dark.“Because I want to forget your brother,” she dares.Just one night. No feelings. No regrets. But neither of them expects the raging call of fate, or the secrets about to explode.She was never an omega.He was never meant to touch her.But destiny has its own rules—and it starts with one unforgettable night.Will revenge turn into something deeper—or destroy them both?

With the revival of spiritual energy and the breakdown of the order of species, it is a difficult test whether human beings can still stand at the top of the biological chain.

(There is already an old book, The Strongest Descends in the City, you can read it.)

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