The white terror continued to spread across the skies of the entire world. That afternoon, two more Half-step Star Soul Realm powerhouses were found dead with their hearts gouged out. They belonged to different countries and had no connection whatsoever.
"There are twenty high-level Star Soul experts and twenty Half-step Star Soul experts in the whole world, for a total of forty people. As of now, Lucifer has already killed three. We are still unclear about Lucifer's purpose for hunting down Star Martial experts, but we must immediately stop Lucifer from continuing his killing spree," said the five newly appointed members of the International Security Council during an emergency meeting.
"The problem is that Lucifer is too powerful. He hides in the darkness while the Star Martial experts are exposed in the open. Furthermore, Lucifer possesses elusive spatial abilities, making it impossible to stop him from hunting down experts."
"There are only forty experts in total. At this rate, he's going to wipe them all out pretty soon."
"For now, the best course of action might be to have the Star Martial experts hide."
"Which one of those proud Star Martial experts would be willing to hide? It's going to be hard for them to accept that, isn't it?"
"Being hunted like prey or hiding—they have to choose one, right?"
Immediately, the International Security Council issued an announcement to all Star Martial Warriors above the Star Sea Realm around the world, instructing them to temporarily go into hiding and not expose their whereabouts. Lucifer was currently on a rampant spree, hunting down top-tier Star Martial experts. Until a way to counter Lucifer was found, they were to avoid revealing their locations as much as possible.
Once the announcement was released, it caused a backlash among many Star Martial Warriors. After all, who among those who had reached the Star Soul or Half-step Star Soul Realm was a stranger to mortal peril? In their own words, having faced life and death countless times, they had long since become indifferent to it; if challenged, they would fight.
If Lucifer wanted to come, then a battle it would be.
「In the Palace of the Saintess of God's Country,」
Wang Lan was still pondering the information obtained from the Archbishop of Thunder. He had already gone over it several times but was still unable to find the motive behind Lucifer's hunting of Star Martial experts.
If Lucifer's only purpose was to eliminate humanity's Star Martial experts, then there would have been no need for him to kill the Archbishop of Thunder and take his heart. Lucifer's actions were definitely not as simple as merely eradicating humanity's pinnacle forces.
"Wang Lan, quickly, look at the TV, the international channel," Yulia suddenly pushed open the door and said. With that, Yulia picked up the remote control, turned on the TV, and switched to the international channel, which was broadcasting a talk show from White Eagle Country.
A strange figure wearing a devil's mask sat on an extremely cool motorcycle, arrogantly taunting the screen.
"Fallen Angel Lucifer, you traitor to Heaven, trash of Hell, do you know who I am? I'm your daddy, Ghost Rider! The superhero of White Eagle Country, Ghost Rider! Aren't you hunting the world's top Star Martial experts? Daddy is right here waiting for you. If you have the guts, come and find me; I'll definitely stuff you back into Hell!"
The live audience kept whistling and cheering. People from White Eagle Country loved these kinds of superheroes with a bad-boy vibe, and Ghost Rider's popularity was already very high there.
Through the TV, Wang Lan could even see some audience members screaming with excitement until they fainted.
Wang Lan's expression suddenly changed. "Does he really not know how to write the word 'death'?"
As soon as his voice fell, Wang Lan's figure twisted slightly and disappeared in an instant.
When he was previously on a mission in White Eagle Country, Wang Lan had incidentally left a spatial coordinate there. However, the location of this coordinate was still several hundred kilometers away from the city where Ghost Rider was. The moment Wang Lan appeared, his figure transformed into a streak of light and WHOOSHED into the sky.
"Lucifer, I don't know if you can understand TV, or if your savage brain can even comprehend what this technology is. And you still talk about destroying technological civilization and sending humanity back to the Savage Age?
You're an idiot! In my eyes, you're just a big gorilla, a stupid pig!"
CLAP CLAP CLAP—
Suddenly, a clear sound of applause arose. Although the sound was not loud, it distinctly reached the ears of everyone present.
The faint clapping actually overshadowed the current screams and clamor.
All eyes curiously turned towards the source of the applause, where a young god with long black hair and extremely handsome features was clapping his hands while slowly walking onto the stage.
This scene was broadcast live on television to thousands of households.
"Sir, please do not walk onto the stage uninvited! Sir, please..."
With a gentle wave of the young man's hand, the host floated away like a released balloon. All the approaching security guards froze in their tracks, staring in terror at the approaching young man.
"You put that very well; truly satisfying. Seeing your earnest invitation, wouldn't I be terribly rude if I didn't accept it?" As he spoke, the young man's body became shrouded in a hazy aquatic light. When the light dissipated, he had changed into a black robe.
SWISH—
With this sound, a vast expanse of black wings suddenly unfurled from the young man's back: eight pairs, arranged like those of a butterfly—magnificent and exquisite, yet divine.
The stage's speakers suddenly blared with beautiful, sacred music. Amidst this holy sound, Lucifer walked step by step towards Ghost Rider.
