Chapter 109 Strike First

"I'm not afraid, but is it worth it?" Old Chen tapped the table. "What if they really have some tough guys, like that woman driving is a powerful superhuman, or that dog is really fierce? Even if we win in the end, how many brothers will we lose? Take this risk for three women and a dog? Don't forget, we can't afford to lose so much. If a few people die, morale in this base will collapse. Those starving refugees outside, and other small gangs, are all watching us!"

A fire-type ability user hesitated before speaking: "Old Chen has a point. I sensed that dog's energy fluctuations were quite strong, possibly more than one level. Those three women also had an energy aura, though not obvious, but definitely present. If we really have to fight, we can't act recklessly."

Wang Gang remained silent, listening with narrowed eyes to his subordinates' argument.

He was greedy, but he valued his life even more and knew how to weigh things.

Old Chen's words struck a chord with him. He did indeed covet the car, the rare mutant dog, and the three women who looked "fresh." But as Old Chen said, they weren't lambs to the slaughter.

That composure and vigilance were not feigned.

"Old Chen, what do you think we should do?" Wang Gang finally spoke.

"Either we don't move, or we have to be absolutely certain we can crush them in one fell swoop, without giving them a chance to fight back." Old Chen stubbed out his cigarette. "It's best to wait until they're sound asleep, in the middle of the night, when people are most tired. First, use sleeping gas or some other means to incapacitate them. If that doesn't work, then launch a full-scale attack. And we can't rely entirely on the few of us; we need to call on all the able-bodied fighters outside. With numbers, we can scare them off. Most importantly, we need to deal with that dog and that woman driving the car first; they pose the biggest threat."

Wang Gang pondered for a moment and nodded: "Old Chen is right. Tiger, don't be impatient. Good stuff won't get away." A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes. "Go, take out the remaining stock from the warehouse. Call twenty more quick-handed men and get their weapons ready. We'll make our move at two in the morning, after they're sound asleep. Remember, be quick and ruthless! Don't leave any loose ends!"

"Yes, boss!" the men replied and began to prepare separately.

The conspiracy in the warehouse led to a night raid plan.

Inside the prefab house, Ruan Ning's mental energy clearly detected the increasingly concentrated malice and rustling sounds of preparation coming from the direction of the warehouse. A cold glint flashed in her eyes.

"Wake up, they're about to make their move," she whispered, her voice low but enough to wake the light-sleeping Lin Yan and Zhou Min.

The two men opened their eyes instantly, wide awake, and immediately grabbed their weapons and got up.

"They're gathered in the warehouse, preparing things. They'll probably make their move in the middle of the night," Ruan Ning said quickly. "Instead of waiting for them to arrive, let's take action first. Let's deal with the dozen or so superhumans and Wang Gang in the warehouse. Once we've taken care of them, the rest of the rabble won't be a problem."

Lin Yan nodded and gripped the knife tightly. Zhou Min took a deep breath and focused her mental energy. The flames had already risen, and her body was faintly glowing red.

Ruan Ning walked to the door and listened to the sounds outside—two henchmen assigned to keep watch were yawning not far away. She gestured to the fire.

The fire seemed to understand, and suddenly rammed its head against the flimsy wooden door!

"Bang!" The door panel fell outwards with a loud crash.

The two henchmen outside the door were startled and before they could react, the fire burst out like golden lightning, biting one of their throats and knocking the other unconscious with its front paws. The movements were clean and swift.

"Go!" Ruan Ning shouted, and the three of them rushed out of the fire, heading straight for the large warehouse with lights on a hundred meters away.

Wang Gang and the others in the warehouse had just finished assigning tasks and were preparing to get ready when they heard a loud bang and a short scream from outside.

"What's that sound?!" Wang Gang suddenly stood up.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than, with a deafening crash, the two heavy wooden doors of the warehouse were smashed open by the flames! Amidst flying splinters, a giant dog engulfed in flames and three menacing women appeared in the doorway!

"Damn it! They're here first!" Tiger roared, grabbing the iron rod beside him.

Chaos erupted instantly in the warehouse! A dozen or so superhumans and more than twenty armed men frantically grabbed their weapons.

"According to plan! Kill the dog and that woman first!" Wang Gang was both shocked and furious, not expecting the other party to be so decisive and ruthless.

He reacted quickly, roared, and clenched his fists, activating his superpower!

The steel bars and scrap metal parts scattered on the warehouse floor immediately flew up, quickly condensed and transformed in front of him, turning into several sharp metal spears, which shot towards Da Huo, who was charging at the forefront, and Ruan Ning, who was following closely behind, with a whooshing sound!

His forte is manipulating metal for mid-range attacks, making him a second-tier metal elementalist.

"Fire! Get out of the way!" Ruan Ning shouted, pushing her hands forward at the same time. A thick, arc-shaped water shield instantly unfolded, blocking her and the fire!

"Clang! Clang! Clang!" The metal spears struck the water shield, producing a series of crisp sounds. Most of them were deflected by the water flow, but two of them pierced through the water shield, though their momentum was greatly reduced, and they were swatted away by the fire's claw.

Ruan Ning blocked the attack without pausing.

A flash of blue light appeared in her eyes, and her third-tier mental power, mixed with her commanding intent, slammed into the enemies in the warehouse who had just activated their supernatural abilities like an invisible shockwave! Mental intimidation!

"Ugh!"

"My head hurts so much!"

Several first-tier superpowered individuals and some ordinary thugs immediately clutched their heads and cried out in pain, their superpowers interrupted and their movements stiffened.

"Lin Yan, left! Zhou Min, disrupt the right!" Ruan Ning spoke rapidly, then charged straight at Wang Gang! The strategy was to capture the leader first!

Without any orders, the fire roared and surged into the crowd!

It didn't discriminate; it charged towards wherever there were crowds. Blazing flames spewed from its mouth and body, transforming into a swirling whirlwind of fire that instantly ignited the flammable debris piled up in the warehouse, forcing the surrounding crowd to panic and scatter in disarray.

It took the opportunity to lash out with its claws and bite, and ordinary thugs couldn't even get close. The attacks of one or two first-level ability users had little effect on its thick fur and flame protection.

Upon receiving the order, Lin Yan darted to the left flank like a cheetah, where three superhumans were recovering from the mental shock.

She unleashed her full power at level two, her blade flashing fiercely. She didn't aim to kill them with a single blow, but rather to launch a rapid attack to disrupt the three and prevent them from effectively organizing a counterattack, while simultaneously avoiding the earthen wall and her power attacks.

Zhou Min then unleashed her full mental power, not to attack, but to precisely disrupt!

She caused two fire-type ability users on the right who were attempting a ranged attack to miss their targets with a daze; she also tripped up a speed-type ability user who was trying to ambush Lin Yan; at the same time, she continuously relayed the positions and intentions of the surrounding enemies to Ruan Ning and Lin Yan.

Wang Gang was both surprised and furious when he saw Ruan Ning heading straight for him.