Bai Ye's first thought was that he had been ambushed!
But upon reflection, it didn't feel right. If someone wanted to ambush him, wouldn't it be better to wait until he was inside the church? Attacking him the moment he opened the door meant he could simply dodge by jumping back. However, once inside the church, there wasn't much cover, only some long benches with hollow backs, which wouldn't offer any protection.
Thinking this, Bai Ye crouched and crept back to the church entrance, peering inside.
"Well, well," he thought, "a fight has already broken out."
Bai Ye observed the combatants, unable to distinguish if they were Chosen Ones, local gangsters, or some other opportunists looking to get involved.
However, Jin Sha and Alex were nowhere to be seen, and the Scyther that had been on the rooftop was also gone.
Bai Ye turned to Rattata and asked, "Do you know where Jin Sha is?"
Rattata twitched its nose, tracking by scent, then shook its head and made a claw-waving motion.
Bai Ye mused, "I don't smell Jin Sha, but I do smell Scyther?"
Rattata nodded.
Bai Ye began to ponder the situation. That Scyther must have been Jin Sha's tracking tool. With its ability to fly, aerial surveillance would make it hard to shake off.
Therefore, Scyther being here meant Alex was definitely here, or had been here. He was likely taken somewhere else now.
What about Jin Sha? Had she not arrived yet? She was taking too long!
As Bai Ye was thinking, the wail of police sirens suddenly broke his concentration.
Bai Ye snapped back to reality and looked ahead, spotting over a dozen police cars speeding towards the church, soon stopping not far from the entrance.
Two officers got out, their eyes meeting Bai Ye's. Then...
Without a moment's hesitation, the two officers swiftly drew their weapons and opened fire on Bai Ye.
It was clear the police had immediately identified Bai Ye as the bad guy.
As for why...
Bai Ye was slinging an AK-47!
What kind of good person carries one of those?
"Damn it!"
Bai Ye cursed and quickly ducked into the church.
Even though there was fighting inside, it was still better than being caught in the middle. Besides...
"I'm just passing through. I'm just passing through. I'm just passing through..."
Bai Ye chanted to himself, praying that the people fighting would focus on each other. All he wanted was to cross the church and leave.
But at that moment...
A gust of wind sounded from Bai Ye's side. A man, holding a kukri, brought it down with full force towards Bai Ye's head.
Bai Ye sighed. He knew this would happen. The church was a free-for-all, anyone not on your side was attacked.
But from the perspective of the two factions inside the church, anyone not on their side was the enemy...
So, where did Bai Ye stand?
He was in the 'unlucky' faction, meaning both sides would attack him!
As he thought this, Bai Ye grabbed the man's arm, twisted his waist sharply, and executed a perfect over-the-shoulder throw, sending the man crashing down.
With a crash!
A long bench to the side was smashed to pieces.
"Hmm?"
Bai Ye smacked his lips and looked at the man on the ground. He had been killed by a simple over-the-shoulder throw.
This seemed...
A bit weak?
Bai Ye felt the man wasn't a Chosen One. With his physical strength, he wasn't even as strong as Jin Sha. As a beast tamer, Jin Sha wouldn't be so weak as to be killed by Bai Ye's throw. Therefore, the man before him was just a regular human.
"This doesn't make sense!"
Bai Ye scratched his head. A group of ordinary people couldn't have taken Alex from Jin Sha, could they?
Just then...
Before Bai Ye could think further, the stained-glass windows around them suddenly shattered. Smoke grenades rained down into the church, and thick smoke began to spread.
The police were attacking!
The fighting around them briefly paused, then devolved into chaos as people scrambled to escape.
Bai Ye put on his Predator mask and strode forward.
"Get out of the way!"
Bai Ye grabbed a man who bumped into him by the collar and tossed him aside, then continued forward, kicking another man away.
Vaulting over the back of a bench, Bai Ye swiftly crossed the church hall and entered a corridor through a side door.
The smell of blood!
Bai Ye looked at the corridor in surprise. A battle had taken place here too, with many casualties. Blood stained the floor, and about a dozen corpses were piled up.
Bai Ye stepped over the bodies and moved forward. Suddenly, he noticed something and squatted down.
The wrist of one of the corpses had been brutally crushed. The body had multiple wounds, but they didn't look like they were made by sharp blades. The edges of the wounds were wide and ragged, more like tears made by bare hands.
This must have been done by a Chosen One, right?
The gangsters in the city would at most shoot a few times with firearms; they wouldn't have this kind of ability.
Of course, it was also possible that some lone wolves among the city's villains had also taken action.
As Bai Ye pondered, a sound came from behind him.
Bai Ye instinctively turned his head and leaped to the side.
With a clang!
A large door, seemingly torn from somewhere, slammed onto the ground.
A man in camouflage pants and a bare chest stood there, his muscles not bulky but incredibly well-proportioned.
Bai Ye raised an eyebrow.
Those big, bulky muscles might look imposing, but they weren't ideal for combat due to poor flexibility and how excess muscle could distort movements. The man's physique, however, was the perfect form for actual combat.
Thinking this, Bai Ye stood up and retreated, saying, "Scan!"
Biological scan activated...
Biological scan complete...
LAKE RODRIGUEZ (Chosen One) (Injured): A Chosen One from a modern civilization world.
Strength: 71
Speed: ??
Stamina: ??
Spirit: 55
Intelligence: 19
Weakness Detection: Rib injury on the right rear side of the body, left thigh injury on the side, left deltoid muscle injury.
Possessions: Scan failed.
Bai Ye glanced at the data displayed on his mask. He was indeed a Chosen One.
At the same time...
Lake, having missed his attack, immediately pressed his assault. He lunged forward, closing the distance to Bai Ye in a single step, and threw a straight punch directly at Bai Ye's face.
But, at the critical moment of impact...
Bai Ye suddenly raised his arm!
Bang!
A dull thud of flesh hitting flesh!
Facing Lake's fist, Bai Ye met it head-on with sheer force.
Lake continued to exert his strength, trying to blast Bai Ye away. However, half a second later, surprise flickered across Lake's face.
He...
Could not push Bai Ye away!
...