Ghost Rider dismounted from his motorcycle, his expression turning solemn and grave.
"It's inconvenient to fight here."
"Where would be convenient?"
"Up in the sky!" As soon as Ghost Rider finished speaking, his figure WHOOSHED into the void and disappeared. Lucifer smiled faintly, and with a slight tremor of his wings, he instantly pursued.
BOOM—
A terrifying Star Energy Fluctuation emanated from afar. Wang Lan, who had been flying at high speed, abruptly halted. His expression changed dramatically once more as he transformed into a streak of light and dashed towards the explosion's origin.
At the talk show venue, the audience still didn't understand what was happening. Some even looked bewildered. Isn't this just a talk show? Surely this isn't a segment arranged by the director?
BOOM—
A sudden loud explosion erupted, leaving everyone's heads buzzing from the shock. They screamed, covered their ears, and fell to the ground.
BOOM—
Another loud explosion sounded from above. The ceiling of the talk show's studio hall instantly shattered; electrical wires snapped and burst into terrifying sparks.
A heavy object fell from the sky, crashing into the center of the stage. Through the hole in the ceiling, a beam of moonlight shone down, illuminating the figure in the center of the stage.
All the audience members below covered their mouths, their faces etched with horror. The person lying on the stage was their superhero, Ghost Rider.
Blood seeped from underneath Ghost Rider's body, slowly spreading outwards.
The superhero of White Eagle Country, the nation's most powerful Star Martial Warrior, an undefeated legend. But now, he was dead, murdered in plain sight of everyone.
Lucifer's figure seemed to emerge from the moonlight, his hand still clutching a faintly trembling heart.
"This is what he asked for; I merely granted his wish. Ladies and gentlemen, until we meet again!"
"Lucifer—!"
A furious shout suddenly thundered from the sky. Before Wang Lan's figure arrived, his Star Sky God Arrow was already there. It descended from the heavens, hurtling relentlessly towards Lucifer.
Lucifer instantly raised his hand, sending ripples spreading out from his palm.
WHOOM—
A wave of ripples swept across, turning the entire building into dust. Amazingly, most of the terrified audience members in the stands remained unharmed.
"Wang Lan, you're the last one, not the next," Lucifer said, his body twisting as the Power of Space radiated outward.
Wang Lan plummeted from the sky like a meteor. With a thunderous CRASH, he punched fiercely onto the broadcast stage. The shockwave rolled out, stones scattered, and a plume of blue smoke billowed from Wang Lan's fist. But Lucifer was already gone.
With Ghost Rider assassinated in front of so many people, the world's top experts began to wise up. Even an old-guard Star Soul Realm expert like Ghost Rider, on par with the Five Emperors of Jade Country, had been killed in such a short time. Others would likely fare no better.
In the world today, only Wang Lan could pursue Lucifer.
Whether they liked it or not, whether they were willing or reluctant, their lives did not belong solely to themselves but also to the entire world. So that very night, all experts at the pinnacle of the Star Sea Realm and above secretly hid in safe houses.
「The next morning,」
Wang Lan broadcast his declaration of war to the entire world via global satellite, demanding that all public channels in every country play it continuously.
To summarize without detailing the colorful language, the message conveyed a single idea: Lucifer, you shameless bastard! You only dare to pick on weaker targets because you're too cowardly to face me one-on-one? With that kind of character, you think you can become a god? Do you even have the audacity to call yourself a god? Even if you somehow managed it, no one would ever acknowledge you.
If you have even a shred of courage, come find me in God's Country for a one-on-one duel. I'll be waiting for you twenty-four hours a day. If you don't dare to come, just stay squatting in your nest and stop embarrassing yourself.
A normal person would generally be unable to withstand such provocation. Even Wang Lan himself would have undoubtedly leaped out for a duel by now. But Lucifer endured it. Not only did he endure, but he also made no move for three consecutive days.
However, just as the global elites had begun to catch their breath, Lucifer's hunt resumed. Four more top experts were assassinated within their safe houses.
Lucifer even infiltrated heavily guarded military bases with layers of protection, killing his targets amidst a hail of bullets as if he were strolling through an unguarded domain, taking their hearts, and then departing with ease.
His arrogance thoroughly infuriated the world, yet it also instilled immense fear. In the face of such absolute power, the entire world was helpless.
There must be something we're overlooking, Wang Lan thought, looking at the photos of the experts Lucifer had killed. They came from different countries, different races, and practiced different Star Martial Skills.
All appearances suggested that Lucifer's killings were merely because they were strong—top human experts. But if the photo of the Archbishop of Thunder was included, then things seemed rather odd.
The Archbishop of Thunder really shouldn't have been among this group, yet he was precisely the second person whose heart Lucifer had ripped out.
What is it...
Wang Lan turned on his computer and opened the folder containing the biographical data of these individuals. Lost in thought, Wang Lan noticed a series of numbers. Instantly, he jolted alert.
"November 16th."
"September 27th?"
These were the birthdays of the murdered experts. But Wang Lan suddenly realized that the birth months of the ten victims were all different.
